Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta recently announced that whereas Iran does not yet have a nuclear bomb, it is working on one, and this is unacceptable. Meanwhile, an Iranian is arrested in America and charged with planning to murder a Saudi Arabian diplomat, an American is sentenced to death in Iran for spying, and the Iranian government threatens to stop the flow of oil to Europe and America in retaliation for economic sanctions.
It appears that the Iranian government, whoever they really are, are quite belligerent. And we all know, or should know, that the United States was founded violently, grew and became great violently, and today behaves...violently.
Both countries have a long history of belligerency. Iran, after all, used to be the Persian Empire. Now it seems the two countries are spoiling for war with each other.
With regard to atomic bombs, we must remember that the United States invented the bomb, is the only nation to ever use the bomb, and has more bombs than all other countries combined.
It is difficult for Americans to look at their country the way the rest of the world does. What we consider to be our own virtuous behavior the rest of the world often sees as aggressive, imperialistic, and barbaric.
For the world to be sustainably peaceful, all nuclear bombs will have to be eliminated, not just Iran's.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Disabilities Unlimited
After eleven years working with people with disabilities, I had learned two things: 1. people with disabilities are not to be pitied. 2. Everybody has disabilities. My disabilities include: 1. A maddening inability to find my way out of a paper bag. I can live in a city my entire life, and still get lost. 2. An equally maddening inability to tell one human being from another, and I aint talkin' about black people, or Mexicans, or Asians. I'm talking about homo sapiens, en toto. If I'm working the cash register, and you come up and buy something, then come back five minutes later and buy something else, as far as I'm concerned, I dealt with two different people. I have a definite problem with facial recognition, and my short term memory is nearly extinct. Long term, my memory is great. I can remember who was in my first grade class fifty years ago, and what they said to me - but don't ask what I did less than five minutes ago.
Hell, I haven't even scratched the surface of my disabilities, and I'm not ashamed to list 'em all. After all, we all have them. All my life I've been highly regarded for supposedly being highly intelligent. When I think about my mental disabilities, the ones my admirers don't see, it makes me want to laugh...or cry. Suddenly I don't seem so much like the intellectual juggernaut some people seem to think I am, and want me to be. To me I start to seem pretty damned limited. To me I start to seem pretty damned small. There was a time when I could name the winner of every world series game ever played. That time is gone.
The competitive arrogant culture we have in America makes it difficult for us to acknowledge our disabilities, to own up to our perceived weaknesses. But now I can tell you this, straight up: a disability needn't be a weakness. a disability can actually become a strength. Stay tuned to find out how...
Hell, I haven't even scratched the surface of my disabilities, and I'm not ashamed to list 'em all. After all, we all have them. All my life I've been highly regarded for supposedly being highly intelligent. When I think about my mental disabilities, the ones my admirers don't see, it makes me want to laugh...or cry. Suddenly I don't seem so much like the intellectual juggernaut some people seem to think I am, and want me to be. To me I start to seem pretty damned limited. To me I start to seem pretty damned small. There was a time when I could name the winner of every world series game ever played. That time is gone.
The competitive arrogant culture we have in America makes it difficult for us to acknowledge our disabilities, to own up to our perceived weaknesses. But now I can tell you this, straight up: a disability needn't be a weakness. a disability can actually become a strength. Stay tuned to find out how...
AOL Saga
I was on AOL from 2000 to 2005, and I spent a lot of time sitting in front of my computer, in the AOL chatrooms, sometimes typing in comments to the room chat, sometimes just reading what others said, and taking mental notes. It became my primary hobby. Addiction was threatening.
The idea of spending time in chatrooms and writing a book about it occured to me early, within a few weeks of my joining. There were just too many iteresting people, talking about to many interesting things, to ingore the possibility. The AOL social scene seemed like a perfect reflection of American culture.
I repeatedly told people I was in the chatroom to observe, and to eventually write a book. Everybody seemed to accept that. Sometimes I thought they were flattered. I fully intended to be a dispassionate, objective observer, an intellectual entity, a journalist. Fat chance of that.
There were just too many interesting people....
I collected a list of female friends, somehow. I think it was an AOL feature called a "buddy list".
On my buddy list were all females, surprisingly.
So when I found out thet Michelle, my "friend" in New Jersey, was in fact alive, and not murdered, I rapidly dispelled my shock and grief, passed rapidly through the anger and resentment stage, timidly rejoiced, and moved on. Everyone on the internet eventually figures out that the internet is a great place to communicate, and to be extremely dishonest.
The issue of travel always comes up. I believe it still does, though not as much on the apparently dying AOL. You meet somone online you grow to like very much, but who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away. Do either one of you travel to meet? The answer in numerous cases turned out to be a resounding "YES", as in the late 1990s and first decade of the new milleniunm Americans were bouncing back and forth across the country having long distance internet generated relationships by the millions....
The idea of spending time in chatrooms and writing a book about it occured to me early, within a few weeks of my joining. There were just too many iteresting people, talking about to many interesting things, to ingore the possibility. The AOL social scene seemed like a perfect reflection of American culture.
I repeatedly told people I was in the chatroom to observe, and to eventually write a book. Everybody seemed to accept that. Sometimes I thought they were flattered. I fully intended to be a dispassionate, objective observer, an intellectual entity, a journalist. Fat chance of that.
There were just too many interesting people....
I collected a list of female friends, somehow. I think it was an AOL feature called a "buddy list".
On my buddy list were all females, surprisingly.
So when I found out thet Michelle, my "friend" in New Jersey, was in fact alive, and not murdered, I rapidly dispelled my shock and grief, passed rapidly through the anger and resentment stage, timidly rejoiced, and moved on. Everyone on the internet eventually figures out that the internet is a great place to communicate, and to be extremely dishonest.
The issue of travel always comes up. I believe it still does, though not as much on the apparently dying AOL. You meet somone online you grow to like very much, but who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away. Do either one of you travel to meet? The answer in numerous cases turned out to be a resounding "YES", as in the late 1990s and first decade of the new milleniunm Americans were bouncing back and forth across the country having long distance internet generated relationships by the millions....
Games
In a political system with free expression, and the reasonable opportunity to realize one's political aspirations, internal conflict is inevitable, and to a degree, healthy and desirable. Ideological debate is both the price and the benefit of a freely expressing society. So be it. Gob Bless American freedom of expression.
Achieving political goals sometimes creates the temptation to indulge in various creative political strategies, or trickery. No one seems above this, including President Obama, and the United States Senate.
Recently the president was determined to appoint a certain gentleman to a financial regulatory office. The republicans in the Senate opposed the appointment, not because of the candidate's qualifications, but because they simply don't like financial regulation. Stalemate.
Congress leaves town for vacation, president makes "recess appointment". Presidents have been doing this for a long time.
Only this time congress didn't entirely leave town. Cleverly a couple of members stayed around over the holidays, holding "pro forma", or token senatorial sessions, to block the dreaded appointment. A brilliant strategy, by anyone's standards.
Only this time the President (Obama) made the appointment anyway, right in front of the token senate. This is evidently the first time a president has done this, and the handful of senators in town were outraged. Par for the course for American politics.
Achieving political goals sometimes creates the temptation to indulge in various creative political strategies, or trickery. No one seems above this, including President Obama, and the United States Senate.
Recently the president was determined to appoint a certain gentleman to a financial regulatory office. The republicans in the Senate opposed the appointment, not because of the candidate's qualifications, but because they simply don't like financial regulation. Stalemate.
Congress leaves town for vacation, president makes "recess appointment". Presidents have been doing this for a long time.
Only this time congress didn't entirely leave town. Cleverly a couple of members stayed around over the holidays, holding "pro forma", or token senatorial sessions, to block the dreaded appointment. A brilliant strategy, by anyone's standards.
Only this time the President (Obama) made the appointment anyway, right in front of the token senate. This is evidently the first time a president has done this, and the handful of senators in town were outraged. Par for the course for American politics.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
aol saga
....continued from previous posts...
..it was hard to believe that I had only been online for a few months, and had already gotten emotionally attached to several women I had never even met in person, and one of them, the retired prostitute in New Jersey, had, according to the email I received, been murdered by her ex husband.
I was horrified. The possibility that the email might be fake occured to me, of course, but it sounded sincere, and I knew it was possible. But I intended to find out. I got in touch with a detective at the local police department, and showed him the email, and he agreed to investigate it.
He found nothing. No indication of any such murder. Meanwhile, I wondered if it was true...
A couple of weks later I got a call from Michelle - very much alive, and ridden with guilt at the thought that I wouls spend the rest of my life needlessly grieving over her. I was most relieved, we had a big dramatic scene on the telephone, and all was well. She cnfessed that she had faked her death because her best friend had not only talked her out of moving to live near me, but had further talked her into marrying him!
That was ten years ago. I hope they are still happily ever aftering.
..it was hard to believe that I had only been online for a few months, and had already gotten emotionally attached to several women I had never even met in person, and one of them, the retired prostitute in New Jersey, had, according to the email I received, been murdered by her ex husband.
I was horrified. The possibility that the email might be fake occured to me, of course, but it sounded sincere, and I knew it was possible. But I intended to find out. I got in touch with a detective at the local police department, and showed him the email, and he agreed to investigate it.
He found nothing. No indication of any such murder. Meanwhile, I wondered if it was true...
A couple of weks later I got a call from Michelle - very much alive, and ridden with guilt at the thought that I wouls spend the rest of my life needlessly grieving over her. I was most relieved, we had a big dramatic scene on the telephone, and all was well. She cnfessed that she had faked her death because her best friend had not only talked her out of moving to live near me, but had further talked her into marrying him!
That was ten years ago. I hope they are still happily ever aftering.
Corruption
Super Political Action Committees (SPACS) are, among other things, groups of people, mostly wealthy, who get together to support and raise money for a political candidate. In order to do this legally they must have nothing to do whatsoever with the candidate they support.
The SPAC making all the fuss right now is of course the one supporting Mitt Romney by spending millions on negative advertising against Newt Gingrich. AS nearly everyone knows, this has Der Newtster a mite riled. He called the ads lies. But he also complained that Mitt Romney didn't take responsibility for the SPAC ads. Ironic, since Newt won't take responsibility for peddling influence to Freddie Mac, insisting that he provided historical information, or something.
Stupid situations like this are caused by our stupid federal campaign laws, which allow politicians to raise and do anything they want with money, while placing meaningless restrictions on it, to give the appearance of political campaign reform.
In AMerica political power is bought and paid for, and always has been, apparently to the complete satisfaction of we the people. For we the people do nothing to stop it, and we so easily could.
We the 99% could hereby declare that the purchase of political advertising is prohibited.
The SPAC making all the fuss right now is of course the one supporting Mitt Romney by spending millions on negative advertising against Newt Gingrich. AS nearly everyone knows, this has Der Newtster a mite riled. He called the ads lies. But he also complained that Mitt Romney didn't take responsibility for the SPAC ads. Ironic, since Newt won't take responsibility for peddling influence to Freddie Mac, insisting that he provided historical information, or something.
Stupid situations like this are caused by our stupid federal campaign laws, which allow politicians to raise and do anything they want with money, while placing meaningless restrictions on it, to give the appearance of political campaign reform.
In AMerica political power is bought and paid for, and always has been, apparently to the complete satisfaction of we the people. For we the people do nothing to stop it, and we so easily could.
We the 99% could hereby declare that the purchase of political advertising is prohibited.
Howdy Neighbor
I was half asleep in the middle of the night, listening to National Public Radio, and I thought I heard somebody say : "with new leadership in North Korea, there is concern among its neighbors , including South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and the U.S."
I suddenly awakened. Something wasn't right. The radio lady had definitely said "North Korea's Neighbors." Not its enemies. Its "neighbors".
But the last one she listed was, definitely, "The U.S."
Why on earth would anybody include the United States in a list of North Korea's "neighbors"? Hell, we're, what, at least 6,000 miles away from North Korea? If the U.S. is a neighbor of North Korea, then so is Australia, or Mars.
But of course the answer finally dawned on me. Why, the United States is EVERYBODY'S neighbor!
The United States is everybody's neighbor because the United States is a juggernaut of a global superpower, the strongest military in the world, and maintaints a global empire, over which it feels it absolutely MUST preside in accordance with its (the US) "national interest", which means, simply, the profit of American corporations.
And so to North Korea we Americans say "howdy neighbor"!
Just the other day President Obama, in timidly proposing a few token cuts to military spending over the next decade, clearly stated that the United States will be increasig its military presence in Asia. NO one seems to have noticed, because nobody is making a uproar about it. Increased U.S. military presence IN Asia?? How can we plan on doing this, when we can't even figure out how to pay for what we have now?
The answer, of course, is China, the wealth of Asia, and American corporate control. Our corporate masters simply don't want to be excluded from Asian profit, nor do they evidently want China to become, uncontested, the greatest military power on the planet.
If this country (the U.S.) knows what's good for it, it will make every attempt to find a cooperative future with China, our neighbors. China and the U.S. are hopelessly economically entangled.
And for those who thought that President Obama would be totally for the poor and the working poor; he is, to a degree, but he is also very much a servant of the corporate oligarchy which paid for his election, which pays for, and therefore owns, all American elections and Presidents.
I suddenly awakened. Something wasn't right. The radio lady had definitely said "North Korea's Neighbors." Not its enemies. Its "neighbors".
But the last one she listed was, definitely, "The U.S."
Why on earth would anybody include the United States in a list of North Korea's "neighbors"? Hell, we're, what, at least 6,000 miles away from North Korea? If the U.S. is a neighbor of North Korea, then so is Australia, or Mars.
But of course the answer finally dawned on me. Why, the United States is EVERYBODY'S neighbor!
The United States is everybody's neighbor because the United States is a juggernaut of a global superpower, the strongest military in the world, and maintaints a global empire, over which it feels it absolutely MUST preside in accordance with its (the US) "national interest", which means, simply, the profit of American corporations.
And so to North Korea we Americans say "howdy neighbor"!
Just the other day President Obama, in timidly proposing a few token cuts to military spending over the next decade, clearly stated that the United States will be increasig its military presence in Asia. NO one seems to have noticed, because nobody is making a uproar about it. Increased U.S. military presence IN Asia?? How can we plan on doing this, when we can't even figure out how to pay for what we have now?
The answer, of course, is China, the wealth of Asia, and American corporate control. Our corporate masters simply don't want to be excluded from Asian profit, nor do they evidently want China to become, uncontested, the greatest military power on the planet.
If this country (the U.S.) knows what's good for it, it will make every attempt to find a cooperative future with China, our neighbors. China and the U.S. are hopelessly economically entangled.
And for those who thought that President Obama would be totally for the poor and the working poor; he is, to a degree, but he is also very much a servant of the corporate oligarchy which paid for his election, which pays for, and therefore owns, all American elections and Presidents.
Friday, January 6, 2012
An AOL Saga
...continued from previous posts...
...and of course, in the summer of 2000, everyone collected online lovers. Of this I am certain, although I can't prove it. I did, so everybody else must've! It was simply too tempting. Amazing to think that a perfectly intelligent person can sit and read a message on a computer screen, such as "you're so sweet", and get to feelin' all warm and fuzzy inside, merely because the person who sent it has convinced you, or has been unable to prevent you from becoming convinced, of her attractiveness. Love is a powerful thing, and so are words.
My two main online loves were Darla and Michelle. In 2000 they were both about 28, so they must be forty-ish now. Darla was a pre school teacher near Detroit, Michelle was a retired prostitute for the Rusian mob in New Jersey. Honest to goodness. She wanted out of Jersey bad, and was talking about making a try for Australia, with her three kids. I convinced her that my beloved Arkansas was every bit as exotic and distant from New Jersey. She was on the verge of packing and heading south when I received an email informing me that Michelle, regrettably, had been murdered by her ex husband, A hit man for the Russian mob.....to be continued...
...and of course, in the summer of 2000, everyone collected online lovers. Of this I am certain, although I can't prove it. I did, so everybody else must've! It was simply too tempting. Amazing to think that a perfectly intelligent person can sit and read a message on a computer screen, such as "you're so sweet", and get to feelin' all warm and fuzzy inside, merely because the person who sent it has convinced you, or has been unable to prevent you from becoming convinced, of her attractiveness. Love is a powerful thing, and so are words.
My two main online loves were Darla and Michelle. In 2000 they were both about 28, so they must be forty-ish now. Darla was a pre school teacher near Detroit, Michelle was a retired prostitute for the Rusian mob in New Jersey. Honest to goodness. She wanted out of Jersey bad, and was talking about making a try for Australia, with her three kids. I convinced her that my beloved Arkansas was every bit as exotic and distant from New Jersey. She was on the verge of packing and heading south when I received an email informing me that Michelle, regrettably, had been murdered by her ex husband, A hit man for the Russian mob.....to be continued...
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Politics 24-7
By the time the presidential election year rolls around, and the state primaries begin, most Americans have already had enough presidential campaigning, and are ready to move on. Yet, it has only just begun .On drags the campaign, through spring, into summer, endless pep rallies, banal rhetoric, petty quarrels and accusations. For all our trouble we finally get a president with whom half of us are soon dissatisfied.
Isn't there a better way? Probably not. European political campaigns are limited to several weeks, which seems reasonable. But is it really better that way? If there is one aspect of civic life that ought not be hurried, it might be the selection of our leaders.
If there is any benefit to American presidential elections, it might be in their very longevity. Americans, notoriously apathetic, are encouraged by soundbites to keep thinking about the important issues - constantly. Of course, that same info saturation might be a contributing factor to national apathy...
Long live American politics! May the day come when every day is election day, and a day of vigorous campaigning, for the next election.
Isn't there a better way? Probably not. European political campaigns are limited to several weeks, which seems reasonable. But is it really better that way? If there is one aspect of civic life that ought not be hurried, it might be the selection of our leaders.
If there is any benefit to American presidential elections, it might be in their very longevity. Americans, notoriously apathetic, are encouraged by soundbites to keep thinking about the important issues - constantly. Of course, that same info saturation might be a contributing factor to national apathy...
Long live American politics! May the day come when every day is election day, and a day of vigorous campaigning, for the next election.
chat drama
...continued from previous post....
...softangelblonde, a cougarish divorcee in Louisville, kept my attention on AOL very effectively without benefit of a picture. Credit my vivid imagination.
The chatrooms were a riot. I spent the entire summer taking notes for this book. There was bickering, backstabbing, and drama galore. That might be part of the reason for the eventual decline in chatroom popularity: war weariness. In 2000 chatrooms were all the rage. By 2005 I was getting tired of them, and left AOL, it turned out, for good. When I returned to the internet in late 2011, I looked around a bit for some of the old chatrooms, only to find that they had all but vanished. Maybe millions of other people eventually grew tired of them, as I did. Perhaps facebook presented a better alternative.
I did, however, tend to show more interest towards women who showed me a nice picture of themselves, which is normal and understandable, I guess.
MauraMQ (McQueen ?) was a curvy auburn 31 year old flight attendant with U.S. Airways, living in Maryland. Her bikini pic was special, and heaven only knows how many online suitors she must have had. Remember, there was no real limit. She wanted enough attention to me to indicate that she probably wanted it, and got it, from veritable hordes. Too far along in our "chatting" she told me she was married with two kids. That taught me something. She must be 41 years old by now, so perhaps her wild AOL days ran their course....mine hadn't, not yet.....to be continued...
...softangelblonde, a cougarish divorcee in Louisville, kept my attention on AOL very effectively without benefit of a picture. Credit my vivid imagination.
The chatrooms were a riot. I spent the entire summer taking notes for this book. There was bickering, backstabbing, and drama galore. That might be part of the reason for the eventual decline in chatroom popularity: war weariness. In 2000 chatrooms were all the rage. By 2005 I was getting tired of them, and left AOL, it turned out, for good. When I returned to the internet in late 2011, I looked around a bit for some of the old chatrooms, only to find that they had all but vanished. Maybe millions of other people eventually grew tired of them, as I did. Perhaps facebook presented a better alternative.
I did, however, tend to show more interest towards women who showed me a nice picture of themselves, which is normal and understandable, I guess.
MauraMQ (McQueen ?) was a curvy auburn 31 year old flight attendant with U.S. Airways, living in Maryland. Her bikini pic was special, and heaven only knows how many online suitors she must have had. Remember, there was no real limit. She wanted enough attention to me to indicate that she probably wanted it, and got it, from veritable hordes. Too far along in our "chatting" she told me she was married with two kids. That taught me something. She must be 41 years old by now, so perhaps her wild AOL days ran their course....mine hadn't, not yet.....to be continued...
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Damage Costs
I had the great misfortune to be in my hometown Joplin, MO, the day the great tornado destroyed the central third of the city. I was in shock, and part of me still is. Total cost? 2.8 billion..and the beat goes on...
Unless I'm dreaming, there are a lot of tornados, hurricanes, droughts, and floods in the lower 48 these days. They cost big bucks, bigger every year as human habitat expands, and it looks like there's more to come.
One possible solution is to elect Ron Paul President, liquidate the American Empire, and use the "peace dividend" to pay for future natural disaster damage.
But must we do something quite so drastic? Couldn't we just liquidate the empire without going to the trouble of electing Ron Paul President?
Unless I'm dreaming, there are a lot of tornados, hurricanes, droughts, and floods in the lower 48 these days. They cost big bucks, bigger every year as human habitat expands, and it looks like there's more to come.
One possible solution is to elect Ron Paul President, liquidate the American Empire, and use the "peace dividend" to pay for future natural disaster damage.
But must we do something quite so drastic? Couldn't we just liquidate the empire without going to the trouble of electing Ron Paul President?
Disabilities Unlimited
For eleven years now I've had the honor to work for an organization which provides assistance to people with disabilities. The organization's lofty motto: "WE recognize and support every person's right to be included in the life of the community", is a mission statement to die for, Jeffersonian, Lincolnian in its profound truth and eloquence. I know two things that I didn't know eleven years ago: People with disabilities are not to be pitied, and everybody has disabilities.
Recently I found out for the first time what its really like to have a physical disability (my chronic disabilities are mental). My right hamstring tightened up extremely and I could not walk normally or without pain for six months. Being unable to run or play tennis would have been bearable; being unable to walk without intense pain was a true life changer. It almost seemed as if it would be easier to've never known healthy walking.
But I was not altoghether unhappy with the way I handled the situation. I accepted it, adjusted to it, and did the best I could, which is what folks with permanent disabilities do every day. Folks with disabilites tend to be among those whom I most admire. Those with emotional challenges, such as anger management, are invariably aware of their behavior, and almost invariably regretful when anger overcomes them. I accept every apology, then I try to remind them that the best apology is improved behavior.
This post's title, "Disabilities Unimited", is intended to cannote the concept that we all have disabilities, and that we can live with them, work with them, and grow because f them. It might be helpful to listen to those whose disabilites are diagnosed, that the rest of us might do better at diagnosing our own, and lving more aware, and complete lives.
Recently I found out for the first time what its really like to have a physical disability (my chronic disabilities are mental). My right hamstring tightened up extremely and I could not walk normally or without pain for six months. Being unable to run or play tennis would have been bearable; being unable to walk without intense pain was a true life changer. It almost seemed as if it would be easier to've never known healthy walking.
But I was not altoghether unhappy with the way I handled the situation. I accepted it, adjusted to it, and did the best I could, which is what folks with permanent disabilities do every day. Folks with disabilites tend to be among those whom I most admire. Those with emotional challenges, such as anger management, are invariably aware of their behavior, and almost invariably regretful when anger overcomes them. I accept every apology, then I try to remind them that the best apology is improved behavior.
This post's title, "Disabilities Unimited", is intended to cannote the concept that we all have disabilities, and that we can live with them, work with them, and grow because f them. It might be helpful to listen to those whose disabilites are diagnosed, that the rest of us might do better at diagnosing our own, and lving more aware, and complete lives.
Monday, January 2, 2012
AOL Saga
...continued from previous posts...
I met a pretty blonde from California who called herself "Hotsummnitesgirlie", and indicated she was 21 years old. Without thinking, I instantely described myself as 25 years old, though I was in fact 45.
It didn't take me long, much to my credit, to figure out that this wasn't going to work. Any online lie would soon become a web, far too complicated for even my computer like brain to process. I lost touch with this girl before that ever happened, which probably saved my face. At least I learned early...
The summer of 2000 seemed like a feast for anyone chasing women on AOL, for verily women abounded, AOL had 17 million members, dominated the market, and was growing. It seemed like half of America was on AOL, anybody who was anybody.
I met "softangelblonde" in a 30s or 40s romance chatroom, and we hit it off immediately. She never showed me a picture of herself, for reasons I can't remember, but to me it didn't matter. The screenname "softangelblonde" was enough. I still had a lot to learn....
...to be continued...
I met a pretty blonde from California who called herself "Hotsummnitesgirlie", and indicated she was 21 years old. Without thinking, I instantely described myself as 25 years old, though I was in fact 45.
It didn't take me long, much to my credit, to figure out that this wasn't going to work. Any online lie would soon become a web, far too complicated for even my computer like brain to process. I lost touch with this girl before that ever happened, which probably saved my face. At least I learned early...
The summer of 2000 seemed like a feast for anyone chasing women on AOL, for verily women abounded, AOL had 17 million members, dominated the market, and was growing. It seemed like half of America was on AOL, anybody who was anybody.
I met "softangelblonde" in a 30s or 40s romance chatroom, and we hit it off immediately. She never showed me a picture of herself, for reasons I can't remember, but to me it didn't matter. The screenname "softangelblonde" was enough. I still had a lot to learn....
...to be continued...
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Tailgating
We all agree that one of the worst things you can do while driving is follow the car in front of you too closely - and that we all do it, except me. I don't tailgate, unless of course I'm in an extreme hurry, which I try never to be.
At least 95% of all American drivers are bad about this, and it may be as high as 99%.
Surely it is the leading cause of accidents. How can it not be? Nobody ever owns up to it. Everybody I talk to says the same thing: "I don't tailgate". Yet, out there in the jungle, I rarely see anyone, other than myself, who doesn't tailgate.
And precisely what do we think we're accomplishing, other than enriching our lives with threats to our survival? Self expression and the fulfillment of emotional needs? Quite possibly.
American culture is self centered and competitive.Our senseless way of driving cars is a direct reflection of this cultural competition and aggression. Or at least, it certainly seems that way. Anyone wanting to write a post for this blog defending Americans as humble and cooperative, safe and courteous drivers, is free to do so. We keep telling ourselves that America is the greatest country in the world, and we actually, amazingly begin to believe this shameless, arrogant trash. The new American attitude should be the same as any high school football team in August: we have a chance to be good, if we work hard. That's a better America, not this arrogant bragging, tailgating crap...
At least 95% of all American drivers are bad about this, and it may be as high as 99%.
Surely it is the leading cause of accidents. How can it not be? Nobody ever owns up to it. Everybody I talk to says the same thing: "I don't tailgate". Yet, out there in the jungle, I rarely see anyone, other than myself, who doesn't tailgate.
And precisely what do we think we're accomplishing, other than enriching our lives with threats to our survival? Self expression and the fulfillment of emotional needs? Quite possibly.
American culture is self centered and competitive.Our senseless way of driving cars is a direct reflection of this cultural competition and aggression. Or at least, it certainly seems that way. Anyone wanting to write a post for this blog defending Americans as humble and cooperative, safe and courteous drivers, is free to do so. We keep telling ourselves that America is the greatest country in the world, and we actually, amazingly begin to believe this shameless, arrogant trash. The new American attitude should be the same as any high school football team in August: we have a chance to be good, if we work hard. That's a better America, not this arrogant bragging, tailgating crap...
Moonshine
The discovery channel had a great documentary on moonshining: serious, for profilt, big time modern moonshining, which I had no idea existed. Actually, about 35 years ago I tasted moonshine in some trailor in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which I assumed was produced in some small scale, home still.
As I sat, stupified, sipping moonshine I recall a coyote sitting on my lap, seriously. I was amazed at how long and strong its hind legs were...
I waited 30 years after it was on TV to watch "The Dukes of Hazzard", so you can plainly see I am not culturally predisposed to knowledge of moonshine.
But to discover that the business is alive and thriving shocked me; I would have thought that only small scale isolated outposts existed.
And just why is it illegal to brew your own hard liquor and sell it without involving the taxation process? Same reason marijuana has been and still is largely illegal: the corporate elite simply do not like any threat whatsoever, real or perceived, to its political control and economic domination of the United States.
The right wingers amaze me when glibly claim that the real enemy of the people is not the corporate masters, but rather the government. The masses, the 99%, can, if they have the collective will, use the government to shed more benefits on themselves, in a revolutionary progressive way - if the collective will is there. But it takes a national outpouring of anger to convince a phone service company to drop a two dollar sur charge. The power is clearly with the corporations, for whom government is a tool - just like it COULD be for us, comrads....
As I sat, stupified, sipping moonshine I recall a coyote sitting on my lap, seriously. I was amazed at how long and strong its hind legs were...
I waited 30 years after it was on TV to watch "The Dukes of Hazzard", so you can plainly see I am not culturally predisposed to knowledge of moonshine.
But to discover that the business is alive and thriving shocked me; I would have thought that only small scale isolated outposts existed.
And just why is it illegal to brew your own hard liquor and sell it without involving the taxation process? Same reason marijuana has been and still is largely illegal: the corporate elite simply do not like any threat whatsoever, real or perceived, to its political control and economic domination of the United States.
The right wingers amaze me when glibly claim that the real enemy of the people is not the corporate masters, but rather the government. The masses, the 99%, can, if they have the collective will, use the government to shed more benefits on themselves, in a revolutionary progressive way - if the collective will is there. But it takes a national outpouring of anger to convince a phone service company to drop a two dollar sur charge. The power is clearly with the corporations, for whom government is a tool - just like it COULD be for us, comrads....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)