I have been reading a lot about how Hurricane Katrina showed the need for government. I say this is a completely wrong read on everything. What we actually need is a complete purge of our government. What we need is our own velvet revolution to oust all the incumbents and create a new third party.
What Katrina has showed us is that our Federal Government is now totally corrupt from top to bottom. No amount of money or investigative panels will do anything. No, I now agree with the conservatives, we need to starve the Federal Government. And, we need to replace all of them. In fact, I should run, and I would with the following plank; I will do what my constituents want and I will do it cheaper! I would be happy to be a Senator at 2/3 pay. As such I will make it easy and transparent to see what I have to vote on and how you want me to vote. In other words, I will represent you and not the lobbyists. Ok, enough of my dreams, and back to Katrina.
Would more money to the government help? NO!. These morons would just use it for more panels, more lobbyists, more pork and never would they really try to be frugal, efficient and competitive.
What do I receive from my Government besides a federally sanctioned protection racket? What do I get for my taxes? Health insurance? NO. Safe bridges, levees, and railroads? NO. Stupid inspections by the fascist pork of homeland security? YES. I say it is time to change our government. Yes it will be hard, but our future depends on it. How can we be a sustainable country when the corporations have complete control? Is that freedom? Shoot, if something is free and enjoyable, you know darn well our corporations/government will try to find a way to make it illegal, taxed or as a friend said recently... state sanctioned fun. YUK!!!! Where have we gone so wrong? Well trashing the gold standard during Nixon was a start.
Now we all have to pledge allegiance to the lie of 9/11. Perpetual war which means perpetual peace, which means perpetual income to the connected.
Well, at this point all I can say is buy gold.
Yes, I know I was all over the place today, but it's early, I have to go, and I needed to say something today.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Thursday, August 18, 2005
If only he had accepted....
I remember, I don't if it was the Mike Wallace interview, or an interview I read in a paper, but, Saddam Hussain actually had offered a duel with President Bush. Well after reading about another four of our great soldiers being blown to bits, I can't help dwell on the fact that this war could have been over in a day if only our strong, courageous, chickenhawk president would have accepted. Not only would there have been hundreds of thousands of lives saved, hundreds of billions of dollars saved, but think of the ratings!
This could have been the mother of all reality shows. Think of the preparation, the practices, the pomp and circumstance around this great event. Maybe it could be held in a neutral country like Switzerland. By the way, how is it that Switzerland can be neutral? Oh yes, that is where the banks are, but then I digress.
Think of the buildup and the interviews. Think of the great cheering sounds as these two great warriors walk into the arena. Would the chants of BUSH, BUSH, BUSH drown out those of SADDAM, SADDAM, SADDAM? Think of the quiet as these two men listen to the referees tell them the rules as we strain to hear and see their reactions as they steely gaze into each other. The tension would be great, and now a break from our sponsor, Viagra.
Ok, we're back and after a brief jostling the two leaders went back to their spots to get one last brief remark of encouragement and to remember to be patient, calm and aim. The two nervously rock back and forth when finally the whistle is blown and the men must move to the center circle with their backs to each other. The cameras pan the crowds, shift to closeups of each face, showing the men before the possible final moment. Quick to the split screen effect as the second whistle blows.
The leaders start their walk of twenty paces each. This little fact alone took over three months of negotiations between the parties. Saddam wanted ten and Bush wanted a hundred. Rumors floated of a cia agent marksman planted somewhere in the stadium, however, security was tightest for this event since ... well since I boarded the airplane to come here.
Step by step they walk with the cameras closing in, five steps, ten steps... You can feel the tension. You see the tension. Quickly we cut to a mother holding a US Flag closer to her hearty, next we cut to an Iraqi mother holding her child so close to her heart. This is it everyone. In a moment this great war will be decided... 15, 16, 17, they hold their guns like they held their babies many years ago,,, 18, 19, 20..... BANG! BANG!
The war is over.
This could have been the mother of all reality shows. Think of the preparation, the practices, the pomp and circumstance around this great event. Maybe it could be held in a neutral country like Switzerland. By the way, how is it that Switzerland can be neutral? Oh yes, that is where the banks are, but then I digress.
Think of the buildup and the interviews. Think of the great cheering sounds as these two great warriors walk into the arena. Would the chants of BUSH, BUSH, BUSH drown out those of SADDAM, SADDAM, SADDAM? Think of the quiet as these two men listen to the referees tell them the rules as we strain to hear and see their reactions as they steely gaze into each other. The tension would be great, and now a break from our sponsor, Viagra.
Ok, we're back and after a brief jostling the two leaders went back to their spots to get one last brief remark of encouragement and to remember to be patient, calm and aim. The two nervously rock back and forth when finally the whistle is blown and the men must move to the center circle with their backs to each other. The cameras pan the crowds, shift to closeups of each face, showing the men before the possible final moment. Quick to the split screen effect as the second whistle blows.
The leaders start their walk of twenty paces each. This little fact alone took over three months of negotiations between the parties. Saddam wanted ten and Bush wanted a hundred. Rumors floated of a cia agent marksman planted somewhere in the stadium, however, security was tightest for this event since ... well since I boarded the airplane to come here.
Step by step they walk with the cameras closing in, five steps, ten steps... You can feel the tension. You see the tension. Quickly we cut to a mother holding a US Flag closer to her hearty, next we cut to an Iraqi mother holding her child so close to her heart. This is it everyone. In a moment this great war will be decided... 15, 16, 17, they hold their guns like they held their babies many years ago,,, 18, 19, 20..... BANG! BANG!
The war is over.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Corporate Cynicisms
I was looking at site when I noticed a picture of some Malaysians walking down a downtown type street with air masks on due to the amount of "haze" in the air. Right there and then it hit me. The corporates have finally achieved capitalistic nirvana. They can sell you the air you breathe! Now, mind you it isn't exactly the air, but its even better... it's the old razor and blade trick. They have to now buy air masks with changeable filters. Plus think of the possibilities, pink masks, blue masks, rainbow masks, even iMasks with built in music players. Isn't progress great?
They already have programmed us for water. Such a simple and insidious plan. Pollute the waters and air and then sell it back filtered. Amazing, and we just love it too. We can't seem to buy enough of these bottles. Filtered water from Fiji?!, Hawaii, even New Jersey. A few more years of burning oil everywhere is sure to make the filter companies eager with anticipation.
Like I always said, "If you can't make money with it, make it illegal." Maybe I now should add, " or pollute it."
They already have programmed us for water. Such a simple and insidious plan. Pollute the waters and air and then sell it back filtered. Amazing, and we just love it too. We can't seem to buy enough of these bottles. Filtered water from Fiji?!, Hawaii, even New Jersey. A few more years of burning oil everywhere is sure to make the filter companies eager with anticipation.
Like I always said, "If you can't make money with it, make it illegal." Maybe I now should add, " or pollute it."
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
This Year's National Rainbow Gathering of Light
It is time that I now write about my experiences this year at the Annual Rainbow Gathering of Light in Richmond, West Virginia this past Fourth of July. Before I go on, I would like to publicly thank the Mayor of Richmond, West Virginia, the Honorable Robert Henry Baber ("Bo Henry"). I actually had the honor to sit and dine with him and learn much about Rich-wood and West Virginia in general.
Bo Henry has a five year plan he created to revitalize this nestled community within the most gentle and fertile mountains of the east. It is realistic and I pray that it becomes successful. There are some great houses there for very little and a community could be instantly bootstrapped into a thriving artistic retreat if it catches on. Nonetheless, I can say with due respect that West Virginia this year was the most inviting rainbow experience ever. A far, far cry from the last gathering in West Virginia. Truly the crowning moment was when we saw a wonderfully created rainbow banner emblazoned with our motto "Welcome Home"! Welcome Home indeed and thank you Mayor Bob Henry for your comfortable hospitality in welcoming our great diverse family.
Now on to the Gathering we go. First off there is the drive. I love driving to the Rainbow Gathering. After 27 years of Rainbow Gatherings I can "feel" the presence and this year was no exception. Even with the feint and switch of locations we managed to arrive spot on.
Parking this year was a cinch as there were three entrances to the gathering. There was a bit of griping about Bus Village being adjacent to the Main Meadow. Well, I for one, being the Elder that I am, really appreciated the short hike to our base Kitchen, "Instant Soup".
These mountains of West Virginia were wonderful. They are 3,200 feet above sea level and are actually quite steep. This made for the long way or the hard way at this years gathering. In fact, after the first rain one hard way turned into a mud sliding, rope saving, mad adventure. Of course I had to do it with Ramona in hand.
Speaking of Ramona she performed excellently I must say this year. Nary a fall, scratch or misfortune betook her which was quite a bit different than other years when I truly feared for her life. Of course she had her usual admirers. Many wanted to know all about her. At 76 years of age I guess I could understand, it being a novelty of sorts.
Those West Virginia mountains were great. There were pure springs everywhere giving forth pure spring water from the mountain rains purified through the loam and rocks of those mountains. These mountains were mostly comprise of a slate. Lots of flat rocks to create floors, stoves, ovens, Bliss Pits and more. Mad digging Shitters especially frustrating. Speaking of which, BARF's Shitter was the best ever. Two closely spaced logs secured and leveled to the ground. Wide enough for business yet narrow enough for containment. They were all six Rainbow Colors for their design and implementation.
Yet this was not their only contribution/invention. They came up with the best trash system seen to date. They used clear bags suspended between two ropes. Thus there were four clear bags in a row with the ropes spaced a foot apart to keep the bags open. This allowed one to see the level of trash and to know exactly where and how their trashed should be deposited.
One of my personal highlights was the honor I was given to umpire a whiffle ball game between BARF (Boston Area Rainbow Family) and NY Purple Gang. Well the rivalry between these great Baseball cities even found its way to the Rainbow Gathering. Past attempts at competitive play have failed miserably. The reason is quite clear actually. Baseball is the perfect gentlemen's sport. It is surely the most non-contact of team play. This fits in quite well with the Rainbow philosophies of Instant Karma, freedom, family and support. Baseball being comprised of a team of specialists mirrors the fascinating colors of humanity when stripped of money and pretense. I gained a new found respect for Baseball.
Right off the bat BARF sent in the girls. These two sisters were beautiful and came bearing their love and their gifts. They were quite persuasive and almost had me there enticements but fortunately I came to my senses quickly and called a fair and controlled game. Who won you ask? Well no one actually. The game was called on account of rain after 5 1/2 innings so it was unofficial. I look forward to next years game.
All this talk of sports and activity has made me wistfully think of our great Kitchen, Instant Soup. This year Instant Soup rose to a new level by not only creating a wonderful stove but also our first oven where we created everything from foccacia to cookies. We really dished out the soup, breads and nugs in general. Instant Soup you rock! However, I do have to give some kudos to Dunkapoo for delivering to us some incredible three risen eclairs freshly baked at their kitchen and then hand delivered to us at Instant Soup. Wow were they incredible.
Some of you may be wondering what is my infatuation with the annual Rainbow Gathering and what it is all about. Well first off let's dispense with the usual right now. An annual Rainbow Gathering is comprised of approximately 10,000 people. There is no one in charge or responsible. It just happens. It is held in a different national forest each year and has allowed me to visit almost 20 states so far. At a Rainbow Gathering money is useless and none is needed. There is no one marketing, selling or tempting you in anyway and this alone truly refreshes the mind. Drugs you ask? Yes, let's face it there are drugs when you get 10,000 people together. However, I must admit that this year, since it was held in the east, there were none of the western growers to share their bounty so nugs were not nearly as abundant. There is bartering at a Rainbow Gathering. This occurs at the Trading Circle. This year I went to setup my little rug, lay down my wares and to trade a bit. I learned a very quick lesson. I am a musician and not a trader. I realized that every time I wanted to just get up and play a song I was soon glancing over at my little blanket worrying about someone stealing my bits! Now mind you, I have never, ever, had a problem with someone taking my stuff. I have left my guitar out many times for anyone to use and was always respected. I guess the moral of this story is that possessions truly start to own the possessor. Like that old song said... "When you got nothing you got nothing to lose", or "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose", or some such phrase, song, psalm or whatever. Nonetheless it is true.
Drugs and alcohol, the scourge of society is interestingly exposed at a Rainbow Gathering. Alcohol is definitely looked down upon and in fact is very much not present at the Rainbow Gathering. Marijuana is usually prevalent and so are different psycho-tropics. Alcohol is limited to the "A" camp which is usually on the outside of a gathering. Now, if we take off our corporate/governmental blinders and just observe the people one immediately sees that alcohol and tobacco are dirty, dangerous and ugly while the rest is harmless, happy, and even loving. There is almost no crime, litter, or fighting at a gathering unless you are at "A" Camp where things can get awfully scary when people start getting real drunk. Well, I guess this just goes to show you that the powers at be prefer us scared, dangerous and out of our minds versus peaceful, happy and with an alternative consciousness. They just want us as sheeple and nothing more.
The next thing that becomes very obvious is what the lack of money does for mankind. It makes everyone relaxed, useful and truly a neighbor. Also, since everyone needs to help out in order to truly appreciate the experience, the rich and poor alike start mingling and enjoying each other. It is truly a miracle and makes me pray and thank G-d that much more. However, like everything else, people have to start to differentiate themselves so immediately you get the Jerusalem camp, the Jesus camp and the Krishna camp. Unfortunately I did not see an Islamic camp.
Well that is all for this years annual gathering of the tribes. I surely played and sung more than I had all year and the brother, sisters, and elders all enjoyed my musicianship. I also met and played with some wonderful musicians and artists.
We loooooovvvvvvvveeeeee you,
-jimijon
Bo Henry has a five year plan he created to revitalize this nestled community within the most gentle and fertile mountains of the east. It is realistic and I pray that it becomes successful. There are some great houses there for very little and a community could be instantly bootstrapped into a thriving artistic retreat if it catches on. Nonetheless, I can say with due respect that West Virginia this year was the most inviting rainbow experience ever. A far, far cry from the last gathering in West Virginia. Truly the crowning moment was when we saw a wonderfully created rainbow banner emblazoned with our motto "Welcome Home"! Welcome Home indeed and thank you Mayor Bob Henry for your comfortable hospitality in welcoming our great diverse family.
Now on to the Gathering we go. First off there is the drive. I love driving to the Rainbow Gathering. After 27 years of Rainbow Gatherings I can "feel" the presence and this year was no exception. Even with the feint and switch of locations we managed to arrive spot on.
Parking this year was a cinch as there were three entrances to the gathering. There was a bit of griping about Bus Village being adjacent to the Main Meadow. Well, I for one, being the Elder that I am, really appreciated the short hike to our base Kitchen, "Instant Soup".
These mountains of West Virginia were wonderful. They are 3,200 feet above sea level and are actually quite steep. This made for the long way or the hard way at this years gathering. In fact, after the first rain one hard way turned into a mud sliding, rope saving, mad adventure. Of course I had to do it with Ramona in hand.
Speaking of Ramona she performed excellently I must say this year. Nary a fall, scratch or misfortune betook her which was quite a bit different than other years when I truly feared for her life. Of course she had her usual admirers. Many wanted to know all about her. At 76 years of age I guess I could understand, it being a novelty of sorts.
Those West Virginia mountains were great. There were pure springs everywhere giving forth pure spring water from the mountain rains purified through the loam and rocks of those mountains. These mountains were mostly comprise of a slate. Lots of flat rocks to create floors, stoves, ovens, Bliss Pits and more. Mad digging Shitters especially frustrating. Speaking of which, BARF's Shitter was the best ever. Two closely spaced logs secured and leveled to the ground. Wide enough for business yet narrow enough for containment. They were all six Rainbow Colors for their design and implementation.
Yet this was not their only contribution/invention. They came up with the best trash system seen to date. They used clear bags suspended between two ropes. Thus there were four clear bags in a row with the ropes spaced a foot apart to keep the bags open. This allowed one to see the level of trash and to know exactly where and how their trashed should be deposited.
One of my personal highlights was the honor I was given to umpire a whiffle ball game between BARF (Boston Area Rainbow Family) and NY Purple Gang. Well the rivalry between these great Baseball cities even found its way to the Rainbow Gathering. Past attempts at competitive play have failed miserably. The reason is quite clear actually. Baseball is the perfect gentlemen's sport. It is surely the most non-contact of team play. This fits in quite well with the Rainbow philosophies of Instant Karma, freedom, family and support. Baseball being comprised of a team of specialists mirrors the fascinating colors of humanity when stripped of money and pretense. I gained a new found respect for Baseball.
Right off the bat BARF sent in the girls. These two sisters were beautiful and came bearing their love and their gifts. They were quite persuasive and almost had me there enticements but fortunately I came to my senses quickly and called a fair and controlled game. Who won you ask? Well no one actually. The game was called on account of rain after 5 1/2 innings so it was unofficial. I look forward to next years game.
All this talk of sports and activity has made me wistfully think of our great Kitchen, Instant Soup. This year Instant Soup rose to a new level by not only creating a wonderful stove but also our first oven where we created everything from foccacia to cookies. We really dished out the soup, breads and nugs in general. Instant Soup you rock! However, I do have to give some kudos to Dunkapoo for delivering to us some incredible three risen eclairs freshly baked at their kitchen and then hand delivered to us at Instant Soup. Wow were they incredible.
Some of you may be wondering what is my infatuation with the annual Rainbow Gathering and what it is all about. Well first off let's dispense with the usual right now. An annual Rainbow Gathering is comprised of approximately 10,000 people. There is no one in charge or responsible. It just happens. It is held in a different national forest each year and has allowed me to visit almost 20 states so far. At a Rainbow Gathering money is useless and none is needed. There is no one marketing, selling or tempting you in anyway and this alone truly refreshes the mind. Drugs you ask? Yes, let's face it there are drugs when you get 10,000 people together. However, I must admit that this year, since it was held in the east, there were none of the western growers to share their bounty so nugs were not nearly as abundant. There is bartering at a Rainbow Gathering. This occurs at the Trading Circle. This year I went to setup my little rug, lay down my wares and to trade a bit. I learned a very quick lesson. I am a musician and not a trader. I realized that every time I wanted to just get up and play a song I was soon glancing over at my little blanket worrying about someone stealing my bits! Now mind you, I have never, ever, had a problem with someone taking my stuff. I have left my guitar out many times for anyone to use and was always respected. I guess the moral of this story is that possessions truly start to own the possessor. Like that old song said... "When you got nothing you got nothing to lose", or "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose", or some such phrase, song, psalm or whatever. Nonetheless it is true.
Drugs and alcohol, the scourge of society is interestingly exposed at a Rainbow Gathering. Alcohol is definitely looked down upon and in fact is very much not present at the Rainbow Gathering. Marijuana is usually prevalent and so are different psycho-tropics. Alcohol is limited to the "A" camp which is usually on the outside of a gathering. Now, if we take off our corporate/governmental blinders and just observe the people one immediately sees that alcohol and tobacco are dirty, dangerous and ugly while the rest is harmless, happy, and even loving. There is almost no crime, litter, or fighting at a gathering unless you are at "A" Camp where things can get awfully scary when people start getting real drunk. Well, I guess this just goes to show you that the powers at be prefer us scared, dangerous and out of our minds versus peaceful, happy and with an alternative consciousness. They just want us as sheeple and nothing more.
The next thing that becomes very obvious is what the lack of money does for mankind. It makes everyone relaxed, useful and truly a neighbor. Also, since everyone needs to help out in order to truly appreciate the experience, the rich and poor alike start mingling and enjoying each other. It is truly a miracle and makes me pray and thank G-d that much more. However, like everything else, people have to start to differentiate themselves so immediately you get the Jerusalem camp, the Jesus camp and the Krishna camp. Unfortunately I did not see an Islamic camp.
Well that is all for this years annual gathering of the tribes. I surely played and sung more than I had all year and the brother, sisters, and elders all enjoyed my musicianship. I also met and played with some wonderful musicians and artists.
We loooooovvvvvvvveeeeee you,
-jimijon
Monday, June 27, 2005
Things are getting HOT!
And, I am not talking about the weather either. Today, when I did my morning scan of the world at large through the lenses of various physical and electronic portals, I came to the conclusion that something very bad is about to happen.
The things I base my latest apocalyptic emotion on is China's unabated expansion into Venezuela, a hard-liner conveniently elected in Iran, the daily temperature of Baghdad hitting 115ºF and the announcement of the military to acquire and create new atomic weapons.
This all adds up to one thing to me. Perpetual war at an ever increasing rate. This can only be accomplished by another big event. I hope I am wrong.
The things I base my latest apocalyptic emotion on is China's unabated expansion into Venezuela, a hard-liner conveniently elected in Iran, the daily temperature of Baghdad hitting 115ºF and the announcement of the military to acquire and create new atomic weapons.
This all adds up to one thing to me. Perpetual war at an ever increasing rate. This can only be accomplished by another big event. I hope I am wrong.
Friday, June 24, 2005
New form of Matter Invented!
Just wondered how this fits in the evolution vs. creationism vs. intelligent design debate? Seems to me that everytime we invent something from our dreams we creationists. Now put our little creations together into something that is useful and we are intelligent designers, finally, have someone improve on the design and we are evolutionists.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
George Bush and The Pope
At this point I don't see much difference between the Vatican and George
Bush. Even George originally uttered the word "Crusade". And, just like the
people before us we all sit here without a chance to make it different. Soldiers
are hired, hundreds of thousand women and children die and the nobility
parties onward tossing some bread and circuses our way. Oh, yes and along
the way throw 'em a patsy or two to keep them hopeful.
Let's face it we are all sinners here so we all need to move onward towards
a new enlightenment. I suspect December 21st, 2012 will be the start of that
new consciousness. ;-)
- j -
Bush. Even George originally uttered the word "Crusade". And, just like the
people before us we all sit here without a chance to make it different. Soldiers
are hired, hundreds of thousand women and children die and the nobility
parties onward tossing some bread and circuses our way. Oh, yes and along
the way throw 'em a patsy or two to keep them hopeful.
Let's face it we are all sinners here so we all need to move onward towards
a new enlightenment. I suspect December 21st, 2012 will be the start of that
new consciousness. ;-)
- j -
Monday, May 16, 2005
TV or your Kids?
I was reading one of my favorite wackos on the net. A person that goes by the name of Joe Vialls. Anyway, he posed a very interesting question. If you had a choice, would you throw away your TV's, CD, DVDs, etc., or your children?
You know one needs to really think about this. This is not such a frivolous or purely rhetorical question. We are sending our children and the children of others to death every day. Why, because of our TV's, CD's, DVDs.,etc. It is perverse reality.
On a purely logical level, if we didn't have these devices we certainly wouldn't need all the energy and oil we currently consume. So the asset wars of gaining control over natural resources wouldn't seem to be so necessary. This might appeal to the Luddite in us. I admit to being guilty of having that deep seated desire to see all the lights go out. Suddenly, George and I would be completely equal. What good is money when the all the computers can't be turned on? Oh, and your getting hungrier and hungrier. Would you sell you children for food?
Then we get to the point of the sublime. Without the incessant broadcasting of advertising and Hollywood news imagery what would you deem important? Would sending off your children to war be appropriate? Without a quick hip shake and sound bite would the important matters of G-d, family, country and constitution become more studied and more revered?
You know one needs to really think about this. This is not such a frivolous or purely rhetorical question. We are sending our children and the children of others to death every day. Why, because of our TV's, CD's, DVDs.,etc. It is perverse reality.
On a purely logical level, if we didn't have these devices we certainly wouldn't need all the energy and oil we currently consume. So the asset wars of gaining control over natural resources wouldn't seem to be so necessary. This might appeal to the Luddite in us. I admit to being guilty of having that deep seated desire to see all the lights go out. Suddenly, George and I would be completely equal. What good is money when the all the computers can't be turned on? Oh, and your getting hungrier and hungrier. Would you sell you children for food?
Then we get to the point of the sublime. Without the incessant broadcasting of advertising and Hollywood news imagery what would you deem important? Would sending off your children to war be appropriate? Without a quick hip shake and sound bite would the important matters of G-d, family, country and constitution become more studied and more revered?
Thursday, May 12, 2005
The Bigs!
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the new word is "bigs". Instantly the beauty of English and the black accented jargon of basketball has created a new noun out of an overworn basketball adjective, big.
The funny thing was, I think I was just telling my mother about how this new noun keeps creeping into the language, when sure enough, I turned a page in the NY Post and there was a headline with "Bigs" in it. Bigs, as in the forwards and centers of basketball or the power brokers and haves of finance.
So, forget the Big Leagues, I want to be in Bigs League.
The funny thing was, I think I was just telling my mother about how this new noun keeps creeping into the language, when sure enough, I turned a page in the NY Post and there was a headline with "Bigs" in it. Bigs, as in the forwards and centers of basketball or the power brokers and haves of finance.
So, forget the Big Leagues, I want to be in Bigs League.
Monday, March 28, 2005
WebObjects Rocks
If you probably didn't know I am a software developer. However, these days I am a web developer mostly. A little over a year ago I was asked to develop a hosted application. A hosted application is one which clients pay to use. This application is now available and it is called Portfolio Intelligence by 3 Olive Solutions (http://www.3olivesolutions.com). During the requirements process we decided that money was an object and that we should go the open source route as much as possible. Well I had just recently did a fair amount of work with PHP and mySQL so I knew we could go that route. The problem was I didn't care for PHP that much. I was much more comfortable with Java and real objects, etc. Well it just so happened that I also owned two XServes and they came with a deployment license for WebObjects. WebObjects wasn't free but danm near close at about $499 for a developer. In addition, in my past I had to review about a half dozen application servers back in the dot-com days and WebObjects was getting fabulous reviews. The problem was it wasn't Java.
Anyway, we decided that we would use WebObjects for this new project and a year later all I can say is WOW! WebObjects rocks. I have used other application and O/R mapping tools in my past but they can't hold a candle to WebObjects. Direct-to-web is a godsend for reporting, quick prototyping, etc., and Enterprise Objects with the Editing Context is light years above anything else I have used. Needless to say, after about a year we launched a rock solid application with flexible charting (thank you jFreeChart (http://www.jfreechart.org) and a great ad-hoc report generator with export to Excel (thank you Direct-to-Web of WebObjects).
Recently I had to port my app to WebSphere running DB2. Well I did and I don't have to do anything special. The database is determined at runtype and my EOModelPrototype is selected that correctly maps the objects to the relational table. That is very slick.
Wel I could go on, but then, maybe others would catch the WebObjects bug and the secret would really come out that WebObjects rocks!
Anyway, we decided that we would use WebObjects for this new project and a year later all I can say is WOW! WebObjects rocks. I have used other application and O/R mapping tools in my past but they can't hold a candle to WebObjects. Direct-to-web is a godsend for reporting, quick prototyping, etc., and Enterprise Objects with the Editing Context is light years above anything else I have used. Needless to say, after about a year we launched a rock solid application with flexible charting (thank you jFreeChart (http://www.jfreechart.org) and a great ad-hoc report generator with export to Excel (thank you Direct-to-Web of WebObjects).
Recently I had to port my app to WebSphere running DB2. Well I did and I don't have to do anything special. The database is determined at runtype and my EOModelPrototype is selected that correctly maps the objects to the relational table. That is very slick.
Wel I could go on, but then, maybe others would catch the WebObjects bug and the secret would really come out that WebObjects rocks!
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Treason vs Schiavo
I just don't get it. We kill 100,000 Iraqis and its ok. One poor dying woman who our leaders couldn't spend a minute with her and our whole country gets obsessed.
Our leaders commits acts of treason to destroy our great land and not a peep anywhere.
Oh boy am I confused. Used to be a republican, flirted with the democrats and now I found myself lost without a party.
Viva the revolution.
Our leaders commits acts of treason to destroy our great land and not a peep anywhere.
Oh boy am I confused. Used to be a republican, flirted with the democrats and now I found myself lost without a party.
Viva the revolution.
Friday, March 18, 2005
What is it about atheists?
The other day I was wondering about why atheists complain so much about religious symbols and the like. Afterall what is the difference between a cross, the start of david, etc., vs a swoosh or some arches? Should we remove all signage from all lobbies, etc? Or is worshipping on the altar of the corporate gods the only respectable form of worship?
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
My thoughts on the First Ammendment
Why is there more of a propensity to protect pornography, tv and game violence, atheism,
and abortion over G-d, morality, and life.
The most unfortunate aspect is that the higher up the religious or power (redundant?) chain
one goes the more abuses one will find. In fact, Kubrick got it spot on in Eyes Wide Shut.
Anyway, let us review the first amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Now how is posting the ten commandments breaking this amendment? Is it really establishing
a religion via a law? Is it an artistic representation of an historical event? I personally don't know. The next
question becomes the question of what is religion anyway? Is worshipping at the alter of your
TV religion? Is it a false idol?
When an atheist promotes a law stating that something should be barred, is that not actually making
an anti-religious law which then prohibits the free exercise thereof?
Also, if I am not mistaken, I certainly haven't seen much of pornography being restricted. At least all
those emails that say "Help Lolita add three inches to her mortgage and get a new Rolex" all seem
to say differently. I haven't, thank goodness, seen any court orders against them.
The FCC on the other hand is a major gripe of mine. There is no reason that the airwaves couldn't be
opened up to an infinite number of channels, but that is a topic for a different day.
Finally, I too went to a school where we used to put on a big Christmas celebration. There was the
Glee Club, the Bells, the Hymns, the musicians, etc., For me is was great, fun, and always brought
a tear to the audience. Well, just like your dad's school, this has all been eliminated. It wasn't even
a public or catholic school either. I guess the fear of lawsuits did it in. Personally, I can't believe
that public schools have gotten any better over the years. The dumbing down of religious celebration
vs, the celebration of religious diversity seems to be just dumbing down the kids to me.
In a true, free and beautiful nation, there would be plenty of schools all offering choice of religions,
type of education, scientific, vocational, and artist studies, etc., with everyone respecting each other,
working with each other, learning from each other, and even celebrating with each other.
An homogenization of a corporate WalMart culture is strictly one that will create weak sheeple. The
perfect cannon fodder for global serfdom and world government.
Personally, I really enjoy the distinct cultures and religions of the world. Yet on the other hand I
have no fondness for the hypocritical holier than thou attitudes of both the powerful and the politically
correct.
Cheers from your fossil fuel and evolution sceptic,
James
and abortion over G-d, morality, and life.
The most unfortunate aspect is that the higher up the religious or power (redundant?) chain
one goes the more abuses one will find. In fact, Kubrick got it spot on in Eyes Wide Shut.
Anyway, let us review the first amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Now how is posting the ten commandments breaking this amendment? Is it really establishing
a religion via a law? Is it an artistic representation of an historical event? I personally don't know. The next
question becomes the question of what is religion anyway? Is worshipping at the alter of your
TV religion? Is it a false idol?
When an atheist promotes a law stating that something should be barred, is that not actually making
an anti-religious law which then prohibits the free exercise thereof?
Also, if I am not mistaken, I certainly haven't seen much of pornography being restricted. At least all
those emails that say "Help Lolita add three inches to her mortgage and get a new Rolex" all seem
to say differently. I haven't, thank goodness, seen any court orders against them.
The FCC on the other hand is a major gripe of mine. There is no reason that the airwaves couldn't be
opened up to an infinite number of channels, but that is a topic for a different day.
Finally, I too went to a school where we used to put on a big Christmas celebration. There was the
Glee Club, the Bells, the Hymns, the musicians, etc., For me is was great, fun, and always brought
a tear to the audience. Well, just like your dad's school, this has all been eliminated. It wasn't even
a public or catholic school either. I guess the fear of lawsuits did it in. Personally, I can't believe
that public schools have gotten any better over the years. The dumbing down of religious celebration
vs, the celebration of religious diversity seems to be just dumbing down the kids to me.
In a true, free and beautiful nation, there would be plenty of schools all offering choice of religions,
type of education, scientific, vocational, and artist studies, etc., with everyone respecting each other,
working with each other, learning from each other, and even celebrating with each other.
An homogenization of a corporate WalMart culture is strictly one that will create weak sheeple. The
perfect cannon fodder for global serfdom and world government.
Personally, I really enjoy the distinct cultures and religions of the world. Yet on the other hand I
have no fondness for the hypocritical holier than thou attitudes of both the powerful and the politically
correct.
Cheers from your fossil fuel and evolution sceptic,
James
Two great quotes for you
- “The 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.”
- - Adam Carey
- Corporate America has at this time controls the national media. It controls nearly every avenue of an American citizen’s access to information about the way he or she lives, about those forces that are influencing our lives. And corporate America is protected in Washington by the dollars it spends. It is protected in the media by some virtue of ownership.
- - Lou Dobbs
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Weren't our forefathers great!
"A passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation facilitates the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, infuses into one the enmities of the other, and betrays the former into participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification.... It also gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens, who devote themselves to the favorite nation, facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country." (George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796)
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Where is our generation's General Smedly Butler of Pennsylvania
Where in our government is a true patriot like General Smedley Butler of Pennsylvania who turned in the fascists who were trying to enlist his help.
I am afraid that today no one can stand up to the shadow government and its lure of money or its threat of death. Please, I pray that a true patriot will step forward and finally expose the lies that drive our war machines.
Dear Lord on the eve of the celebration of Jesus' birth I ask that you give that true patriot the courage and the protection necessary to finally reveal the truth.
I am afraid that today no one can stand up to the shadow government and its lure of money or its threat of death. Please, I pray that a true patriot will step forward and finally expose the lies that drive our war machines.
Dear Lord on the eve of the celebration of Jesus' birth I ask that you give that true patriot the courage and the protection necessary to finally reveal the truth.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Good Morning America
"Well its all over now and the crying has just begun." I don't remember who said that or who to attibute it to, but, the fact remains that one half of our country is cryting today. However, I believe that in the next 4 years our whole country will be crying. No I did not vote for Kerry nor did I vote for Bush but I did vote. Why did I not vote for either?
Our country is being bankrupted pure and simple. Democracy has not won. Capitalism has won. It is destroying the world selling the ropes to hang us all to paraphrase Marx. Soon, shrub will ask to increase the debt cieling. Greenscam is inflating the money supply to mind boggling levels. The dollar is about to collapse. And yet, the corporations and government think China is our ally. Wow, are we that stupid?
The central banks have prevented the collapse of our great country for the last four years or so. Eventually they will not be able to raise or lower rates. They are stuck. A systemic collapse will happen.
As was once stated in a movie long ago the new mantra should be ... Gold. Buy Gold!
Cry all you want now, but unless you doing something real to protect yourself you will have no right to cry later.
Oh one last thing, pray to G-d. G-d will listen and give you what you need. However, with George constantly referencing G-d's name in vain as he kills with his reptilian bloodlust, well, one has to wonder if the pope is correct and that George is actually the anti-christ.
G-d help us all and of course, G-d Bless.
Our country is being bankrupted pure and simple. Democracy has not won. Capitalism has won. It is destroying the world selling the ropes to hang us all to paraphrase Marx. Soon, shrub will ask to increase the debt cieling. Greenscam is inflating the money supply to mind boggling levels. The dollar is about to collapse. And yet, the corporations and government think China is our ally. Wow, are we that stupid?
The central banks have prevented the collapse of our great country for the last four years or so. Eventually they will not be able to raise or lower rates. They are stuck. A systemic collapse will happen.
As was once stated in a movie long ago the new mantra should be ... Gold. Buy Gold!
Cry all you want now, but unless you doing something real to protect yourself you will have no right to cry later.
Oh one last thing, pray to G-d. G-d will listen and give you what you need. However, with George constantly referencing G-d's name in vain as he kills with his reptilian bloodlust, well, one has to wonder if the pope is correct and that George is actually the anti-christ.
G-d help us all and of course, G-d Bless.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Nothing left but to sue
After looking at the latest trade deficit numbers and thinking through the issue of all our manufacturing being outsourced I came to the conclusion that another force is at play here and it is a fascist force. It is the force that has our corporations demand that all intellectual property be licensed into perpetuity.
America has lost its core values due to the overwhelming need for greed practiced by our corporations. Since we no longer manufacture anything substantial for export our corporations have instead decided to sue for ideas, concepts, music, everything. I wonder how far into my thoughts can they go before declaring me illegal and thusly fined?
Well all I can say is that there is a true revolution brewing out there. In fact I believe it could be the seed that germinates into a wonderful renaissance. The seed is the musings of the Open Source Software movement. Here a community of developers come together to develop software. The fruits of this volunteer labor is some of the most advanced and productive software in the market, and it is free as in free beer.
Long live for the love it.
America has lost its core values due to the overwhelming need for greed practiced by our corporations. Since we no longer manufacture anything substantial for export our corporations have instead decided to sue for ideas, concepts, music, everything. I wonder how far into my thoughts can they go before declaring me illegal and thusly fined?
Well all I can say is that there is a true revolution brewing out there. In fact I believe it could be the seed that germinates into a wonderful renaissance. The seed is the musings of the Open Source Software movement. Here a community of developers come together to develop software. The fruits of this volunteer labor is some of the most advanced and productive software in the market, and it is free as in free beer.
Long live for the love it.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Make Leap Year Presidential Election Year
Now before all you mathematical physics geeks get all down on me, let's just assume that for all practical purposes leap year falls every four years. Well guess what, so does our presidential election.
Henceforth, I declare in the name of democracy and certainly not in the name of capitalism that presidential election Tuesday be a national holiday. This simple and effective holiday would ensure great voter turnout. There could even be Super Tuesday Parties with everyone watching the score, I mean vote.
Think about it? What is the downside? Oh, that's right, it could actually increase turnout and the capitalists would have to pay everyone for gasp, another holiday.
Can we just do one thing for freedom and democracy? Or does it have to be.... If it's free make it illegal.
ciao and peace
Henceforth, I declare in the name of democracy and certainly not in the name of capitalism that presidential election Tuesday be a national holiday. This simple and effective holiday would ensure great voter turnout. There could even be Super Tuesday Parties with everyone watching the score, I mean vote.
Think about it? What is the downside? Oh, that's right, it could actually increase turnout and the capitalists would have to pay everyone for gasp, another holiday.
Can we just do one thing for freedom and democracy? Or does it have to be.... If it's free make it illegal.
ciao and peace
Monday, September 06, 2004
The Prayer
Aramaic:
Abwoon d'bwashmaya
Nethqadash shmakh
Teytey malkuthakh
Nehwey tzevyanach aykanna d'bwashmaya aph b'arha
Hawvlan lachma d'sunqanan yaomana
Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn) aykana daph khnan shbwoqan l'khayyabayn
Wela tahlan l'nesyuna. Ela patzan min bisha
Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l'ahlam almin.
Ameyn
King James English Bible Translation:
Our Father which art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heavener.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
A translation directly from Aramaic:
O Breathing Life, your Name shines everywhere!
Release a space to plant your Presence here.
Envision your "I Can" now.
Embody your desire in every light and form.
Grow through us this moment's bread and wisdom.
Untie the knots of failure binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others' faults.
Help us not forget our Source, yet free us from not being in the Present.
From you arises every Vision, Power and Song, from gathering to gathering.
Amen - May our future actions grow from here!
Another translation directly from Aramaic:
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, you create all that moves in light.
O Thou! The Breathing Life of all, Creator of the Shimmering Sound that touches us.
Respiration of all worlds, we hear You breathing - in and out - in silence.
Source of Sound in the roar and the whisper, in the breeze and the whirlwind, we hear Your Name.
Radiant One: You shine within us, outside us - even darkness shines - when we remember.
Name of names, our small identity unravels in You. You give it back as a lesson.
Wordless Action, Silent Potency - where ears and eyes awaken, there heaven comes.
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos.
Translations by Neil Douglas-
Abwoon d'bwashmaya
Nethqadash shmakh
Teytey malkuthakh
Nehwey tzevyanach aykanna d'bwashmaya aph b'arha
Hawvlan lachma d'sunqanan yaomana
Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn) aykana daph khnan shbwoqan l'khayyabayn
Wela tahlan l'nesyuna. Ela patzan min bisha
Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l'ahlam almin.
Ameyn
King James English Bible Translation:
Our Father which art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heavener.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
A translation directly from Aramaic:
O Breathing Life, your Name shines everywhere!
Release a space to plant your Presence here.
Envision your "I Can" now.
Embody your desire in every light and form.
Grow through us this moment's bread and wisdom.
Untie the knots of failure binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others' faults.
Help us not forget our Source, yet free us from not being in the Present.
From you arises every Vision, Power and Song, from gathering to gathering.
Amen - May our future actions grow from here!
Another translation directly from Aramaic:
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, you create all that moves in light.
O Thou! The Breathing Life of all, Creator of the Shimmering Sound that touches us.
Respiration of all worlds, we hear You breathing - in and out - in silence.
Source of Sound in the roar and the whisper, in the breeze and the whirlwind, we hear Your Name.
Radiant One: You shine within us, outside us - even darkness shines - when we remember.
Name of names, our small identity unravels in You. You give it back as a lesson.
Wordless Action, Silent Potency - where ears and eyes awaken, there heaven comes.
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos.
Translations by Neil Douglas-
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