Religious Freedom and the Public Space or, Be Careful What You Wish For.

 
"Very Interesting", said Artie Johnson. And it is. The Constitution proscribes the support of any Religion by the "State" but guarantees the freedom of religion in public and private spaces. Your home, church, mosque or even the street corner. You can wave signs touting your religion, hand out literature, get a soap box and harangue until the end of times. You just can't do it on any "State" property. Now we both know this is an oft overlooked situation. Prayers start almost everything that is a "State" function. The congressional sessions, the swearing in of most officials etc. Even icons affixed to "State" buildings.
Now enter the age-old manger with the Baby Jesus, Mary, Joesph and a bunch of animals, children and men. Clearly a Christian symbol. Now enter Florida. In order to legally display such an icon on "State" property, the property must be declared a "Public Space". The legislators, a majority of whom are conservative and Christian, designated the Capitol Rotunda of the State of Florida a "Public Space", clearing the way for the crèche. One was immediately installed and when the ACLU was asked, they said it was fine. No problem in a public space. But they also said that the State better be prepared to extend the same, the EXACT SAME access to anyone asking for it. And now the gates have opened, and how they opened indeed: Jews, Atheists, and a Festivus worshiper have asked for and gotten access.
Now a legitimate Satanic Church has asked and the conservatives are going batty. Next the Flying Spaghetti Monster will petition for a slot. And there will be more. And, they must be granted access by the same rules that allow the others.
I can't wait to see how the conservative members react to their constituents when the Anointed Ones visit the Rotunda and see Satan next to Jesus next to a pole of PBR.

Image: http://www.robertbenchley.org/2012_competition/arte-as-german.jpg

Drill and Export? Gas Should be CHEAPER!!!

Does it strike anybody else as wrong? What? Well this: for years we heard "drill baby drill" to get American Oil and Gas to get us off of foreign energy.
And now the big oil companies, having found oil and gas and ruining OUR LAND getting it out, are EXPORTING it over seas. To FOREIGN POWERS.

What the HELL is WRONG with this picture? Is it me or are the oil companies of the world raping us and laughing while they do it?
Oh Yeah. I hear them laughing.
Image: http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2010-03-04-Oilspillwink.jpg
Image: https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLVQJou_RV0ikPw94ChRrSCzP9UX5tqbi-SVIery0_abMVF9ny8A 

Certainty: Where Does a Bear Sh**?

Fresh Bear Poo, about the size of a small cantaloupe

When I was growing up (not so long ago and still growing) we used two expressions to indicate certainty. “Is the Pope a Catholic?” and “Does a bear shit in the woods?”.

The Pope, the latest one anyway, is certainly a Catholic. And he is a simple Christian man as well. I think he knows exactly WWJD, and does his best to do it. I like the guy. Now about the bear.

Certainly most bears shit in the woods. But where they roam the streets of Lanark Village they most definitely shit anywhere they want. So maybe we should change the old certainty to “Where does a bear shit?” You know the answer. Just outside our gate in Lanark (Gulf Terrace actually) yesterday sometime just before 9AM we saw a large black bear walking down our street, quite far from our gate. No sign of poop anywhere in sight. Later in the day, around 3, we returned to find the pile pictured above right by the gate. In fact, not far from our dog Millie, lying on the other side of the gate. If only she could talk. From the size of the pile, the wetness of it, the feel and smell, it was very recent and deposited by a large animal. Probably the one we saw earlier just coming back down the road.

So I know at least one bear who doesn’t shit in the woods. (just kidding about the feel and smell).

Image: Bear Pile at the Gate at Lanark.

Remembering the gang

I got an e-card from an old high school friend and was reminded of my co-conspirators again. In another posting (http://searchesworld.blogspot.com/2011/11/last-man-standing.html) I reminisced a bit about the core group of friends who hung around in High School. For some reason the fab four came to mind today. Maybe it was the card from Harriet and the death last week of Steve E., a nice guy but not one of the core. Maybe it was the report this morning about the actor, Richard Griffiths (played Harry Potters Uncle Vernon), dying at age 65. Don’t know. But here is another part of the tale of the foursome, promised in an earlier post. The Great B & E escapade. Leaving out the details, let’s just say that the four of us attempted a b&e of friend's house when they were away on vacation. We wanted something his father had. Two of us got caught, Me and Max (aka John, but we called him Max to avoid confusion), and John and Murph didn’t. Since we were under 16 and the father spoke up for us, the penalty was a kind of probation and very stern warning not to get into trouble ever again. None of us did. John and Murph died in their early 20s, Max in his late 60s, and I am still going. That incident, the b&e, left us all with a profound sense of something akin to fear, but not really fear. We knew for sure that one more brush with the law and we would be up to our eyeballs in trouble. The fear was unknowingly doing something and getting “caught”. We walked a much different line after the trial, all of us, and to the day they died and I didn’t, we were better for the experience.

Of course, John and Murph didn’t have “strike one”, but they were sobered just the same. Now both are dead. Neither had children and probably their parents are long dead, so I am probably the vessel who holds their stories.  At least some of them. Max did marry and we stayed in touch to the end. His wife never wanted to discuss our “bad boy” days, and didn’t want their children to know the stories. Pity really. Max was a good man, father and husband, and part of why was his history. My children probably know most of the stories of the old days, some of which are in this blog in other places. And they probably have heard some about me and the old days that aren’t true. In any case, we are who we are precisely because of our history. Total history. The good, bad and ugly.

So on the eve of Easter and well into Passover I remember my mates fondly and sadly. Fondly because of all we experienced together and sadly because they are no longer here to remember with me. Just a thought for the day.

Image: http://www.mptv.org/pics/shows/i_remember/i_remember.jpg

Holder, Tea, Guns and Rednecks

It really burns my ass to see the Republican House pissing away time and money on vendettas. What now? They are going to try to impeach the attorney general, Eric Holder. Of course led by the Tea Party morons, this is just another racist diversion from what they should be doing: the REAL PEOPLE’S BUSINESS. Why caps? Because Boehner and Boys keep saying they are “doing the people’s business” when the try to legislate women’s health or repeal the Affordable Care Act. They are not. They are doing their own business and their business is to crap on the majority of Americans.

I really hope the bastards get voted out next time around.

Oh, and another thing. Exactly when is “Obama coming for your (my) guns”? Or, maybe a bunch of ignorant rednecks got taken in by the NRA and Gun Lobby to buy millions of guns and rounds of ammo. Which is the more credible possibility?

Morons.  Can’t live without them. Who would we have to talk about?

Image: http://chorpenning.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/white-trash-redneck-white-trash-gun-trailer-demotivational-poster-1217614619.jpg

Image: http://frontpagemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/holderbumfuzzled-259x350.jpg

HUGE SNAKES and tiny horses?

“As terrifying as the thought of a gigantic snake might be, or as precious as the thought of a football-size horse might be, don't go looking for them any time soon. These changes take centuries, not years. But you might want to leave your great-great-grandchildren a heads-up note, just in case.”

And so ends a pretty informative article on the relative size of animals as a response to environmental temperature. Warmer favors larger reptiles and smaller mammals and the converse for cooler. So far so good.

Then, is a classic case of total misunderstanding of the evolutionary process, the author makes the classic blunder: “- - - - centuries, not years.” The process would actually take millennia at the least, and more likely millions of years to actually come up with snakes the size of school buses and horses the size of small dogs. But wait, don’t we have mini-horses and gigantic anacondas already? Yup. And the anacondas live in tropical places and the horses live in apartments. How long did it take to get these out sized animals? Millions of years in the case of the snake, and dozens in the case of the miniequines. Problem is that snakes are already at the limit of their size or they would be bigger, and the horses are classic inbred freaks who wouldn’t last 10 minutes in nature.

So don’t worry. No bus-sized snakes for your grand kids or mouse-sized cattle either. Evolution takes longer than that, and besides, the conservatives assure me that there is no such thing as climate change.

Image and quote: http://news.yahoo.com/a-snake-the-size-of-a-school-bus--it-happened-before--and-could-happen-again-153534343.html

Wolf Killing Cowards

 

The photo pretty well says it all: A bunch of northern rednecks just in from a wolf kill and afraid to have their faces seen. Why? I would guess (hope) at least some of them are embarrassed, but somehow I doubt it. More likely they are just afraid to face others in the community who oppose the slaughter of wolves.

Who cares about wolves? You should. As mankind eliminates the top predators the effect on the structure of the ecosystem below them is dramatic. In the case of removing wolves, immediate growth in population of the large animals they cull results in overgrazing of the landscape and a cascade of other ecological changes. Reintroduction of wolves in the west is reestablishing the important balance, and the wholesale slaughter of wolves will simply reverse decades of progress in ecological restoration.

So who are these assholes? Real Men? Oh I don’t think so. Kill a wolf at 300 yards with a 30-06 then pose with the corpse in a mask? No, these are cowards. Plain and simple. For more information look up the Center for Biological Diversity website.

Image:http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/images/campaign_images/2013/Masked_wolf_killers.jpg
Center for Biological Diversity:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Biological_Diversity

More like 30000 Years of Art!!! Classical Gas Discovered!!

Add caption

April 25th, 2011. The day the more or less original ( Give or take a few frames, it is nearly identical to the actual video that aired on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour almost 40 years ago. (1.)) was posted on YouTube. I talked about it on May 8th, 2011, and didn't find it. Bittersweet them but delayed gratification now. What a treasure to stumble upon. I was just reading over a few old posts, making a few spelling corrections and came upon the original blog on Classical Gas (2), listened to a few covers and put a note on Facebook. I mentioned the art montage, actually known as a kinestasis , and lamented that I couldn't find it. A wild hair encouraged me to look again and there is was in a nearly original form. Reconstructed from the original student movie that was used to make the TV production. And even better is the VIMEO version posted much earlier. I have no idea why the search engine didn't pick this up 2 years ago.
It stands still as a seminal moment for anyone who saw it on the Smothers Brothers show. I hope you all watch it and remember it, and pass it on. I will.
VIMEO RECORDING: http://vimeo.com/612081
Image:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFIXyyPiShhK0xHrurnyTlQA7X1ylS2iYc5KQ3y2L7_wIzZiJtMHEkcLqwLZNVCQhzXj96Bx5tNgChfKgno1bkj7WdHT5ww8w5NBTohsvWHxtkoLQafzo0SXfqxPx0ed9iJZn8C2Eqxc/s1600/williams.jpg

What a DAY!!!.

 Got up to a great cool morning, walked then dive into the garage. Massive on-and-off cleaning and dunging. So, came across my old railroad lanterns, played with them, emailed a couple of sites for help and moved on to the Hallicrafters short wave radio. Plugged it in to a buzz. Looked up some info and found an antique radio group, joined and asked for help with the fixing of the WR-600.

Then, the real bonus: I found my copy of “The Great Drake” by Mario Cappelli. What a terrific story of heroism and adventure. I love it. I wish it were made into a movie, and with CIG as good as it is now, I think it would be a block buster. I traveled the cyberworld and couldn’t find anything on the web about him so I looked in Amazon, found the book and a review by his daughter, Dee. I am now in the process of trying to get in touch with her to find out more about her father and the story. Here is what one reviewer on Amazon said:

“If you are hurting because of the trials and tribulations of leadership and/or are doubting your abilities as a leader (or you know someone who is), you truly must read this book.”

You gotta read this classic. You will never be the same again, I promise. Amazon has them. Go Now.

What a DAY!!!! And it is only 1:42.
 
Image: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fR6ngxxSL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

A Conservative War on Everybody but the Rich

This article (1) called “The Liberal War on Food Stamps” totally misses the point as I see it. The gist of the article is that liberals are calling food stamps “corporate welfare” and are thereby courting disaster from tea party types who would cut food stamp programs to end any kind of welfare. And the folks who claim this might just be correct. Tea Party types are dangerous morons who react to everything that they see as big government welfare with the same mantra: Kill It.

But they are wrong as well, because they are misreading the connection, probably on purpose. The point is this: By paying workers minimum wage, corporations are forcing the workers to seek help to survive by applying for subsidies to keep them alive. Seen in this context, working poor who receive government assistance instead of a living wage are benefiting the corporation by increasing the profit of the corporation and increasing the tax burden on the rest of us.

This is NOT a liberal war on food stamps. It is a liberal war on greedy corporations who systematically shirk their responsibilities as citizens (remember, the conservatives got them declared “persons”) to contribute fairly to the overall success of all citizens, not just the rich ones.

Liberal War on Food Stamps my ass. This is a Conservative War on Everybody but the Rich.

Image: http://b-i.forbesimg.com/modeledbehavior/files/2013/10/300px-Harlem_Micky_Dz10.jpg

1. http://www.forbes.com/sites/modeledbehavior/2013/10/31/the-liberal-war-on-food-stamps/?partner=yahootix

Tea Party Certifiably Insane

Isn't she Cute?

OK, I give in (never up). The rally this weekend in D.C. was the most moronic exercise ever. Palin, Cruz and a bunch of other Tea Partyers railed against the National Park Service for closing the monuments. THESE ARE THE MORONS WHO CRAFTED AND PASSED THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN!!!!! THESE ARE THE MORONS WHO INSISTED ON THE SHUTDOWN. THESE ARE THE MORONS WHO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN.  And now they rally and scream at the President, and some at the rally scream about the President worshiping the Quran. If you need a better definition of MORON, I am sorry, but I can’t think of one. THEY SHUT IT DOWN AND NOW DON’T LIKE THE CONSEQUENCES SO THEY RAIL AGAINST IT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME NOT STOPPING THE SHUTDOWN. MORONS!!!!! WHO PUT THESE MORONS IN OFFICE?? OH YEAH, THE MORONS WHO WERE AT THE RALLY, BITCHING ABOUT THE CLOSINGS. SHEEEEESH.

Image: http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/10/131014_POL_TeaPartySarahPalin.jpg.CROP.promovar-mediumlarge.jpg

Confusion and Obfuscation? Republican Strengths

 

The American public is confused about the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They are not confused about “Obamacare”. Interesting no? Several polls clearly show good solid support for the major elements of the ACA, and overall support of the ACA. But not Obamacare. Of course these two entities are the same thing. So what the hell is going on?
Easy question to answer. Ever since the ACA was passed into law, the Tea Party and its news outlets have relentlessly called it the “Obamacare Bill” (it is not a bill boys, it is a LAW and it has been upheld by the Supreme Court), denigrated it, misrepresented the various parts of it (remember the “death panels” that didn’t exist?) and insisted that the “American People” hated it. John Boehner has said that so many times he may just believe it, mores the pity. Perfect example of the “Big Lie” strategy articulated below by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda superstar.

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”(1)

The public has been barraged with negative publicity on Obamacare to the point where they think the ACA and Obamacare are two different things. Job well done by the Tea Party Machine. And well-funded by the notorious Koch brothers.

So having lost the battle to repeal the ACA, a small group of Representatives are holding the entire government hostage. The American Position is we DON’T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS. These Tea Party guys are political terrorists, taking the entire country hostage and trying to shove their narrow-minded and wrong position down the throat of the entire country. The President is right not to negotiate with them. There is nothing to negotiate. This is like scientists negotiating with the Flat Earth Society to come to a compromise on the shape of the Earth. There is nothing to negotiate. And, the longer the ACA goes on, the more the public will come to depend on it for affordable (duh) health care.

The American Public has been systematically dumbed down and lied to for 30 years or more by a Republican Party increasingly focused on a minority of wealthy people and corporations. This is only the most recent example. Another example? Why the “Obama will take your guns away” lie. Anybody out there have their guns taken away since 2008? I didn’t think so. Who benefitted from this lie? The NRA and the Gun Industry have made Billions of Dollars since 2008 selling guns to people ahead of the non-existant deadline. Another example? The lies about the President being a Muslim and not being an American. Both lies told many times.

It is very sad that the public sucks up this crap like mosquitos sucking up blood. The real problem is that the public is getting sucked in and sucked dry by these “neo-cons”. My guess is that it is too late to put on the bug spray.

1. Goebbels Quote: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/goebbelslie.html
Image: http://futurevoicesofamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Upheld.jpg

Isaiah 1:17 from Woody?

Well, since the conservative Republican Christian Right seem hell-bent on Bible quotes, here are two that should make them turn in SHAME. Slightly different spins on the idea, but both nail it: the antithesis of the Conservative mantra.
WWJD? I know. He would say this:

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Hard to see the bible thumpers getting excited about these, isn't it?

Thanks to my old friend Jeannette for the initial bible quote.
Image: http://peterpilt.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/sj-picture-11.jpg

Beer in the Blood, or, Leo Godfrey in Paradise

Leo in Paradise

When I think of beer, I think of Hops. And then I think of East Kent Goldings. A wonderful flower that belongs to the "aroma" class of hops. I had the very good fortune of marrying into an English family with a tradition of farming of all kinds of things. By a very clever marriage of a second cousin, a farmer was brought into the family who grows East Kent Goldings. My feet walked the rows of this wonderful plant, and my nose inhaled the aroma of crushed fresh flowers. My tongue tasted the bitterness and the brews produced from those same flowers. I am in love with East Kent Goldings.
Pictured above is my nephew, Leo
standing in a jungle of hops, ready to be harvested. Is he happy or what? Yes, this is hard work but the payoff is incalculable. The finest brews imaginable. Finished off with the finest hops available: hops from the family farm. I swear the whole family has beer for blood. I know I do.

Image: Leo Godfrey in Paradise: A Jungle of East Kent Goldings.

Percy Dovetonsils LIVES!!!

Percy D.

Percy as Vlad

 Those of us who loved Ernie Kovacs have always wondered what happened to Percy Dovetonsils. Now we know. He has been reborn in the person of Vlad Putin. You doubt the concept of “second time around”? Kovacs died January 13^th, 1962. Putin was born January 13^th, 1962, according to Moscow legend.  His birth certificate has never been seen in public and that in and of itself is enough to convince the “Percyers” that he is the incarnation of the famous Poet. You want iron clad evidence? Compare the two images. No doubt about it. Same person, different bodies. Case closed.
Image: http://files.myopera.com/CarloFon/blog/percy-dovetonsils.jpg
Image: http://l1.yimg.com/nn/fp/rsz/090613/images/smush/putin_obama_635x250_1378475635.jpg

Showering With a Friend or “The Giant in the Storm”

After a hot and tiring day on the water, and after a cold brew I decided to clean up and take a shower. Our place at the coast only has a 12x20 shed for storage, and that is where the shower is. The shed doubles for storage and necessities like a fridge, porta-potty, shelves, mower storage, fishing and boat stuff and anything else I can cram into it. The boat and camper live in a 20x30 boat “pole” barn. Anyway, the light wasn’t working when I went in, but so what? It was daylight and I could see pretty well. No snakes in sight. Nothing moving. I pulled back the shower curtain, adjusted the hot water whilst disrobing, and stepped in. Ahhhhhh. Warm water. Then adjust to cool. Wash. OUCH!! Something stung my foot. I looked down and there, perched on the top of my foot was a small, 1.5 – 2 inch scorpion. In the shower water. Just sitting there. And the little bastard critter had hit me twice. Naturally I flipped it off, I mean gave it the finger then convinced it to get off my foot all the while saying loudly “tish and piffle” (you believe that?). I shut off the water and said “what the hell are you doing in the shower, and why did you sting my foot, which you were sitting on”? The scorpion said something like “Well, I was hiding in the curtain and suddenly it moved and got wet. I was trying to get to someplace dry. I only tapped your foot to let you know I was there. Not a real sting you know. Come here if you want to see the difference.” (Both pincers waving me over)

Well, I guess that put me in my place. So I got a piece of cardboard, got the little bitch critter to crawl on it and put it outside. The stings were barely noticeable in a few minutes and I couldn’t even get much sympathy from Sally. Still, it was a nice chance meeting and it ended well. For the rest of the weekend we both, Sally and I, shook the shower curtain thoroughly before entering. My scorpion friend is probably now happily eating termites or ants or something. Telling the tale of  “The Giant in the Storm” to all who will listen. I wonder if it blogs?

Image: http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/c_hentzi2.jpg

Psocid Pizza: BOOM!!!

Psocids on wheat grains. Small, no?

 

Last night I made a kickass pizza. Lots of fresh garlic, red onion, Italian sausage, some mozzarella and parmesian cheese, red pepper flakes, Mexican oregano, marinara and a little salt and black pepper. Ok so I cheated a little on the crust. I bought a fresh dough crust from Publix. I got out the flour, coated the counter, my hands and the raised dough and began to form it. I noticed some very small crawley things on the counter and thought “Crap!! Psocids in the flour!!” Closer look: yup, Psocids. (http://searchesworld.blogspot.com/2009_07_26_archive.html). I opened the flour bag and asked Sal to take a look: Yup, she said, Psocids.  I asked her if she minded a few in the pizza and she said not really, after all they are tiny and are everywhere anyway. (Every day I ask myself how could I have been so very lucky.)
Baked at 475, the pizza didn’t take long. What a great mixture of flavors and textures. I wonder which one was “Psocid”?

Image: http://old.padil.gov.au/pbt/files/uall/psocid10.jpg

An Alien Feeling of Disquiet. Is it Fear?

This morning I heard an interview with writer Willian Vollmann. He explained that his writings and associations had gotten him on the FBI watch list. He filed a Freedom of Information Act (FIA) request for his FBI file and discovered that he was suspected of being the Unabomber, before the actual bomber was arrested and convicted. He was then secretly investigated for the Anthrax mailings. He has been detained at immigration checks while entering the country several times, for no apparent reason. To this day he continues to be watched closely.

NOTA BENE: he has never been found to be involved with any terrorist activity other than reporting on them, has never been charged with any crime and never been convicted of anything. He is being watched because of his writings and associations.
He said, and I agree, that this is Un-American.
 
So, I thought, I wonder if the FBI has a file on me. In the late 50’s I studied Russian in college, was a member of the University of Miami Russian Club, sang and played in the Russian Chorus at UofM, and often performed at Russian and Ukrainian churches and fellowship halls. I also, as part of a Russian language course, subscribed to a publication written in Russian called “America”. This was put out by the State Department as part of a cultural exchange. In class we also got to see the Russian counterpart, also a propaganda magazine. Remember, in those days Russia (USSR) was our bitter enemy. These were the days of Joseph McCarthy.

Ah, I thought. While in high school I got into a few brushes with the law. Then I remembered that as a young professor in Virginia I sponsored a student group called ‘Young Americans for Freedom” or YAF. This is a conservative/libertarian organization that has had a powerful effect on America. In the early 70’s it was considered radical. My association only lasted a few years, but I wonder if I was “surveilled” during that time, and watched afterwards.

And here is where the fear tingles began. I wondered if I filed a FIA request, and there was a file, would that trigger some series of new observations. Would my emails, phone records and blog postings be observed? Would I be retained at immigration checks or airports? Not because I was in any way guilty of anything, but because I looked for my file.
And being even a little afraid of something like this is Un-American, and that thought makes me sad. That makes me wonder. I even wonder if writing this essay is a mistake. Well screw it if it is.

Image: http://allthingsd.com/files/2013/06/uncle-sam-watching-you-feature.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Americans_for_Freedom

5 PM and Still Green and Lush.

Now the day is winding down, and my world is still lush and damp. Quiet too. I had a busy day doing the things that keep everything going, and some others that are for pure pleasure, like a bit of reading. But a scan of the news tells the same story from this morning: Rage, fire and death.
I have no ability to save the world or even myself under some people's rules.
But I can continue to present the world as I see it, and to argue the facts as I understand them and try to persuade the rule makers of the errors they believe.
I see , not through a veil of ignorance and belief, but clearly through a crystal lens of education and logic and science. People these days in this country, and especially this part of the country, are falling on Biblical advice for answers to the horrors they see developing. The answers there are palliative at best and dangerous at worst. Palliative because the "good words" give some peace of mind but have no real effect. Dangerous because the words can lead to inaction or wrong action, thus making the demons attacking the world even worse. Demons? Overpopulation; pollution; climate change; starvation; disease; war; famine to name a few.
So wrapped in my world of lush green and damp, I will soon enjoy the company of my lover, and we will enjoy the moment. For we know with certainty that the demons of the world will win this battle, and the world will suffer in unspeakable ways. We also are quite sure it will happen after we are gone to oblivion. Hope so, anyway. WWWD? Drink the best wine first, that's what.

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7VhybpBTyP42X_ztFuErCgll73UH6540PofbnCO-ns8Oc8drGrvtCUqPMA2_T9tQkTrc-ywQqtaVUx9cI8oVi8AES389Bk4wuoP-vQEEe-gUqHIhX2EC2CfUeo7XZuqKArQ6Ng3Ue-zR/s200/Waterfall-in-forest-background-1280x1024-1003075+picture+6.jpg

7 AM. Green and Lush

Lush garden, not mine but like mine

Today starts with blue sky and coffee. SWMBO off to the wars. The world here is so green it is almost like a CGI world outside of my window. Wet and lush. Quiet.

Aftermath of fire

Egypt

In the American West fires rage and burn and kill. In Egypt people rage and burn and kill. In Palestine peace talks try to work while missiles fly. In China the air is so bad you can see it in front of you. In Oceana overfishing depletes stocks and pollution poisons. In West Africa fires burn and people rage and kill.
Am I completely crazy to be enjoying the quiet, green, lush and damp morning?
 
Image: http://carolsgarden.blogspot.com/2011/07/lush-july-garden.html
Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Forest_fire_aftermath.jpg
Image; http://muslimvillage.com/2013/07/28/42179/death-toll-in-egypt-massacre-reaches-200/

Tiara, Cape and Wand.

I posted a short list of friends who I think could and are saving the world, one way or another. Many were left off, not because I thought they couldn’t save the world but just because of space. But now I must devote a bit more space. Yesterday, in the Publix bakery, I was waiting my turn when the woman ahead of me got her birthday cake. It had a Silver Sparkly Tiara and Magic Wand on it, and it said “Happy Birthday Princess” and something else I couldn’t read in the few seconds I could see it. I said something like ‘There is going to be a very happy princess in your house’ and the mom just said ‘Yes she will’, put the cake in the wagon and left.

The thing is, she was a black woman, and I got to thinking about all the crap her daughter may will face growing up in a world so divided by race and hatred. It bothers me greatly that this thought came, unbidden, to my consciousness. And has stayed. I wish I could make that Wand a real magic one, and the Tiara golden with precious gems. And I wish I could wave the wand and make one little girl safe forever. But no, not going to happen. And then a moment of joy came, and I realized that one little girl would have a real wand and tiara for a while. She would believe. I hope her optimism for her future is rewarded with hope and success. If I were the praying kind, I would pray. I am not, so I will just hope.

Image: Facebook

Walking Away? Think Thrice.

This really resonates with me. When I first saw it on Facebook this morning I thought “good thought to share” and shared it. But I have been thinking about it and wondering why it resonated. The answer is simple: I have been on both ends of this. When I was a young and callow fellow, matters of the heart were mysterious to me. I was afraid of girls, then women, and of rejection. I played at being a man, but mostly missed the mark. I regret the hurts I caused, and wish there were some way to just say “I’m sorry. I was a jerk.” Doesn’t work that way, though, does it? So I have forgiven myself, which is the first place all forgiveness must begin. And, during the same period, I was walked away from a time or two as well. I have forgiven them too.

For many years now, I have tried not to be a jerk. I think I mostly have succeeded, but it is for the world to really judge.

As for you, the reader, take this away: Look carefully for who is waiting, and think many times before you walk away.

Image: Facebook.

Don’t Boycott It: Rub their Noses in It.



Remember this "Pride"?

The article cited below had given me pause for thought. Given the Russians vile homophobic public posture, I was thinking “Boycott the bastards”.  But the article reminded me of the Olympic Black Power salute given by Tommie Smith and John Carlos to protest segregation in America and Apartheid in South Africa. This iconic moment could be played over and over again in Russia.

Maybe Something like This?

The US teams could wear Rainbow patches, carry rainbow flags, and display rainbow colors everywhere they go or hold hands with each other whenever possible. Damn little the Russians could do about it, and the GLBTQ community in Russia would see the solidarity. So my advice is to read the article cited below, and then get going on advocating for Gay Colors for American Olympics.

We can show the bastards what solidarity really means. Don’t boycott them; Beat the Shit out of them.

Must Read Article: http://www.sbnation.com/2013/7/24/4548656/sochi-winters-olympics-2014-russia-boycott-gay-rights

Image: http://www.bet.com/news/sports/photos/2012/02/famous-black-olympic-athletes/_jcr_content/leftcol/flipbook/flipbookimage.flipfeature.dimg/011912-sports-famous-olympic-athletes-tommie-smith-john-carlos.jpg

Image: http://www.ruffinflagcompany.net/images/products/gadsden/AZ%20gadsden%20flag%20md.jpg

 

We, You and I, Pay This Guy 80Thousand Dollars a Year to Kill Us.

 

Surely he is worth 80k a year?

“Hasan has admitted to shooting his fellow soldiers, saying in June that the Nov. 5, 2009 attack on Fort Hood in Texas was done in the "defense of others," in his case, the Taliban.”

This guy admits premeditatedly killing American soldiers and through a loophole in pay regulations continued to get 80 THOUSAND DOLLARS a year since. He has now collected 300k. Our money. While the victims get nothing because the government refuses to classify this as an act of terrorism.

BULLSHIT!!!!!!

Oh, and the Army, read that you again, has already spent 4MILLION DOLLORS on the case, including a ton of money paid to his legal advisors, since he is representing himself in the trial.

BULLSHIT!!!!!

You think there is a government conspiracy to take away your guns and invade your privacy? No Way. A government this stupid couldn’t figure out how to get out of a paper bag. What a disappointment.

Photo: NPR Morning Edition.

Harry Potter, Trevor and GLBTQ

I am glad you failed, too.

In case you didn’t know this, GLBTQ youngsters (I am old enough now to use this term) have a higher suicide rate than straight youth. Why? God, the reasons are many, but it boils down, in my view, to the anxiety and depression of not being accepted for who you are by ones you love and the rest of the world as well. Or the fear of this.
So “coming out” isn’t easy. It is viewed and probably is in many situations dangerous. I know a man, the father of a gay son, who for years after the boy came out would not talk to him or have him involved with any family activities. He blamed his son for choosing his gay life. They are somewhat reconciled now, and I hope will continue to grow closer as time goes on. My own son came out to us many years ago, and we are a family. His husband, officially, is a wonderful man and they are a loving couple.
 
In neither case was suicide the outcome of the anxiety of being gay. But it often is and this is where Daniel Radcliffe steps in. He is a spokesperson for the Trevor Project that exists to help GLBTQ youths through the dark days of disclosure. Is Radcliffe gay? Well, he has a girlfriend doesn’t he? You don’t have to be on the GLBTQ team to care about them, or to love them for who they are, or to be an advocate for them. You just have to not be judgmental. (Think “WWJD”. And for the rest of you, think WWWD.)

Check out the Trevor Project and watch the PSA from Harry. And remember it. You may just save a life someday. Maybe even your own

Trevor Project: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Image: http://pinkinourlives.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/trevor-project-girl-2.jpg.

Thomas University West Campus: Well Done!!!

TU Logo

I have been critical of TU in the recent past. Being an  Emeritus Professor and Honorary Alumni is a good thing, and having been through some of the darkest days and then seeing the flourishing of the recent years makes being critical even harder. I have usually been guilty of speaking out when I felt it necessary. Over the years I served TU in various capacities I opposed a number of changes I thought were ill conceived and supported many I thought were right. My concern was always for the students, the family of TU and the institution itself.
My latest and probably last remarks revolved around what I considered an ill-conceived plan to outsource all maintenance without any provision for protecting the loyal employees who carried that burden very well for years. I still think it ill conceived. It shows a total lack of caring for TU family.
 

Renovated TU Basketball Facility

I visited the Main Campus to retrieve some boxes that had been stored in the “barn” and decided to have a drive through look at the West Campus. The last time I saw it there was a huge hole in the ground and crappy looking buildings. Well let me tell you this: It looks really good now. Stark landscaping but that is ok because the vast grassy area to the front and left of the Gym will be built on soon I think. So I drove around the building (not the gym and I don’t know what it is called) and parked. I went in to take a look and ran into a former student of mine, Sarah, who greeted me with a big smile and a hug. Thanks, Sarah, nice to know one is welcome. The lobby is well done if a bit sparse, but it is a work in progress I hope. Needs some plants and art. Daryl, another old friend, joined me from his office and I quickly figured out that this is “his” building. He didn’t say that, but the pride was there in his voice. He showed me the offices, workout gym, athletic training room and the unfinished back rooms. What is finished is impressive. Nicely done and looks very functional.  First  Class.

We walked to the gymnasium which I had last seen after our last basketball game from the first attempt to have a basketball team. In those days everything was ratty except the playing floor. Now it is really nice. All new everything. First class work. Great court, locker rooms (awaiting lockers but they are coming). Everything looks good. Even the original walls and floors have a "new" look.

But more. The enthusiasm of Daryl and the other folks I talked to was infectious. The athletic department and athletic programs are really, really enthusiastic. It comes through. The West Campus is the new “old” Thomas College. Personal buy
 in; love of the place and hope for the future.

For the West Campus I say a loud ‘Well Done TU.”

Image: Google images (Problem: damn few images of TU on Google)

From the Sensei of a friend: What to say to the police.

What to say to police:

When involved in a lethal-force incident, where you fired
shots, otherwise  attempted to apply deadly force, or even brandished a gun
without firing, you'll  likely be confronted by police a short time later.
They're just doing  their job, but you need to be the one to look after your own best interests.

In light of the recent "Salinas Case" ruling by the US Supreme
Court, my  advice to students in this regard has changed only slightly.
In any event, it bears reiterating.

I've recently consulted with a group of distinguished a
lawyers, who are  also my friends and colleagues, on this subject, and what follows is in general agreement by all:

 Simply "remaining silent" is not sufficient, by itself, to assure your rights and best interests are preserved.  Interesting that we live in a country where you have to speak, in order to assert your right not to speak!
And, once one stops answering police questions and demands that his lawyer be present before continuing, he shouldn't start up again prior to his lawyer arriving. When he does, we get into an ambiguous situation, where the prosecution can later claim that, having asserted the right to
remain silent at one point, the defendant subsequently changed his mind, thus, in effect,  waiving his rights.

 In addition, one should not wait until he is arrested to invoke his  rights. Any time you are party to a
police investigation, certainly when your are "Mirandized," your rights need to be unmistakably,
unilaterally invoked, and without delay!

 Invocation of your 5th Amendment rights to decline to answer questions and have your lawyer personally present before questioning resumes must be unconditional and unambiguous. "Do you think I should have an attorney?"  won't suffice!

 No need to be snotty, but you must be clear, and you must mean
it!  Confusion and ambiguity are always the enemy! Slam the door
shut with a clear, unequivocal statement that you wish to exercise your 5th
Amendment rights, now. Don't ask them what they think!

Insisting that police call an ambulance for you that will take you to a  hospital may also be a good strategy. Most will agree that going to a  hospital to be checked-over is probably good advice for anyone who has been involved in a lethal-force incident.

 So, here is my advice when confronting arriving police in the wake of a  lethal-force incident:

Palms out at chest-level, no weapons in sight:
1) "Officers, thank God you're here!"
2) "I'm the one who called."
3) "Those men:
     (a) attacked us,
     (b) tried to murder us,
     (c) We were in fear for  our lives"
4) "I will sign a complaint"
5 "I'm happy to chat with you when my lawyer is present. I
absolutely request my attorney, and I am respectfully invoking my 5th
Amendment Rights to decline to answer any questions until he is personally
present, sir."
 It is appropriate to call officers' attention to:
    (a) evidence that may not be obvious,
    (b) witnesses who may not be  obvious,
   (c) danger that may not be obvious (eg: an armed suspect still in  the area)

Always be polite and non-threatening, but take a deep breath
and speak clearly.  Don't mumble and don't become chatty.

 Finally, when you are "Mirandized," the officer will probably ask you, "Do you understand your rights, as I've explained them to you?"

The best answer is, "Officers, I'm not answering that
question, nor any  other, until my lawyer is here, nor will I sign, nor
initial, any  document."

We could go on for many more pages, but the foregoing pretty much sums it up. You must protect yourself, as no one else will!

"After victory, tighten the straps on your helmet."

Image: http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/79000346.png

Race. Or Juries? Or Crappy Prosectuion?



All Failed by the System.

This isn’t about Race. This is about the laws in Florida, the Jury System, the prosecution and defense lawyers and the Constitution. Not about GZ or TM.

Something happens. A crime is charged. A District Attorney or Grand Jury, of both, agree there is enough evidence of a crime to prosecute. Now here is the clue, folks, that we live in America: Innocent until Proven Guilty. By a Jury. INNOCENT OF WRONG DOING. Get it?
So, the prosecution gathers evidence and the defense gathers evidence. Here is Florida Jury instructions, in part:

To overcome the defendant’s presumption of innocence the state has the

burden of proving that the crime was committed and the defendant
committed the crime.
It is to the evidence introduced in this trial, and to it alone that you are to
look for the proof.
The defendant is not required to present evidence or to prove anything.

 So, the prosecution must define the crime, then prove beyond a reasonable doubt the accused committed the crime.

In the GZ vs TM case, the prosecution chose to prosecute the wrong crime. The Jury unanimously found reasonable doubt on all the charges and found “not guilty”.  Carping about what should have been the outcome, or was GZ a bad man, or was TM just an innocent kid should not be the issue. The issue is did GZ do what he was charged with? The Jury said “NO” loud and clear.

Now the dissection of what a million people think happened goes on, and has no end in sight. For God’s sake folks, people are still debating the OJ thing. This never ends. But, say what you want, in the eyes of the Law, a person found “not guilty” is INNOCENT.

Maybe you could vent your hostility on, oh, the current trafficking of slaves? Or, maybe the morons who deny climate change? Continue pushing the moral lessons of this event with the hopes that things may get better some day. But don’t subvert the system by second guessing the Jury. Say “The Prosecutors Fucked Up” (quite likely they did) but go with the Jury. Lawyers around the country repeatedly say that juries have an uncanny way of seeing the “doubt” in cleaver arguments. Lobby to change the laws or even the Constitution, but move on to more important things. Life is too short.

Image: http://wordsofthesentient.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/innocence-project.gif

Reasonable doubt: http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/flsupct/SC00-906/00-906comments5.pdf

Another Republican Shows His Ass.

 

Congressman Austin Scott, (R, Ga. ) replied this to a friend of mine who contacted him: 

Asshole with Flag.

We have made great progress over the last few decades in preserving our natural resources. However, there is still no agreement among the scientific community on the effect humans have on our environment. 

 As an avid outdoorsman, preserving our natural resources and promoting outdoor recreation is important to me. Growing up in South Georgia instilled in me a passion for the outdoors and a desire to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to share that same feeling. Many of my fondest memories involve visiting and camping in some of our nation's public lands.

 Thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to do so in the future. It's an honor to represent the Eighth Congressional District of Georgia.

My Friend replied to him:

Spoken like a well trained, do-nothing politician.  My father, an  environmentalist and undefeated Republican GA legislator,  would be disgusted at what has become the anti -science, anti -environment, new Republican party. There is clear agreement on man's impact on the environment. It has been accepted in the established scientific knowledge base for decades. The debate is OVER and science has won!  Climate reality is telling the story in tornadoes, droughts, floods, wild-fires, hurricanes and melting polar ice caps. I do not accept your non-position and will continue to advocate for the future of our planet on behalf of my two granddaughters. Physics is not altered by political rhetoric, nor is the Earth's atmosphere protected by political spin or talk radio buffoons. You do not represent me and you do not represent the thousands of informed people in your district who know the impact of environmental degradation and atmospheric alteration. You do not represent the millions of literate scientists around the world who are begging for rational political policies in hopes of salvaging Earth's capacity to sustain human life. You and other like -minded ostriches, with heads in the sand, are accountable, as the cost of extreme weather and environmental homicide take their toll in money and profound suffering.  More than hunting and fishing is at stake here.  The food, water, air, lives and survival of our grandchildren and their descendents are what you are  exchanging for your party's short sighted policies and political ambitions. Those of us who care are not going to stay silent in the face of cultivated ignorance and suicidal denial.  

Pray for Peace? Won’t Help.

Auto Accident. Three young men killed, one in bad shape in the hospital. Outpouring of calls for prayer on

Gotta Luv House

Facebook. Pray for the families; for the community; for the kid in hospital; for Santa Clause.
What I don’t get is this: Why someone thinks praying to the God that LET the kids crash and burn will influence the same God to have mercy on the rest?

No one will ever convince me that prayer works. Ah, but it really does, Woody. Yup, it helps people cope with the insanity of random bad crap happening. Gives people a prop to get them through the tough times. One Hundred Percent internal. Probably delusional. But it doesn’t work in the real world.

For nearly 2000 years Popes have Prayed for Peace. You see any peace around? Ever been a time when peace reigned the world? No.

Prayer is a personal act that makes people happy. It doesn’t work on a grand scale. Pray for reduced carbon dioxide in the air. Won’t help. Pray for someone not to die from pancreatic cancer. Won’t work. Why doesn’t it work? Simple.  Nobody on the other end of the phone.

Image: House.

The High Desert Yields Another Jewel: Granite Mountain Brewing

 
What do you do in Prescott Arizona if you are Woody? Why of course! You look for breweries. You ask Mr. Google. You peruse the websites. Then you go and sample the brews.

But wait! One of them is funded with Kick Starter. Now that gets my attention. A brewery funded with local money, and exceeded their goal. This is definitely worth a closer look.

Sally and I dropped in one afternoon during the Prescott arts festival and found the GMB quiet and not crowded. Very casual seting with comfortable easy chairs, seating groups and a beer garden out back. And, a nice locally made bar. The brewery is behind the bar where everybody can watch

Michael, the brewer, work his magic. We tasted the IPA and ordered a pint each. Nice color, hoppy up front, nice nose and mouthfeel. Hmmm, I thought, this is a good start. We sat in the beer garden and enjoyed our brew with an order of GMB nachos. Good combo. I talked a bit with Audra while we were up front and she enthusiastically explained the origins of the brewery. She is the “business" partner and everything else too. She keeps the books and keeps the whole operation on the rails. I asked to talk to Michael when he had a break (cleaning kegs).

He joined us in the garden as the samples of their dark brews arrived. We chatted about his background as a home brewer turned nano brewer. Guys like Michael have a passion to brew, and when the combination of supportive spouses, funding and community come together it is a beautiful thing to see. Audra and Michael now work full time at the business while their partners have real jobs. Well, they go to work and earn a salary while Audra and Michael go to the brewery and play. Don't get me wrong here: running a business and making barley magic is very hard work, but, the passion I see in these young entrepreneurs glows, and that is what makes their work "play".  And, the spice also help out at the brewery from time to time.

Back to the dark brews. We tried the Muddy Wash Milk Stout, Mr. Smith's Espresso Stout and Honey Vanilla Porter. All had a rich dark color, nice mouthfeel and lingering tastes. The milk stout was flavorful and just a slightly sweet but not cloying taste. The porter delivered its promise with subtle aroma and taste of honey and vanilla. Personally, I would save this brew for a snifter after a good meal, but many drinkers will make this their first choice.

The final surprise of the day was the espresso stout. Brewed with locally roasted organic beans, this is a masterful blend. It is richly flavored and malty with a slight hoppiness that combines to really please the pallet. It is the kind of brew you want to swirl around in your mouth forever, dreading the moment when the glass is empty. I noticed that Michael won a gold medal as a home brewer for a vanilla bourbon porter. So, he knows the beauty of bourbon and brew. I would love to see him get a freshly drained bourbon barrel and fill it with Mr. Smith's Espresso Stout. After a few months of marriage I believe this would produce a nectar worthy of the gods. Worst case? Fifty gallons of good coffee bourbon stout.

All in all, Sally and I had a great afternoon at Granite Mountain Brewing, had some fine brew and met some dedicated and nice folks. Couldn't get any better. Don' miss it if you get near Prescott Arizona. You won't be disappointed.

Images ©Granite Mountain Brewing, used with permission