More Streaming

That isn't a computer term. That's me saying you're in for more streaming of consciousness. Well, perhaps not streaming per say. More like "this is what's on my mind at the moment and here ya go". Also another way of saying "me no have any idea on what to title this."

So the other day, it was a warm one and I had on a tank top. Sans bra. I don't really need to wear one (contrary to what popular culture would have us think)....meaning that I don't need them for support cause I'm not large chested and since that being the case, I figure why bother? I have always found them to be constricting and besides, by nature I'm a non-conformist, my inner self always mischievously looking for ways to push the social buttons of society. (Now how cool is this? I'm using my Mozilla browser--and whenever I mistype a word, the browser very nicely lets me know I've made a typo. Not only that, they give me a list of correctly spelled, similar-looking words from which to choose. I tell ya, thumbs up for Mozilla!)

Back to my point. Boobs and bras. So I had on a tank, letting myself flow freely. My spouse points out that he can see my, ssh, shock shock, nipples. I shot him a look, a combination look, which said "uh huh and your point being?" and "oh god, here we go again...." As liberal and progressive as he is, he's got this thing about, well, my nipples showing in public. And despite me purposely getting my nipples to show through a bra (which is apparently ok with him because at least I'm making the effort to hide them), he still points it out to me now and then, especially if he sees people staring at me.

So let them stare. It isn't like I'm shoving my chest in their faces and saying "SEEEEE MY NIPPLES AREN'T THEY PRETTY!!!" I liken it to people who have piercings or tattoos or two guys or two girls kissing in public or other things considered "out of the norm" of modern day puritanical white bread american. Being free doesn't mean being free from being offended.

Now if we're at the Country Fair and women are not only going braless but topless, that's ok. Why? It's in an "approved" environment.

When I've pointed out men who have on tight tanks, nipples showing, well that's different. Why? "They have no breasts." Oh please they do too, they're just flat. I mean isn't a nipple a nipple? It is according to the voices I have in my mind. And if he's reading this, remember your quote to me, my love: "I do what the voices in my wife's head tell me to do."

***
We watched the opening ceremonies last night. I wept throughout. I wept because of the potential for peace and harmony is right there within our grasps. I wept as I saw the beautiful people of China giving it their all to the world. I wept as I witnessed the spectacular artistic expressions, the fluidity of the dances, the movements, the creation of beautiful scenes on gigantic canvases using nothing fancy, just the human body and some paint. And those scrolls. The amazing use of scrolls. I wept as I saw the faces of the children, their eyes full of hope.

And then they had to show some shots of Bush and Putin, the Prez of China (name slips my memory) and others and then I felt the anger rise. It's because of bastards like these that peace has continued to be so damn hard to obtain. Bastards like this who can't keep their noses out of other people's rights and freedoms. Bastards like this who think they're some chosen select crowd with the right to dictate how other people should live, eat, breathe, think, speak, etc. etc. I mean really, aren't we weary of their diatribe, of their controlling ways? Don't you think a good idea would be to shoot their asses into that Olympic torch so we could get to work creating peace, without their dark influence?

***
I received our electric bill today. On the back it showed someone obviously lying on a couch, their foot hanging over the side. The quote next to it went something like "Even when you're doing nothing, you're still leaving a carbon footprint." The latest in "green" marketing: "Guilt Advertising." As much as I support living in respect to ones surroundings, I can't begin to express how tired I've become of hearing the term "carbon footprint".

I've grown weary of large energy corporations telling me I need to change the way I live while they continue to control how we power our lives with their backwards, polluting, destructive bullshit means: coal and oil. Oh but wait, they may say. We're now slowly offering more environmentally friendly, sustainable energy sources. Sorry. It isn't enough. Your CEO Empires at the top know we could have had FREE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY by now--FOR EVERY ONE OF US. Why just recently we watched a program on the History Channel on this very subject. A group of scientists showed a model they built based on Tesla's original drawings. It was 30' diameter, 12' tall, with the four pilons surrounding it. When turned on, it generated 12 MILLION volts of electricity, drawn completely from the surrounding air. They're seeking funds to build one that will be over 400' tall. Isn't that awesome???

I wish them lots of luck and send them lots of positive energy. Big Oil and Big Coal will put up a stink from allowing that to happen unless they figure out a way to get their greedy little hands in the mix, which means buh bye to the little energy producers and hello Big Energy. Sure, it may be green but it will still remain in the hands of the Big Dudes.

We were given the Sun, the Wind, the Ocean, Hemp. We were also given Tesla. Let's create sustainable capitalism with these methods. Let's open up the market so that it is, for once, truly free, where the small group of people with the latest ideas aren't forced out of the market or bought out by some large entity who believes the cookies on the table all belong to them and them alone.

***
Speaking of the above comment about being "bought out", our neighbor is a PhD student. He was telling us of some of things he's seen as someone who is in research. It isn't uncommon for someone to have a new idea that would offer up competition for the status quo be bought out and/or forced out by some large corporate entity. That's not to say people should sit back and not pursue that idea of theirs. Just to say that if your idea isn't mainstream and offers competition to the powers that be, you may be in for battle.

***
Dogs are just the best, aren't they?

Where Have All The Bees Gone?

Why, to our backyard of course. Or so it seems. We've seen a fairly large gathering of them on a daily basis, out back and out front. And let me tell you, these beautiful little creatures are busy pollinating like crazy. It's a beautiful sight.

John Edwards Sex Scandal: Some Clarification

So uh, let me get this straight. Some guy who was once a candidate for President got caught boinking another woman and CNN and other media outlets are all over the story, dumping all sorts of sensationalism and tabloid style journalism in the mix, making it the top news story of the day. And yet, Pseudo President George Bush and Real President Dick Cheney can invade a sovereign nation, bomb the hell out of it, lie to We The People about the reasons behind, and in turn they can proceed to rip apart the rules of law in the nation they are supposed to be representing, and engage in all sorts of other illegal activity such as warrantless wire taps, arrests without probable cause and torture tactics, not to mention the spending spree that is forcing our country in bankruptcy while they get richer, the economy that's in a nosedive, the growing wealth of corporations who receive massive tax subsidies for continuing the trend of shipping jobs overseas. And yet, this doesn't receive top news story coverage or in-depth coverage and analysis.

Ok, I get it. Now it all makes sense. Yes, the private life of John Edwards penis is oh so much more important to our security, well-being and health as a nation than all of those petty other things.

Complete Stream of Consciousness

Doing something different tonight. I'm going to thrill you or bore you to tears with a post that is nothing more than stream of consciousness. Whatever goes through my mind in the next few minutes will get put to words, right here.

Looking around the room for some inspiration right now......hmmm....ever tried a yoga ball? I don't mean in a weird, sexual way, I mean ever use one for exercise purposes? They're pretty effective, if you can handle the balance thing. i measured myself today. lost 1" around around my waist. i know this--my back doesn't bother me the way it used to. these things will make your core strong! and for the first time since i was probably a child i have a cut on my upper arms and you know that part under your pit i have a cut there now. i didn't know you could get that. although since i'm pretty muscular for a chick i'm starting to get bulky. i compared myself to my spouse and whew, at least he's still bigger than i am.

Shit, my stomach aches. Burrito for dinner. Bike ride afterwards. Banking online afterwards. gassy food followed by movement followed by ugh activity. there ya go. Saw a really cool cat. Ok, right now I"m having a flashback to some dream I had in 1998. What the hell???

Ever get so mad you want to blow something up? Or at least see and feel something break? That's me when I'm angry. I like to see something destroyed. Usually it's just ripped up paper.

I'm getting tired of this environmental, go-green movement. lots of people in big corporations getting really rich and am i getting rich being green? heck no! I'm tired of movements, period. Earlier today as I headed to the store in my car my spouse asked me, jokingly, about my carbon footprint. I told him me and my AC gas using vehicle said he could shove my carbon foot. Handing him my cloth bag i said you want to ride your bike instead? He declined. Of course. It was 90 degrees outside. Only Olympic athletes and people under 30 can tolerate riding in muggy heat, not to mention the smoke in the air. California, leave your fucking smoke in your own neighborhood, will ya? I love summers, when we have the pacific ocean natural a/c kicking in.

Sinuses are stuffed. Eyes feel heavy. I could be baking oatmeal raisin cookies. or outside looking at the stars. hey speaking of being outside, anyone else hear about the UFO sited over in Bend, then later over in newport? of course the media downplayed it. one of the news anchors, some bimbo named brandi, way too young to really know of anything truly useful to report about, said it was probably a stunt for the x-file movie coming out. wow brilliant. oh so funny. ha ha ha ha laugh til i pee my pants. newsflash: anyone who doesn't believe in such craft needs to crawl out from under their shell. we ain't the only inhabitants in our universe, let alone our galaxy. don'tcha think given that, once in awhile, they pay us a visit to make sure we haven't blown ourselves up yet? or hey, maybe we're teaching them. i'm a bit doubtful on that one though.

dog's barking. she's a great watchdog. i have no doubt she wouldn't hesitate to bite the head off of anyone who attempted to harm us. certainly me given she's been by my side basically every day since we brought her home as a puppy. but it comes at a cost. she barks at anything or anyone that moves. she's sweet and friendly to all we knowingly welcome. to those we don't, she will bark and growl deep in her throat. i like that about her. that is unless she's barking non-stop because someone has decided to stand out in the street and have a conversation with another neighbor. no biggie to me of course. not cool with our little pooch killer here.

bored yet? i am. i think i'll head outside and watch for strange craft. we saw another one a week or so ago. that makes, what, 4 or 5 since living in this particular location. been having the desire to pack up and move. north. cooler summers. canada. sunshine coast is spectacular. it's expensive. of course where isn't expensive? corvallis homes still ain't dropping and i'm tired of seeing run down pieces of shit go for $225,000. for a damn home? please! anyway up north.......means one of my ideas needs to generate a lot of cash. i'm pursuing one right now. even if it means shipping production overseas. i know--bad bad, wrong wrong. but i've been focused on creating wealth and i'll do what i have to to achieve that, even if it means compromising on some things i typically don't believe in. and really, it's my life. i don't need to justify what i do or how i live to anyone. there's too much butting in these days. i'm pretty tired of it, to tell you the truth. like i would like? well maybe sometimes i do lie or, more accurately, downplay things. if i really let loose on this blog, wow. i'd have no readers, save for those who like to peak into the minds of others who are strange and out there. okkkkkkkk.......soooo canada..... they have that health care deal. no republicans or democrats. no buba bush. no obooboo. no mcpain. no upcoming election. honestly. i have no interest in any of that anymore. it's a game. and i quit playing awhile ago. i'm about my own agenda. it is, afterall, my life. enough of this corporate and political shit dictating in any way how i live my life. freedom is what i'm after, however i define freedom for me. in any way i can get it.

i took some quiz that said i'm a girly girl at heart. i stared at the results. and thought what's a girly girl? hmmm. ok, so yeah, i am. i like girly things. i like to giggle. i like to be silly and mischevious. i love clothes, although i don't like the part of shopping for them. uck ick. but clothes yes i love clothes, especially frilly things and peasant blouses i love soft things like that. makes me feel oh so girlie and feminine. i like make up and lotions and pretty smelling things, in so long as they're natural. i remember when i used to do the mall thing and i'd go inside a department store and someone crazed psycho with a bottle of over-priced perfume in her hands would want to spray me. "want to try some inhibition???" she'd ask, spraying me, not giving me a chance to say "uh no thank you." i'd come home smelling all sorts of weird awful chemically things, usually with a headache. i don't like perfume stuff like that. ugh. if i could, i'd roll myself in pure vanilla oil and cinnamon. but then i'd walk around licking my arms all day and i would probably get arrested by someone who thought i was trying to pleasure myself in some weird way, someone who was repressed themselves and probably envious at my ability to just let myself go in public and well ok this is getting strange so i'll close it up. and hey, tummy feels fine now. must have just needed to get some of this weirdness and frustration out of my system. more productive than ripping up paper though?? who knows.

Update: Site Meter Found To Be The Cause Of Internet Explorer Failure

If you were online last night, you likely experienced repeated messages from Internet Explorer, announcing it had to abort the attempt to access select sites. The cause? Sitemeter. Sites with the Sitemeter icon were affected, which given my experience last night and the seemingly odd randomness of the blocked sites, now makes sense. Read here for Sitemeter's statement. The problem has been fixed.

If this happens again, I now know there's an easy fix: Block Sitemeter from your list of sites (ah, if only we had known this was the cause). Or do what I did: install Firefox.

Internet Explorer Weirdness

Something's going on with Internet Explorer this evening. Someone(s)/thing(s) is blocking certain sites, including blogspot sites, from being accessible by IE. So upon suggestion from a friend earlier this evening, we installed Firefox. And hey, it rocks! I won't be using IE anymore.

Something to put in the "hmm" file, something that may be related to this or not...earlier in the week someone(s)/thing(s) attempted to hack into our system several times, repeatedly. An ISP search showed each ISP was out of China.

Are these folks feeling the mounting international pressure over the upcoming Olympics? They already heavily censor the internet over in their own neck of the woods. Are they trying to do the same thing here in the good 'ole US of A?

Who knows?

All I know is I have a cool new toy--a new means of browsing the net. New toys are always fun for awhile. That is until your neck starts to cramp constantly and your right hand (or whatever hand you use to mouse) gets that old man/old woman arthritic look to it. Then it's time to put the toy away, go get some chocolate ice cream and ask the spouse for a neck rub.

Good night all.

Giant Corporations Form Biofuel Alliance

With names like Monsanto and Archer Daniels Midland, well, you just gots to know this gots to be a good thing, right??

Speaking of Ethanol, I recently had an e-mail discussion with local Representative Sara Gelser about my experience with this fuel. I shared with her how the Ethanol clogged our fuel filter, how our mechanic said we will have to replace it every 15,000 miles instead of the usual 40,000, how our car runs more sluggish now, how our fuel mileage has reduced by about 20%, how a representative from Honda Motor Company said Ethanol doesn't have the same BTU's as does regular gasoline and therefore, cars will run more sluggish, and how every single mechanic and gas station owner I have spoken with have had nothing positive to say about the fuel.

Giving credit where credit is due, Sara did look into this matter for me. In regards to my beef with Ethanol, she spoke with the Department of Agriculture about my concerns. Below is her analysis of their response. It's nothing but political speak and crafty dodging of my questions. But as I said, I give her credit for looking into it. Hopefully she'll realize the bullshit writing on the wall and own up to the fact that the Dept. of Ag. is like any other big government agency, full of spin, supported by rich lobbyists who bribe, buy and sell politicians at every level of government. You know, get some guts to go up against the big dudes.

Ah, I can dream, can't I?

Here's some portions of what the D of A had to say to Ms. G about my concerns over Ethanol. My comments are in brackets.

"I spoke with the Department of Agriculture. They told me that ethanol is approved in most vehicles manufactured after 1980-1982 [Wrong. From the information I've gathered, it is approved for vehicles manufactured from 1990 and beyond. Even Honda Motor Company said their vehicles made only from 1990 on were designed to run on an Ethanol mix of up to 15%. Apparently the D of A are also mechanics and mechanical engineers]. They sent a technician’s manual (I attached it for your reference) that states on page 16 that all post-1980 models should not experience problems with 10 percent ethanol [Should not? Or will not? Should implies the possibility that it MAY. And, apparently this sluggish engine, clogged filter and reduced gasoline mileage aren't considered a problem. Or hey, maybe I'm making the whole thing up! In fact, maybe we all are!]."

"The Department agreed with your mechanic and said that cars that experience performance problems after switching to E10 can benefit from a new fuel filter [Nice wording. Nice use of the word "benefit". Nice how they fail to acknowledge you must continuously replace the fuel filter every 15,000 after pumping the E10 into your vehicle.]. A faulty oxygen sensor may be at fault as well [Already had mine replaced.]. As you said, this places a financial burden on consumers who have to make these car improvements [So does this mean if the Ethanol hadn't been introduced, consumers wouldn't have to make these improvements??]. However, it is the Department’s contention that ethanol use does not necessarily cause these problems but simply that cars run best when in good repair [Doesn't necessarily? Again, doesn't that imply that it just MAY cause some problems? Uh huh. If this commentary isn't the epitomy of "it isn't US it's YOU", I don't know what is. So if your car suddenly doesn't run as well after you were forced to put E10 into it, it's probably YOUR fault, not ours.]."

Basically, the Oregon Department of Agriculture isn't going to own up to the problems being caused by Ethanol. They aren't going to be taking any responsiblity in the matter. While I really didn't expect anything to the contrary when I was informed Ms. Gesler would be speaking with the D of A, I don't like the blatant dismissal of my evidence.

Drop Ms. Gelser an e-mail and share your experience with Ethanol. Then tell her you support the use of Hemp and other environmentally friendly, sustainable means of powering our vehicles (and lives). Tell her you're aware of the blockages put forward by Big Oil and Big Energy. Tell her you're aware that we could already be living such a life now. Today. And tell her no more of the finger pointing by Big Biz and Big Government. The shoe of accountability is on their foot.

Bill To Decriminalize A Plant

Whether you love it, hate it, are neutral about it... Whether you've smoked it (or smoked it without inhaling), whether you've never smoked it, whether you smoke it today... Doesn't it make sense to decriminalize mary jane and focus on other things that are actually, oh, I don't know, toxic and deadly?

Uh huh. It's called H.R. 5843.

As picked up on my blog strollin' earlier today...

"Here's a photo of MPP's Rob Kampia and Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) at a news conference yesterday, where we announced the growing support for his bill to decriminalize marijuana possession on the federal level.

The event was covered by CNN, The Politico, The San Francisco Chronicle, Roll Call, Reason, Denver Daily News, and many other news outlets. You can see some of the coverage here, and you can see our video of the event here.

We haven't even made a push for co-sponsors yet, but members of Congress keep coming forward to attach their names to the bill:

Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.)
Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)
William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.)
Barbara Lee (D-Calif.)
Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.)
Jim McDermott (D-Wash.)
Ron Paul (R-Texas)

Imagine what would happen if everyone reading this e-mail alert were to send a letter to his or her U.S. House member asking him or her to co-sponsor the bill too. You can send that letter in about 60 seconds right here.

The “Personal Use of Marijuana By Responsible Adults Act” would eliminate all federal penalties for possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of 1 ounce or less."

Please visit MPP's online action center today and ask your U.S. House member to co-sponsor this legislation.

Polluting Our Oregon Skies

"oh beautiful, for spacious skies..."

Taken earlier this evening. Nice little ploom from a local field burn.

Inconsiderate, short-sighted farmers thinking it's ok for the environment and for the health of individuals to burn their fields. Newsflash: it isn't. I wondered why my throat was scratchy and my sinuses were aching all day today. I heard on the news tonight that the field burning frenzy has begun. KEZI, the corporate-towing MSM pond scum that they are, used a quote by the Department of Agriculture, which essentially said today was the perfect day to burn fields and that the smoke would not drift into the city limits and hence, would not be affecting the populace. Newsflash: It did and it does.

I have a challenge for KEZI and all of their corporate/government ass-kissing media buddies: Interview the thousands of folks who deal with health conditions resulting from these"but it doesn't harm anyone or anything" field burns. Speak with the health care professionals who have testified in front of our own state government of the increase in E.R. visits during field burn days (symptoms including dizziness, asthma and other respiratory complaints). Speak with the medical doctors and read the scientific literature that has proven beyond a doubt that these burns are a health hazard. Then speak with environmentalists who have measured the particulate matter put out by these field burns. Learn of the mega list of toxic pollutants that get tossed into our air. Learn that most of these pollutants DO NOT DISSIPATE, but rather join in with the toxic cloud that hovers over our planet.

Scientists have discovered pollutants from China over Mt. Hood. And yet, the pollutants from field burning don't leak into the surrounding communities.

My ass they don't.

Stop polluting our skies, farmers. END FIELD BURNING NOW. Speak out against this crime against the environment and against the health of thousands of individuals. Write letters to your local and state representatives (Paul Hovey, (D) Eugene is still fighting the good fight to get the practice banned by putting together legislation once again that will be presented in 2009). Mr. N and I have made the decision that unless this practice ends, we will leave the valley. We cannot and will not tolerate living here as long as this is allowed to continue. Grass allergies are difficult enough. But to be confined to your home because someone is choosing to burn the remains of their crop, a practice that is not necessary, simply a choice, a choice which impedes upon my right and the right of all others, to breathe healthy air, is utterly, completely wrong. Come on, Corvallis. We got smoking banned from bars. Nothing tragic happened as a result. Surely we can get the "smoke" banned from our skies.

The Environment, Childhood Memories, Vaccinations and Whatever Else Happens To Pop Into My Mind...

We went blueberry picking over the weekend, shortly before dusk. Why stand in the blazing sun, sweating and exhausted, when you can go just before the sun sets. You avoid the crowds, plus, if you went where we did, you get the chance to experience a spectacular sunset.

This particular place doesn't spray, an absolute necessity for us. Why would anyone dump a bunch of inorganic chemicals and pesticides on berries, anyway?? (Let alone ANY item used for human consumption.) Picking these beautiful, lucious berries, enjoying the peaceful, cool, early evening surroundings, I thought about our fast-paced world, how I long to live on some land, off the grid, outside and away from anything city-like. Just as I thought that, someone in a souped-up vehicle sped past the property at lightening speed, interfering with an otherwise peaceful, serene setting. "Asshole," I thought, wishing the world contained more introspective, quieter types. There are a lot of ways to show off and release energy. Learn a martial arts or learn how to play an instrument. Then perform in public if you need to "show yourself" off. Leave the racing for the race track, away from the quiets of our society, or at least away from me, please.

After this momentary, invasive interruption, I was able to return to the noises of my environment. I suddenly had the desire to record the sounds of the berries making that "thump" noise as they dropped into the plastic bucket. I wanted to take home with me the sounds of the dogs barking a few rounds in the distance. I wanted to remember what it was like to actually HEAR our footsteps on the dirt ground, the crackling of the mulch. ... All of which reminded me to start taking my DVR with me and invest in a hand-held video camera.

As I sampled some of the berries, I could hear the old voices of childhood kicking in, voices of the parental kind. "Don't eat those! They haven't been washed!" "Don't eat too many. You don't want to be selfish!" I smiled as I continued my sampling.

After we had a good load of berries (which turned out to be close to 10 pounds), we went to the place in which to pay. Technically, the place was closed, but for those of us who are night owls and/or don't like the heat of the sun, they have a place set up to pay. An honor system, you might call it. I like that. However, tonight, the couple who own the place happened to be outside in their garage, enjoying the cool of the evening as well as a television marathon of M*A*S*H. I smiled as I told the husband it was my dad's favorite television series. He got up out of his recliner, smiling, saying it was his, too. He also shared he was in the Korean War.

"Hey, my dad was as well," I said.

"Which branch?" he asked.

"Army," I said. "What about you?"

"Marines," he said.

I suddenly wanted to hug him. I don't see my dad that much and sometimes, I long to have him living in town. Sometimes, next door. No matter how old you are, you never outgrow that need to have mom and dad around for love, reassurance, or simple comfort company. Or at least I haven't.

Instead, I thanked he and his wife, said we'd see them next year and wished them a good evening.

***
After hearing from Mr. Nina the number of childhood vaccinations that are now required, I decided to check out the CDC website. Good god. Before the age of 6, children are supposed to receive a total of 32 shots. Thirty-frigging two. I think I had maybe 6. 32??? What in the hell are we doing to our children? Do parents really just willingly go along with this insanity? Some neighbors of ours have an infant. I happened to be chatting with them on the day their little one had received a couple of shots. He had this glazed look in his eyes. I asked the mama if he was ok, as I had never seen him look like that before. She said he was just a little out of it because he had been vaccinated that day. I just took a deep breath and let the urge to inform and share pass. Instead, I stroked his little leg and wished the toxic ugliness disguised as a health benefit would not leave any lasting harm.

Vaccinations. They've done more studies on the effects and necessity of vaccines on dogs than they have on children (in fact, to this date, I do not believe there have been ANY studies done for children). Studies have shown that for dogs, multiple vaccinations are unnecessary and usually, toxic. And some of the vaccinations we inject our dogs with aren't needed. This cart-blanche, one-size fits all approach is nothing short of ridiculous. We stopped the annual vaccinate-at-vets-whim after our dog was 2. The only reason we do the regular rabies vaccinations now is because our vet, against our knowledge AND will, sent the information to the city, which means the city idiots now know we own a dog, something I believe is none of their business. Studies I've read show the rabies vaccine is only needed during puppyhood. After that, the vaccine has been shown to remain in the dog's system for life.

Personally, I believe the best prevention to disease is access to healthy food, plentiful, clean water/sanitation systems (studies have shown that once sanitation systems were introduced, infectious diseases declined sharply--and this was PRIOR to the use of vaccinations) and lots of love. You know what I'm talking about. Honest leaders who truly care for the people. Learning how to love ourselves by dealing with our issues instead of taking them out on others, most especially our children. Basic human rights embraced and provided for all (housing, food, clothing, education, clean air/water, respect). Live and let live mentality.

Love and respect. If those were the values by which our world were run on, we'd have no need to spray our food with toxic substances, nor would we have the need to stick our children (and pets for that matter) with needles full of toxic chemicals.

A Plea For Respect

After reading another round of "Liberals" and "Conservatives" battling it out on a myriad of topics, I am making yet another attempt to ask people to respect one another. What have we told ourselves that somehow makes it okay to insult, attack and toss out names and assumptions to those with whom we disagree? And, most shocking to me, is when is it EVER ok to wish the suffering on others, especially those with whom we have never met, have never harmed us?

We can do better. We must do better. For if there is to be a very rough patch for us to get through in the coming days, like it or not, we will have to get through it together. For if our government is going to continue to neglect our needs and the needs of nature and our infrastructure, we will have to get through this together. Left and right. And everyone in between.

Let's drop the labels. Let's stop the attacks. So someone is a liberal. Who cares? So someone watches Fox news. So what? That doesn't even come close to defining who these people are.

What I'm saying is can't we disagree and debate and still honor, value and respect one another? If we can't, we're screwed. We're truly screwed. And whether you believe your position to be right, if you are not able to respect others who hold different thoughts, you will only be a part of the problem. While I understand the anger and frustration when trying to speak to some about certain things that I may find to be so obvious...while I understand the desire to attack...I know I would rather be part of the solution.

Wouldn't you?

He Said She Said.

While I don't normally post such styles of writing, these are among my favorite types of pieces to write. I'm kind of like a silent observer. I'll quietly watch an everyday event, find the human element in it, then suddenly the words are running through my brain at full-speed, begging to be put down on paper. Several weekends ago, I was sitting on my car out front, basking in the sunshine, watching the going's-on of my neighbors. There was the little 5 year old down the street who was ripping it up in her big wheel. The college-aged boys carrying a cooler to their friends waiting car, hootin' and hollerin' in the way that boys this age do best. And then there was the husband and wife a couple of houses away engaged in that age old dialogue of "He Said She Said". A fight. Several moments of bickering, all in a language foreign to me: Chinese. And yet despite this, I could relate. Even though I didn't know what they were arguing about, some things are universal, among them couples bickering moments. I smiled as I imagined the words being used by each of them. Below is what I put down on paper. Enjoy.
***
Some things are universal.

The sun on your face on a cold winter day.

The sweet taste of watermelon in the blazing summer sun.

And, couples bickering.

No matter the language, no matter the ethnicity or the age, when couples bicker, it always looks, sounds and feels the same.

This afternoon, I witnessed some neighbors, a husband and a wife, engage in this age-old ritual. They're Chinese and speak both English and their native tongue. Today, they opted for Chinese.

Given that I don't speak their language (today, I wish I did!), I could only guess as to what they were fighting about. Whatever it was, the wife was obviously not happy with what her husband was doing with the contents in the trunk of their car. In the classic "male vs. female", "girl vs. boy" style of communication, here is my interpretation of what was said.

Wife: "What are you doing?"

Husband (mumbling): "Huh? Oh, just moving this around."

Silence follows. Then:

Wife: "You're doing it wrong."

Husband, throwing her a quick glance of 'huh?': "No I'm not."

Wife: "You are too. I told you not to move that to that spot."

Husband, still showing that look of confusion: "No you didn't."

Wife: "Yes I did. I most certainly did!"

Husband: "You did not!"

Wife: "Did too! You NEVER listen to me!"

Silence. Husband goes about his business.

Wife: "See?? You're still doing it! Watch it! Be careful! Hey, don't do THAT!!"

Husband remains silent, still goin' about his biz.

It's important to make note of something here. Husband has been moving this whole time, engaged in his activity. The wife, on the other hand, has remained in one position, the only body part moving being her mouth. Also worth noting is that for every word spoken by the husband, at least 5 words are spoken by the wife.

On we go.

Wife: "Oh good lord, do you even KNOW what you're doing??" She finally makes a move. "Here, let me do that..."

Husband pulls back, grabs whatever object it is they're arguing over and holds it up in the air like an actor holding up an Oscar: "Look DEAR, you need to just back off and leave me alone, ok? If you don't..."

Wife, interrupting: "Oh, knock it off, honey."

Husband interjects: "I'm not finished talking!"

Wife stands back: "Ok then, if I don't leave you alone, you'll what." This time her arms move into a folded position across her chest.

Husband looks at his wife, shakes the object a couple of times, likely for effect and says nothing. Now, I couldn't see this, but I swear the wife likely rolled her eyes. She then walked away, into the house, shaking her head. Husband then goes back to his business.

And on and on goes the dance of the sexes, the occasional drama of our interactions. Whether we're babbling out our control issues in English, Spanish or Chinese, inside we're all the same; a group of adults with 5-year-old mindsets during times of conflict, trying to figure out and survive the complexities of our connection.

Peacetrain

Check out this beautiful video and pass it around. Put the humanity of yet another innocent civilian population being targeted for war into the hearts, eyes and ears of every single individual.
As the warlords beat the perpetual war drum against Iran, it is we the people who must write our representatives and make it clear: You authorize a strike against Iran and you're out. Fired. Done. There's the door, don't let it hit you in the ass on the way out. Finished. Period.

We must make it clear. You fucked up with Iraq. Do the same with Iran and your career is over.

It's time to grow up. Grow the fucking hell up and stop this insane, endless chanting we do as a society that says we know what's best. For all of the bullshit cries of "Freedom" are just that--bullshit. How can we possibly claim to support freedom when we impose our will on other nations?? Nations have the right to nuclear technology. They have the right to run their nation as they see fit in so long as they aren't imposing their will on other nations.

No, we don't support freedom because we don't have it, we don't understand it, we don't even know how to live it here in America. We impose our will on one another constantly. Straights want the gays back in the closet. Libs want the Repubs to shut up and conform to their way. Repubs want the libs to shut up and conform to their way. Religious folks want the non-religious to repent and convert. The non-religious folks want the religious folks to shut the fuck up with their religious views. Smokers want the right to smoke wherever they want. Non-smokers want the smokers to go away all together. Us vs. them. Fight fight fight. Yell, scream, insult. All of this energy expended and NOTHING gets accomplished in the process. Well, nothing positive that is. Insults and attacks. That's what we do. And I'm sick of it. Sick of reading god damn blogs that do nothing but that. Sick of seeing this shit on the news. Sick of seeing it in movies and on tv shows disguised as entertainment. Sick of seeing it in my own personal life. Live and let live already! All of this fighting and insulting and criticizing doesn't solve a damn thing. It tears apart any possibility of a free country. And what gets ignored are basic, authentic human needs--needs which we all share.

No, freedom isn't in this country. It isn't anywhere that I can see. Just like peace, it starts with us, in our own hearts, our own actions. As Americans, we need to understand freedom for what it is and live it. Until we get that, we need to shut the hell up about spreading freedom to other nations. That's right. SHUT THE HELL UP AMERICA. And listen to the words of Peacetrain. Get it. Incorporate it into the psyche, the heart, the soul, the mind. See the pictures of people just like you and I, same needs, same desires, who simply want to live in peace and be left alone. Can we do that? For once, can we just admit our control issues like enlightened beings do and instead of attacking someone because we want something they possess, whatever that is, because we disapprove of someone's actions or beliefs even though they are causing us no harm, etc. etc.....can we just STOP doing this and walk away? Look inward? I know we can do it!

What kind of a planet will this be to reside on, above ground or under ground, if we continue to poison the soil, the air, the plant life with war? What kind of a planet will this be to reside on, above ground or under ground, if we continue to poison one another with our insults and criticisms and judgments?

Peacetrain. Get on it. Now. And try out this experiment. Next time someone is attacking you, criticizing you, give 'em a hug. Or just smile and send them a blessing. And don't forget to do the same for yourself when you criticize yourself. For that's where this all starts--with ourselves. And when we stop criticizing ourselves, the desire to criticize others fades away.

heh. And I thought I had nothing to say lately. :)

Plethora of Ponderings

This should tide any readers over for awhile. In no random order, the following are thoughts that have run through my mind the past week or two.

*There was a bit of blogging activity on the celebration of the 4th of July. Some opted to celebrate, others not. To me it's about choice. What good does it do to insult and/or criticize those who opt to celebrate or opt not to? I happen to like watching fireworks--the illegal kind that is. I don't care what the day is. There are so many things that are done daily that harm the planet. Those are more important to focus on, in my opinion. Reminds me of that saying: Choose your battles wisely. And despite knowing what's going on around the world and the ugly things being done in this country's name, well no, let me rephrase that--the ugly things being done in this government's name, I still opted to recognize the day. I focused on the world I'd like to see. I spent a lot of the day talking and hanging out with neighbors. I figure I put out more positive energy that way than if I were to have spent the day pissed off and depressed.

*I certainly wish employers would raise their wages to reflect the 25% plus jumps in food and energy.

*I had a discussion with someone who thought inflation was hovering around 2-3%. When I explained the myriad of methods the government uses to determine these rates, and that the one used today does not include food and energy...that the real inflation is at or above 10%... well let's just say I helped open up a few channels. And I did it calmly and respectfully, just presented the facts as I knew them and left them to decide for themselves.

*Speaking of, we need more of that. We need more respect and less criticism. We need to honor the journey's each of us are on. We need to be very careful about sharing and make sure we aren't imposing our will on others. So much of what we think is based on our experiences and our perceptions of said experiences. For example, I never gave thought to poverty until I lived it. Now I'm ready to give thought to wealth. :)

*Some say the economy's going to crash. It may and it may not. It is certainly in a huge state of flux due to a variety of factors, many of them of the controlled kind. Doom and gloom are everywhere it seems. However, we have power. We can rely on one another. We can barter if the dollar collapses. We can use our skills to trade services. We can pool resources and live in communes if need be. I guess what I'm saying is that WE CAN BE OK. No matter what THEIR agenda is, never let that cloud YOURS. Let's start living from love. Today.

In The Garden

Doesn't this picture calm you?

Yesterday I planted some new flowers to replace the ones that are done for the year. Don't ask me the names. I've since forgotten. I've never been one to pay attention to such things. I just pick what looks pretty and smells sweet. Anyway, so in the middle of my planting, this beautiful butterfly began flying all around me. It would then land on this group of dianthus (ok, so I know the name of this particular flower in my yard). Let me tell you, this beautiful creature was really digging this particular flower. It kept flying off only to return moments later. This went on for several minutes. As a result, I was able to snap several shots. One of the flowers I planted is said to attract hummingbirds. I've noticed the occasional hummingbird fly by, so I'm hoping this plant will help draw them to the yard and ensure they will stick around for awhile. Again, don't know the name. It has small, deep purple bell-shaped flowers and prefers the shade.

Our tomatoes are taking off, with the one early plant showing signs of about a dozen little fruits. The beans were looking fairly small, that is until I learned our particular variety only grow to a little over a foot in height, which means they're doing just fine. Two of the plants are producing beans. I counted today and came up with 7 beans. Enough for half a person, one meal, I figured. The sunflower plants are looking amazing and seem to double in size each week. I've already had several harvests from our salad mix. I think the neighbors are getting tired of me knocking on their door and saying "pleasssse take these!" I had my first basil harvest over the weekend and opted to freeze them.

Today, while out and about, I silently blessed each person I encountered. Felt wonderful. I read where one of the best ways of loving oneself and then loving others is to stop criticizing everyone, ourselves included. It's one of those phrases that caught my attention and has stayed with me. I think it's doable. And necessary if my desire is peace for myself and for all. I'm still not sure how to apply that to the Hitler's of the world, so for now, I'm keeping the concept small and simple. Some day, I'll be able to bless such folks and really mean it.

Yawn.

Not much to say lately. Or perhaps the thing to say is lots to talk about, just no real desire to share it. I've shifted focus, away from all of the games of chaos of the world and back to my own inner world. I arrived at this mental state where I thought..."That's their agenda. It's time to work on my own." Actually, it was due to a conversation I had with someone unknown to me that triggered this change.

All of the blogging and reading up on the happenings wears on me if I'm not careful. It's one thing to read about it. It's one thing to talk about it. It's another to carry that emotional state with me throughout the day. There is certainly enough of that fear state. I'm dedicated to ridding myself of that so that I can instead feel and share the true power of who I am.

I'm beginning to think that an informed citizenry isn't enough. An informed and positive citizenry is where the power is. That's self empowerment.

Mainstream Media Manipulation

The folks at Yahoo put out this piece from the AP. It says things are spiraling out of control. It says the rugged individualism of our spirit as a nation is being challenged.

And that's where the article stops. Of course. Nothing else is added. Nothing added for hope. No call to action. And certainly no accounting for the real perpetrators.

Here's where I pick up on it and add the truth and reassurance so many of you, so many of us, are looking for.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Burned out? Frazzled? Confused? Afraid? That's ok. It's to be expected. In fact, if you aren't feeling this way, I'd question what in the hell is wrong with you.

It's all, largely, been controlled and planned to be this way. As far out as that may sound to yet some of you, don't you think if our leaders were really concerned about our best interests, about our concerns, there would be plans in place...YESTERDAY... to:

1) Lower the cost of energy.

2) Lower the cost of food.

3) Reign in this out-of-control health care crisis.

4) Replace the millions of good wage jobs that have left this country.

5) Reign in this out-of-control profiteering.

6) Put an end to corporations who rape the land with their deplorable farming practices, then once the land becomes uninhabitable for vegetative growth, they move on to the next space.

7) Put an end to the massive subsidies given to farmers that, for starters, require them to grow food but then give them subsidies to DESTROY the food.

8) Reign in this globalization trend that ruins lives, abuses workers and destroys our planet.

Please feel free to add your own.

Let's all take a deep breath and say the following affirmation, together, three times.

Government does not care about me.

Government does not care about me.

Government does not care about me.

Feel the rage that comes up. Feel the sense of betrayal. Feel the pain. FEEL that victimhood. Own it. Then use that anger to DO SOMETHING. Big, small. Doesn't matter. DO SOMETHING. Even if it's to educate yourself more on the going's on.

Research things like weather control (HAARP) and manipulation. Research Montsanto and the massive influence they have in farming. Research things like chemtrails. Or better yet, just pay attention to the skies above and watch how some of those little poofs coming out of planes turn into strange looking clouds that spread out and leave unnatural looking streaks in the skies. Learn about the blood lines of our political leaders. Read up on the on-going plans for globalization. Follow some of the links on nina's favs to get more information.

As the Yahoo article states, our sense of independence and self-reliance is being challenged. That is the silver-lining in all of this chaos. In all of this controlled ugliness, we have the chance to realize WE NEED ONE ANOTHER. It's HEALTHY to need each other, to depend on each other. And sadly, part of the sick brilliance of the System is to focus us away from our feelings and instead, focus on our Left Brain, the logical, rational, scrutinizing, judgmental part of our being. While the left brain certainly has it's place, we need a balance of left and right. Our schools fill our left brain with knowledge and facts. Creative tasks that encourage right brain activity are grossly missing. Free thought is encouraged only so long as it isn't too far out in right or left field.

One of the most ugly things to me is the field of psychology and human behavior, ugly in how at it's core is the motto to help people, and yet what it really does it quiet people. We have seen huge increases in people labeled with such supposed "illnesses" as depression, anxiety, mood disorder, personality disorder, ADD and ADHD, rage disorder. Today I see such things and say well it's about TIME! Not that I agree these are disorders, but it's about TIME people start exhibiting such behaviors. I believe this to the absolute core of my being, but overall, I believe the vast majority of folks labeled with such things are the brightest, most sensitive, intuitive, intelligent folks on the planet. Angels, we are. Folks who know something's up, something's not right. Folks who know this planet could truly be a paradise. A glorious, beautiful, wonderful paradise. Folks who know THINGS DO NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY (contrary to what we're told by both well-meaning and ill-meaning individuals). In short, we're labeled "fucked up" because WE KNOW THINGS ARE FUCKED UP. And when we know that, even if it's a deep knowing not yet embraced by the conscious mind, we exhibit all sorts of symptoms the field of psychology and now mainstream society, says must be quieted in some way. Usually in pill form. May I introduce to you the Pharmaceutical Company to the rescue?

I recall a conversation once with a psychologist I was seeing at the time:

"The world, the System, is really fucked, you know that?" I said.

"Yes, it really is fucked," she said, agreeing with me, not mocking me.

"So then, I'm really here to be comfortable in my own self so that I can go out into the fucked up System and function like everyone else, right?"

She paused for a few moments before saying: "You can say that."

I told her perhaps her field of experts needs to be doing more to heal those controlling the System instead of making all of that money on the System's victims. She could only look at me.

I think that's the first time in my life I've ever felt a real sense of power. I had discovered a truth. And I had opened up the eyes of someone in power.

Pay attention to your feelings. For there you will find something that bypasses both of the brain's hemispheres. There you will find the truth of that part of us that is connected to that source even more powerful than all of the world's corruption combined.

So yes, things are chaotic right now. Don't let the controllers tell us there's nothing that can be done. Even IF the weather isn't being manipulated right now, the technology exists and has for decades to do just that, so there's no reason the weather cannot be manipulated to be bring us more stable climate conditions. And all of these levee breaks would not have happened if this nation's infrastructure had been properly maintained, which it has not been. Finally, the MSM came out and cited a study (done 3 plus years ago, btw, but hey, these folks move like molasses sometimes) by a group of Civil Engineers that gave our nation's infracture a "D". Food. Hmmm. There's plenty of land space to grow enough food to provide for us all. It's being mismanaged. Think the elite are suffering? Hell no. That alone speaks volumes.

One thing I've learned: Whenever some elite business or government leaders tell us it is we, the little people, who need to change, QUESTION THE HEAVEN AND HELL out of that statement. And then pay close attention to see if that individual is doing one of the following:

1) Profiting off of said changes we are to make. And/or
2) Not doing a thing him/herself to change his/her lifestyle.

If so, KNOW you're being lied to and manipulated. Once we swallow that pill, we can go about the business of creating the kind of world we want. The kind of life we want. Together. Black, white, brown, yellow. Male, female. Young, old. Straight, gay. Rich, poor. Left, right. Religious and non-religious. Get beyond the petty crap and judgments and we will discover we ALL desire to LIVE AND LET LIVE. We ALL desire to have fun, joy, connect, play, laugh, discover, experience, learn. We ALL desire peace. Our needs are all inherently the same. If you get anything out of this piece, it is this sentence above all else.



Paradise. NOW.

It's possible. It's always always always possible.



What do you want?

Oklahoma Uses 10th Amendment. Declares Sovereignty.

Looks like Oklahoma gave themselves a big dose of courage. Every other state needs to follow their lead.

Ethanol Is Not Our Friend, Folks

I noticed on the Corvallis weblogs page that no one had clicked on my previous post on Ethanol. Why not, I wondered? Probably because there are a lot of well-meaning progressives and environmentalist types who have fallen for the ethanol game. And typically, when someone has a differing pov from the left side, you're labeled a republican, conservative or some other "right leaning" label.

There are a lot of flex-fuel vehicles in this little city and so I can understand that folks don't want to give up on their Ethanol usage. However, I ask them to consider the idea that shouldn't we get to choose which fuel we put in our cars? What about those of us who don't have flex fuel cars?

Come on, Corvallis! Do your research on Ethanol. Talk to gas station employees and owners. Talk to your neighbors who have older and old model vehicles. Listen to us as we say our gas mileage has dropped considerably. Hear us when we say our cars run a bit rougher. Then join in and make your voice heard by e-mailing Representative Gelser: rep.saragelser@state.or.us and say you support a Bill that reverses the previous decision to mandate Ethanol and make it what it once was and should be: a choice.

Corvallis Residents: Let's Get Ethanol Out Of Our Fuel Supply!

For those of you who believe as I do, who know Ethanol is bad for our wallets in that our fuel mileage is reduced, bad for our cars in that Ethanol has a lower BTU burn rate and clogs up our fuel filters, bad for the environment in that the energy used to create this product is ridiculous, not to mention it does not burn cleaner than regular gasoline, then please contact our local Representative in Salem, Sara Gelser. You can e-mail her at: rep.saragelser@state.or.us and ask her to please reverse the decision that was made in Oregon to mandate the use of Ethanol in our fuel supply. I recently received her newsletter and she is asking her constituents for Bill Ideas. She was quite pro-active when I asked her to pursue legislation banning the use of field burning.

Even if you are undecided on the use of Ethanol but don't like the fact that our choice has been taken away, that this has been forced on us without public vote, please e-mail her.

If you still aren't yet convinced, remember all of the corn crops that have been wiped out recently. Then ask yourself if your pocketbook can take that kind of an additional hit.

I tried finding local stations that are still selling regular unleaded, ethanol-free fuel. I couldn't find any. Stations in Oregon have until September to make the change. And every single gas station employee I have spoken with agree: Ethanol clogs up filters on both vehicles and pumps, which means more frequent filter changes, and reduces fuel mileage.

Someone tell me again why Ethanol was such a spectacular idea??

OSU Commencement Gives Rise To Contemplation

As I watched the grads sitting there all in black, roasting in the early afternoon sun, I thought back to my own graduation. I don't even know why I went. Probably because I had family coming. All I wanted was that piece of paper so I could get the hell out. 16 plus years of being part of the educational system was enough for me. I wanted to go out into the world and be free!

Little did I realize that the world was even more controlled as was the education system. Free thought? A joke, unless you supported the status quo/the way things are. Freedom of choice? Not really. The truth as I discovered was freedom to choose from a limited number of options. In short, I was told "No" a lot; and my personal favorite "sorry, that's just how things are."

I looked at these young faces, some looking bored, some looking tired, others smiling. But in all of their faces I could see one thing: Hope.

College is a sort of security blanket. And when venturing out into a very unforgiving system, I wondered how many, like myself, will suddenly start to miss that security blanket. Some will find a place to fit in. Other's won't. That's how the system has been designed. Success for some, certainly not for all. Self-empowerment certainly has it's place, in that it can keep you believing in yourself and fighting for the life you envision for yourself. However, it isn't enough.

Isn't it time for something new? Isn't it time for true freedom? Isn't it time for unlimited options for all? Isn't it time for so many of these archaic, draconian laws and rules to be abolished so that those who want to live a life different than the status quo are given the freedom and support to do so?

Sliding scale fees on all goods and services. A belief system that embraces all as equal and worthy. A myriad of housing choices. Bartering. Government's sole role being to ensure "the system" provides basic freedoms such as ownership of land and house, education, health care, clean air and water, healthy, abundant food. In short, all of our needs are provided for and met, through our own efforts and through the efforts and assistance of others. A world where no one goes without. It's possible. It's possible when there's hope.

Which is why my wish for the graduates is to never lose sight of that starry-eyed optimism, to never lose sight of hope. If they're not careful, the system can crush it. Keep the hope alive kids!

Democrats and Universal Health Care: A Sign Of What's To Come

Since it appears Obama will be the next appointed, er, elected president, we need to be aware of the consequences of his HELLth insurance plan, which will mandate parents insure their children. While adults won't be required to buy into a plan (as Hillary's plan did), you can bet that eventually, this is the direction we will be heading. Read here for what happens to you in Massachusetts if you refuse to buy a HELLth insurance plan. Government pays a little visit to your wallet.

I say "ROCK ON" to those 5% of folks who simply refused to buy into the private HELLth insurance fiasco. Peaceful non-compliance, baby! While the Republicans want to keep the private HELLth insurance companies alive and viable, their option of HELLth care reform to offer tax incentives to americans to help make HELLth insurance more :::choke, cough cough::: affordable, the Democrats like to shower us with the flowery, feel-good phrase "Universal Health Insurance", which simply means ALL WILL BE COVERED BECAUSE WE SAY SO.

Both parties towing the line of the status quo, keeping the free-for-all market economy going at the expense of all who aren't at the steering wheel.

Weather Weirdness

Have others noticed the change in the sun's location? In the past year, Mr. N and myself have noticed it is setting more to the north, Mr. N noticing it rising more to the north (I haven't noticed this only because I'm not one to be awake at dawn). I've read some articles the past year or two about a polar shift occuring. This seems to add up to the possibility, the probability, that we have shifted southward. However, given the cooler temps we've been experiencing since last fall, both during the day and at night, the idea of a tilt towards the southern pole just doesn't make sense.

So what else is going on?

How much of this is natural and how much of this is controlled? Chemtrails? Sun cycles? HAARP Technology? Human-caused pollution?

All, I believe, are factors and this global warming/global climate change debate is not focusing on enough variables for our current weather situations. But then again, it's much easier to tax us and control us by saying global climate change has one singular component and that is you and me and the CO2 we put out into the atmosphere so, in turn it is we the people that must make the drastic changes in how we live by guilt-tripping us into giving up our cars and spending double the price for organic foods and buying hybrid cars and installing fluorescent bulbs etc. etc. etc. please feel free to insert the latest guilt trip...all the while focusing the attention away from the biggest polluters and consumers--big biz and the elite--but that's ok--they can buy into that carbon tax b.s. to alleviate their supposed guilt. Not that driving less and buying healthier foods and owning smaller vehicles that consume less fuel and installing more energy efficient things in our home isn't a good thing. It becomes suspicious when it's surrounded by government and business (and all of their sponsored scientists) fanfare and manipulative marketing. Especially when such folks ride around in Limosines and private jets and live in 5-10,000 square foot homes while owning 2 or more "vacation" homes. I mean come on, doesn't their credibility on this issue kind of smack in the face of hypocrisy?

Anyway, I digress...Polar shift is definitely not getting the attention it deserves/needs. All anyone needs to do is pay attention to the sun and hopefully, recall from past years its location in the sky.

Meteorlogical computer models are based on weather patterns that simply do not (seem to) exist anymore, hence, weather forecasting has, overall, become a bit of a joke. As Mr. N likes to joke: "I'd love to have a job that paid me $100,000 a year, where I would have no pressure on me when I messed up time and time again." Today for example, it was supposed to be 80, warmer than yesterday. At noon it was 62. At 5pm, 73.

These folks can't predict 24 hours ahead anymore.

And given meteorologists cannot give a forecast that is authorized by the national meteorlogical (that is a really difficult word for me to type for some reason) association, which is simply a government organization, it will likely take some time before forecast models are updated. After all, they were several years behind in finally acknowledging global climate change. Although quite often, the term that is used today is "really weird, really unusual weather pattern".

Not really. Just the new way that mother nature is behaving. The reasons are likely many, the discussion and debating will go on with the real truth likely getting lost for some time.

Ethanol And Your Car: Are The Two Compatible?

Want to know if that Ethanol you're being required to inject into your car (in Oregon that is) is damaging your vehicle? Check out this link to find out if your car is compatible. Many are not, mine included. I'm mad as hell about it and demanding our state officials return to the days when it was a choice or compensate me for another vehicle and a way to retrofit the vehicle so that it is compatible.

I'm surprised more people aren't mad as hell about this as well. Of course if it doesn't impact you, I guess why bother getting all riled up. And yet, this is yet another move by the government to take away OUR CHOICES and FREEDOMS and as such, should upset us all.

If You Believe In The Rapture But Your Friends Don't...

Fear not. For $40, you can leave them messages after you've disappeared, trying one last time to convince them of their desperate need for salvation and to claim the love and judgment of Jesus Christ. You read that correctly. Someone who has been a non-believer for decades can suddenly, in a flash, out of absolute fear and terror, authentically, purely, wholly and sincerely embrace an entirely new set of beliefs. Rather doubtful, huh. And I would think, being Jesus is supposed to be all-knowing, he'd be able to see through that rather forced attempt at redemption, right? What happens then? Sorry dude, it's into the firepit for you.

Once the rapture occurs, this website's fail-safe system will send out your messages automatically to your loved one's left behind via e-mail. Of course, there is a short window for the rest of us sinners to be "saved" and enter into the kingdom with the rest of those who vanished into thin air. After a few days or so, all hope is lost.

I wonder if there's a money-back guarantee. Say the rapture doesn't happen in your lifetime. I'd want my 40 bucks back. I also would think that if there is this rapture event, it would knock out electrical grids, rendering the use of e-mail null and void. I guess the rest of us would really be screwed then, huh?

Oh so sad how so many have been manipulated this way through fear. One one hand I laugh, but in my heart, I just feel sad. As I've seen in my own family, this sort of mind-control works on even the most intelligent, rational of folks. But that's the ugly, dark side of fear. Used enough, and especially if one was parented through fear and threats and is thus used to complying to such tactics, it's quite effective. In this case, sadly and terrifyingly effective.

All I know is that if I see Bush and Cheney lining up to go with Jesus, I'll wait for the next bus trip.

Website as lifted off of piglipstick's bloggo.

On Marriage And Household Chores

Mr. N has decided, with some gentle prodding from me, to improve his cooking skills. He's great at grilling. He is even more brilliant at opening up a box or can and dumping the contents into a pan and turning on the heat.

All of this means I do 99% of the cooking on non-bbq days, which amount to at least 300 of the 365 days. And if I do say so myself, I am quite the cook. Or shall I say I have become quite the cook over the years. In other words, Mr. N is very pampered in this regard.

At first he hesitated until I told him that if I could go from burning ramen noodles and pork chops to learning how to cook 7-8 course meals for 13 people, all on my own, (I actually did pull that off--twice--whereby I fell asleep during the meal but hey, I was told the food was outstanding), then he could expand on his cooking skills as well.

Tonight's meal was homemade pizza. A fairly good place to start. While I made the dough and pizza sauce, he gathered the rest of the ingredients together and put it all together. It went quite well, if you don't count the pornographic image that appeared as he rolled out the dough, giving him a good chuckle. And, well, there was also the moment where, for some reason beyond my own imagination (and the laws of physics) he somehow got pizza sauce all over his shirt, the stove, the countertop and wall, whereby he suddenly (after insisting he did not need my help) wanted my help (which at first I refused--in all my years of cooking no one else but myself has cleaned up my own cooking messes--but then caved and helped him remove his shirt and brought him a clean one, and ok, pointed out to him some of the spots of pizza splatter he missed).

Once the mess was cleaned, a new t-shirt put on and the pizza in the oven, I jokingly said now he was ready to move on to a 3 or 4 course meal. He said "No problem. It can't be that difficult."

Anyone else but me giggling in anticipation??

Lavender: A Distant Relative Of The Cannabis Family?

Actually, the correct term would be the cannabaceae family, which is where over 150 species of plants come from, including cannabis.

I can just see it now. "Lavender: The New Gateway Drug!"

Funny Fudge Made With Lavender, Not Pot.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University police say brownies a girl gave to dorm workers didn't contain marijuana at all. The leafy substance mixed in was lavender.

IU Police Capt. Jerry Minger said the 13-year-old girl came forward after the case was publicized to let officers know the brownies were safe. The fudge was given to workers at IU's Eigenmann Hall on May 23 and police were called after one of the employees took a bite and noticed a green, leafy substance inside.

The girl gave some of the lavender to police for a field test, and Minger said it registered a "weak reaction" on a test for marijuana.

Job Titles We'd Like To See For Certain Individuals

Counselor For The Developmentally Delayed:
George Bush. We figure at the very least, he'd be able to relate to them at the language level.

Grave Digger:
Dick Cheney. Given it's his (sick and twisted) mission to see to the deaths of millions, we figure he may as well be preparing their final resting place.

Detective:
Osama Bin Laden. No one else in the western world can seem to find him, dead or alive. Maybe he can find himself.

Maximum Security Prison Guards:
The Schoning's, owners of the local Red Door Properties. Even though they belong in jail given their on-going deplorable treatment of their renters, this will likely not happen given their financial status, so the next best step for them is to work side-by-side each day with the nation's psychopaths.

Kindergarten Teachers:
Members of Government and Corporations. These folks have forgotten the basics like sharing, cleaning up your own messes and apologizing when you've harmed another. Perhaps by returning to the classroom, with the help of their students, they can relearn these very basic traits of good human behavior.

Housecleaners:
The Elite. It's time they learn what it's like to clean and upkeep their massive complexes. You know that basic kindergarten rule as mentioned above. Clean up after yourself. Uh huh.

No Kissy Kissy For Homosexuals In Seattle

At least at Safeco Field. And in front of uninformed heterosexual parents who would rather hide from their own fears and discomfort rather than explain the realities of life to their children. It's all so unfortunate and quite a silly fear. Kids can handle a lot more than people think. Keep it simple and straightforward. Don't over-react or add in a lot of unnecessary emotion and the child will likely simply shrug and think "oh, ok" and go about his/her business.

I would be more concerned with having my child witness ball players who chew tobacco or get upset over some call and have a fit on the field. And I would think it would be a little more difficult to have to explain the dysfunctional complexities of the class system, which come into play at sporting events. For example, those high class special stadium rooms.

"Mommy, why are there people sitting in that room behind glass? Why are people waiting on them like they do at restaurants?"

"Because they are wealthy, dear."

"What's wealthy, mommy?"

"It means they have a lot of money."

"How do they get the money?"

This is where the difficulty comes in. Mommy must explain that some people work and make a lot and others work and make very little while others inherit their money. The child will likely go on to ask if they can get some of that "money" so that they can sit in the room. Mommy will have to explain that not everyone can work and make that kind of money and not everyone will inherit a large amount of money. She will have to explain how the System works and will likely blow it all off in frustration, claiming "that's just the way things are!" while telling the child to go back to eating his hot dog.

The young child will never fully understand.

Orphaned Uganda Child Working 12 Hour Days Breaking Up Rocks Just To Survive

This story really haunts me. I've been brainstorming ideas to help out in some way. Anyone have any ideas or interested in helping? Perhaps, at the very least, finding some way to send money to him every month?

Stephen Batte works in a quarry under the blazing sun, chipping rocks into gravel with a homemade hammer. It's tiring, boring and dangerous. Stephen is 9 years old, and has been on the rock pile since he was 4.

"Life has always been hard here," he whispers, carefully positioning a sharp rock before striking it with well-practiced accuracy. "But since my mother died, things have been much harder."

Hard to read. Hard to stomach. And he isn't alone.

The Real Agenda Behind The Government's Need To "Obliterate" Iran

Obliterate, as used by Hillary. Or McCain's forever tarnishing of Barbara Ann with "Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran." It's all about fulfilling biblical prophecy, for both the Jewish and Christian religious extremists, both of whom claim Israel is the chosen land as given to the people of Israel by God. The Jews are still waiting for their Messiah while the Christians are awaiting for the second coming. And you can't really have that in all of it's biblical authenticity with all of those pesky Arab's around now, can you? (Forgive me for my sarcasm when referring to the possible death of millions of innocent, beautiful human beings. I certainly do not mean any disrespect. This on-going agenda is just all so ridiculously mind-boggling to me.)

I used to live next door to someone who was very well-versed in Middle East History. He told me there was on-going political and religious posturing and policy-making that would lead to one thing: a war between the Christian and Arab worlds. This was over 10 years ago. Even though at the time I didn't quite believe what he said (I was still in my religious/political slumber), his words stayed with me, or that part of me that knows better than to believe the words of the status quo. Today, I believe he is spot on. It's already well underway.

Let me say this one more time with feeling for the fence sitters. The Bible, the Koran, insert-religious-text are nothing more than words on paper as written by people. Look at them as ancient blogs. Who is to say what is "god" inspired or not? Who is to say what I write is not "god" inspired? You can't. Not with any definitive truth. It's silly to even argue such a thing that is not, never has been and never will be "winnable". It's all belief. And beliefs change with life experience. Some of us find that our beliefs become more simplified and lessen in terms of numbers as we search to reconnect with ourselves. Today about all I believe is that we can have paradise; that this is what love calls us to do. Create. Not destroy. Share, not steal and hoard. Accept, not judge or preach.

If enough believe in something and give it energy and action, there will be a consequence that supports that belief. Knowing that, don't you think it's beneficial to focus on peace and love (you know, those pesky little traits the religious texts speak most of, but are blatantly ignored at the most convenient of times) instead? Accept. Respect. Want for everyone else what you want for yourself--happiness and peace. The freedom to just be you. However that looks--in so long as the result doesn't take away the freedoms of another. (Gotta add the compromise caveat. Or maybe it's just a "remember to love" caveat.)

MUST READ: Movement To Boycott Tillamook Products

I first saw this referenced on the local craigslist and decided to read the report. It's appalling, but not all that surprising. This sort of "good ole' boys" (or as I call it today "the dick and tits club") bully mentality has permeated and tarnished the business world for decades.

That being said, there's something you and I can do. Notify Tillamook Creamery (use the 'contact us' icon at the top right) and let them know: unless they clean up their act and until they allow this farmer to return and fire and/or discipline the inspector who was making sexual advances on another (female) farmer, we won't be buying their products. Or say whatever you wish.

We can make a difference with our shopping choices.

One Thing That Must Change...

Here's the scene. You've been lucky enough to make it into the world of entertainment (either through having a family member in the business and/or pure luck). You decide to write a book or create a CD. Maybe start a line of clothing. You put the idea out to the world. And what happens? You have book publishers/record labels/and whoever is behind the scenes in the fashion world knocking on your door with contracts and cash.

Nothing really inherently bothersome about that. But the reality is, such situations, where it is only really the name that will sell rather than any real talent, is that this leaves out too many others who are equally if not more talented but who don't have the recognition/fame or contacts.

For those of us who have inherent gifts in the creative arts, most will never make a living at it. And it's largely due to the business folks behind the scenes whose sole and I mean sole focus is on money. It's a deeply, deeply frustrating painful experience with so much unnecessary struggling.

For those celebrity types who are breaking into these fields, it would be refreshing to see them bring along gifted unknowns with them. Sort of like the herd of celebrities who adopt and make a big deal out of it, claiming anyone can do it, when the reality is, adoption is a hellish process that will nail you in the pocket book for thousands of dollars. Many many families simply don't have those funds. It would be the kind thing to do, ok... even the moral thing to do, to put aside some of the interest they generate on their millions and donate it to families who do want to adopt, or even have one of their own, but due to finances, are unable to. To me, there is really no greater tragedy than the folks who want a child oh so deeply but simply cannot afford one.

I guess this comes down to generosity. Sharing. Peaceful societies, peaceful communities do that. Peaceful people want to see everyone succeed. Peaceful people see the value and worth in every person. And peaceful people know that unless all have the equal chance at living the life of their dreams, then there will not be peace. There will be division and despair.

We have enough of that already. Let's not allow one more ounce of that energy to permeate our world.

Wednesday Ramblings

Primary:
It's over. Surprised Merkley took the spot over Novick. I voted for neither. However, of the two, I had hoped and just assumed Novick would take the crown, especially after Merkley's absolutely ridiculous ad with he and his young daughter, a child too young to understand the complexities of the issues Merkley is addressing. And besides that, using your child to garner votes? Please.

Of course this leaves Merkley to challenge Smith. Makes me want to draw up bumper stickers reminiscent of the "Anybody But Bush" dumper sticker days, only insert "Smith".

Obama of course took Oregon. I've been a bit surprised at his turn around. All along, since day one, I've felt Hillary would go all the way. Well, nonetheless, it appears as though we'll need to make some "Anybody But McCain" bumper stickers.

Not to sound too encouraging, meaning not to sound as though I still believe in the system, I still know the candidates who make it to the top are puppets for the corporate agenda and are appointed.

Health Care:
Yikes. Have you heard some doctors are now charging their clients a retainer fee? That's right. Regardless of whether or not you actually see the doctor for a visit (which as we know, can take 6 weeks plus just for a basic appointment), some doctors are now charging fees just to make sure you stay on as a patient. The fees go as high as several hundred dollars. On top of the outrageous premiums, deductibles and those oh-so-fun moments when the HELLth Care Company decides, for no good reason, to deny you coverage so you have to pay that bill on your own, to put a retainer fee on patients is an outrage. Perhaps understandable in those situations where this is due to doctors who take primarily medicare patients, where doctor reimbursements are typically only 80%, it's still an outrage. HELLth care in this country is broken. Done. Finished. Time to boot the corporate fuckers to the curb. Let them go without. Stand in line at the food banks. Let them sweat how to afford food, shelter and medications on the pittance of today's wages.

Growing Our Own Food:
We visited the local farmer's market today. Aside from being a bit surprised to find out produce was really no less expensive than going to the local co-op, we did pick up some wonderful veggie starts. I've decided I no longer care about the homeowner's opinion. I'm going to dig up some grass, make a raised bed (somehow) and plant some squash and potatoes. I spent part of the afternoon tenderly planting these little ones. There's something oh so wonderful about planting your own food. It gives you a sense of, well, self-sufficiency. I highly recommend anyone and everyone to do this. Even if you don't have a yard, many veggies grow just fine in containers. In fact, so far, each of our veggies is in containers and will remain so during the growing season. I placed them on a table though to keep the slugs away, or at least give the slugs one hell of a challenge. One of the vendors at the market told us the usual: put out stale beer. So we'll give that a try as I am insistent on keeping inorganic chemicals out of our food and yard. We checked out some indoor units that allow you to grow year-round inside. We may just invest in one of those at some point.

Oil:
$133.00. Per barrel. $200 by years end.

For all of the talk, at times enthusiastic about the cost going up, enthusiastic because it would cause people to get out of their cars and walk, bike, use public transportation, this is not something we should be cheering. At all. We're a petroleum-based economy, like it or not. And while we need, neeeeeeed, to be creating alternative sources of fuel (HINT HINT HINT: HEMP HEMP HEMP) like mad NOW NOW NOW, we need not be finding this encouraging news for the SUV drivers, etc. This effects us all. It's one of those situations where "trickle down" really does work. However, like "trickle down", the only ones who reap the rewards are those at the top.

Wishing for the suffering of others isn't peaceful. And it isn't sustainable. As tempting as it is to wish for those at the top to suffer (and trust me, I get in these mindsets just like you and most everyone else), we're either truly all in the same boat or we're not.

Irresponsible Pet Owners:
While I was doing my gardening today, I headed out front to get some sticks to use as stakes. Once I opened the fence, I was greeted (and startled) by a young black lab mix, who barked at me timidly and aggressively from several feet away. I had seen this little one before, about 8 months ago, when she was just a puppy. At the time, she wasn't as aggressive, but was instead quite timid. And very hyper. At the time I was able to coax her over to me, put her inside my fenced yard and somehow managed, in between all of the insanity of jumping up and down all over me, to get a phone number off the dog tag. One of the owners showed up--a young college student, male. He was very appreciative and seemed quite worried. I told him they needed to be very careful given we live near a fairly busy road. Keep her confined at all times and due some leash work. I also mentioned she could use some training (which is a funny term considering it is the owners who really receive the trainin) and more food. She was so skinny, you could see her ribs. That's not always unusual with young pups, but I thought to mention it anyway.

So today, this young lab was back. She was just as skinny. And as mentioned, much much timid and certainly had that air of aggressiveness. She seemed to be much more frightened of Mr. Nina (who had come out to join me at this point) than she did me. Someone, likely male, has obviously abused this poor thing. Or shall I say abuses. And it absolutely breaks my heart and puts me in this internal rage where I want to beat the shit out of anyone who could mistreat such a beautiful creature. Once she saw me, once she realized I was not going to be intimidated, she ran off, stopping to look back at me. So, I sat down in the driveway and watched her. She ran to a nearby neighbors yard and began sniffing around, looking over at me now and then. I slowly followed her, walking casually, watching my inner energy so that I gave off the feeling of calm and assertiveness. I wanted to let this dog know she did not scare me and that I, as the human, was in charge. That and I was not going to hurt her.

I sat down on the sidewalk and watched her. She would look up now and then and bark, although in time her bark was more quiet, less aggressive. Her tail was no longer between her legs. She would get closer to me and then back off. Unfortunately, she never did get close enough so that I could get a reading on her tag and I certainly didn't want to make any sudden movements.

In time, she took off through a fence and did not return. Maybe she will. Maybe she will come back and decide to trust--even for a few seconds--so that I can find out where these owners live and make it clear: Train your dog, feed it and love it or else I'm going to report you. Or perhaps I will just do that anyway. Although the idea of this poor thing being hauled off by animal control and some idiot at one of the kill shelters deciding she isn't "adoptable" (which is an absurd concept since EVERY SINGLE DOG AND CAT is rehabilitatible, unless it is of course so sickly it is dying--I'm talking behavior) is a concern of mine.

It's easy to think "oooh, puppy! How cuuuute!" But that cuteness quickly turns to annoyance for some pet owners. In time, it can turn to neglect and abuse. Just like having a child, not everyone is fit to be a pet owner, at least at the offset. For you see, we all have the capacity to love, protect and nurture, and as such, we can all be guided, trained/educated and, most important of all, supported to be a parent, regardless of what it is we parent, chosen or not.

Government Economic Indicators Do Not Reflect Reality

Especially for those of us in the middle and lower incomes. Ridiculous it is to the point of being criminal that some of these government indicators "conveniently" leave out fuel and food costs. Reading this, however, produces one of those "uh, duh" moments. Nothing too surprising.

People can only take so much. There will be some sort of a revolution, hopefully peaceful. People will say "enough" and begin to pull back from the system of enslavement and instead create a way of living that is fair and equitable and supports freedom. I see it happening already. I only hope it will be an all inclusive movement. What tends to happen is the poor tend to be left out. Hopefully my voice will help ensure this doesn't happen.

Only 3 Words Needed

It's fucking hot!!

Are We Beyond Hope? Pulling Off The Mask.

I was reading through the comments on a local gazette-times page. Adults were engaging in dialogue of utter self-entitlement, casting insults at one another, some trying to convince the world our modern day version of capitalism is fair for all, some resorting to proclaiming because they use their real name online their opinions are more valid. Then there was the usual right vs. left/left vs. right bantering.

Honest to all there is, is there really any hope left for us as a species? Life could be so much more beautiful and wonderful for us all if we could just take moments to reflect before we speak; if we could remember that we are all a part of this planet, every one of us, young and old, rich and poor, black, white, red, brown and yellow, gay and straight. We all have value and worth that is inherent. It's simply there and cannot be cast out, removed, forced or opined away. And to live freely, to live in harmony and in respect with those and that around us means we can do whatever we want in so long as we aren't imposing our will on others and interfering in the freedom of another/others/that which is around us.

That last sentence kind of takes the zing out of the self-entitlement part.

The System has us by the throats, filling our minds with all sorts of opinions disguised as truths about you and I and who we are and how we should be and how our worth and value are defined. And we swallow this from birth and believe it to varying degrees. And in doing so, we disconnect ourselves from our own worth and value and thus, from others too. The end result is an us vs. them mentality. I engage in it when I point at the System creators, or at least those who willingly and knowingly go along with the agenda. And yet I also know in my heart, in those moments when I release my anger and just feel the empty sadness of all of the unnecessary behaviors and actions that we humans engage in, that the System creators and die-hard supporters engage in...I know in my heart I am witnessing a beautiful soul that is lost inside a mind-controlled machine.

Some say money is the corruptive source. Others say greed. Self-entitlement.

I believe, I know it's memory lapse, a (temporary) forgetting of our inherent nature, which is the result of the systemic mind-control permeating our culture. We "forget" the most important things about who we are, or we only share these important things about who we are with those we have been told we can trust--family, close friends. And as such, we wear masks out in the world. Masks of power. Greed. Self-entitlement. Pull off the mask and you'll see a frightened person who is, at their core, feeling lost. Keep it off and in time, you'll see the memory of the true self, the forgotten self, take hold again.

Removing the masks. This is the way to inner peace. And inner peace is the way to world peace. For once you are at peace with yourself (and we've all had moments), you suddenly care about everyone and everything. You feel the connection again. And in feeling the connection, the urge to harm is nowhere in your realm of reality.

Global Cooling?

Ok, before I'm accused of being a climate change denier, Republican or being a big oil insider (if I were, I wouldn't be sitting here at this out-of-date computer on dial-up--I'd be living it up in my vacation home in Hawaii), let me again reiterate we're dumping too much toxic crap into the air we breath and big business needs to remember the lesson taught by mommy and kindergarten teachers: clean up after yourself. We need cleaner running vehicles (water, solar or electric powered) as well as different means of powering our lives that aren't solely dependent on oil and coal. We need big business and their elite supporters to be more responsible with resources. Etc. etc. etc. Yadda yadda yadda. Blah blah blah.

That being said, I continue to find some strong evidence to show the planet is in a cooling period and that the sun/solar activity is, in large part, responsible. Read this fmi. Information as gathered by non-oil industry folks and other unbiased scientists. You gotta admit. This global warming campaign/debate has been great for business and gives the government another excuse to tax and regulate us even more. Plus, it's a great guilt inducer for the little people (while for big business, it's "business as usual").

As a side note: Anyone see Hillary's ad about her support for going green and how this means getting big oil to invest in cleaner, newer technology? NO NO NO NO, I thought. RED FLAG ALERT RED FLAG ALERT!! Encourage small, private businesses and individuals to create and implement the technology. Insane policy. Hillary's idea is like assigning a professional criminal a new job without rehabilitating the criminal.

Profiting Off Of Hunger

Multi-national Food Thugs Reign In Record Profits While Their Customers Go Hungry

This absolutely proves these people are without a soul, without a conscience. Of course, we already know that by now, don't we?

Privatizing Our Water Supply

Reclassifying water as a commodity? Read on fmi.

In Search Of Intelligent Life This Political Season

Ok, so I admit it. I actually opened my voter's ballot (surprised was I that I was indeed still registered and updated). I skimmed through, knowing full well I have no intention on casting a vote for the presidency this primary season, but still interested in the candidates looking to kick Gordon Smith to the curb. Steve Novick caught my eye several months ago. I decided to check out his website. See what he has to say on some of the issues.

Needless to say, I exited the site feeling let down. Disappointed. Once again we have a progressive candidate who sounds oh so good and damn, he almost gets that home run up at bat, but just doesn't go far enough. (Before I begin though, I want to say that I like what he has been accused of saying about Clinton and Obama. Clinton, he said, is a traitor. And Obama, a special interest sell-out. When I heard these things I could only think "Ok, and??" Whether these are accurate statements or, as is most likely, were taken out of context, they still hold truth in my book.)

Take this bogus war on terror. Novick is still under the illusion religious extremist muslim terrorists attacked us on 9/11 (from Saudi Arabia, but still muslim extremists none-the-less). He still thinks buildings fall in that manner when on fire. He still believes a bunch of young men, never having flown huge commercial jet liners can suddenly go from flying little prop planes (and not very well according to their instructors) to commercial jets.

He talks about raising the national minimum wage but falls short of eliminating this ridiculous minimum wage nonsense and instead, demanding a living wage for all workers (back in the 1960's, the minimum wage WAS a living wage). He talks about encouraging communities to build more "affordable" housing and yet as seen here locally in Corvallis, these affordable housing units were not affordable for low income families. Affordable housing means anyone working a minimum wage job can afford to own his/her own home. Period.

He talks of how incomes haven't kept up with the cost of living "these past few years". Try the last few decades, Steve. The war on the middle class began in the 1970's. By the time I came of age in the 1980's, a typical office job wage was not enough to buy a home, let alone rent a nice apartment. In the 1960's, the opposite was true.

He also supports Wyden and Edwards "you will be required to buy health insurance" plans for health care reform. His reason for being against the single payer system? It would put too many people out of work. My response to that is, quite honestly, big fucking deal. These people he is talking about are criminals, for they deny coverage, they deny treatment, and therefore allow people, unnecessarily, to die every single flipping day. I have no sympathy for anyone who willingly and knowingly works for the HELLth care system and suddenly finds themselves without work. And honestly, this is a valid reason? They can't come up with some program to help these dislocated workers?

Again, a good start to some issues in desperate need of transformation, but in the end, doesn't go far enough. And we need that "far enough" yesterday.