"it is Shameful!"

Thank you, President Obama. It IS shameful. It IS the height of irresponsibility. (click the title above for his comments.) These arrogant Capitalists have two choices -- if you want government bail out money, then curb your excessive (outrageous) spending and show some signs of truly trying to solve your internal problems, or spend as you want, but don't ask for a hand-out. I may have reacted strongly (prior post) but Good Grief, do these multi-million (Billion Dollar) executives have any common sense at all?

For years I've said there is no such thing as common sense, and this national debate should prove it. I was yelled at today for my comments (by a Republican) who supports Capitalism. Great -- support it, but what kind of capitalism sends executives to Washington for hand outs and then thumbs its nose at the public who pays for their negligence with such gross, ridiculous wasteful spending?? It's pure, audacious GREED! Banks and financial institutions propping themselves up on the backs of the working class who can barely make ends meet -- sickening, and I'm truly about to stop paying taxes and go to court if need be.

I beg for someone to post a calm, rational explanation of how I can be wrong on this. All this fuss over Blago, and I think these miserable corporate crooks are so much worse. Blago was just bragging and cussing, these bastards are ruining the entire WORLD economy. But, we're the fools for propping them up. I want to STOP!

Yes, I was willing to go along with the first bail out, but that's when I thought we were trying to solve a crisis. This IS the crisis now. I'm just thankful we have a President ready to stand up to it. Yes we can -- stop them, and let's start now.

And, on another wasteful topic, it's about time we change the daily US postal delivery. I've been ready for this for two years. People who want immediate delivery can pay for overnight or second day, otherwise, why not just have delivery a couple of days a week. The world is changing -- use email and online payments. Its' ridiculous to have men and women trudging up and down the street every day delivering junk mail at government expense. We can't afford it and it's totally unnecessary.

Criminalizing Capitalism?

Ooooh, my dander is up today over ridiculous comments on the CNBC (TV) business channel. In defense of some of the outrageous corporate waste and fraud that's currently going on, a couple of the commentators there (Larry Kudlow, for one) feel the hoy polloi (disparaging term for "the people" or "masses") just don't understand corporate culture. Today's remarks by Dennis Kneale, one of the CNBC pundits, was worse! He claims Merrill Lynch can "make a million bucks in ten minutes" so it's no big deal to spend a million on the CEO's office. WHAT? That mentality is exactly what drove these companies into the ground and begging for bail outs.

It's a SAD day in America when government, financed on the backs of the working class, has to pay for all this wasteful crap. Commodes that cost nearly 100 grand, CitiGroup trying to buy a 50 Million jet after getting 45 BILLION of bail out funds, and executive bonuses for bozos who can't keep their companies profitable? Larry, you have lost your mind! Dennis you are just plain nuts.

You guys have been whining and crying about socializing banks. This is why it's happening. Are you too stupid or deluded to see that? When the government operated like that, (thousand dollar hammers) and massive federal waste (under Republicans, mostly) that's when the national debt sky rocketed. That's Econ 101 (not brain surgery.) What pisses me off, is the hoy palloi I hang with generally make $20 or 30 an hour, and we're the "stupid stiffs" financing these bail outs. The unemployed or minimum wage workers don't pay taxes, and neither do the uber rich with their endless loopholes. On the other hand, I paid $12,500 in federal withholding and probably owe even more because I did manage to save a few bucks. I would like to jump through the cable wire and smack you. You people are totally out of touch with reality -- TOTALLY! (I'm sending this link to CNBC management.) How can we take financial advice from morons? I've never been more disappointed -- I've watched CNBC for years. That must be why I'm broke and paying for your Capitalist criminals. On second thought, maybe none of us should pay taxes until this mess gets resolved. Why should I pay for some billionaire's stupidity?

He's In!!

Two things come to mind -- thank God we made it through this critical moment of history; He's in and Alive! (And, Bush is gone! )

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Yes, I began crying around 8:30 am (MST) and didn't really stop until Aretha sang. That was not a shining moment (IMHO.) Over the weekend I recorded Ray Charles singing "America the Beautiful" during the Obama train trip to Washington. I sobbed like a baby. Aretha just made me grit my teeth. And, even tho ultimately the Quartet was lively, it sounded funereal at first (and depressing.) I found several things odd: the poem was odd, even parts of Obama's speech were odd. I guess expectations were SO high...

But, here he comes to the luncheon with the Flourish "Hail to the Chief", being introduced as the President of the United States and that makes me cry again!!

I have my own DVD of the day. I channel-surfed lots of viewpoints and angles. The crowd of millions was so awesome, the sights and spectacle breath-taking. And, there's more to come. The parade, the commentary, the reality of it all. One thing that really struck me during the ceremonies was the idea that racism is far from over in the US. My own cousins continue to send horrible, offensive emails to me. Young black men will continue to be thrown to the ground and shot, just as one was two weeks ago. Bigotry, hate, resentment and fear are not easily dissolved. But, with a multi-racial President holding the highest office, surely tolerance will be more prevalent and discrimination dissipated. Today we have hope! Yes, "hope over fear" -- finally!

Double Standard

I realize there's always been a double standard for rich and poor, but never has it been so blatant as NOW!
Bernie Madoff (seen here today going back to court)confessed his $50 Billion fraudulent Ponsi scheme, yet gets to stay in his $7 MILLION New York penthouse! All new meaning to "house arrest." His victims are broke and several have committed suicide while he remains in luxury they paid for.

Tim Geitner, the nominee for US Treasury Secretary and head of the IRS forgets to pay his own taxes! (The fact that the guy is uber smart just makes it more bizarre.) The biggest businesses in America get the billion-dollar bail outs, while small companies go bankrupt, fail and the owners are screwed. And, the CEOs of these failed or propped-up corporations get mega-million bonuses! It's truly incomprehensible.

It took over ten years, but I paid off the debt I incurred for my small business venture. I pay thousands in taxes every year. I can't imagine what would happen if I forgot. I know I'd go to jail if I bilked people out of a few bucks. I'm sure we'll all be paying more (in taxes) to cover our $1.2 Trillion national debt and the cost of all these losers. Why are we tolerating it?

LGBT

Where have I been? I learned this term today from John Kerry, of all people? Either he or I got it wrong at first. I thought he said "LBGT" -- but I googled and found LGBT has been around since the 90's! I like it. I never cared for the term "gay" which always sounded like an old 50's musical to me. And, it wasn't very inclusive. This pretty much covers the gamut. Well, maybe not. I was thinking of an acronym that would cover Alternative Species Sex. Well, see, there you have it. No, don't blame me... I can't help it. I was born to be a dog, but I'm in a human body. Can I have a species-change operation? Really, I was actually thinking of aliens -- like non humans. I was born to be a giant bug-eyed insect! Anyway, from now on it's so easy. You're either an LGBT or an ASS.

Armadillos Moving North

Armadillos are advancing northward. Just one more ominous sign of climate change. Those little critters I love so much, because they are self-contained (like me in my RV Van), have to get out of the heat or cook in their shell. YIKES! Scientists say will be seeing them here in ABQ soon. And, the bees? Researchers are still trying to solve the missing honey bee crisis.

We're pumping 70 Million tons of Co2 into the atmosphere each day now. Already there are no glaciers left at Glacier National Park (in the USA) and if Greenland melts in my lifetime (which seems very possible now), then we're looking at 40 foot of sea level rise coming much faster than anyone thought. My pal Al (Gore) says that would displace as many as 200 Million people. Where would they go? Will they, and the armadillos, arrive here in New Mexico?? They have to go somewhere, so we'll be impacted, too. Yet none of this evidence is creating any urgency to solve our oil consumption or other fossil fuel issues. Only when gas gets close to $4 per gallon do we insist on action.

We're wrapping up Armageddon week on the History channel... So, after I've seen all these shows and finished my 2012 books by Daniel Pinchbeck, I'll be fully prepared to give my own prediction on how to get through these next four years. Stay tuned!!

NO basis for hold-up

I don't really want to continue these political rants, but this BS with Harry Reid in the Senate is really bleeping me off. There is NO legal basis not to seat Burris. Reid and other nit picking nitwits were only looking for a reason to keep Burris out. They used the fact that the Illinois Sec of State did not counter sign the appointment paperwork. But, this is where it actually gets interesting. That signature is a Notary-type function -- simply verification of the Governor's signature. The SOS doesn't have "approval" power. And, on this TPM link you see they know that. You also see that Reid's staff have an "ah ha" moment (via email) that they can use the lack of counter signature to keep Burris out. That sucks! Reid knew they could keep the legal entanglements going and going, ad nauseam .

I'm thrilled that my boy from Illinois refuses to cave in to pressure. He is innocent until proven guilty. He still has all the constitutional power of his office. Meanwhile he's bringing much needed attention to the old "pay to play" politics that pervade every level of US government. As anyone who lives here knows, NM is just as bad as Illinois and so is Washington. Now, NM is in the same mess. Shed light and all the cock roaches will be scurrying for dark corners. Blago is just the flash light!

Align with '09

It's here! No turning back now. I've been resisting this shift to 2009. While everyone seems to hate and blame 2008 for all the economic problems and violence around the world, I've loved it. For me it was all about the Infinity and phildickian symbology. I didn't want to let go. But, letting go was also my Mission for this past year -- completion. Completion also means releasing the old and embracing the new.

So, now it's time to Align with two-thousand nine. I could make align my "word of the year." I prefer to think of a theme rather than just a word. And while alignment has potential -- especially as a frquency adjustment - my theme for 2009 is Wu Wei. What is that, you ask. It's remarkably similar to alignment, according to dictionary.com. But, I must confess, the actual Taoist meaning of it and why it was my original theme for this year, is the concept of non-doing. Letting nature take it's course, rather than always trying to force an outcome. That would be a great release for me after years of trying to control everything and everyone around me! Plus, non-doing is such a perfect retirement theme, doncha' think?

So, hello '09. I won't fight you. You're here now. Let's all just Be Here Now and try the Wu Wei Way! OMmmmmmmm.