The Chronic Malcontent
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Freakin Annual Address
I look around me, and see signs. Signs of hope, and signs of despair. People without jobs, and people so busy at work they're about to have a breakdown. It just makes me wonder.
Then after last night's address at West Point, the President makes it clear that we will pour billions more into Afghanistan.
It's not that the address didn't clearly lay things out, which was more than we got when we first went there. And it's not that there isn't a clear exit strategy, again, more than we had before.
It's that we keep having to clean up after W that really annoys me.
Look at the messes left behind: the economy; the wars; the world reputation; all severely affecting all of us in many ways. I am so tired of cleaning up after George.
Typical clueless brute - leave the mess for others to clean up. However, as a motivational speaker, he will make money, plenty of it.
And now three more years of our people dying far from home, in some of the rawest terrain possible. More death; more disabled veterans coming back to a veteran's administration straining as it is. More damaged people unable to make a go of it when they come back.
I couldn't listen to this address without tears. And the tears will just continue longer.
I never said I had answers. I do have reactions to my environment, and they are rather emotional right now.
And so there it is, another malcontent almost annual address. ¶ 8:59 AM 0 Comments
Then after last night's address at West Point, the President makes it clear that we will pour billions more into Afghanistan.
It's not that the address didn't clearly lay things out, which was more than we got when we first went there. And it's not that there isn't a clear exit strategy, again, more than we had before.
It's that we keep having to clean up after W that really annoys me.
Look at the messes left behind: the economy; the wars; the world reputation; all severely affecting all of us in many ways. I am so tired of cleaning up after George.
Typical clueless brute - leave the mess for others to clean up. However, as a motivational speaker, he will make money, plenty of it.
And now three more years of our people dying far from home, in some of the rawest terrain possible. More death; more disabled veterans coming back to a veteran's administration straining as it is. More damaged people unable to make a go of it when they come back.
I couldn't listen to this address without tears. And the tears will just continue longer.
I never said I had answers. I do have reactions to my environment, and they are rather emotional right now.
And so there it is, another malcontent almost annual address. ¶ 8:59 AM 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Bloody Monday
In one day, 65000 jobs evaporated on this planet. In ONE day. Hell, when Harley Davidson loses 1000 jobs, it's pretty much the apocalypse.
I am thankful to still be working. My list of complaints with what i do and how I do it have fallen away again, even though I know those will rear their ugly heads at some future point.
I figured it was so bad that with my own personal financial sludge pile, the economy, a bad and worsening shoulder, and global weirdness, I just cancelled a trip I wanted to make.
I was afraid that somehow on the trip all my charge cards would somehow implode and I would never make it home. Truly, the bad vibes around this trip were stressing me completely.
Afraid, it's a term a lot of people are familiar with right now. With all the hope thrown around last week, afraid is still right up front in everyone's face.
David Letterman said last night that W was enjoying his retirement, but not near as much as we are enjoying it. Wryly I thought, well, if I can't have a retirement of my own, I may as well enjoy somebody's.
So what comes after Bloody Monday? Tumultuous Tuesday? World of Warcraft Wednesday?
At this point I think it's a fair guess that we are all still quite completely screwed.
I am thankful to still be working. My list of complaints with what i do and how I do it have fallen away again, even though I know those will rear their ugly heads at some future point.
I figured it was so bad that with my own personal financial sludge pile, the economy, a bad and worsening shoulder, and global weirdness, I just cancelled a trip I wanted to make.
I was afraid that somehow on the trip all my charge cards would somehow implode and I would never make it home. Truly, the bad vibes around this trip were stressing me completely.
Afraid, it's a term a lot of people are familiar with right now. With all the hope thrown around last week, afraid is still right up front in everyone's face.
David Letterman said last night that W was enjoying his retirement, but not near as much as we are enjoying it. Wryly I thought, well, if I can't have a retirement of my own, I may as well enjoy somebody's.
So what comes after Bloody Monday? Tumultuous Tuesday? World of Warcraft Wednesday?
At this point I think it's a fair guess that we are all still quite completely screwed.
Labels: bloody monday, economy, jobs
¶ 5:29 AM 0 Comments
Monday, September 22, 2008
Depression 2.0
Last week's Wall Street watershed was more shock involved than anything. No one knew what to do, what was coming next, and on main street usa, we were even more clueless on how to proceed.
So a lot of us proceeded to do our daily tasks. I thought briefly of taking all my money out of my bank, but I'm kind of socked into it being there, at least on paper... I have payments set up on autopay, so I can't just take the money out.
Interesting how I am now locked into keeping my money in there.
All I know is that I don't have 700 billion for my government to bail out others - I'm too busy bailing myself out almost all the time. I don't think I'm alone there. Lots of us do odd, silly and sometimes downright stupid things with money. Suze Orman would say my relationship with money is totally dysfunctional, and she'd be right. I'm great with other people's money, but not so great with mine.
It's cold comfort that many people with much greater financial acumen than me have some deep fears about money right now. As someone that lives off main street - way off from where people think it really is, anyway, I still don't know what's coming, what it means, and what to do.
All I can do right now, is keep my eyes open and pay attention. I strongly suggest you do the same. ¶ 7:23 PM 1 Comments
So a lot of us proceeded to do our daily tasks. I thought briefly of taking all my money out of my bank, but I'm kind of socked into it being there, at least on paper... I have payments set up on autopay, so I can't just take the money out.
Interesting how I am now locked into keeping my money in there.
All I know is that I don't have 700 billion for my government to bail out others - I'm too busy bailing myself out almost all the time. I don't think I'm alone there. Lots of us do odd, silly and sometimes downright stupid things with money. Suze Orman would say my relationship with money is totally dysfunctional, and she'd be right. I'm great with other people's money, but not so great with mine.
It's cold comfort that many people with much greater financial acumen than me have some deep fears about money right now. As someone that lives off main street - way off from where people think it really is, anyway, I still don't know what's coming, what it means, and what to do.
All I can do right now, is keep my eyes open and pay attention. I strongly suggest you do the same. ¶ 7:23 PM 1 Comments
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
S.1959 - Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007
Dear Senator Susan M. Collins:
Regarding S.1959 - Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c110:56:./temp/~c1103Do7Xu:e871:
I am a citizen of the United States since birth. I vote. I pay taxes. I helped get a new library built in my city. And, I am seriously concerned that this legislation can be used for censorship, mind control, and physical and mental imprisonment.
Here are my findings about your findings.
"The Congress finds the following:
"(1) The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be used to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism."
CONCERNS: First, I need to know evidence of flagrant domestic terrorism that is currently being investigated in this country. Who determines when radicalization becomes violent enough for measures to be taken? How many incidents of homegrown terrorism have been reported, and which incidents can be used as examples? Also, violence is already covered by the laws which are already on the books. What makes ideologically based violence different?
"(2) The promotion of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence exists in the United States and poses a threat to homeland security."
CONCERNS: What promotion are you referring to? Again, without examples, our senate will blindly vote for this without consideration of the ways this can be abused. After all, the House of Representatives did. Can you elaborate the promotion that you refer to here?
"(3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens."
CONCERNS: I am on the internet a lot of the time, and I doubt I have seen anything to inspire me to participate in violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism. What in the name of all that is holy are YOU watching?
Similarly, if someone has tendencies toward violence, they don't need the internet. Remember books? They can inspire, and incite? Are you going for book burning next?
"(4) While the United States must continue its vigilant efforts to combat international terrorism, it must also strengthen efforts to combat the threat posed by homegrown terrorists based and operating within the United States."
CONCERNS: Who are these terrorists based and operating in the US? Shouldn't this be made clear to all of us so we can respond to our senators in an intelligent manner so they are truly representative of their constituents?
"(5) Understanding the motivational factors that lead to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence is a vital step toward eradicating these threats in the United States."
CONCERNS: Poverty. Joblessness. Homelessness. Mental Illness. Lack of Education. The ever elusive American Dream. Debt. Hatred. There are 10 commandments lying around somewhere that you could probably refer to, and it wouldn't cost the taxpayers a lot of money to look at.
"(6) The potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily prevented through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and requires the incorporation of State and local solutions."
CONCERNS: This sounds like you are inventing a threat that does not exist for the purpose of instilling more fear into American citizens. I would think that by now, we're about as fearful as we can get before we all start hiding in our cellars. Potential rise? What is the potential? Can I see some graphs to chart domestic terrorism? Wasn't Oklahoma City enough? And with what resources are already cash strapped states going to use to solve this? In Illinois, we can't even insure our buses will run in Chicago next year due to lack of funds. Now they're going to have the job of putting down a potential threat that you won't even give examples of here?
"(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race, ethnicity, or religion."
CONCERNS: That's a good thing, that they won't be targeted. But, internet viewers will be suspect, won't they? Anyone who makes and posts videos will be suspect, won't they? In this one stroke you have put millions of people into the 'suspect' category. In fact, I'll be suspect, because I make and upload videos. And again, without the internet, the same 'prone' individuals could read a book and accomplish the same. You want a police state with martial law over hapless citizens who just want to watch the game and be left alone. Those of us who are paying attention will be carted away first, I suppose.
If you wish to see my videos you can find them here:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=gabrielized
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BetterAngels
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MarkhamJournal
http://www.livevideo.com/gabrielized
"(8) Any measure taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism in the United States should not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, or civil liberties of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents."
CONCERNS: Have you been paying attention to the signing statements of our current President? We don't even have the right to habeas corpus any more. This section is a joke - and it's not funny.
"(9) Certain governments, including the Government of the United Kingdom, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Australia have significant experience with homegrown terrorism and the United States can benefit from lessons learned by those nations."
I tried to find out where you got your founding information on this bill. I found this speech:
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/mueller062306.htm
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Director Robert S. Mueller, III Federal Bureau of Investigation, The City Club of Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio June 23, 2006
But, I looked a little further. I used these search terms:
homegrown terrorism violent radicalisation Center for Excellence. canada england australia /2006_03
A couple of the first articles I found were these:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2006_03.php
http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/2006_04.html
But the 9/11, Toronto, Madrid, London, and Oklahoma City attacks had happened years before.
So why did 'violent radicalization' and 'Center for Excellence' become buzz words recently?
Here's just one theory.
Could it be that the clamor for the U.S. to pull out of Iraq would make defense contractors nervous? No more no-bid contracts for billions of dollars, so let's whip this up to keep our defense industry happy. Or else they won't contribute to our campaigns any more. ¶ 9:43 PM 0 Comments
Regarding S.1959 - Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c110:56:./temp/~c1103Do7Xu:e871:
I am a citizen of the United States since birth. I vote. I pay taxes. I helped get a new library built in my city. And, I am seriously concerned that this legislation can be used for censorship, mind control, and physical and mental imprisonment.
Here are my findings about your findings.
"The Congress finds the following:
"(1) The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be used to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism."
CONCERNS: First, I need to know evidence of flagrant domestic terrorism that is currently being investigated in this country. Who determines when radicalization becomes violent enough for measures to be taken? How many incidents of homegrown terrorism have been reported, and which incidents can be used as examples? Also, violence is already covered by the laws which are already on the books. What makes ideologically based violence different?
"(2) The promotion of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence exists in the United States and poses a threat to homeland security."
CONCERNS: What promotion are you referring to? Again, without examples, our senate will blindly vote for this without consideration of the ways this can be abused. After all, the House of Representatives did. Can you elaborate the promotion that you refer to here?
"(3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens."
CONCERNS: I am on the internet a lot of the time, and I doubt I have seen anything to inspire me to participate in violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism. What in the name of all that is holy are YOU watching?
Similarly, if someone has tendencies toward violence, they don't need the internet. Remember books? They can inspire, and incite? Are you going for book burning next?
"(4) While the United States must continue its vigilant efforts to combat international terrorism, it must also strengthen efforts to combat the threat posed by homegrown terrorists based and operating within the United States."
CONCERNS: Who are these terrorists based and operating in the US? Shouldn't this be made clear to all of us so we can respond to our senators in an intelligent manner so they are truly representative of their constituents?
"(5) Understanding the motivational factors that lead to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence is a vital step toward eradicating these threats in the United States."
CONCERNS: Poverty. Joblessness. Homelessness. Mental Illness. Lack of Education. The ever elusive American Dream. Debt. Hatred. There are 10 commandments lying around somewhere that you could probably refer to, and it wouldn't cost the taxpayers a lot of money to look at.
"(6) The potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily prevented through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and requires the incorporation of State and local solutions."
CONCERNS: This sounds like you are inventing a threat that does not exist for the purpose of instilling more fear into American citizens. I would think that by now, we're about as fearful as we can get before we all start hiding in our cellars. Potential rise? What is the potential? Can I see some graphs to chart domestic terrorism? Wasn't Oklahoma City enough? And with what resources are already cash strapped states going to use to solve this? In Illinois, we can't even insure our buses will run in Chicago next year due to lack of funds. Now they're going to have the job of putting down a potential threat that you won't even give examples of here?
"(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race, ethnicity, or religion."
CONCERNS: That's a good thing, that they won't be targeted. But, internet viewers will be suspect, won't they? Anyone who makes and posts videos will be suspect, won't they? In this one stroke you have put millions of people into the 'suspect' category. In fact, I'll be suspect, because I make and upload videos. And again, without the internet, the same 'prone' individuals could read a book and accomplish the same. You want a police state with martial law over hapless citizens who just want to watch the game and be left alone. Those of us who are paying attention will be carted away first, I suppose.
If you wish to see my videos you can find them here:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=gabrielized
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BetterAngels
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MarkhamJournal
http://www.livevideo.com/gabrielized
"(8) Any measure taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism in the United States should not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, or civil liberties of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents."
CONCERNS: Have you been paying attention to the signing statements of our current President? We don't even have the right to habeas corpus any more. This section is a joke - and it's not funny.
"(9) Certain governments, including the Government of the United Kingdom, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Australia have significant experience with homegrown terrorism and the United States can benefit from lessons learned by those nations."
I tried to find out where you got your founding information on this bill. I found this speech:
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/mueller062306.htm
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Director Robert S. Mueller, III Federal Bureau of Investigation, The City Club of Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio June 23, 2006
But, I looked a little further. I used these search terms:
homegrown terrorism violent radicalisation Center for Excellence. canada england australia /2006_03
A couple of the first articles I found were these:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2006_03.php
http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/2006_04.html
But the 9/11, Toronto, Madrid, London, and Oklahoma City attacks had happened years before.
So why did 'violent radicalization' and 'Center for Excellence' become buzz words recently?
Here's just one theory.
Could it be that the clamor for the U.S. to pull out of Iraq would make defense contractors nervous? No more no-bid contracts for billions of dollars, so let's whip this up to keep our defense industry happy. Or else they won't contribute to our campaigns any more. ¶ 9:43 PM 0 Comments
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Corporate life - an oxymoron
Corporate life - an oxymoron. I work for the clinically insane. They think the business is doing great. I know it's not. They don't want to hear it. And so it goes. There are three floors in our building, I am on the 'reality' floor. They are on the other two fantasy floors. And never the twain shall meet.
Then they had us do our self-evals recently. "What got in your way, what were your obstacles?" I filled a page. And while not ridden with expletives, my immediate supervisor, who is just as frustrated as I am, talked with me about revising it for some political correctness. Which I did. I guess "Fighting fires in a world on fire" was too much hyperbole.
Then they had us do our self-evals recently. "What got in your way, what were your obstacles?" I filled a page. And while not ridden with expletives, my immediate supervisor, who is just as frustrated as I am, talked with me about revising it for some political correctness. Which I did. I guess "Fighting fires in a world on fire" was too much hyperbole.
Labels: Corporate life oxymoron
¶ 8:16 AM 0 Comments
Monday, October 01, 2007
One Day at a Time
Maybe tomorrow will be a normal day.
Maybe, just maybe, it will be a good day.
Maybe, tomorrow will be the beginning of the revolution.
That is the maybe I can't get used to thinking about. I'd rather... not think about it.
Will we get to that point? Will we have to take up makeshift weapons when our peace placards won't do the job any more?
When does the other shoe drop? Which peace protest will I be at when the teargas flies? Which peace vigil will be the one that I feel a billy club crack my skull, and before I black out feel something warm run down my shoulders?
I have never wanted to go back in time more than I do right now. Ten years... when I had just moved back to Chicago. Fifteen years...when I lived in Indiana. Twenty years... 1987 - a much simpler time, compared to now. I want to go back to then. I wasn't paid well then, I didn't feel well then, but I didn't fear like this then.
When my house was broken into, nothing was stolen. Now I worry - what was left behind? I haven't found bugging devices, but where and how would I look? How many tracking systems are on my computer to note every word I type, every word I say into the mic, every video I watch?
What do the powers that be have in store for us? We, the people; we, the useless eaters; we, the cannon fodder. We mean nothing to them. We are in their way. We are too loud. We make too much trouble. We are inconvenient.
We are the inconvenient truth. ¶ 9:08 PM 0 Comments
Maybe, just maybe, it will be a good day.
Maybe, tomorrow will be the beginning of the revolution.
That is the maybe I can't get used to thinking about. I'd rather... not think about it.
Will we get to that point? Will we have to take up makeshift weapons when our peace placards won't do the job any more?
When does the other shoe drop? Which peace protest will I be at when the teargas flies? Which peace vigil will be the one that I feel a billy club crack my skull, and before I black out feel something warm run down my shoulders?
I have never wanted to go back in time more than I do right now. Ten years... when I had just moved back to Chicago. Fifteen years...when I lived in Indiana. Twenty years... 1987 - a much simpler time, compared to now. I want to go back to then. I wasn't paid well then, I didn't feel well then, but I didn't fear like this then.
When my house was broken into, nothing was stolen. Now I worry - what was left behind? I haven't found bugging devices, but where and how would I look? How many tracking systems are on my computer to note every word I type, every word I say into the mic, every video I watch?
What do the powers that be have in store for us? We, the people; we, the useless eaters; we, the cannon fodder. We mean nothing to them. We are in their way. We are too loud. We make too much trouble. We are inconvenient.
We are the inconvenient truth. ¶ 9:08 PM 0 Comments
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
News banger for the week of September 11 2007
Today's juxtaposition of news. Makes for awfully interesting reading.
1. Prime Minister Abe of Japan announced today he will resign, ending a troubled year-old government that has suffered damaging scandals.
2. Bond prices rose as investors stockpiled secure government issues.
3. Oil prices rose 58 cents to $78.81 a barrel, after closing at a record $78.23 Tuesday. Wheat prices finished just shy of $9 a bushel on Tuesday — an all-time peak — up from about $5 a bushel in May.
4. Mr. Putin yesterday sacked his prime minister, Mikhail Fradkov, and Cabinet, nominating a loyal ally and member of his inner circle, Viktor Zubkov, as the new premier. The choice came as a surprise to Kremlin watchers both inside and outside Russia.
5. The Russian military said it had successfully tested a non-nuclear "thermobaric" weapon comparable in its destructive effects to a nuclear bomb.
6. President General Musharraf of Pakistan came under fire today for the expulsion of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, with newspapers dismissing the government's claim that he returned willingly to exile.
7. OPEC sought to reassure jittery oil markets yesterday by agreeing to boost crude production by 500,000 barrels a day — a move the cartel conceded was prompted partly by "clouds on the horizon" from America's housing slump.
8. Major Earthquake Rocks Indonesia; at Least 5 Dead
9. The Monroe County district attorney says a man on a terrorism watch list was discovered taking photos of the Interstate 80 bridge crossing the Delaware River.
10. Africanized honeybees, a fierce hybrid strain sometimes referred to as "killer bees," appear to have established themselves in the New Orleans area, the state agriculture commissioner said.
11. A left-wing guerrilla group has said it was behind a series of explosions on pipelines in Mexico earlier this week. The People's Revolutionary Army (EPR) called for the release of two of its members, whom it claims were captured by Mexican security forces.
12. Since Steve Fossett did not file a flight plan the search area is immense - more than 600 sq miles (1,554 sq km). Maj Cynthia Ryan, of the Civil Air Patrol, said it could take a week to search the entire area.
Damned busy week.
1. Prime Minister Abe of Japan announced today he will resign, ending a troubled year-old government that has suffered damaging scandals.
2. Bond prices rose as investors stockpiled secure government issues.
3. Oil prices rose 58 cents to $78.81 a barrel, after closing at a record $78.23 Tuesday. Wheat prices finished just shy of $9 a bushel on Tuesday — an all-time peak — up from about $5 a bushel in May.
4. Mr. Putin yesterday sacked his prime minister, Mikhail Fradkov, and Cabinet, nominating a loyal ally and member of his inner circle, Viktor Zubkov, as the new premier. The choice came as a surprise to Kremlin watchers both inside and outside Russia.
5. The Russian military said it had successfully tested a non-nuclear "thermobaric" weapon comparable in its destructive effects to a nuclear bomb.
6. President General Musharraf of Pakistan came under fire today for the expulsion of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, with newspapers dismissing the government's claim that he returned willingly to exile.
7. OPEC sought to reassure jittery oil markets yesterday by agreeing to boost crude production by 500,000 barrels a day — a move the cartel conceded was prompted partly by "clouds on the horizon" from America's housing slump.
8. Major Earthquake Rocks Indonesia; at Least 5 Dead
9. The Monroe County district attorney says a man on a terrorism watch list was discovered taking photos of the Interstate 80 bridge crossing the Delaware River.
10. Africanized honeybees, a fierce hybrid strain sometimes referred to as "killer bees," appear to have established themselves in the New Orleans area, the state agriculture commissioner said.
11. A left-wing guerrilla group has said it was behind a series of explosions on pipelines in Mexico earlier this week. The People's Revolutionary Army (EPR) called for the release of two of its members, whom it claims were captured by Mexican security forces.
12. Since Steve Fossett did not file a flight plan the search area is immense - more than 600 sq miles (1,554 sq km). Maj Cynthia Ryan, of the Civil Air Patrol, said it could take a week to search the entire area.
Damned busy week.
Labels: news
¶ 9:54 PM 2 Comments
