Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Thursday, August 18, 2011

the meaning of life

The lane past my house used to be lined with black cherry trees, planted by the farmer when he purchased the property about 30 years ago.  Unfortunately, the soil in that area isn't suitable for cherry trees and one by one they all died.  The last remaining tree gave up the ghost two years ago and the bits of semi-vertical truck that haven't broken off in storms stand lifeless as decay consumes it.  I've been meaning to cut it down and clean up that area but I figured it wasn't high enough on my priority list and chose to mow around it instead.

For years I watched this tree decompose as the wild rose and virginia creeper continued to consume it until I saw the beautiful landscaping job mother nature was working on.

The centerpiece of this display is a very healthy oak, feeding on the corpse of the cherry tree, rising like a phoenix from the ashes.  The virginia creeper, completely enveloping what's left of the cherry's main trunk, cascades it's enormous berry covered vines to balance and compliment the taller oak, adding symmetry to this purely natural display.  The immediate area, as well as the fallen primary branches, developed a ground cover of oregano, chives, and creeper as the finishing touch of this masterpiece of nature.

It's not the natural symmetry that amazes me, or the breakdown of organic materials providing new growth, or even that an oak tree is growing in a place where the nearest oak is a quarter mile away.

Although I had the knowledge of how nature works, and how life can be defined as the natural capacity for self perfecting, imminent action.  Today I understand.

All life is perpetual renewal and we're no different from an oak tree.  We all have our pan-dimensional phoenix, ready to rise from the ashes, and the form it will take is beyond any concept of time-space reality we can grasp.

Can the meaning of life be that simple?   

   

Thursday, August 11, 2011

some facts you should know

An excerpt from a Devvy Kidd article.  These are things we all know but ignore.


"The following are 19 facts about the deindustrialization of America that will blow your mind....
"#1 The United States has lost approximately 42,400 factories since 2001.
"#2 Dell Inc., one of America's largest manufacturers of computers, has announced plans to dramatically expand its operations in China with an investment of over $100 billion over the next decade.
"#3 Dell has announced that it will be closing its last large U.S. manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in November. Approximately 900 jobs will be lost.
"#4 In 2008, 1.2 billion cell phones were sold worldwide. So how many of them were manufactured inside the United States? Zero.
"#5 According to a new study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, if the U.S. trade deficit with China continues to increase at its current rate, the U.S. economy will lose over half a million jobs this year alone.
#6 As of the end of July, the U.S. trade deficit with China had risen 18 percent compared to the same time period a year ago.
#7 The United States has lost a total of about 5.5 million manufacturing jobs since October 2000.
#8 According to Tax Notes, between 1999 and 2008 employment at the foreign affiliates of U.S. parent companies increased an astounding 30 percent to 10.1 million. During that exact same time period, U.S. employment at American multinational corporations declined 8 percent to 21.1 million.
#9 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented 11.5 percent.
#10 Ford Motor Company recently announced the closure of a factory that produces the Ford Ranger in St. Paul, Minnesota. Approximately 750 good paying middle class jobs are going to be lost because making Ford Rangers in Minnesota does not fit in with Ford's new "global" manufacturing strategy."
I have had the Made in America section up on my web site for close to ten years. Everyone of those companies manufactures here in the U.S.; more than 20,000 products. Some I can't afford even though I would like to buy them. A few months ago I was looking for soup mugs. Found a lovely collection, but they are just too pricey on our fixed income. That company does sell their products, but if Americans simply refuse to buy foreign products AND the scam called withholding tax is abolished, those companies will become more competitive and so will their prices. They will also become more available in stores around the country making it easier for all of us to buy. THAT creates jobs.

When I say Americans don't want good paying jobs I say that because I do not see an outright rebellion by the people of this nation against those destructive trade treaties. I see millions begging the monster out in DC to create more jobs, but what they're really doing is begging for their own destruction through higher taxes to pay for jobs created that the Outlaw Congress has no legal authority to rob the people's purse to fund.
If Americans really want to create good paying jobs in this country stop buying foreign products. Tell store managers you want Made in America. While you might feel differently, to me it is un-American to buy foreign products while our people go without jobs. If we won't even support real American companies and workers, what does that say about us as a united America for tangible growth and prosperity?
Sell your stock in companies like GE and others who care nothing for Americans and continue to ship jobs to India and China. Is your little dividend check worth more than the future of these united States of America?
If this doesn't make you puke, then you really don't understand the problem:
Top US senators join business trip to Tunisia , Egypt -- in hopes of creating thousand of jobs in those countries!
"McCain, a Republican, and Kerry, a Democrat, will visit the two countries with General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, along with officials from Boeing, Coca-Cola, Bechtel, ExxonMobil, Marriot and Dow, confirmed McCain's office on Wednesday.'
"The visit comes as the two lawmakers join Independent Senator Joe Lieberman in sponsoring a bill to create economic assistance funds for Egypt and Tunisia, both rocked with popular unrest and subsequent regime change in recent months. The purpose of the funds is to provide capital to local entrepreneurs in the hope of creating "thousands of jobs," which both countries desperately need, said Kerry, who chairs the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations."
I've had two Coca-Cola's in my entire life. I don't like the taste of soft drinks and don't drink them, but even if I did, I wouldn't give Coca-Cola, Exxon or Marriot another penny of my money. Not one cent. They buy the favors of the Outlaw Congress using the money they get from you buying their products.
There isn't a scintilla of constitutional authority to steal the fruits of your labor to give to Egypt, Tunisia or any other country for "economic assistance" or military build up. NONE. Our purse is over drawn almost $15 TRILLION dollars and those maggots want to borrow even more to give to foreign countries who need jobs?
Where is your outrage, America? Think this is anything new for Kerry who was endorsed by the Communist Party USA? Think this is anything new for Juan McCain who has voted to kill millions of jobs since he's been in office? No, but with the help of illegals voting in Arizona, uniformed voters and electronic machines counting the ballots, anti-American globalists like McCain keep getting reelected.
The Outlaw Congress is now out of session until September 6th. They are in your district and you should be in their face at every single event. Every speech, every fund raiser - where ever Michelle Bachmann, Steve King, Max Baucus, Nancy Pelosi - all of them - get there. Contact a tea party group in your district or your own group or organization that you support and spread the word. Tell your congress critter that if they don't get us out of those treaties, you will work tirelessly to see they are booted out of office in 2012. It's the only thing incumbents care about despite their carefully crafted speeches about how much they care about you and jobs.
As I have written many, many times, I am not against fair trade. Here and there I do purchase products from New Zealand, Scotland and even Australia. Prior to 1995, America had excellent trade relations with countries around the world. But, the evil doers who want a one world government knew "free" trade would destroy this country, suck the wealth of America and ship it to the grotesque monster called "globalization". The solution was to drop big money into the coffers of the prostitutes in the biggest whore house on this earth who are now too scared of China to get us out of those treaties. After all, it is the incumbents in Congress that have reduced us to nothing but slaves to repay the debt they created sending $800 MILLION dollars a week to China to pay the interest on that debt.
If we do not as a nation demand an end to all those "free" trade treaties, we will, as Thom Jefferson warned, end up beggars in rags in our own land.
It can't happen overnight, but it can happen if only you will make the effort. If you stop buying foreign gadgets (which won't fill an empty stomach), foreign made clothes, tools, whatever and make your voice heard. It takes time to crank up factories long abandoned, but it can be done.
I mentioned this on a radio show I did recently. As someone in the trenches full time going on 21 years, I have spoken to literally thousands of people all across this great and beautiful land. Many people hate their jobs because they don't feel fulfilled. Many young people come out of college with no job prospects, $20- $50,000 in debt for student loans working at Staples or Home Depot (who does not get my money because of their in your face support of sexual deviants). Please don't misunderstand. I support anyone who works an honest day for a day's wages whatever their job. But, retail clerking jobs used to be for seniors wanting to keep busy and bring in some extra money, mom's whose children are now in school but don't want to work full time or students. Those level of jobs were never meant to be the level of paycheck needed to support a family.
What would those folks rather be doing? You might be surprised, but an awful lot of them tell me they want to create things. Where have America's artisans gone? There are a substantial number of Americans who loved their jobs in a factory or farming, but because of those treaties are pushed into cities growing beyond what their infrastructures can handle, taking whatever jobs they can find.
We need to bring back America as a self sustaining nation and we can through our purchasing power for starters.
To find out how your incumbent voted on any of the destructive trade treaties, use a search engine and simply type in their name + on the issues. Example, type: John Boehner on the issues. That will take you to the on the issues web site.
It doesn't matter that Rubio and West have only been in office eight months. What matters is what they won't even talk about, much less introduce legislation to cure the cancer instead of more smooth talk. While we cannot stop the financial tsunami about to crash this country, we can begin rebuilding American jobs by taking action.
Important links:

it'll only get worse

The other day, for reasons unknown, I had three unrelated phrases repeating through my head non-stop.

1.  It'll only get worse before it gets worse and that means today is the best day for the rest of your life.

2.  Don't compare yourself to others.  They're more fucked up than you realize.

3.  Thumb suckin good!

It could be worse, like some obscure tune you never liked but gets stuck there, buzzing through your head until you're ready to take an ice pic to your ear drum.  These phrases, unlike some horrible tune from your past, sound more like the voice of authority... someone in the know.  But what does the voice of authority, or someone in the know  have anything to do with a phrase as bizarre as thumb suckin good?   Damned if I know.  All I know about thumb sucking is what infants do when mom's milk-engorged breast isn't available.  It's an infant security thing, something like a redundant perpetual pacifier.  I suppose "thumb suckin good" could be an ad man's slogan for something so wonderful that it takes you back to your first experience of true happiness...  infancy and sucking on mom's milk laden breast for nourishment and security.

These phrase loops started shortly after America lost its AAA rating and Wall Street took a plunge because the retards in Washington can't get a handle on the concept of spending less money.  After all, it's not their money and they never felt the pinch of not having enough.  The only reason congress exists is to spend tons of money on everything from teaching African men how to properly clean their uncircumcised penises to supporting every nation and war on the planet.  Imagine any crazy idea to spend money and it's all been done with an unlimited budget.  If it's not your money, and there's an endless supply, and doesn't affect your lifestyle, why try to control your spending habits?      

I know it's hard to adjust spending habits.  We get used to spending what we have and when our paychecks get smaller and consumer prices go up, we rely on credit to carry us over to the next pay check.  We borrow from tomorrow and deal with it when the bills come in.  But sooner or later our debts overtake our earnings and panic hits when we can't  buy more crap.  Reality sets in that we truly are slaves when all our hard earned money goes to people we don't know who gave us all that credit, with interest, to buy all that obsolete crap we thought we needed in the first place.

We the people have to adjust our personal budgets to balance our income and spending or we may find ourselves homeless, hungry, and destitute.

Congress has no pressure to do or change anything because their actions never affect them or their lifestyle.  The nations only income consists of Congress borrowing as much as they want from the Federal Reserve, or anyone else with tons of cash to burn, with unpaid interest spanning generations.  

In other words, The U.S. federal government has no visible means of support and has been living on unlimited, bottomless credit for a hundred years and has been paying next to nothing on the interest accrued from this borrowed money and zero payments on the principal.

The big question is, who exactly thought it was a good idea to give this deadbeat country a triple A credit rating in the first place?   Standard & Poor was too kind.


Here's an idea.  The U.S. can file chapter 11 and expunge their debt to the Federal Reserve, instantly becoming debt free.  Then the federal government, and all it's bureaucratic layers and departments can get pensioned off and the states can run the show like they're supposed to.

Sounds thumb suckin good!  


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

economic parable

A Union worker, a CEO and a Tea bagger are standing around a table with a box of donuts on it. The CEO scoops up 11 of them and puts them in his briefcase, he looks at the last remaining donut and turns to the Tea Bagger and says “I think that Union guy is going to steal your donut."

Thursday, August 04, 2011

round 2?

I talk to a lot of people throughout the day about all kinds of things from the weather to world affairs.  The vast majority of these people are total strangers and live lives far different from mine but we all seem to have the same hopes, desires, fears, and an uncanny feeling of an emerging awareness.  Last week three total strangers told me they thought they were rapidly developing ESP because, for the first time in their lives, they saw events before they happened.  Others told me they recently experienced clairvoyance and felt comfortable with it.  A lot of conversations revolved around unexpected delays that slowed them down enough to avoid a catastrophe.  Many confess they no longer question the voice in their head as it gives them driving directions.  These are ordinary people whose lives revolve around ordinary things like shopping, sports, family, paying bills, making the best of bad situations, and drinking beer in the back yard.  Just your average Earthing with a hint of that submerged pioneering spirit and work ethic that makes hardship a challenge and life promising.

This phenomenon isn't a local thing.  Ordinary people in Canada, Europe, Australia, South America, and Africa seem to be experiencing heightened awareness and clairvoyance in numbers that resemble a flu epidemic.  Something is happening and ordinary people are beginning to feel it.    

It's as if people are being transformed into aware, spiritual beings while totally unaware this transformation is taking place.  Not all people seem to get it.  This seems to be a phenomenon that affects people between the ages of 45 to 65.  The baby boomers, who caused such a ruckus back in the 60's and 70's, are back with the same verve and numbers, gathering spiritual strength to spearhead another revolution for the hell of it, only they don't know it yet.

This is the generation that produced Timothy Leary, free love, Jim Hendrix, The Weather Underground, Yippies, Alan Watts, Woodstock, peyote, TM, LSD, STP, DMT, zen, est, whole brain workshops, eastern philosophy, and countless, and sometimes bizarre, methods employed to expand consciousness and adjust human programming for the better.

75 million people in a single generation, many of which had the same mindset.  That's a force to be reckoned with. 

This generation is the 800 lb gorilla that crashed the establishment cocktail party, eating fistfuls of hors d'oeuvres, smoking reefer, crapping on Persian rugs, and cannon balling the pool, soaking the guests with waves of descent and defiance.  When the smoke cleared, the boomers got what they wanted.  They ended the Viet Nam war and Nixon and his whole putrid administration were dragged out of the white house in disgrace. 

Baby boomers always get what they want, and when they get it they stop fighting.  Even The Weather Underground surfaced and turned themselves in to serve time for their revolutionary crimes against the Nixon empire.  And these were the guys who bombed the capital building and the pentagon and broke Timothy Leary out of prison.  That kind of idealism and conviction doesn't exist today, except in a bunch of people developing extra sensory perception and higher brain functions.  If I was in charge of the planet I'd be a little worried about now.

The revolution scared the shit out of the establishment and steps were taken to prevent this from ever happening again.  Daycare became regulated and the department of education was formed to control our children's hearts and minds using draconian punishments, fluoride, and pharmaceuticals for anyone thinking outside the box.  Post-boomer generations were raised to be wards of the state with as much enlightenment as TV bowling.

I don't mean to offend.  I'm sure there's an exception to every rule.  I just never found one, yet.  If you have ESP and were born after 1965, let me know.  I won't hold my breath.


So, what makes me think this transformation is happening to a generation of old geezers?


Dunno... maybe it was all that transcendental meditation, yoga, organic food, whole brain workshops, and acid back in the hippy days that programmed the pineal gland to awaken at this time in human evolution to transform us to higher dimensions, as many ancient cultures predicted.


Or maybe it's just senility.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

trailer park earl

It was a tough job but I managed to see the complete Trailer Park Boys and My Name is Earl and I've come to a startling comparison.

My Name is Earl is a TV show about a guy who did bad things in his past and wants to be a better person by correcting those bad things to improve his karma.
Trailer Park Boys is a TV show about a bunch of guys in a Nova Scotia trailer park who do crimes and continue to do crimes.

The difference between bad things and crimes is like the difference between growing and selling reefer and faking your own death to break up with your clinging girlfriend.  Or robbing a liquor store to get enough money to start a legitimate business,as opposed to ruining a wedding by breaking the brides nose.

Earl is an American show based on the premise of a guy who discovered karma and is trying to better himself by righting the wrongs in his life.  Trailer Park Boys is about a bunch of trailer park canucks who chose non lethal crime as a career choice and get sent to prison at the end of every season.

Earl gets enlightenment while Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles get incarceration til the next season.

I wonder about this dichotomy.  Here's Earl, obviously somewhere in California, who accidentally learns of the laws of karma while in the hospital, recovering from getting hit by a car after he won $100,000 in a lottery, and the TPB drinking, smoking reefer, and doing dumb crimes for a whole season until they get sent to prison where they drink and smoke reefer until they get out for the next season.

Two sets of people in fictitious towns, in two different countries, on the same continent, with the same language, and Canada is polite while the U.S. is not, while guns are prominent in Canada and absent in the U.S.

I know this is all TV and stretches the bounds of reality, but if I had to choose between one or the other, I'd have to hang with the trailer park boys. 

Who's more aware, Earl or Bubbles?

Is politeness the fast track to enlightenment?

At least Canadian beer and reefer are excellent and Bubbles gets to jam with Rush.

Monday, August 01, 2011