chuck kottke

Perhaps you're right Bart - non-violence can win the day, if the cameras are rolling so-to-speak. One can't help but want to push back against corrupt and inept governments, but to be effective is to win the higher moral ground in such matters.

Well, I think this weekend it should be obvious why Americans got their shorts in a binder over gas prices - because we live in a nation of driveaholics, who rely on gas to propel monster vehicles, jet skis, yachts, and other ego-trippy things to the resort destinations, so we can live "the American lifestyle" of conspicuous consumption. Americans just think of it as a right to have cheap gas so we can cruise wherever we want, whenever we want, without a thought about fuel consumption or cost. And the incentive for investing in commuter rail always seems to wane when the conservatives get their grip on power - we will always do the right thing, after we try everything else, that is. Wasn't there a song that went something like: "It's just another pleasant valley Sunday, Sunday, here in status symbol land.. "?:laugh3: Competitive plumage is rarely in short supply.

Good advice! But I think there could be a sudden shortage of frocks and habits. Although, with some sewing skills, these articles can be made.. Ah, paint balloons - sounds like paintball! :laugh3: Ball bearings in buckets --- marbles in buckets? Watching Animal House, are we;)? hm... often wondered if that would work though.. it worked as a movie stunt! Yes, foam core - perhaps that might help. Seattle battlers wore armor made from cut tires, although I had heard it did have some drawbacks.. Sheer numbers usually does the trick more than anything else it seems - one can't stop the Spanish Revolution, if the revolution is popular!

Fascism by another name is Corporatism - just see what Mussolini described it as. All those social gains made in this nation came at the expense of the lives of coal miners, garment workers, steel mill workers, and many other men and women who put their lives in jeopardy to gain a descent standard of living and a guarantee of retirement in case all else failed (as what did fail in the great crash of 29'). Before then, workers were treated as little more than chattel, the divide between rich and poor was immense; the markets, having been captured by a wealthy few, were not going to allow ordinary working class men and women to rise no matter how hard they worked, or how efficient their work was. Socialism did help a great deal, by providing the safety net all working citizens deserved, ensuring quality public education was made available to all children and young adults, and safeguarding & isolating the markets from banks and from monopolistic tendencies. And it is written in the U.S. constitution, in "providing for the general welfare" - this is part of the social contract we all share in - to promote the blessings of liberty, one needs to consider that we provide a minimum for those in need while increasing opportunities for ethical business to grow in a fair market place, and thus good paying jobs with businesses that are fair to their employees. Western governments, as I see them, are united under multi-national corporate interests and thus the mega corporate owners have gained control of what used to be real democracies! What citizens everywhere are fighting for is to regain control of their governments (see Jefferson's quote if you like - governments gain the right to govern by consent of the governed) from those individuals who buy off elected officials. It is not voluntary exchange that is the issue, it is that we no longer live in a world where one can simply 'stake a claim' to some unclaimed property and utilize this property to create goods for trade. And anything which is held in common and is not strongly protected falls to the greedy few who are cutting the rainforests like there's no tomorrow, or extracting resources without any consideration for the citizens living there (see mountaintop removal). Hence, it is up to us to demand a government of, by, and for We the People, and responsive to our interests, to ensure equity and sustainability here on planet earth. Incidentally, yes, the police action taken against those freely expressing themselves at the Jefferson Memorial was unwarranted, but the motivation behind it may have more to do with those in legal positions or political positions with a bend on power and control over all. Hence, the need for better checks and balances - that has more to do with individuals who attain office through paid political ads, and the behind the scenes payoffs; to keep the masses in line (and sometimes to fill the for-profit prisons), they cook up such unfair ordinances. Challenging such ordinances should be a priority when they conflict with our basic rights, but once again, money talks - those with the dough can afford real lawyers, the rest of us have lost our rights in the money-buys-results world.

Great for sidewalks - would be a challenge here with all the traffic though.. I always wanted one of those big wheel trikes when I was a kid.. hm.. if only it had a big wheel in front! 7911hemi_big_wheel-med.jpg (JPEG Image, 600x343 pixels) (more engine than one needs though..)

:laugh3: :laugh3:Now that must have set you back a few quid! Better keep it clean and polished - getting mud on the treads can shorten vehicle life, and dull the finish! That vehicle looks vaguely Sherman, probably made in Detroit! (maybe the last vehicle we made in Detroit?).. So how many gallons per mile does it get?:laugh3:

Happy Birthday Juanif94 and anacaren08! :):):) ===============================

Must be something good! Today, just the warm weather - what a refreshing break from the c-c-c-c-cold!

Tacoma, Washington State, USA :mudkip:

The cure is to Party! :vuvuzela: Or, make sure you're getting plenty of exercise in a non-structured way (another words, just go have some fun!). Felt that way yesterday, just panicky about nothing worth panicking over, and in the end, it just took some exercise and relaxation to do the trick. Listening to uplifting music, that can help let down the stress levels, and increase happiness levels! Lots of things can be playing on our minds, sometimes that's all it is, sometimes it's something else (like the dislocated vertebra), but usually ya just needs a break and go do something fun, no stings attached. ;)

:thumbsup::guitarist: Great Tune! Very relaxing, thanks for posting it!:sunny:

Prince :pirate:

:rolleyes: While my guitar gently weeps!:P Indigo Girls

George Harrison

Are the "strings" of the universe attached to your shirt? :rolleyes: Could be! ** Random Coldplay Though ** What ever became of the image of the sundial? :sunny:

The Goldrush

Gotta wonder about someone named Frodo Baggins.. apparently he's been affected by the ring too much, loosing sight of middle earth and middle ground. I have to say that yes, there are examples of ethical corporations, but unfortunately they are less competitive on the uneven and unfair playing field of the modern marketplace. Most good companies are either worker owned, or owned by a family that cares about it's employees like family. Some have a specific charter which guides them, and keeps them on the up and up regarding ethical practices. But without an honest referee, that being honest representative government, the worse corporations and corporate behaviors often rise to the top. And without all the good things government offers to the commons (like good roads, snow plowing, emergency services, safety nets), the market system would have a difficult time functioning. I have to wonder as well about the wisdom of publicly trading company ownership. Under such a system, companies may loose focus on their mission, have their employees demoralized by constant mergers and acquisitions, and be paralyzed to make better long-term plans by the constant demand for greater quarter profits. Some have suggested that the whole system is in essence flawed, a self-destruct mode built into our civilization, and we are doomed by this run-away machine we have devised. But nothing says we must stay the course when the course is way off trajectory - perhaps a point of realization will arrive before the point of no-return, and allow us to right the ship before it tips over completely. I'd rather put my faith in reason and compassion towards humanity and the ecosphere, than just believe in some promised land after I'm dead - if we are here for a purpose, in that purpose is to keep this planet the living Eden that it is, and improve our wellness within it.

Hello Justin! Glad you could join - liberty bell town residents always welcome here! :thumbsup: Ah yes, those Coldplay tricksters are at it again for sure! They know how to get a buzz going, no doubt about it.;) Enjoy the site and feel free to spam away. :cool::laugh3:

Welcome Camila! I'm Chuck, happy you could join in!! :) As the Clock ticks time down to LP5, hope it arrives at the speed of sound to your ears! :ears::escaping3::sunny:

Yunnan China :--)

Quite the accomplishments! Congratulations!!

Jesus was a Communist!:P In Capitalism, those who control the capital (and now capitol) control the wealth, and continue to squeeze out anyone else, by any means at their disposal (corporate America's general policy). Greed rules in capitalism, and controlling markets by any means is the behavior held most high in this system. The harder the workers work the less time and energy they have, and the more the greedy have time to coordinate efforts to trick workers out of benefits and plan ways to further enslave them, like what the Pharaoh did to the Israelites in Egypt. Wages stagnate, workers are more productive but the largess goes to the wealthy at the top, who then buy their Senators, get the rules bent further in their favor, and enslave the workers even more in the modern debtor's prison called the wall-street "banking system" visa vi credit card debts. Jesus didn't spend his time healing the sick millionaires or feeding the investor class in his day - he spent his time among the poor, disdaining the monetary system of his day. He gave freely to others without hesitation and without asking for money. True Communism, in principle, has never been applied but merely used as a ruse to capture the hearts and minds of citizens by dictators. So I wonder if that is the case, has it ever been given a true test? Are there not shared benefits and other ways of motivating fairly without money and greed as the ultimate? Many motivators besides money, and if money is one of these motivators, then shouldn't there be a government that upholds principles of fairness, so that checks and balances are in place to keep the market system fair? Communes exist even today where collective efforts produce goods and services that are then entered into the market place - one can have both. And if for instance given the imperfections of any system, is it not just to have a social safety net, so that no man, woman or child who falls on hard times isn't afforded good care in terms of health and basic needs? Would Jesus have abandoned the sick, the poor, the mentally handicapped if the economy suddenly took a downturn? Didn't Jesus turn the table of the money lenders over in the temple? Are we not at a similar stage globally, where the governments have become corrupted as places where the money lenders and powerful have taken away the government's true function as arbiter of fair play and upholder of truth, justice, and promoter of the general welfare? What would Jesus say about this?

Be thankful you live in balmy LA! :sunny:

Drumroll Please...:drummer: Happy Birthday Amy :sunny:

You are so lucky!:rolleyes: ~ 14C, clear and sunny:sunny:, and a little breezy outside! Summer approaching slowly, but for now, definitely spring-like!