VETERANS

I am old enough to remember the late 70's when the Vietnam Vets came home to little acclaim. After WWI, WWII and the Korean War the troops came home to ticker parades, fanfare, and gracious praise. This time something had changed. It seemed they were almost loathed. They seemed a burden on society. They had witnessed the same horrors of previous wars. Those returning men and women were heros! Why weren't they heralded the same?

Every year on Memorial Day the local Detroit television stations would scroll the names of those who were killed in the line of duty. Those who protected us from terrible wrong had their names drifting across the tv screen. The montage of taps and the scroll went on several minutes out of every fifteen. It lasted the entire day and night. The names went on and on, never repeating. I'd watch this with my Aunt Linda who was a hippie back in the day and knew a few of the local guys that had gone to war and perished. One of them was an ex boyfriend named Ed. I knew Ed. He was kind of a bum and went into the military rather than get a job. He looked a little like Meathead, Rob Reiner when he was young and thin, on All in the Family (a show most my friends weren't allowed to watch- too controversial). We watched all those names go by so we could see his name. She was so sad. She was also extremely angry. I was a very young child that didn't understand why . I also didn't understand why the soldiers came home to such a solemn, unwelcoming home. They saved us! They fought for our freedom! They were HEROS!!! Military was in many parts of our lives. My school had us get dogtags which we all wore around our necks like the troops. People wore camouflage clothing. Rather than a Ken doll for my Barbie, I had a G.I. Joe. He had a Velcro beard and looked really tough. War coverage was the first thing Walter Cronkite talked about every night until Watergate happened. That took over everyone's attention. The war and the soldiers were soon forgotten completely.

SO forgotten that when it was suggested we go to an unfounded war this time I was the only of my friends that had any resistance to the notion. EVERYONE was saying, "We have to take them down now! They are terrorists!" My pleas about the horror of war, killing of innocent and not so innocent people and the fact that Bush SR didn't do it because there was no viable exit plan were mocked. I still remembered just how many names scrolled by in my childhood living room. It seems nobody else of my generation did.

And now. I find myself very alone in America. I still don't believe this war is right. Initially I could support the troops, feeling that they were in the military following orders. Support, but not respect someone who wants to live their life with no right to think on their own, to be handed order after order and just do it without their own will. Dog tags are well named. They are like trained dogs. Now, however, I can't even support troops. The people that are there now are there by choice. How can people not know what a huge mistake this war is? Who named the U.S. "World Police"? There was no imminent danger. No more than there was from Pakistan, India, Korea and many places around the world. Who would CHOOSE to go there???

America can't even pick a side. One year it is support Iran against Iraq. Them vice versa- a few times. What gives with that?

So Veteran's day was Wednesday and I felt alone in a country of 300,000,000. I kept hearing "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood. I hate that song. If there is a God why would it bless the U.S.A. more or less than anywhere else? Most of the true heroes are dead from old age. The Vietnam and Iraq wars were/are pissing contests. No wonder my Aunt was so sad and angered. I feel exactly the same. I can't support unthinking murderers. Rather than saving America and spreading Democracy, which is barely held on to here, much less in a country that doesn't even want it-The country is celebrating robotic, brainwashed killers. Lovely.

I'm so sad for the innocent people involved in this. There is no holiday for those slaughtered by such horrid actions. Will we commemorate them?

A QUESTION

“What if a demon were to creep after you one night, in your loneliest loneliness, and say, 'This life which you live must be lived by you once again and innumerable times more; and every pain and joy and thought and sigh must come again to you, all in the same sequence. The eternal hourglass will again and again be turned and you with it, dust of the dust!' Would you throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse that demon? Or would you answer, 'Never have I heard anything more divine'?”
~Nietzsche

How would you answer? I don't need to know.


You do.

HEENE MONTAGE

Todays news was engulfed with a weird spaceship looking balloon and the sensationalized idea that a young boy was trapped aboard this craft 5000 feet in the air. Of course, news reports failed to mention this family regularly contributes live news videos to national news outlets and appeared on the special 100th episode of my absolute favorite guilty pleasure... "Wife Swap".

(click-the episode is here)

Falcon Heene and his family were just on Larry King Live (Wolf Blitzer sitting in) -- where he suggested his family set up the entire "boy trapped in a flying balloon" story, saying "You guys said that we did this for the show."





Kids do the darndest things... like busting on their parents publicity trip LMAO Wolf really dropped the ball not hammering them on this one- hmm, or is this family under contract with CNN? Either way hilarious.

Added Oct 17

Balloon boy father called FAA,then 9 news before calling 911

Added Oct 18

HA! Now they are brought up on charges. Check THIS out! One of the better songs on You Tube

I think I love them

CANADA

The Kanye thing. He's been all over the media. National debt, healthcare reform- which is HUGE- as in throw away the entire old system and make a new one, 2 wars, wildfires, sky high unemployment, inflation about to hit and THIS is what is on television for a week. Oh, how we love to be diverted. Why do I care? Don't really. Someone asked what the deal was about Kanye West. Knew nothing about him and as I'm all about being informed[wonder if that came off as serious?], I've decided to share. This is my encapsulated version:

He writes and produces most of his own stuff. He was in some accident (probably someone gave him a smackdown for being a jerk -ok, probably not but I have desires and imagination.). His jaws were wired shut for 9 months. He started writing poetry. He was very close with his mother who died a year or so ago. He's VERY popular. Does VERY commercial music. One time he decided he was boycotting an awards show if he didn't win an award. Was in competition with 50cent over who could sell the most recordings with the same release date. Megalomaniac FOR SURE. Muhammad Ali's ego in it's heyday had nothing on Kanye. Totally sensationalized fame hound.

Kanye West vids:

Love Lockdown

Gold Digger featuring Jamie Fox

Stronger- live version with Daft Punk

EGO (with Beyonce-who is married to Jay-z)

RUN THIS TOWN with Jay-Z and Rhianna (whom Jay-Z was rumored to have had an affair with while "on break" and just before he and Beyonce got married.) I have a lot of respect for Jay-Z's business sense, but that is another blog. The brushing off motion of Jay-Z at 2.30 is famous- Obama did it at pre election. Sorry right wingers- I'm still not hating on him.

Obama "brushing the dirt off"

Kanye ruining Taylor Swifts moment. She is young. It's her first VMA award. He was in the audience at the VMA's and jumped on stage took the mic from her and well- the rest is in this video. Even his crocodile tears non apology on Jay Leno (who cuts zero slack). He had no reason to be on that stage and was promptly escorted out. Was very nice of Beyonce to call Taylor up during her own acceptance speech.Seems like a publicity stunt,though. He's getting a lot of press and Taylor Swift is getting even more. New albums were just released and the music industry is transformation into who knows what. He did apologize, but hmm- motives are a rough guess. Maybe I'm just too cynical. Maybe Kanye really is a jackass.

Obama responds like an actual human and says "he's a jackass"

Kanye on nationally televised fundraiser for victims of hurricane Katrina:

"Bush doesn't care about black people"

A good thing he does- That he can actually be admired for is his campaign against slavery with African diamond mining companies. This song contains a sample of the theme song for the 1971 James Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever as performed by Shirley Bassey. After gathering research on the plight of children in West African nations who since 1991 having been forced to mine conflict diamonds and die in civil wars financed by them.He still doesn't wear diamonds.Kanye West - Diamonds

BUT- I suggest you buy diamonds from CANADA, eh? They have some of the best diamond mines in the world. Not only quality but conflict free. What? Did you really think I'd close this post talking about him? Go learn something.

This is some interesting info on Canadian mines

NEGATIVE AMERICANS

I've been frequently asked why I'm so negative about the economy. I could bore you with economic minutia, but these are a few key points that are largest contributing factors. I will start with the car stimulus as I grew up in the Detroit area and it's still near and dear to my heart. What has happened there saddens me more than you can imagine.

The recent car stimulus program "Cash for Clunkers" has (arguably) been a resounding success! 700,000 new cars were sold!

Yes, the argument can be made that the foreign car makers have assembly plants here in the U.S.- BUT- Do you realize where the profit from these cars goes? Not here. Now the national debt is growing to subsidize profitable foreign companies? Living in a country trillions in debt- debt owed to other countries (mostly China. I sure hope they don't decide to collect anytime soon or my socialism rants will be replaced with your communism rants and my I told ya so's)- I just don't understand how ANY ONE OF YOU could buy a foreign car. 1 in every 100 jobs in the United States is/was a direct result of the auto industry. It is YOU who is paying for the welfare unemployed, non skilled laborers are/will be collecting. It's coming out of our social security money as well- so quit bitching about people on social services and how you'll never see your social security money. You're spending it on a Camry. I won't go on a socialism rant at this very moment, but one is always close to the surface lately and NOT because of Obama- Because of Joe right wing American. Because of Helicopter Ben and his crew. Because of Diebold voting fraud. Beause of the piss poor way things are done here on a consistent basis.

In order the top sellers were:

Ford Focus. Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, Ford Escape. Toyota Camry. Dodge Caliber, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Fit, Chevy Cobalt

Top C4C trade in cars:

1998 Ford Explorer, 1997 Ford Explorer, 1996 Ford Explorer, 1999 Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Cherokee, 1995 Ford Explorer, 1994 Ford Explorer, 1997 Ford Windstar, 1999 Dodge Caravan

Initial clunkers legislation sponsored by Representative Betty Sutton, an Ohio Democrat, would have barred discounts for new vehicles manufactured overseas and offered higher payments for cars and trucks produced in the U.S. than for those made in Canada and Mexico. The “Buy American” provision was dropped from the final legislation because of opposition from foreign automakers and free-trade advocates who said it would conflict with U.S. obligations to the World Trade Organization.

As the cars being turned in are being destroyed, actually crushed - getting rid of the "clunkers", has made the base price of a used car higher than ever before ($5k). If we want to help the poor, why not give them these cars or sell them and make some of that tax money back? The new vehicles purchased tend to be sturdy and long lasting. How soon do you think these 'less than fortunate' people are going to buy another car? We've just set ourselves up with a glut of available cars for the next 10 yrs.

Yesterday I had the joyous experience of registering my 1 yr old car for the year. What cost me around $60 last year has now increased to $500. Starting Sept 1st reg. price is based on depreciation value of -10% each year (here in NV anyway). This of course is a higher number and does not coincide with the Kelley Blue Book value. So- the govt IS getting money back. Too bad. so sad for me it is from those of us who weren't even part of the program. Why not just write out checks to Japan and Korea?

I'm shocked that so many of my "smart" and "intelligent" cohorts don't/can't see the lies and "fuzzy math" being thrown around. It extends into every part of our economy- from car sales to packages of food with less contents and more air so they look the same. Nico Richter shows clearly how the housing numbers were altered to look positive by the powers that be: U.S. Existing Home Sales Data - ADJUSTED!

Jobless claims have stayed the same last month! GREAT NEWS! ...or is it? Could it be possible that those numbers are the same because hundreds of thousands of unemployment benefits ran out?

Green Day-American Idiot-Music Video

Vinny-Bob-O-Renno | MySpace Video

Thank you for reading and I hope you consider what I have just said.

THAT'S ALL

I LOVE THIS... That's all I wanted to say about it :)

DO YOU KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND?

I'm moving to a house. I've lived in LV for 10+ years and have finally decided to make it my permanent home. Needless to say commitment takes a long time for me! I've been very busy. Though the house is only 5 yrs old, it is a foreclosure (a lot of repairs). Thankfully there was no previous interior decorating. I've been able to make it mine from scratch. I will be back soon and updating on current topics of my -and I hope your- interest. My new house reminds me very much of a home in AGRESTIC. As I move on Wednesday- there will be no blogging out of me for a bit. I will be taking a break from sorting my life, placing items in tiny boxes and establishing my home base in a 2600 sq ft box.






Here is something for your amusement:

The Traveler IQ Challenge

My travel IQ is 109. I made it to level 11 on "World". There are many challenges. My personal worst was "Flags". I couldn't get past level 1! Let me know how you scored. This is a facebook application you can use with your friends on there. I like this sort of thing a lot- Do you?

I will be back to issues at and out of hand soon! :)

XOXO

UNPOPULAR

I've been hearing a lot of words thrown around lately. I'm by no means an economist. I understand the ideology of most world economies. I've not studied microeconomics as much as I'd like or intend to. I'm starting with a few definitions to clarify what I'm about to say. My opinion is not popular with my friends. Well, to be fair my friends haven't allowed me the luxury of explaining my views to them as they cut me off mid sentence with their opinions. It is, in fact SO unpopular that I discontinued ongoing conversations because my friends become hostile. Is their hostility misguided? Maybe my opinions are.

This post is very much "dummied down" as to write at length would bore you. I'm open to (and would appreciate) constructive conversation and criticism, but seriously, every time this subject is approached it's like slamming my face against a brick wall.

Here are some concise definitions:

• Capitalism - an economic system based on private ownership of capital.
• Socialism - a political theory advocating state ownership of industry
• Communism - a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership.
• Dictatorship - a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
• Fascism - a political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government (as opposed to democracy or liberalism)
• Democratic Socialism - is a description used by various socialist movements, tendencies, and organizations, to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation. The term is sometimes used synonymously with 'social democracy'.

It is possible to be one or many of these at the same time. For instance in China, Russia, North Korea,Laos, Vietnam and Cuba - Communism is the ruling party. They practice Socialism in an extreme way that some would even call Fascist and are considered Dictatorships.

Here is a list of a few Democratic Socialist countries- Canada, Australia, India, Austria, Denmark, Iran, Syria, Columbia, Albania, Sweden, England, Germany, France... most of Europe.

...and the U.S. We are not becoming Socialist. We are. We have been. The recent bank take overs and government ownership of General Motors (which I will get back to in a future post as I, a person raised in S.E. MI have a lot to say) are just the most recent signals. It's been going on a long long time, if not since the birth of our country. What do you think Social Security, medicare ,medicaid, military, police and fire departments are? All public works projects like TVA (things that brought us out of the last depression) are technically socialist. We all chip in and things like schools, hospitals, govt. buildings etc are built. Unfortunately, most Americans distort the word "Socialism" to mean something negative - spouting words like "Hitler", "Communism", "Facism" and "Castro".

I guess what I'm trying to say here is this- Please know what you are talking about before you throw around words and concepts you have no idea about. Do ANY of us really know how our country is run? I know this post is extremely simplified. The average person on the street can't name the Vice President, much less tell me how to feel about political ideology. 11 % of Americans can't even find America on a map!

As long as I have the ability to prosper and enjoy a quality, healthy life I really don't care what the economic term is. Labeling can be a dangerous thing.

I encourage any of you to discuss this as long as you will engage in conversation and not yell extreme left or right wing slogans at me.

THIS COIULD BE

THE creepiest thing I've ever seen!


RUBBER JOHNNY





Can you top it?

FEELING GOOD

This video was filmed in one take, with audio being recorded simultaneously with the film. The video features Nyle (www.nyleraps.com) and is produced by Last Pictures (www.last-pictures.com) and 194 Recordings (www.myspace.com/194recordings)



This is giving me an uplifting feeling. Something I can never get enough of. Thought I'd share. Hope it makes you feel the same.

Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.

XOXO


I promise some actual written blogs of interest soon. I'm in a musical mood lately (which is good since I'm a musician lol)!

I KISSED A GIRL LAS VEGAS TOURISM PROMO

Ok, this isn't really a Las Vegas tourism video. It should be though. Better yet, It should be a promo for the Palms. They use the Palms distinctive avocado green limo. Craps at the Palms, Palms fantasy tower room, Ghostbar- all sorts of Palms promo going on here. It's pretty obvious the recording facility at the Palms was involved. There couple of the Maloof brothers featured. Also a yellow Ferrari (if not THE) like the one George Maloof drives. Other prominent locals? Some pretty famous poker players. Many shots of Daniel Negreanu hamming it up (don't forget to pray for his Mom- she is getting better finally!). Penn and Teller. Fremont Street. I'm sure you'll spot more people you recognize. If you enjoy L.V. you will love this. The scenery and general Vegas vibe is well done.


Katy Perry- BREAKING UP IN VEGAS

I'm not a huge Katy Perry fan. When I think of her I think of her hit "I Kissed a Girl". I'm not into people or their handlers stealing ideas. Come up with something new or at the LEAST word it differently! I like the original "I Kissed a Girl" by Jill Sobule. If you ever get the chance to see Jill Sobule live DO IT! She is fantastic. I just can't bring myself to post a Katy Perry video without posting Jill! This is pretty old and of poor quality. SEE HER LIVE! Maybe you will remember the song. I think she really does kiss girls. I like that about her. I'd kiss her. That's for sure. Bright boys and girls are hot!


Jill Sobule- I KISSED A GIRL
with Fabio

AN UNLIKELY MIX

This is my twitter *friend* list. I follow only people I interact with, wish to know and sports or businesses of interest. I find myself "pruning" my list frequently. Why have a list of people I will never nor want to know? It's nice to see everyone here in one small space!