Two things came together for me that make me think we're swinging in a weird direction - actually it's very much in keeping with my belief that we're headed back to a system of EconoGovernment that was all the rage in the 18th century. Everything is owned by a relatively few rich families, and everybody else has to suck up to the power and fight over the crumbs.
First, in January, the Roberts court affirmed the Rights Of Monied Interests in the Citizens United decision. Now with the primary win of Sharron Angle in Nevada, where most of her support came from out-of-state AstroTurf organizations, we get a look at what happens when we apply Efficient Markets principles to the election of our delegations to Congress. Suddenly, Dick Armey can raise lots of money and spend it any way and anywhere he wants to make it more probable that we "elect" somebody who'll be sympathetic to the interests of his clients - whoever the fuck they happen to be; while the opinions of people who actually live and sweat and bleed and die as citizens of Nevada are reduced in proportion.
Another side of this is the fact that "Big Union" contributed mightily to an attempt to beat Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas - the attempt failed, but it was way close for a while. As the forces get more organized, and experienced, we can expect to see more elections being manipulated by remote control.
So here's the payoff: Welcome to the era of Representation Without Taxation.
BTW) this fits nicely with the way politicians use a selling technique known as the Turn Around. Repubs, at least most blatantly, are the main offenders. You have only to consider Palin's recent attempted Turn Around: The BP spill happened because the treehuggers forced Big Oil to drill farther offshore. It's lame and crude and clumsy, but guess what - the rubes eat that shit up.
Jun 11, 2010
Jun 10, 2010
Gettin' Back In The Game
It's taking way too long to find a decent job. Time to get really serious about it and start working harder on my packaging. So, in order to shape up and look more presentable, I'll have to devote a lot more time to sweating and a lot less to reading and blogging. Things must change. I'm not callin it quits, but I have to concentrate. See ya
Jun 7, 2010
The Only Etta James We've Got
Sometimes, it's not until they've been put thru the mill - overzealous producers and handlers and agents who just want a piece of something they can only dream of creating; maybe that's just what it takes for some artists to get home. I wish it could be other.
Jun 6, 2010
A New One For Me
Never saw this guy before. The sax style sounds familiar but I can't place the name.
Jun 5, 2010
LAX, Brah!
It was good day all around for the Roberts boys. Luke came home with the championship for a one-day tournament in Williamsburg. 9 goals and a bunch of assists in four games. Way to go, Lukey!
The Graduate
Way to go, Nicky. I'm proud of you.
WIth buddies Kyle, Alex and Lizzie.
WIth his best girls Irene and Haley.
Jun 4, 2010
Cost v Benefit
It's a given that oil runs the economy; that we're dependent on oil - addicted, in the words of GW Bush. And addiction is an apt analogy. With just about any substance abuse issue, you don't start out having problems. At first, there's a nice high - a good feeling - some kind of benefit, even tho' there's also a cost. You have a great time drinking too much, and then you suffer some because of the hangover the next day. You figure "the goin' up was worth the comin' down". But if you do it too much, over time, the cost starts to outweigh the benefits.
From a story at Market Watch:
Ocean tourism (as opposed to that offered by Orlando theme parks) and recreation are among Florida's main industries, contributing an estimated $20 billion a year to the state's economy, data from the National Ocean Economics Program show. In 2008, 84.2 million visitors spent over $65 billion in Florida, supporting the more than 1 million residents directly employed by the tourism industry, according to Visit Florida, the state's official tourism-marketing arm.
Out of the $65 Billion a year tourists spend in Florida, they spend $20 Billion playing in and around the water. But now all that beautiful water is about to become a stinking toxic sludge made of crude oil, poisonous detergents, and dead rotting plants and animals.
Here's a nice kicker: BP has sent a $25 Million "grant" to Florida to assist the state in their PR and advertising campaign. It seems so perfect. They won't spend the money on technology or procedures that could prevent the fuckups, but they'll sure as hell spend a boatload of it on efforts to tell us "it's not as fucked up as you think".
The tourists have to have the oil products if they wanna get to their favorite vacation spots in Florida, but if they know the place is trashed, why bother?
Likewise, the shrimpers have to have fuel for their boats, but if the oil spill has killed the fishery, there's nothing for them catch.
There's such a thing as Business Ecology - every enterprise is connected in some way to all other enterprises. And every business is connected in some way back to the earth. It's all part of a system in which every part is interdependent on all the other parts. When do we finally get it thru our thick skulls? If the air and the water and the land are spoiled, then people don't thrive. Without a thriving population, you don't have anybody to employ; you don't have anybody to buy anything from; and there's nobody to sell anything to. And then there's no reason for your business to exist at all.
From a story at Market Watch:
Ocean tourism (as opposed to that offered by Orlando theme parks) and recreation are among Florida's main industries, contributing an estimated $20 billion a year to the state's economy, data from the National Ocean Economics Program show. In 2008, 84.2 million visitors spent over $65 billion in Florida, supporting the more than 1 million residents directly employed by the tourism industry, according to Visit Florida, the state's official tourism-marketing arm.
Out of the $65 Billion a year tourists spend in Florida, they spend $20 Billion playing in and around the water. But now all that beautiful water is about to become a stinking toxic sludge made of crude oil, poisonous detergents, and dead rotting plants and animals.
Here's a nice kicker: BP has sent a $25 Million "grant" to Florida to assist the state in their PR and advertising campaign. It seems so perfect. They won't spend the money on technology or procedures that could prevent the fuckups, but they'll sure as hell spend a boatload of it on efforts to tell us "it's not as fucked up as you think".
The tourists have to have the oil products if they wanna get to their favorite vacation spots in Florida, but if they know the place is trashed, why bother?
Likewise, the shrimpers have to have fuel for their boats, but if the oil spill has killed the fishery, there's nothing for them catch.
There's such a thing as Business Ecology - every enterprise is connected in some way to all other enterprises. And every business is connected in some way back to the earth. It's all part of a system in which every part is interdependent on all the other parts. When do we finally get it thru our thick skulls? If the air and the water and the land are spoiled, then people don't thrive. Without a thriving population, you don't have anybody to employ; you don't have anybody to buy anything from; and there's nobody to sell anything to. And then there's no reason for your business to exist at all.
Jun 1, 2010
Duke Sucks
I suppose I should try to be a little more magnanimous about it, but I just really wanted to see Duke fall. They're scrappy and they played smart and they had individuals step up to do great things at the right times and they got lucky - all of which have to happen to win the big one. So, good on you, Duke - you preppy fucks.
The weekend wasn't a total loss - here's a pic that Irene got of Nick (far right) and his crew in front of USS Constellation at The Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore.
The weekend wasn't a total loss - here's a pic that Irene got of Nick (far right) and his crew in front of USS Constellation at The Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore.
May 31, 2010
Maria Muldaur
A bit of a chestnut, but I never get tired of hearing Amos Garret's amazing riffs at the break.
May 29, 2010
May 28, 2010
May 27, 2010
Aliens
Close encounters of the fungal kind?
This thing is growing near the tree line behind the house.
This thing is growing near the tree line behind the house.
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