Where will you go?

This morning several of the ladies I work with were talking about how the moon looked last night. Just for background, tonight December 12th, the moon will be the closest to the Earth it has been all year. Last night it was pretty close so it lent to some spectacular sky views.
However, the people I work with are VERY religious. So the sight of the strange sky scared them.
Scared them???
Their conversation this morning made me think, "This is why humans for hundreds of years believed there were entities that lorded over the lightening and storms." All they talked about was how they thought it was the end of the world.
The end of the world???
Why on Earth would a natural event that actually takes place every year be something to fear and believe is a foreshadow of the end of the Earth?
I dunno. I normally try to leave people and their religious beliefs alone, but when you revert to a primitive, just out of the cave personality it really irks me. Gets my dander up.
Come on people! Try opening a book every once in a while. Try asking questions rather than immediately diverting to religion.
Even God (if it actually exists) has made the world, it made the world in a completely natural and logical way so all that takes place even IF it were a sign would still be a natural wonder.
So come on, wake the heck up and take the damn blinders off people.
Live, learn, be.

Yeah, I paint.

So, there is very little any of you readers know about me. I decided that it has been a while so I would post a little bit about me.
I enjoy painting.
It's a bit odd what I do, but it usually works out well.
I work mostly in oil, but on occasion I will work with acrylic. It's all a little cartoonish but its just for fun.
I've decided to post a video on youtube with some of my work. Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/mlktoest

check out my videos while you are there. Try giving me some pointers. I could always use the help in making a better vlog.
So, then, that's a little something about me. Your turn. Tell me something about you.

Too Big to Fail

Over and over we hear the call to save one multi billion dollar banking institution after another. The reason is generally given in a high brow, "You wouldn't understand" way. When pushed for explanation as to why these companies are not allowed to fall to the side as the free market economy rights itself all they say is "They are too big to fail."
Too big to fail?
What the Hell does that mean?
If that is the true reason then why make the auto companies wait? They want the money to do exactly the same thing the banks are doing. Saving their own ass and continue to pay the huge salaries they have skimmed for themselves over the years all the while the company continues to falter around them. They have thousands of more employees than the banks so are they not too big to fail? If so, then how do we define too big?
To tell you the truth I could give a rat's ass less if these companies fail or not. Trust me, if Citibank fails, if Ford fails, if any of these companies fail there will be another company to step in and take over or just start a new company. Too big to fail generally means that they never truly fail they just change from year to year. Sometimes absorbing another company, sometimes being absorbed. I am CERTAIN that the failure of these companies may actually have a stimulating effect on our economy in the long rung. It is VERY possible that these companies have gotten so big they have stagnated and for any growth to happen for the rest of us it/they would have to fail.
Yes I am not a financial counselor nor am I an economic genius.
So go a head and do your self involved, turn up your nose "Tsk-tsk". Then you can go into your long, "I know what's best with you and the economy so go sit in front of the TV and be a good boy."
But guess what, I am willing to bet these so called financial/economic advisers are so wrapped up in the world of finances that they may be unable to see the benefits of failure. After all some of the greatest success stories we have had in our history were born from failure. But then maybe these financial experts know something history has not repeatedly taught us.
Or,
Maybe, just maybe these guys are just scared to fail like everyone else.

The 'Me' Nation

I'm confused.Since when did the United States become the Independent states of Unconnected Individuals?I know, seems out of left field doesn't it? Well, what got me thinking about this was a discussion I heard on a morning radio talk show (yes, I listen to talk radio and yes I know I am a geek) about bailing out home owners on this housing/loan crisis.The premise was the proposal in the Senate for homeowner relief. You know, a person buys a house and now the loan has become uncontrollable and the homeowner may very well loose their house. The argument on the show (francene on whas.com where you can listen live) was that many people have no problem helping people who were truly needy but they were angry about the proposal to help those who just made stupid choices. Okay stupid choices;You make $30,000 a year and buy a house at $250,000 then refinance and take out more debt for things like cars, furniture, private school, etc. Then the bottom falls out of the housing market and for whatever reason you can't make your mortgage payment.Stupid choices led to this problem. Most people argued if you make a mistake you live, you learn. My problem is who do we choose to help? How do we choose to help? Or even do we help at all? The U.S. is a free market country so by those standards the general public should not help anyone for any reason. Of course that also means we shouldn't provide tax incentives for companies or bailouts for corporations or even the financial insurance on bank accounts we currently have to protect the economy if there ever should be a run on the banks. Yet we do.The U.S. also provides police protection paid by all of us. Military protection paid by all of us, and even public education paid by all of us. If we are a free market country why do we do that?If we truly believe a free market solves everything then why do we have social security or medicaid, or public assistance?Yeah, I know many politicians argue those things should also be eliminated. Everyone for themselves.We are a me nation. We like to point out to the rest of the world when we lend money or give assistance. We (as a country) also like to point out how much we give. Heck even local politicians do it. How often has some congressman/woman or senator been running for re-election and they point out how much money they brought to the district? Problem is, the politician didn't do it alone.I promise you, unless there is massive corruption monies sent to a district to build bridges, schools or companies that decide to build in these districts do not come because of the politician alone. It's also because of the people. Or in the case of public works because of the need. Don't get me wrong, a bad politician may not be able to work the system well enough to get the appropriate monies in for necessary projects, but even a great politician can't do it all alone.I think the U.S. has forgotten something important. "We the people..." The only time I hear it anymore is when someone wants to get elected. It was written for a purpose. It means all of us together decide to do things. All of us together make things happen. Not Senator so and so all by themselves or Representative what's their name. It takes all of us.Even when we screw up it's all of our problems and fault. We have to take the good with the bad you know.It just is odd to me that the large part of the general public is so hell bent on the me mentality. We don't want socialized medicine. We don't want universal health coverage. Well guess what? All you people out there that do not want socialized medicine are actually subsidizing it. So the irony is, even though you don't want to pay for the healthcare of everyone you already are.In England, Switzerland, France, Germany they all get the same medicine the U.S. gets but they force the pharmaceutical companies to charge less than a third there than they do here. These companies claim it's possible for them to charge such low prices in these countries because they can make the difference up in the high prices in the U.S. So you see every time you fill a prescription you are paying for pills in Canada, France, England, Germany, etc. You are subsidizing their universal coverage or in the case of Great Britain you are subsidizing a socialized system of medicine.That's what happens in a free market economy. You get to pay for everyone else in the worlds benefits. You just don't want them yourself.So back to the point.Why have we in the U.S. become so selfish? (yeah, I can hear the screams out there about how the U.S. sends billions in aid to hundreds of international causes. But come on. If you found yourself in a bind and had to borrow some money from a friend how long would this person remain your friend if they advertised they gave you money. Not only gave you money but HOW MUCH they gave you? What would you think of that person? You wouldn't remain friends and you would think of them as a selfish ass. So what do you think America is for constantly reminding the world when and how much we give? Face it, the act itself is suppose to be selfless and when you advertise it and the amount it means it wasn't a selfless act it was pretty darn selfish.)I get angry that it seems the people who benefit most from taxes many times do not deserve the help. Problem is, how do we choose who does or does not get help? What's the solution?Simple. We do not choose. We help. Yes some of the wrong people get helped but so do some of the right ones. Nothing in this country is done alone.Even the check out person at the grocery store is inadvertently helping hundreds of other people. They use a machine that employs thousands, they work for a company and help perpetuate the profit of this company, they pay bills that benefit others and they too shop and perpetuate the jobs of other check out people.Even as a free market economy we are so very interdependent on each other.United we stand, divided we fall.Remember that bit of insightful advice?Doesn't seem so. We don't push for Universal healthcare because we don't want to pay for the bums who are lazy to get healthcare. We don't allow expansion of social system because we are afraid someone will get something for nothing. Truth is, it doesn't matter. We already give hundreds and thousands of people something for nothing. (hell look at the Congress or the Senate, like they are actually earning their pay checks) If we united and try to help each other out no matter what got us in the mess we might just be able to pull ourselves back up.Does it mean we won't have problems again down the road? No, in life there are no guarantees. It does mean next time it will be easier to stand back up.United we stand, divided we fall.I'm not a socialist. Nor am I a communist. I just think when a society decides to pick and choose who we help then we aren't really helping anyone.Now, that doesn't mean there shouldn't be rules and guidelines. That it's a free for all. No, there has to be guidelines. I'm just not smart enough, not educated enough to give each little detail as to how to properly do all this (universal healthcare, shoring up social programs, homeowner relief) no that's the job of the elected officials. But I am smart enough, just like everyone reading this is, and powerful enough, just as powerful as all of you, to know that when it's all about me all the time then we all fail.

A Matter of Choice

Everywhere you look there is a person proclaiming the right to do this, or the right not to be forced to do that. You know, the right to choose. Whether it is abortion (for or against), marriage (equal for all or allowed for only a select group), politics (Obama or Clinton or McCain). We, as Americans, even have the right to choose where we live.
I recently saw an interview with a person who believes all these choices people think they have are actually fabrications. They stated when you go into a grocery store you see all the different apples and think you have many choices. The truth is there really are only three different types of apples (for the most part) in grocery stores to choose from.
Take political candidates. You think you are choosing the next president, Congressional Representative or even Senator. But the truth is you get to select from only those candidates that are provided. If Joe Smith cannot afford to advertise they are not invited to any debates nor does the media really mention them. Eventually this candidate drops out. Or in the presidential campaign. If you are not elected by the Democratic convention or Republican convention then you have no chance of becoming president. So unless you choose a Democrat or a Republican nominee then you are not really getting to choose anything. Even when you do vote for president it's the state's delegates that actually choose not the voters.
You have heard of it before. 2000 presidential election in Florida. Gore won the popular vote (or had the highest number of votes cast by the voters) but Bush was selected by the state's delegates. So Bush won the state.
I guess it's better to say as Americans we have choices. It's just we must select from the choices given to us, not neccessarily the choice we may want.
So where am I going with this?
I am currently choosing to not date. I am choosing to not seek out and have a relationship. However, looking at it from the point of view that I have to select from the options presented to me this is how my decision came about.
I am presented with these options;

1. Date the first person that comes along
2. Be more choosier but only so far as the limited selection as I am presented
3. Just have random sex with little to no selectiveness
4. Have random sex but with some selectivness
5. Not date and tell everyone you are holding out for the right person

Okay, those aren't the selections I want but that's what I am given. So I choose not to date. I would rather be alone than settle. Trust me I have done it before and it always comes out badly. Oh, I'm not a one night stand kind of guy so none of the random sex choices work for me either.
Here's my problem. My choices are limited now. Every year I get older and my choices for compatible love interest become more and more limited. One day there will come a time when I will need to just accept (or, *laugh*, choose to) I will be alone for the rest of my life.
Want to know the funny part?
I'm actually okay with that.
What's funnier is that I am okay with that right now. Next week maybe I won't be, then the week after I will be and so on. I bounce up and down on the whole subject. No wonder it's such a difficult endeavor to date me. It's practically impossible to predict what I want or when I will want it.
Now, if I only had as much to offer as to equal out the difficulty of dating me. Then we would be cooking with oil.
Until then I am choosing not to date and holding out for the right person to come along or for me to find.
(see, I almost believe it myself)

Battle of Midway

I have a monumental day approaching.
I call it 'Midway' day.
There is not a lot of happiness associated with this day. It's special every year but this year it's actually something bigger. Every year it is a disappointment, to say the least. I fear this year it may be even worse.
Yeah, you probably figured out I am talking about my birthday. Every year since I can remember this day (my birthday) has been anywhere from mildly annoying to disastrous.
For example, there were at least three, not two, not one, birthdays while I was a teenager my birthday was completely forgotten by everyone except me. There was another (beyond the three I just mentioned) that was forgotten and I made the mistake of bringing it up and pointing out the others that were forgotten.
Yeah, the mistake. It was a mistake because I was verbally castrated for mentioning it. The main argument was that the birthday was not forgotten it was celebrated. Problem was when the birthday was described in detail to prove I was wrong the birthday described was in fact my sister's not mine. Me and my big mouth pointed that out. The next year at least my mother was kind enough to tell me she was not going to celebrate my birthday that year. At least then it couldn't be said it was forgotten.
After high school I entered the Navy. My first birthday in the Navy I received no letters, cards or phone calls. No one knew it was my birthday.
My second I was out in the middle of the Atlantic. I watched as everyone around me opened packages from family, friends and what not. Packages received just because the person was missed not for any special reason. I got a phone bill in the mail.
By my third birthday in the Navy my friends in the military actually tried to celebrate my birthday. It was not a bad year. People actually cared that year (okay, so they were more concerned about having a reason to get drunk but I'm easy to please by this point.)
My mother actually told me we would celebrate my birthday when I came home to visit. It seemed maybe she had changed a little.
I returned to her home for a visit and no mention was made about my birthday. I waited, waited, waited, oh and I waited. No card, no cupcake. Nothing. The day before I was set to return to Florida I brought it up. I was told I was being selfish and no such promise was ever made.
From then on I expected nothing for my birthday. Not even for people to notice. It seemed though, the more I tried to pretend it wasn't important to me the more important it was. I got to where I would begin becoming desperately depressed a week before my birthday. Then it was two weeks, three and now it's up to a month of severe depression.
Don't get me wrong, I try to make my birthdays enjoyable. I get myself a present (when I can afford it). Hell, I go through a lot of trouble. I get a haircut (the expensive kind not Quick Cuts) a new shirt and pants (sometimes even new under ware). I get all dressed up and preened like I was going to go on a really hot date.
Thing is, it's not a hot date. It's just me.
I no longer have contact with my mother. It has been almost ten years maybe more. It just became too unhealthy a relationship. She liked to verbally castrate me and I believed her. The separation was the right thing to do. But I can't expect an acknowledgment of my birthday (preferably a present considering how many years she totally blew the whole thing off) if we no longer are in contact can I?
My friends try. I feel bad about it. I have some how built up this unattainable idea of what a good birthday is that now no one is able to live up to the expectation. Every year I come up with my ultimate birthday gift. One I am completely aware I would never receive but one I truly want.
I guess this ultimate gift really was invented because I became so disappointed by birthdays now I can at least have a reason as to why I seem disappointed.
Now here I am.
Midway.
I've been depressed for two weeks already so it will make this year the longest. A month and a half. I'm not where I want to be in life. The ultimate gift is actually more reasonable this year than it ever has been. In years past I have wanted a house, a condo on a beach, a car, a two week cruise to Australia. This year I want a year's tuition to college, a 20% down payment for a house or a trip to see Machu Pichu in Central America (okay, so that one is the most expensive, yeah the type of house I want is generally less than most people's yearly salary so it isn't that much, but a guy has gotta have dreams).
I know I am in control of my own life. Or in control as much as anyone can be so if I am not happy with my life only I can change it. I guess it's mostly just that I have tried to have a different kind of birthday every year and never had a good one. I am just tired of trying anymore. Life can be exhausting.
I have done one thing different this year.
It has been twenty-seven years since I have seen, spoken to or had any correspondence with my biological father. I looked him up and wrote a letter. In it I stated my birthday was approaching and it was important to me to receive some response before it gets here.
I would like to believe that twenty-seven years of missed birthdays and Xmases would warrant a kick ass birthday gift but I am a realist.
I fear the contact I receive will be minimal with my biological father professing poverty. (NOTE: I only mentioned my birthday was quickly approaching and because it was an important birthday it seemed the time to attempt contact with him. I NEVER mentioned anything about money.) I fear disappointment is rapidly approaching. This year quite possibly a greater amount of disappointment than ever.
On the plus side, my birthday is only one day. Twenty-four hours. It will be over and I will have a whole year to forget about it.
Wish me luck.

Oil and Gas

Today the Congress has held a hearing on the ever rising price of fuel. All fuel. This hearing is with the big execs from big oil. Over and over the executives say it is supply and demand issue. Not enough supply for the demand. This means the price inevitably goes up.
Problem is whenever the Congress asks the big execs why haven't they increased gas production in the U.S. more than the current 81% of current refinery output the BOE (big oil exec)adamantly say it is because there is no call for it. The demand for gas has gone down in the U.S. and there is a surplus at the current 81% so increasing supply would severely under cut the company's profits.
Now wait a minute. They started out by saying supply and demand is causing the high prices. Too much demand and not enough supply. Now they (BOE) are saying there is a surplus in the American supply and the demand is going down.
Correct me if I am wrong but if the demand is going down and the supply is in surplus isn't that the opposite of too much demand and not enough supply? When this inconsistency was pointed out they (BOE) hurriedly begin to say the world demand is up and the world supply is down thusly increasing the price.
Unfortunately that doesn't work either. Yes China and India are now demanding more and more oil which you would think increases the world demand but studies show that Europe and the U.S./Canada have decreased our demand substantially. So maybe the supply is much less then?
Problem is, it isn't. Russia produces more oil than it has ever before and OPEC is currently producing at some of the highest levels it ever has. Not to mention Canada, the U.S., Norway, Denmark, Venezuela and Mexico are all producing more than they have ever before.
So let's look at it again.
The world is producing more oil than it has ever in history. Although some countries have increased demand many have decreased their demand. At best demand is not increasing or decreasing but in a state of stasis (non movement). So why IS the price of gas so high?
Collusion, price fixing, artificially inflated prices due to speculative commodities brokers. That's where the price of oil actually comes from. Don't let anyone tell you differently. The problem is how do you or I get that fixed or at least under some control? The speculative commodities brokers are part of the most powerful people of America. You know, Wall Street money. Billion dollar hedge fund managers. If you want them under control you must regulate more closely the investing world of our economy. That's dangerous and difficult.
Dangerous in that it could become over regulated and the economy suffers. Dangerous because it could drive these billion dollar investors to other markets taking their money with them. Which would me out of the U.S. economy. Dangerous because it could destabilize hedge funds which are the primary source of retirement for millions of Americans. One day Judy Smith's retirement is safely set aside, the next this school teacher from Minnesota is now left without a retirement.
Difficult because all the money and power these investors wield over Congress and the Senate. Difficult because all the sway with law makers these billion dollar hedge fund managers have. Difficult because there are a great many people who truly believe a free market, totally free of any regulation at all, is the ONLY way to go. These people believe it like a religion.
So then we are left where we started. Congress holding hearings with powerful oil executives to attempt to reign in collusion and price fixing.
I guess until regular people stand up and force change (yeah like Obama is really going to change anything?) nothing will. Might as well get use to $5 a gallon regular gas because that's where we are going to be by the time anyone actually reads this post. Funny part is these hedge fund managers, speculative commodities brokers, politicians and big oil executives will never truly feel the pain of the price of gas. There is just too much money in between them and the strain of energy. Aint that a kick in the teeth?

Say Again?

Have you ever noticed that when two politicians, usually in opposition to each other, are being interviewed on a subject they both take completely different stances on always say, "With all due respect to my good friend..."
Why do they say that? When you are arguing with someone who has pissed you off do you always start your comments with such niceties? I generally say something more akin to lower regions of the anatomy. If I think someone is wrong, I say so.
Now that is not to say I am never wrong, but I don't pretend to like the other person especially when I do not. What is the point in being fake? Yes, I know these are politicians we are talking about but haven't we, as a people, put up with the 'politics' in politics for too long?
Take for example this new reorganizing of the FED to attempt to repair some of this damage in the economy. I have no idea if it is a grab for power by the federal reserve and some politicians, or if it is a truly benevolent move. Why? Because of the politics in politics.
The Federal Reserve is a private bank that operates on a for profit basis. Why is it in control of banking and investment systems? Doesn't that give the FED an unfair advantage? I don't know because no one is ever truly straight with us.
Why is it that when Republicans say we need less government and more independent control by business only when it benefits the bottom line? When the bottom line is at risk the Republicans are quick to scream for more government intervention.
On the flip side the Democrats want more social programs but are notoriously tight when it comes to giving to charity. They also are just as likely to accept financial perks from less than acceptable sources as Republicans.
Politics.
The president and the country like to bend over for China and Saudi Arabia when we should have nothing to do with either of them until they allow the actual citizens of their countries to live their own lives.
Politics.
So, what would happen if someone actually got up and said when asked to respond to a comment made by an opposition,
"Fuck them."
It definitely wouldn't be politics.

Typical White Person

Allen Quip, Geraldine Ferraro both are people who have been damned for what was called racial slurs. The first for calling a young child of color the same thing he had heard his grandmother call children for years and never knew what it meant. The second pointed out that a primary presidential candidate owed a great deal of his success to the large African American following he has that arguably follows him because of his color not his politics.
Both were publicly and privately harassed and both could assume their political careers were over. Let us not forget former president Bill Clinton being called racist for pointing out other past primary presidential candidates had won certain states and for referring to another candidates story about his support against an unpopular war as a false story and a "fairytale". The former president's only saving grace was his popularity. That insulated him somewhat from the full brunt of being accused of racial comments.
Now we read, actually it takes some surfing to find the story but with a little persistence you will find it, that Senator Obama states in an interview his grandmother was a typical white person afraid of strangers (insinuating black strangers). Yet little is said in the negative of this comment.
Perhaps you can say, "I don't see your point."
I could see that.
Let's do it this way. Senator McCain is being interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper. Anderson asks the Senator, "Obama recently demanded a full hearing on the invasion of privacy of his passport records. What do you think about his response?"
Then McCain says in reply, "He's just a typical black person. He sees something strange and immediately thinks someone is out to get him."
Do you see it now? No?
Well, in the fictional situation I proposed with Senator McCain's response would be declared racist. He would be metaphorically tarred and feathered and his political career would be over. Yet McCain would have said nothing different than Senator Obama did about his grandmother. BUT...
Senator Obama's statement is not treated as a racial slur. It would be the same as McCain's fictional response. The only difference was black not white was used. So why would McCain's response be considered racist yet Obama's would not?
Is it because stereotyping can't take place against white people? Is it because a black person cannot be racist against a white person? Or is it because Senator Obama is being given a free pass.
I think he's getting a free pass. Actually, I know he is getting one.
But why?
Why would a white candidate be held to a higher standard than a black candidate?
I am well aware that many people of color believe because of the long history of slavery, Jim Crow laws and inequality all at the expense of people of color make whites guilty by proxy.
But is that a correct thing to do?
Take me, for example. My ancestors were criminals forced to come to America and indentured servants. They were the ones native to this country and the few who were also brought here as slaves. My forefathers never owned slaves nor had much if anything to do with slavery, jim crow or their perpetuation. My ancestors suffered much the same fate as African Americans claim. The native ones were all but massacred. Does this mean no one in my family was racist? No.
By that same token a black American can also have racist in their family. It does not determine the nature or personality of the individual. It's actually a choice everyone (blacks and whites) make.
Who do you want to be to those around you and your family. If you choose racist then that is what you are. If you choose otherwise then you are that.
Obama, in his statement stereotyped me and all whites. Essentially calling all whites bred to be racist. We are not all the same.
He has made a racist comment.
In the fairness of equality Senator Obama should receive the exact same treatment as any political candidate who makes a racial slur.
You and I both know he won't though. It seems many of the political news programs have long ago hopped on the "We Love Obama" bus. He will get a free pass.
I guess even though there really is no such thing as a 'typical' white or black, there is a 'typical' media point of view.

A place at the table

For a long time we (Americans) have been told how well the economy is doing.
It is doing well.
It is strong. It is diverse.
For corporate interests.
For a long time we have been told that our government knows what is best.
It does.
It knows how to give Exxon/Mobile the biggest profits ever. It knows how to staunchly follow a president in all his inane wanderings. It knows how to erode the education of our population; feed us lines on why it's okay to allow monopolies in communication and energy, how to turn a blind eye to crumbling roads, deteriorating power grids; how to sell ports and roads to foreign countries; how to spend money, spend more money and spend even more money. None of which is theirs to spend. It knows how to privatize everything from cooks in the military to medical care for seniors and children.
Yes, the government knows best, just not for the American people.
For a long time the average American has stood against the wall while a select elite few have taken our seats at a table filled to overflowing by the fruits of all our labors. This select few gorging themselves on all the benefits our country has in bounty. Insisting the few scraps that fall from this feast are benevolent gifts to us (the vast majority) the we should be humbled to receive.
These tiny scraps are held out as though they were a vast fortune. Yet we starve. All the while they gorge.We stand against the wall, empty, forgotten. Forgotten until a plate is licked clean and then we are expected to fill it again.
No questions, no protest. The American people are expected to bring our bounty to the table. A bounty grown, created, built by hard work, sacrifice and pride. Yet we receive precious little from all we create.
It's time we the people step away from the wall. It's time we the people reclaim our place at that feast. It's time we the people remind Washington once and for all who hired them.
No more claims there is no room.
It is our table.
No more claims there is not enough to go around.
It's our feast, we created it.
No more lies. No more back room deals. No more apathetic politics. No more games played at the expense of our lives. At the expense of our children's, brother's, sister's, mother's, daughter's, father's and son's lives.
We have been forced to walk the spoil created from the sweat of our brow the callouses of our palms to the gaping mouths of these ever hungry few and then thank them for taking our time, money, jobs, our sacrifices.
Not anymore.
We will be heard.
We will join with every man, woman and child and march forward arm in arm; shoulder to shoulder to the steps of the capitol and proclaim, "You have kept us out too long!" "We the people have come to take back what has always been ours!"
No more excuses.
Not for any American. We are responsible for our own fate and today, tomorrow, every day from here on we take that responsibility.
The end has come for the gilded age. I have heard the voices of every American carried all the way from the ports of Anchorage Alaska, the fields outside of Lincoln Nebraska, to the cliffs of Ogunquit Maine.
I have read the words of the constitution of the United States of America;
"We the people....."
It's our words. All Americans.It's the dreams and hopes of our fore fathers.It's the dreams and hopes of all of us.Today, we the people reclaim our country. We the people cash in our check. Today, together we demand our government work for us and no longer keep us from the table where America's bounty is held.Together we can carry our voices to the halls of Congress, the Senate and the White House.
Change is now.
Change is possible.
Change is inevitable.

All the silence is deafening

Okay, been blogging on here for a little while now. Yet I have received no, Nada, none, not a single comment.
Okay, so I guess I am boring? Well good thing I do this (blogging) only for myself. You know, a place to blow off some frustration.
But still, I wouldn't mind some positive/negative feedback. It just seems a bit lonely. Tonight I will post some more photos on here and renew the polling question. Maybe freshen the style a little too. In any case, feel free to comment anytime.

Whose afraid of Hilary Clinton?

By now everyone knows there is a presidential election coming up. I'm a bit perplexed though. I hear every side complain and moan about the other. However, never do I hear people proclaim the end is nigh so much as when they talk about the chance Hillary Clinton may be elected.
Why?
I mean she has negatives as well as positives. She, as far as I can tell is better than some running and worse than others. Pretty much no more awful than any politician. So why all the world war three dramatics?
I mean, really. You may not realize how much people (many in the media, and many politicians) hate Hillary Clinton. Not just hate, but HATE her.
For example;
A local radio talk show host (to be fair I really enjoy this show and listen regularly) spoke about how Hillary will not answer any questions posed to her. The radio show host went on to say a person who will not answer questions cannot be trusted.
At this very moment I am watching the BBC and they have just shown a reporter yelling questions at Hillary Clinton as she was walking from one venue to another. Guess what? She answered the questions yelled at her.
The media that leans right (conservative) speaks about Clinton as though she were the devil incarnate. Don't get me wrong, the conservatives do not like any of the Democrats, but they don't talk anything near as hateful about Obama or Edwards as they do Clinton.
Why?
My roommate, whom I trust to a great extent believes it's because Hilary Clinton is a woman.
I immediately started to argue with her on that. Then, I realized. She's right. For whatever reason many conservatives, and some liberals, are petrified by the idea a woman could become president.
Now that is bizarre. A country that has always pretended to be one of the most forward thinking is scared of what may happen should a woman (something never elected before) become president?
I feel as though I am actually witnessing history. I know it is historic already that a woman, an African American and Hispanic all have a legitimate claim to the presidency. It just didn't feel that way until now.
The fear and hate (something that goes hand and hand in the U.S.) of this possible REAL change where a woman could be president has solidified in me the fact that this IS historic. I can feel this history in the making. Wow. That's heavy.
So is that why people seem to hate her so much? Because she is something that has never been before? Because she is a real change?
If so, then I have only one thing to say to those who are afraid;

Grow the fu#% up!

Let's Talk About Sex

I recently saw a Discovery program, could have been NOVA about the development of language in people. It basically pointed out how it appears speech became more used and complex for the main purpose of lying. The program focused on the fact that Humans were a social species that required interaction between people to survive. You know, development of social relationships to obtain food, receive and give warnings of danger and oddly enough, to be able and have secret sexual relationships.
Now, in watching this program it discussed how the ability to obtain food and warn of danger were both things that do not require spoken language. It helps, but is not necessary. However, to deceive each other, that took language.
For example; let's say you were in a small group during primitive times that wandered behind ancient herds of animals to get food. You were a small guy that got sick often. Well, low and behold you came across some fruit. A lot of fruit. If you were to let the others of your group know about this then you would have to wait to get your cut of the found food in accordance with your social standing in the group. Probably last. Meaning you would not benefit from this find anywhere near as much as the others. So instead of giving the normal call that food has been found, you, keep it secret.
You hide the food for yourself. Now it's springtime and hormones are abound. Yet in primitive human society not everyone gets the best choice in mates. Pretty much like now how the geek generally doesn't get the supermodel. During primitive times this could mean that your gene line ends. If your genes are not well suited for survival and you only get to mate with someone who is genetically inferior also, then your kids are pretty much doomed. No health care or government programs here. Just survival of the fittest.
But now you have a leg up. A store of highly sought after fruit. So you get the clan Betty, whom you have long lusted after but never had a chance with, to come with you to where the fruit is stored. The Betty, upon seeing the fruit obviously wants to have some and feels a, let's call it trade, is fine. But, Betty is dating the clan big man. The strongest and best hunter of the clan who would kick the clan geek's butt and then throw the clan Betty out on her tush if he were to discover the promiscuity of the fruit trade.
So needless to say neither the geek or the Betty are going to tell the rest of the clan about this little fruit arrangement. This goes on for long enough that Betty has one of the geek's babies. Now the geek's genes will survive and maybe have a better chance of mating with the Betty genes.
Then a monkey wrench comes along with the clan narc finding out about the arrangement. However instead of telling the narc decides a regular payment of fruit will keep them quiet. Fruit the narc can now use to get a Betty of their own.
You know how it is, geek finds fruit, fruit bribes Betty, Betty and geek get caught red handed, fruit bribes narc and provides several people in the clan a leg up.
All this complicated interaction cannot be maintained successfully with mere grunts and growls. It would require a little, finesse. So the greater the need for deception, considering humans huge need to deceive to advance that is a given, the more language advanced.
The funny part is it is mostly due to the need for less powerful or dominant members of our society to succeed in breeding and perpetuate their genetic line. Or in other words, it's all about the nookie.
Just ask yourself, why have a good job? Why make the big bucks? Why have the best car? If you have a good job then you can provide for your family (reproduction). The more money you make the better choice you have of people to date. Better choice of mates means a greater success of offspring and continuation of your genes. Why the good car? Well it's kind of like a peacocks feathers. A little bit of flash to get the best ass (slant rhyme).
In our society success in business, money and life is highly reliant on information. What information we possess and how we choose to use it. An adult version of deception.
In all these cases, better job, big bucks and new car we do it attain the best choice in mates. So information control is the most important key to success in out society. Information is controlled via communication and language and this success is only really necessary to get the best choice in mates and to ensure success of our offspring perpetuating our own genes; it would be completely rational to say language has developed and evolved only so we can have sex.
So next time you are having a conversation on the phone just remember you are talking because we all want to get a little somethin-somethin every once in a while.