"Libertarians" are intrinsically, unavoidably hypocritical.

Sorry "Libertarians," but you inhabit a fantasy world. A "Libertarian" is the sort who issues blanket condemnations of "Government," employing no specificity whatsoever, even as he drives down government-funded streets and highways, walks on taxpayer-funded sidewalks, uses government-funded sanitation systems, rides government-subsidized New York subways, Atlanta buses or Illinois METRA trains. A "Libertarian" very likely benefits from the education he received at a government-affiliated University and breathes air that is considerably less contaminated with lead than it was in 1970 due to the action of that government agency, EPA. Many more example of this kind of "Libertarian" duplicity are possible, but hopefully I've made my point. Ayn Rand received Social Security near the end of her life, and benefited from Medicare, too.

I am the NRA

I'm the NRA and it's true: Rocket launchers don't kill people, people kill people! Gosh darn it, if I want a .50 caliber machine gun for Kristmas, that's nobody's business but my own, and Santa Claus BETTER oblige me! And yer darn tootin' - I NEED my vintage WW2 howitzer to keep the US Gub'mint at bay. With my arsenal, I should have no problem fending off their F-16s, Nuclear-tipped long-range missiles, napalm, depleted uranium and all the rest of their toys. Vote Republican! (I'm joking, BTW.) http://www.jsonline.com/business/background-check-requests-for-gun-purchases-up-60-sa85thi-184953111.html

JESUS CHRIST!!!

JESUS CHRIST!!! * Jezus Christus!!! * Jésus-Christ!!! * Jezus Krishti!!! * Jesus Kristo!!! * Jesucrist!!! * Isus Krist!!! * 耶稣基督!!！* Ježíši Kriste!!! * Jesus Kristus!!! * Xesús Cristo! * Jesuo Kristo!!! * Jeesus Kristus!!! * Jesu-Cristo!!! * ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ!!! * JEZIKRI!!! * ישו נוצרי!!! * Jézus Krisztus!!! * Íosa Críost!!! * YESUS KRISTUS!!! * GESU 'CRISTO!!! * イエス·キリスト!! * 예수 그리스도!!! * IESU CHRISTO!!! * Jēzus Kristus!!! * JĖZUS KRISTUS!!! * ИСУС ХРИСТОС!!! * Ġesù Kristu!!! * JESUS KRISTUS!!! * !!!عیسی مسیح * Jezus Chrystus!!! * JESUS CRISTO!!! * ISUS HRISTOS!!! * ИИСУС ХРИСТОС!!! * JESUCRISTO!!! * YESU KRISTO!!! * Jesu Kristi!!! * இயேசு கிறிஸ்து!!! * พระเยซูคริสต์!!! * İSA MESİH!!! * Chúa Giêsu Kitô!!! * IESU GRIST!!! Well now, there we are. I may be the penultimate atheist, and a class of 1981 graduate of Blessed Sacrilege High School, but at least I KNOW HOW TO KEEP CHRIST IN KRISTMAS!!! Enough of the Krass Kommercialization of Kristmas! This is all about Jeezus's Birthday, even if that day falls in March, NOT December. JESUS CHRIST!!! Oh My Fracking GOD!!! Ho ho ho and a barrel of fun!!! And let me just add that the next humanoid who utters the tired and tiresome "Merry Kristmas" mantra at me will get an earful, straight outta my Season of Discontent. I am NOT "JEEZUS"S son."

No cuts to Social Security's Cost of Living Adjustments!

In November, President Obama implied that Social Security cuts were "off the table" in the fiscal cliff discussions. So what do we hear in Mid-December? Namely, that the president has offered up reductions in Social Security's annual Cost Of Living Adjustments as a sacrificial offering to John Boehner and the rest of Congress's austerity-mongers. My response to that is "No Way." This is not why I voted for Barack Obama last month. We must not tolerate any effort to reduce deficits by harming seniors and the disabled. We should definitely tax the wealthy at a higher rate, in order to increase revenue. But Social Security is a retirement insurance program into which millions have already paid their fair share. And it has a $2.7 trillion surplus in its trust fund. No attempt to rip off seniors and the disabled should go unchallenged. Indeed, no such attempt would be entertained by people interested in promoting a just society. While we're at it, let's endeavor to keep Wall Street's greedy hands off of Medicare and Medicaid. I cannot accept the idea that these two highly successful programs might be privatized or otherwise harmed. Neither should President Obama be comfortable with such a notion.

Just found out Mayor Michael Bloombug is "worth" $25 billion

I am of the opinion that we could do a lot better, as humanoids, if we divested the ulltra-rich of their absurd opulence and privilege. Then the rest of us might breathe, eat, sleep and all the rest a little easier.

Email to a Friend - "I'm Against It."

Today's email to a friend who is not on Facebook: "_____ , thanks for your response, and as we both realize, 'this is complicated.' Yet, by your 'reasoning:' Should the United States modify its interventionist policy in Central Africa, and resume supplying Rwandan invaders fighting a vicious insurgency in Eastern Congo? Or should it send weapons to the Congolese instead, as it did when it bolstered the vicious Mobutu Sese Seko regime for decades? The brutal, ongoing Congolese conflict has killed far more poeple than have died in Syria over the last two years. What makes the Congo a less worthy 'beneficiary' of US military 'largesse' than Syria? Should the US have been involved in overthrowing Manuel Zelaya, as the former Honduran president maintains it was? And just look at Honduras now! Should American military and intelligence units have conspired against Hugo Chavez, attempting to remove him in a 2002 military putsch? They did, of course. Many Venezuelans resent us for just that. What about Darfur in the year 2005? Was the CIA, utilizing our tax dollars, obliged to have supported, in a big way, the Christian minority then fighting the Muslim Sudanese government? For that matter, should we have gotten involved on a major scale in Sri Lanka's civil war, from 1983-2010? Where does 'legitimate' US-sponsored interventionism begin, and where does it END in your mind's eye? Does your interventionism have any basis in rational thinking, or are you guided by purely emotional factors? But why have you set your sights so keenly and particularly on Syria? Why have you made it the Number One focus of the militarism and interventionism you currently espouse? What about the law of unintended consequences? The CIA armed the Afghan Mujahadeen beginning in 1980 - in retrospect, I don't see that as having had a positive outcome, over a 32-year span. Think: 'BLOWBACK.' More recently, I don't think Libya is noticeably better off than it was under Qaddaffi - yes, Qaddaffi is gone, but Libya was significantly damaged and destabilized by the bombing, and now suffers a seemingly intractable refugee problem, among other grave consequences. I can't imagine you actually believe that deposing any and every dictator 'unfavorable to America' - often people we SUPPORTED previously - is our god-given, 'Manifest Destiny,' our national mission for Americans living in the 21st Century. First Manuel Noriega was "OUR Guy;" then he wasn't, and thousands of ordinary Panamanians paid with their lives. The last hundred years should have taught us, as a people, that we're better off staying out of many, if not the vast majority of these conflicts, or at least seeking an international humanitarian response instead. Why are you clamoring to arm Syrian rebels in 2012, when I don't imagine you supported the Contras' 1980's counterinsurgency in Nicaragua? (It was obviously right to oppose the Contras.) Just becasue Assad is a "VERY bad guy" doesn't mean I'm prepared to advocate US intervention in Syria now. That's what Obama and Hillary are considering, BTW, full-scale intervention, at least from the air. Moreover, merely arming the Syrian rebels is also a form of intervention. It IS taking sides, with god only knows what eventual outcome. As for Israel, all I will say about that country is I favor halting the $4 billion in annual military aid to that outlaw regime, especially in light of their recent actions in Gaza and their stated intention to build yet more illegal settlements. As for the Syrian people potentially holding feelings of resentment and ill-will toward Americans in the future if we don't arm the rebels - consider that millions of Iraqis and Afghans now hold precisely such sentiments - just because the US DID intervene. So, _____, feel free to call me a hopeless isolationist - I'd much rather be that than an American Imperialist. -DG P.S.: The United States currently has a national debt in excess of $16 trillion."

Milwaukee Spring

If you ever want to visit this region, come in December. Springtime is beautiful in Wisconsin.

McKibben is RIGHT.

On November 29, 2012 Bill McKibben, one of the foremost activists on the issue of climate change, shared some of the following harsh realities on Wisconsin Public Radio; other statistics I'm adding: The past decade was the hottest on record in the co ntinental United States, and last July was the warmest July ever recorded in the Lower 48. Due to rising sea temperatures, the world's oceans are now 30% more acidic than they were 40 years ago, resulting in terrible damage to coral reefs, for example. The Florida reef that extends from just south of Miami to beyond Key West, I've read, is more than 90% dead already. Greenland's ice cap is melting at an unprecedented rate - last summer, more than 97% of its surface was in some stage of melting. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is breaking up, and the Arctic Ocean's winter ice cover has been dramtically disappearing in the years since satellite imagery began regularly keeping track, in 1979. According to a BBC report from last night, global sea level has risen 11 milimeters in the last two decades. Hurricane Sandy may have caused as much as $50 billion in damage to NY State alone, and our Summer 2012 Midwestern drought may have caused another $150 billion in losses. Where are all the global climate change deniers now, in the wake of Superstorm Sandy? Every single caller to "Wisconsin Talks" was in agreement with Mr. McKibben as to the basic fact that human-induced climate change is occuring at a breathtaking and shocking pace. If Canada and the US stay on track to export and burn all the oil extracted from Alberta's tar sands, it could very well be "Game Over" for Planet Earth. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/18/2012-hottest-year-on-record-federal-agency-says/

Re: Austerity, or the "Fiscal Cliff"

There's no doubt a better way to reduce Medicare costs than the $400 billion in "unspecified" possible cuts I heard Tim Geithner allude to, as he was speaking on behalf of the Obama administration Nov 2, on "This Week With George Stephanapolous." Let's allow Medicare Part D to purchase cheaper, generic medications, from Canada, like the Doyle administration did here in Wisconsin. That was before first Tommy Thompson, then the Scott Walker regime started unraveling everything that was decent about my dear old native state. http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2012/sep/04/tammy-baldwin/uncle-sam-barred-bargaining-medicare-drug-prices-s/

Some thoughts about Syrian situation

As terrible as what the Syrian regime is doing to its people is, I don't think the US should intervene. Nor do I really believe the US will intervene. Obama is basically a pragmatist, at least compared to several of his more insanely interventionist predecessors. He should bear in mind former "Defense" Secretary Gates' warning about the madness of any US president getting us into another Mid-East war. Even considering Obama's stupid, destructive and unwarranted Afghan escalation beginning in 2009, I would like to believe the Pres knows better than to get seriously involved in Syria or, for that matter, Iran. We've got too many used wars we need to wind down already, along with 800 bases in about 140 countries that need to be evacuated. We neeed to get the hell out of Yemen and Pakistan as well. I never have, and never will believe the appropriate American role was/is that of World-Cop. That attitude has killed countless tens of millions around the Third World since 1945, put us at least $10 (additional) trillion in debt, erased much of the Bill of Rights, and totally perverted the character of the American People. What we have in this country is MILITARY MADNESS RUN AMUCK. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/obama-warns-syria-warned-over-signs-chemical-weapons-are-being-readied-against-rebels-8381157.html

Happy Sunday-Monday

Happy Sunday, (Or Monday) Church-goers and rational individuals alike. I recently read of the appalling, needless death of a 31 year old woman in Ireland who died after being denied an obviously medically-necessary abortion. After all, the hospital employed "good Christians," who couldn't comply with the emergency procedure that might have spared her life. The doctors or administrators, or whoever it was who decided, notified her that "Ireland is a Catholic country." And that's all they wrote. Except that, to their credit, Irishmen and women have been outraged by this outrage, and have been protesting in droves. I'm tempted to think that each and every Catholic county on this planet is a living hell. Tell me I'm wrong. But the same applies to officially Protestant countries, or even unofficially Protestant ones like USA. And I don't mean to single out the papacy or the Lutherans. Israel is an officially Jewish nation, also a hell on Earth, probably for its Jews and certainly for the Arabs whose lives it controls. Iran, a Muslim nation that demonstrates what an Islamic hell is for its citizens. Hinduism has shown itself to be an awful inferno, at least for its hundreds of millions of "untouchables." I favor the idea of a secular nation, if we must have nations at all, which seems to be the case, if we are to live any kind of 21st Century life style. You know, one with roads, bridges, water treatment plants, etc. In the meantime, Humanity should evolve beyond the need for all these barbaric, anachronistic religions, ASAP. I'd say those countries without an official religion, or those that only pay lip-service to a religion, are better. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Holland, Finland, all come to mind. Even a few larger European countries, like present-day Germany. Canada id no doubt the best in North America, though the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, oddly enough, gives a big shout-out to Christianity. Costa Rica is probably the best in all of Latin America, whether or not it's officially Catholic. And Bhutan is probably the best in all Asia; it appears to be at least semi-officially Buddhist, which I've always tried, rightly or wrongly, to view as being more a philosophy than a religion. None of those European countries, BTW, are anywhere near perfect, but all surpass the united States on a wide variety of socio-economic indicators. Hell, come to think of it, so does Slovakia, at least with respect to its health-care. Oops, went way, way off on a tangent. Wel, while I'm at it, I forgot to mention Venezuela, and all those other Latin countries that are trending socialist. They have a hell of legacy of poverty, inequality and violence, but at least they're trying to improve, with apparent considerable success. Jesus saves at CitiBank.

Regarding that cop who killed "Paulie..."

Now that a week and more has passed since a Madison cop gunned down a slightly built and unarmed Paul Heenan on S. Baldwin St., I feel amply justified in commenting at length. Whatever his purported offense - and all indications are that it was no more than a case of accidentally entering someone else's apartment - Mr. Heenan was shot THREE times. So I'm glad to see some people in Williamson-Marquette are livid. Mad enough to respond in some other fashion besides holding a prayer vigil that sought, among its various aims, the well-being of the officer who killed "Paulie," as he was known to his friends (I never knew him). I have been reading some of the letters to the editor in the State Journal; at least one described this as cold-blooded murder, and I'm inclined to agree. Chief Noble Wray seems bent on imposing a whitewash. But the officer who killed this young man has a very questionable record, and was "disciplined" in 2001 for firing his service weapon at an automobile fleeing from the Lake Street Parking ramp, in a very crowded part of town. That's how I see it. I was beginning to wonder if everyone in Williamson-Marquette has overdosed on New Agey touchy-feely-ism. Reassuring, to know that others besides me think this calls for, at the very least, a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

About that nasty business of Israeli-imposed "Apartheid"

have just about had it with Israel, a land that is totally alien to me, yet which I am nonetheless supposed to identify with, SOMEHOW. If the Israeli People can't get their government to realize it must relate to the surrounding environment in a civilized fashion, that is THEIR folly. A folly, by the way, that we as "Americans" should be able to comprehend all too well. But I am NOT an Israeli, and I'm quite sick and tired of trying to address this endless conflict, an apparently insoluble problem. What can I do, beyond advocating that country be cast adrift? It's long past time to quit sending the $4 Billion the US sends annually in military aid to Israel. But just as assuredly, we here in the USA must cease and desist in OUR militarist, imperialist ventures. Haven't I said this all before, repeatedly? Yes. Sorry, that's the best I can do. If I were an idealist and a fool, I'd say Germany should step up to the plate - if any region of the world owes the "Jewish People" recompense, it is Germany. But that is an evident absurdity. That will never happen. In the meantime, Palestine bleeds. What on earth does the Israeli government hope to accomplish, repeating the same savage mistakes, again and again? I apologize for not being remotely able to propose a reasonable solution - it's really, regrettably not in my nature to know what that solution might be.

WHEW! (Nov 7, 2012)

Dear Planet Earth: Whew. Harboring no illusions about Obama and Biden, I have no shame for voting against Romney and Ryan. I trust that we here in the USA can achieve at least a few basic, progressive goals during the next few years. I'm very much obliged to you all for bearing with us Yanks and our ridiculous and obscenely extravagant "election" for so many months. Glad our alleged "democracy in action" is all over, for now:) Hopefully last night's abject failure to steal Election 2012 represents the death spasm of the GOP, a party which has shown itself utterly incapapble of reaching out to Blacks, Hispanics, gays, women and really, just about everybody else. The GOP only represents rich white oligarchs, and the worst kind of extreme fundamentalist christians. We are better off without the Republican Party; may it rest in pieces!

A Worthwhile Idea re: Global Climate Change

Actually a worthwhile idea, considering global climate change is liable to increase the frequency and intensity of Sandy-level events. There is a similar flood barrier located at the Thames Estuary in England; it can be moved into place to stop storm surges from the North Sea. Of course, reducing greenhouse gas emissions world-wide would also be a good move. But I think, due to political and economic controversy, at least here in USA, something like this would be more realistically attainable at the present time: http://newyork.newsday.com/news/experts-nyc-sea-barrier-could-have-stopped-surge-1.4175935 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/services/climate-services/uk/ukcp/impacts/barrier

"Hold your nose and vote Obama in 2012"

A reminder, that I'll make even at the risk of being labelled an Obama apologist - we could do WORSE domestically. Take, for instance, the misleading GOP accusations that seem to describe Obama's administration as having exclusively and grossly increased the national debt. In fact, Republican Ronald Reagan was the first US president to push that debt over one trillion dollars. Democrat Bill Clinton was the last president to balance the budget and leave this country with a budget surplus, which the Republican Bush regime promptly squandered on two wars funded, so to speak, on a credit card. There was also Bush's exorbitant boon to the pharmaceutical industry known as Medicare Part D. Ultimately, George W. Bush racked up more red ink - at least five trillion dollars worth - than all his predecessors COMBINED. Bush and Cheney also managed to destroy the American economy in the process, as anyone who remembers the stock market crash of September 2008 is forced to concede. True, Obama hasn't done everything right by any estimation, but at least his administration helped save the US automotive sector. And don't forget, the much-criticized TARP program was begun by Bush/Cheney. In all fairness, Obama sure as hell was handed one unenviable financial situation by the previous Neocon regime. We could do worse, and under Romney/Ryan, we surely would. As if all that isn't reason enough, Romney proposed about a year ago that we should privatize disaster relief efforts; imagine how that would have affected the response to Hurricane Sandy. Not good, not good... http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/18-ways-mitt-romney-is-just-like-george-w-bush-20121018 "Romney's tax-cut math just doesn't add up. The last time America took a faith-based plunge on this kind of tax policy, Bush turned a $5 trillion projected surplus into $5 trillion in new debt." http://www.holdyournoseandvoteobama2012.com/

Go Tammy No Tommy!

Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) clearly won the most recent Wisconsin US Senate debate, unless you want to support a guy whose command of the English language (Former governor Tommy Thompson, R-Elroy) is at about the third grade level. That's poi nt number one: Thomsons confuse his uses of the various verbal tense, applying singular where the plural are appropriate:) Two, whatever happened to the Tommy Thomson who not only established our "Big Government" Badger Care health insurance program, but even worked (occasionally at least) WITH Wisconsin democrats to increase its enrollment? Looks like pandering to the Tea Party is the ONLY way for a Repub to get elected. That and plenty of stolen elections! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW-BinJNzJ0

You have the RIGHT to remain SILENT

I'm so glad to live in the currently Republican-controlled state of Wisconsin, USA. I love the fact that our state's Capitol police force have arrested well in excess of 20 people for carrying deadly, dangerous protest signs (those sticks can HURT, mind you) while at the same time, in the same monumental building, there are official noticess posted just outside the Wisconsin Supreme Court: "No firearms or other weapons permitted beyond this point." In light of this rather confusing manifestation of governmental priorities, tonight was a watershed. Here I am having a delightful Lemon Ice at Culvers, on Madison'c West Beltline Highway, right off Todd Drive. Two booths away, there is a young guy openly carrying a holstered pistol. He's clearly not a law-enforcement officer; his ongoing conversation with a young lady, evidently his girlfriend, which I am now overhearing, makes that much clear. I made sure to turn around to face his direction, in case he suddenly gets the urge to shoot my ass, or someone else's. In my case, I just want to "see the bullet coming" before it's all over, dude. Actually, I first noticed him with his strapped semi-automatic near the soft drink dispenser. I felt a bit uneasy at first, then relaxed, for three main reasons. 1. I prefer the fact he's carrying openly, rather than concealed. Just makes me feel a little better, on account of there being no dark, ugly secrets between us. 2. I am used, from my hunting and target shooting days, to being around people brandishing weapons openly - he's possibly even had the minimal training required by law. 3. This pistol-packing guy is probably a lot more afraid of anyone and everyone than I am; I just don't feel the need to carry a handgun around Madison, a city with one of the lowest violent crime rates of any town in the USA. I love America: we have so many rights - the right to go bankrupt from unpaid medical bills; the right to remain unemployed for years, especially since Autumn 2008; the right to live paycheck to paycheck; the right to sleep in the street if we get evicted; the right to consume genetically-modified and poisoned food served to us by corporate agribusiness; the right to be harassed and killed on the flimsiest pretext by maniac cops acting with impunity; the right to see the country go down the tubes, while the populace raves like a bunch of demented cheerleaders each time another unjustified war is begun; the right to get the hell back to the laundromat pretty soon, before it close for the night:) But most of all, I cherish our truly GOD-GIVEN right to blow one another to bloody HELL at the drop of a cowboy hat, literally!

Coke Militarism vs. Pepsi Imperialism

Very sadly, my firmly-held opinion, is that Romney probably just gained five points, as a result of Obama's lackluster "debate" performance. So many TV-addled American Dumb-heads were just waiting for the appropriate "reason," delivered at ...a propitious time, to believe Mitt's their guy, in complete contravention of the readily learned and apparent facts. Not that Obama is much better, really; these are just different brand-names the Oligarchy applies to factions officially known as "Republicans" and "Democrats," i.e: "Coke-Militarism" vs. "Pepsi-Imperialism." In any event, if the Romney-Ryan team does prevail in November, it will be an unmistakable signal of one overarching fact (besides being a reflection of voter suppression in key battleground states).That fact: certain influential circles within the military establishment, The "Intelligence Community," and elite corporate elements like the Koch Brothers prefer, for the usual inane and insane reasons, the prospect of a Willard-Paul hegemony. We've had similar outcomes before, in 1963, 1980, 2000 and 2004. Don't get me wrong, John F. Kennedy was an outspoken Capitalist and a passionate Cold Warrior: but in several key areas - Civil Rights domestically and Cuba/Soviet/Nuclear Arms policy internationally - he bucked the System, a fatal mistake. And apparently Jimmy Carter was just a little too weak in his approach to the rest of the planet, allowing a certain give-and-take toward the Third World. Take Carter's actually quite hollow platitudes about Human Rights as an example. Then there was Bill Clinton - no matter how many "casual" wars he waged against Afghanistan, Sudan, and Iraq, it just wasn't the big bang demanded by the Neocons. Though Clinton maintained vicious and murderous sanctions against an already prostrate Iraq, resulting in say half a million civilian deaths, that wasn't enough to satisfy our most accomplished Ruling Class mass-murderers. Well, don't take my word for it, explore the Wikileaks and other good source material. I'll shut up now. Yeah, right! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQhEBCWMe44 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBXjf8Jce10 http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2012/10/tm-tomorrows-droney-visits-again.html

$oglin City $ucks

RE: "Dozen cops, pepper spray needed to break up fights:" Anyone familiar with the history of the 1960s will recall the "redneck" sheriffs from the Deep South who uttered ceaseless imprecations directed at civil rights worker s, calling them "outside agistators." That's why I'm deeply disturbded by the language currently employed by Alder Mike Verveer and Mayor Paul Soglin. Their recent references to homeless people and other so-called troublemakers - the majority of whom purportedly come from outside Madison's borders - might be construed as an ugly example of societal scapegoating. Paul Soglin in particular campaigned with the issue of combating poverty in Madison as one of his major themes during the 2011 mayoral race, so it seems incongruous at best to witness him employ such ideologically-charged terminology, which in these sour economic times might conceivably rise to the level of hate-mongering. Alder Verveer seems to call the very idea of a right to free association into question, maintaining that it's "...shocking and disturbing that convicts are continuing to hang out and cause problems in this area." Excuse me, but I must have missed his press release informing us Madisonians that certain specified individuals, who in effect are branded as "undesirables," are no longer permitted to congregate on State Street or University Avenue. I'm not saying that the people of our city have no right to be left in peace, free from the scourge of crime and violence. What I find surprising is that Mr. Verveer expressed "shock" that a society like ours, characterized as it is by glaring social inequalities, should produce potentially troublesome individuals who assert their physical presence on our streets. And while it just may be that some of the young people involved in last week's melee hail from outside of Dane County, it's just as likely many were born and raised right here in South Central Wisconsin. Yet even if it were proven that the those who provoke fights downtown travel here from elsewhere, I wonder if either Paul Soglin or Mike Verveer would willingly trade places with American citizens who come out of truly disadvantage neighborhoods. It's highly unlikely that folks who provoke street battles inhabit the same relatively privileged circles as do Mr. Verveer and Mr. Soglin. How refreshing it would be if our public servants would stop referring to "those people" in a manner so utterly devoid of social context. Blanket condemnations of people who probably come out of unenviable situations are never very helpful in suggesting the kinds of improvements our society needs to undertake. I won't even bother to directly address the stubbornly persistent failings of our educational system. Whether or not we care to acknowlede it, the solution to the problems of crime in the streets are much more complex than most want to admit; addressing these issues in a meaningful way will require much more than the purchase of a few hundred one-way Greyhound tickets. Sincerely, Dan A. Goldstein http://badgerherald.com/news/2012/09/30/dozen_cops_pepper_sp.php

Albuquerque

And now, perhaps, by way of COMCAST, I'd like to draw a little CONTRAST: Place side by side, Desert and Great Lake - The former one is just an out-take. Milwaukee's on a gorgeous Bay - While Phoenix makes me shout: "Oy Vey!" Just take a look at Albuquerque - from Mountain tops its air looks Murky. Its outskirts? Much worse than Beef Jerky - have all the charm of frozen Turkey. One Garish, Foul and Ugly "City" - so hot, and nasty; dusty, GRITTY. The Hanta Virus lurks in their Pests - A perfect place to build their Nests. It's mostly just an endless SPRAWL - one vast and MONSTERous Strip Mall! While Beer-Town's full of monuments - The Sun Belt under Sun's glare SWELTS. Oh, yes it's true the Old Town there - has minor charms that make one stare. So while it's true I should take pity - To me their town seems all-ways Shitty. NM's no place to raise a daughter - for pretty soon they'll have NO WATER. So if I'm forced to choose or pick - I'd say SouthWest is very SICK.

Don't forget to vote!

There once was a boy from Nantucket Who lived his whole life in a Bucket On HIS way to vote He FELL out the boat Thought better, then cried out: "Oh FUCK it!"

Fork the Rich

Rich people don't make Art or Sculpture They'd rather be an Ugly Vulture Weathies have no need to see 'em Live empty lives in their Museum That's what they pay OTHERS for They're only fit to mind the Store Rich folks don't have new Ideas Only oral Diarrheas To make more money, they will Hurry Then run right home to fret and Worry The Filthy Rich - they don't do Science They deserve to feel Defiance They're better off when they stay SILENT But all too often they get VIOLENT Glad I'm not some DUMB Rich Bitch I'll take my chance, and risk a Glitch Their conscience? It's a Hockey Puck They're only Rich by dint of Luck Tax the rich and Feed the Poor Until there ain't no Rich, NO MORE!

Halloween

HALLOWEEN THY FALLOW SCREEN; Ahead - ago, your scribe must GROW. Though at times you've all annoyed me Nonetheless do not avoid me While it's true I did offend you Nonetheless I now commend you: If you feel like getting Rough Wait no more, just have a Go at me Yes indeed the times are Tough I've recorse just now to Poetry I'll RHYME until the Thirty First Kindly, curt, polite and Terse Nay I'll not devote the TIME 'Less ev'ry word I write shall RHYME My impression is in EARNEST Thou with ease each concept TURNEST Then you'll be free to thrust and PARRY And Dan will be word-hindered, VERY Me thinks thou dost protest too much While Goldstein flails at verse and such Yet though he needs to grope and Dance Each letter cries out clear to France: "Yes it's laudible to be audible - But I'm more smitten by what's written!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLKiMbC6s2k

King Street, Do that Thing Street!

"KING Street Yuppies? WEALTHY Puppies! So move it on over And ASK, don't hover! King Street WEEKENDS are Mighty Busy Spare Change THERE - you won't get Dizzy So move it on over And ASK, don't hover! Mad that STATE Street ain't that GREAT Street? Then move it on over And ask, don't hover! Beggars really CAN be choosers Greedy people? - ALWAYS losers! So move it on over And ASK, Don't hover ASK for MONEY from the RICHIES And POCKET-change will fill your BRITCHIES! SO MOVE IT on OVER - Don't BEG like ROVER!" http://host.madison.com/news/local/madison-city-council-bans-panhandling-on-state-street-mall-capitol/article_c3e01dba-0216-11e2-820d-0019bb2963f4.html

Tautological Astrological

"The Roman Pope's a NASTY man Fondles children when he CAN Baptist preachers - PRETTY funny TV Scammers BEG for money Stone that HUSSY, said the CLERIC Muslims can get quite HYSTERIC Then there are our Jewish BROTHERS "DO this! DON'T do THAT!" and OTHERS Makes me DOUBT the Lion of Judah Think I may CONVERT to Buddha My bloodline is SAXON-NORMAN But I eschew the Book of MORMON Had your fill of My Tautology? What say WE take up ASTROLOGY"

Freedom of Choice

Now about that MOST contentious Green Bay-Seattle game... No matter to what ABSURD lengths THEY go - attempting to raise specking particulates to levels newsworthy- their TRIVIA remains inalterably MUNDANE, LAUGHABLE, CONTEMPTIBLE. No matter how they PORTRAY the RIDICULOUS, vainly trying to dress him up as SUBLIME, THEY fail. So "Sorry" to be the BEARER, some Bad News. I, the Balloon-Popper of soc...iety's MASS ILLUSION. It matters NOT the Green-Gold won't advance to Playoffs! We inhabit this damned world, boiling with Psycho-LOSERS, those who cannot recognize this place, where billions HUNGER at night. So bite NO toenails to bleeding, bemoan NEVER Aaron Rogers' goat-song. I poke along only slowly, 'cause Today I'm RELIEVED, I believe - I'm even alone sustaining certitude - There's NOONE like me, and even if there IS - we make a minority so minor as to be already DEAD. Yet I don't mind; Still I MUST live - Still I IMAGINE!!! By now you're time and again told the NFL referee decision in the GAME is NEWS. The local channels all ran it Numero Uno on September Two-Five. But news it is NOT. FARCE it is, DISTRACTION, DIVERSION and most unhealthy Charade. Men running, running, senseless, around, chasing a missile. A rugrat's past-time, a SPECTRE, A hallowed GHOST, a monmumental TRICK. Now GET over and MAKE some NEWS. Okay: maybe asking too much - all rather rusty are we. Go into the Biblio, the closet, the church, the office, to the next room. Think you'll find WISDOM when you pop Imbecile's Box? Don't even waste your mind, BOOT up instead. A WORLD of IDEAS awaits. Letterman's LAME and Leno LAGS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVGINIsLnqU

USA; too old, tired and broke to play that stale WORLD-COP game anymore.

Learn, learn, learn. Learn the HISTORY, the GEOPOLITICAL CONTEXT behind the interminable illegalities and immoralities that have been systematically conducted, especially since 1947, by numerous branches of the US Government. Learn that while some functions of government are both positive and necessary to the function of a healthy society, many others are not. Particularly harmful are those entities, such as CIA, NSA, DIA, Naval Intelligence and so on, that exist primarily for the purpose of carrying out unwarranted interventions in the affairs of other, sovereign nations. By now it has become profoundly evident to many, if not most Americans, that we cannot continue to play World-Cop. The price has been too high, in monetary, political and personal costs, not only to people in the Third World, but to ourselves. Then there are the many domestic arms of repression: Homeland Security, FBI, BATF, DEA, Federal Bureau of Prisons and others, whose aim is to make of our former Republic a hell-hole of totalitarianism. These too must be exposed to the sanitizing effect of strong daylight. Learn, learn, learn. Search all the Freedom of Information pages that interest you. Discover and uncover what has been done in your name, before it's too late. We should all take the greatest advantage of the intellectual faculties endowed us by our creator, whoever or whatever that creator is. After you've learnt, then act. Use life to the fullest, while you still have life to experience. No one can know what comes later, if anything at all follows this "waking dream." So don't wait untill it's too late. I IMPLORE us ALL. http://www.thetakeaway.org/2012/sep/25/new-report-highlights-extent-civilian-causalities-drone-attacks/?utm_source=local&utm_media=treatment&utm_campaign=featuredcomment&utm_content=article

The Innocence of Mugwumps

Christianity is not a religion, it is a mental disease, and that applies equally to Protestantism, Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Judaism is not a religion, it is a mental disease. Islam is not a religion, it is a mental disease. Mormonism is not a religion, it is a mental disease. Hinduism is not a religion, it is a mental disease, or at the very least, a totally incoherent series of fables. Sikhism is... (hands off for now, American Sikhs have recently been targeted unfairly and in a most barbaric manner). Buddhism is... (for the life of me, I can't find anything about Buddhism to really offend or even annoy me, so I'll just have to keep trying). Bahai'ism is... (ditto for Bahai'ism, though I'm sure I'll figure out some unforgivable transgression against sanity that Bahai's have committed). Sorry if anyone feels left out; I have to learn more about other faiths before I can feel justified in condemning them. With time, all things are possible. The following is a horrible and stupid film, but I cannot concur with practitioners of a religion who, in their actions, make it abundantly clear that they need to grow up and enter the 20th Century, to say nothing of the twenty-first. If Muslims are protesting and rioting against the United States because of abominable acts like the 43-day bombing of Iraq's civilian population during the 1991 Gulf War, then I am fully and completely on their side. If they are rioting and demonstrating against the USA in order to assert their belief that even idiotic movies like the one below should not be accorded the protection of our First Amendment, then I'm sorry, but I do not agree, and there's nothing I can do to help them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgx1_JVxfZE

Bankrupt Facebook; deactivate Today. One can only try!

Inasmuch as Facebook is reflective of this awful and dreary time in human history, this era of glorified violence, elevated greed, celebrity-championed vulgarity and compulsive materialism, it suffers from the unavoidable characteristic of being addictive without making itself worthy of said addiction. It is, I suppose, able to be utilized, by more capable hands, in some wondrously original and brilliant way - but I remain unable or maybe just merely unsuccessful thus far of wielding it as an instrument of genius. The "average user" appears to be stuck in a feed-back loop of interminable banality. The more capable users probably see it as an onerous habit, an insidious psychological peril, and a potentially frightful waste of time. They probably depend on some system, some satisfying method of preserving their own integrity in the face of enormous temptation. I've found any such "Happy Medium" elusive. What is even worse, the frustration inherent in not causing my time here to serve a higher purpose seems to bring out some of the worse attributes that are common, in myself and others, during this ugly period of Human History. So many of us are dangerously immersed in redundant musings, authoritarian impulses, disembodied babbling and hostile emoting, as if those disparate tendencies were inexorably, mysteriously inter-related. I'm not particularly impressed with social media's supposed transformative capabilities. Or were those "capabilities" merely a product of my delusional thinking? But I suppose there's no harm in waiting a day or two before digitally discorporating. Uggh, I doubt my own will-power to digitally discorporate for a meaningful amount of time - that speaks elegant volumes as to why I should! (Note: Deactivated my Facebook account on Sept. 10, 2012. Still resisting temptation!)

Barry! Barry!

I WON'T vote for HIM again! Oh sure, President Reagan talks a good game. He gives very rousing, inspirational speeches, and the First Lady was in fine form the other night. But Mr. Reagan has NOT delivered the Change! he promised during the 2008 campaign. Reagan keeps blamimg our current economic distress on his predecessor, and that's getting old. And while Reagan justly claims Congress has obstinately thwarted his every constructive move, you won't convince me most Americans are better off than they were four years ago. This year, I'm voting for America's favorite self-made man, Senator Goldwater. Barry Goldwater is absolutely right when he says we need to allow the Free Market to work its magic, without the nagging interference of Big Government bureaucrats. His running mate is even more proudly Private Enterprise-friendly than he. Also, Goldwater has wisely promised to send 40,000 American soldiers back to Vietnam, to finish the job Reagan left us when he cut and ran. Don't say you weren't warned this time around! Barry Goldwater wisely maintains that we face dire consequences if we let our guard down again. Even now, seventy-eight thousand Socialist-Islamic-Nazi-Homosexual lobbyists are preparing to storm the beaches of Hilton Head. Don't stay home this November; the stakes are too high for you to remain indifferent. Senator Goldwater: In Your Heart, You Know He's RIGHT.

Blistered and Bleeding

We are live amidst the detritus prevailing in the wake of a deflat'd, devalu'd bubble - Of most recent acclaim, the global economic collapse of Autumn 2008, and its overvalu'd housing hype. We, all stragglers, refugees from the psychic and spiritual rubble of other deflat'd bubbles, even the One Percenters, though realize they it not. We suffer'd understat'd agony, ahoy! Ye Dot.Com bust of 2000-2001, Ye Greed is Good wreckage of the late 1980s, Ye Energy bust of 1973 and its subsequent malaise, Ye olde Lyndon Johnson a-spent the optimism of his Great Society on Blood Sport in Vietnam. Somewhere, only dimly view'd now, we suffer the slings and arrows sent future-ward from the Great Crisis of 1930-39; the consequences of its insideous margin-based mode of overheat'd exchange wobble in perpetutity, in form of lessons unlearned. Damages from all the aforemention'd strike us, oh so aggressively cumulative. We claw our way out, fingers blister'd and bleeding, through Ye toppl'd house of cards, whilst Greedy, hubris-infected Capitalists toss another deck on the pile. We instruct ourselves, imagine the tiniest hint of daylight. Alas, THIS especially stale piece of bubble gum - chewed relentlessly by seven billion terrestrial bubble heads - willing or unwilling - what choice do we have? Because, my good man or woman, no other game around is there to play, to prey. A 24-7 available End Time prosperity fantasy is masticat'd midst History's unprecedent'd calamity. Even Mr. Gates, Mr Zuckerberg and the rest of their self-pitying, us-ignoring billionaire millieu cannot run, cannot hide, 'less there really is a gated community awaiting them, Mars-bound above the teeming mushroom cloud. They need step up, and offer 99% of their "ill-come" to our Earth-wide communal trust, a transnational piggie-bank whose explicitly stat'd aim - to reconstruct Iraq, pursue emergency CO2 sequestration, achieve urgent nuclear de-toxification, subsidize one hundred million Africans whose food stocks will soon be deplet'd. That sustinence already unaffordable to many, whilst drought-flood grows ever more severe. Alternately, we jettison our Throwaway Planet, create the transfer points of a viable mass transit to the stars, having expediently succeed'd in dreaming impossible dreams, groovy co-operation at the Apocalypse Now Hotel. Pardon me, I've been reading too many books about 1960s San Francisco, and trying my own hand.

Have I told you yet how much I hate Ron Paul?

A "God Question." I don't trust Ron Paul one bit. His supporters snivel about not being able to have their say at the convention, but the Texas representative has supported policies that would effectively disenfranchise millions of voters. Paulistas complain they were cheated out of victory at January's New Hampshire Repub primary; if so, they got a taste of their own bitter medicine. Paul opposes the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 14th Amendment; he also voted against renewing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Using a fallacious state's rights argument that flies in the face of the First Amendment's insistence on separation of church and state, Representative Paul upholds the implementation of the Pledge of Allegiance in the schools, thereby imposing religion in public life. Ron Paul, the best candidate Global Big Business and American Theocracy can buy. He'd like to privatize just about everything. It's unfortunate Republican dissenters can't come up with a better man or woman to stage a rebellion on the convention floor. http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/did-ron-paul-limit-first-amendment-christia http://vimeo.com/19602654 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-reinbach/president-ron-paul-ron-pa_b_890037.html

Wish You Were Here

I'm sorry I missed church this morning, Parson Alan Project. I've become a lesbian, dropped out of business school, begun practicing witchcraft with Sister Salacious down at Anton LaVey Park in Beautiful Downtown Burbank. See you there for services, next week. Don't be late. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ldBpQkIVv8

Dear Bob Dobbs

Dear Bob: Yesterday was Game Day Numero Uno! Bleak September 1, 2012. He's NOW TIME. Not leetle olde WAY BACK WHEN TIME, Big Event's transitive raw deal for Jimmy Crack cocaine jocks, they place an undue sense of importance-identity on blaring, pathos-ridden sight, Groin men stupidliciously elevate your child's game, up heights' hoary hell. Hike! state religion. It's Coach Thorazine Fermentoid's brew pub halitosis, mass-psychosis, It's Cheeseworld's Bucky Sucky Badgers, PLAYing one first tiresome and tepid round, rearing, roaring, reaming endless tedium a new *sshole, drearily dragging stagnant state's mentality down with, again, again, again. He's closeted, cloistered queers galore, butt-slapping men lovers jonesing for a fix, History's televised faggotry. The prime spectacle, the hectoring grunt, jolly, jocular, jersey-jerry-jagged testosterone addicts. They devote, voluntarily mind you, self-limited cranial capacity in straight service of a twisted goal. It's the INDUSTRY, man! It's the Bozo Bizarre, the Bimbo Boutique, the Herd Consciousness run rampant, round the rugged rock, see Monte catch the Ball. Run Sport, run, run the runs out your depleted pig-skin brain, till you have nary a nihilism, nor a nattering nag to MATCH. No perturbing pensivity for the Knight, Nay, never, neither nor life's longing irritation. NO! idea as athletic anachronisms arch ponderous passes far above LEGIONS strictly underachieving. Glorify grotesque grossness, O Jock Strap ghouls athwart Limber Jack's lugubrious, lumbering Logos. Ya hey friends! Could, should would (MUST) pertain wacky Boob toob neighbors, The genus Jay Leno, all "you hoo!" and obtaining validation for heart's contagious imbecility, Bart Starr's spirit hampers David-Lettermanning ideation, ambling ardently amok, a Gay God's pursuit of surreptitious pickled pansies' pow-wow thus asperated the pickup truck exhaust. A celebration, across ether's televacation, naughty Norberto joins know-nothing's Party, Neither here nor there, and ESPECIALLY not how, where or why is Afghanland, on the map? Get even seeking to kill it, Now THAT's a bit of fun on hooliganesqueski GAME DAY! 'Cause-its President TOLD us, too.

I was a teenage hophead.

I'm not conversant with enough statistical analysis and I lack a sufficiently broad familiarity with the relevant body of research to refute this study's controversial conclusions systematically. But I can address the claims of the Duke University study from my own perspective. I started smoking marijuana on a daily basis when I was thirteen. With a few notable and memorable exceptions, I didn't stop smoking it daily until until well into my twenties. During that whole period (1976-1986) I only ceased smoking dope for short periods, when marijuana became unavailable in the community, that is, during what is known as a "drought." I found that when I stopped, there was a certain increase in my cognitive capacity overall, and that my short-term memory and general attentiveness seemd to have been enhanced through abstenance. But it's noteworthy that whatever damage may have conceivably occurred to me pursuant to said chronic cannabis consumption appeared to be a temporary phenomenon. Of course it's possible that I may have diminished whatever potential existed within me to exell in certain endeavors, but I tend to doubt any such potential reduction in brain power stemmed specifically or exclusively from ingesting reefer on a long-term basis. Many other factors could account for the failure on my part to learn the Russian language to the point of being conversant. It might have been the great amount of beer, wine and hard liquor I drank that hindered my progress in Pre-college Algebra. Prescription medication abuse and the consumtion of other psychotropic substances on my part, or a combination of all of the inadvisable practices listed above could be the reason why I dropped out of more than one high school. And I'll extend my contention further, and apply it to the larger society. I've known highly successful computer programmers who smoked some of the most powerful California bud I've ever encountered in my life during their time off. Whether or not they'd been potheads in early adolescence, they weren't hindered as adults in their inordinately complicated and difficult jobs, certainly not as a result of getting high during the weekend. Alternately, I've encountered countless hundreds or thousands of persons who never puffed one single drag off a joint whose level of academic achievement never in their lives seemed to transcend the level of common mediocrity. http://www.boston.com/news/science/2012/08/27/teen-pot-use-linked-later-declines/d25ZcUiFASyet8jEZZDfDI/story.html

$UCK

It seems to me that Democrats (much like their republlican counterparts) within both the legislative and executive branches of government in Washington DC should be able to raise at least a billion dollars from their wealthy benefactors. I refer to the corporate pigs on Wall Street and nouveau riche scumbags in Silicon Valley, Mark Zukerberg, for example. Therefore, I've just removed myself from the Dem's email lists. Every day, it seemed, they were asking ME for money. If I do vote for Obama again, it will be DESPITE, not because of their interminable begging. Mainstream American politicians - they $UCK. P.S: I deactivated my Facebook account the other day, and I haven't been this happy in three years. It just so happens that it was threee years ago I signed up with Facebook.

"Dem bones, dem bones, dem DRY bones..."

Was going to post this on Sacreligious Sunday, but just couldn't hold my horses. I was exploring King James' book of Ezekiel, trying to find that bit about "dem bones, dem bones, dem DRY bones... Ezekiel collected dem DRY bones...," when I came across this, the Word of thy Father. Truly seems like a pile of Biblical dung that folks should avoid stepping in. And now, Heeeere's a mound of human waste, straight outta the Book of the Profit Ezekiel, Chapter 4: "12 And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight. 13 And the Lord said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. 14 Then said I, Ah Lord God! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth. 15 Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith." Well, having read this I had to stop and admire God's Heavenly Mercy at work, only making His faithful servant consume cow's, as opposed to man's execrable dung. YECCCHHH! Couldn't even make myself proceed to that comparably charming part concerning the collection of dry bones, but I'll get there yet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-pzzfcU--4

Welcome to Camp 17

Was thinking it over the other night - how many people I've met have done serious jail time, or been imprisoned here in the USA? So I made a list that numbers in the scores of individuals who've been gaoled ("jailed," spelled for the benefit of my Brit friends) and at least 25 who were imprisoned at some point during the period 1976-2012. Incidentally, at least six of those friends/acquaintances who went to prison are now deceased. Only one of those 25 inmates was a convicted murderer and I believe he's still living. The vast majority of these folks were jailed/incarcerated for non-violent "offences." I also realised that many of these people are only known to me because I grew up in lower middle class or impoverished circumstances, depending on the era. Of course, I'm white, so I cannot even imagine how long that list might have been were I non-white; the fact that I've known a lot of alcoholics and addicts is also a significant factor. Me? Haven't been arrested since 1988, and that was for the grievous transgression of hitch-hiking in notoriously Republican-reactionary Waukesha County Wisconsin. Despite my occasional rants, I'm really pretty well-behaved, and extremely cautious. Here in the rather goddamn uptight Upper Midwest, Wisconsin state pigs are just that, pigs. I know of several formerly young men arrested for thumbing a ride during the '70's and '80s in Waukesha County. Yet, in Illinois during the three or four adventures I had in the 1980's, the Illinois State Patrol simply told me to get off the highway, either verbally or using symbolic language. Go figure! The only way I can conceive of to turn this penal industry on it's head would be for its "natural victims" to exercise the greatest level of discretion humanly possible. Most people should simply not drink alcohol, to start. Practice an unusually self-conscious, perhaps even "excessive" level of risk aversion in ones everyday affairs. Study the laws, including the US Constitution at least at the most basic level, with special emphasis on the Bill of Rights. In fact, there is simply no excuse for literate people not to have read the Constitution in its entirety. Even though in practice, Law Entrapment agencies usually violate its relevant provisions. Be ones own lawyer, so to speak, to the greatest extent possible. Sensibly assert ones civil liberties. Develop ones negotiating and "diplomatic" skills to a point where they appear to be as highly refined as can be, but use them only in circumstances where it seems there is a good chance of talking ones way out of trouble with the law. Otherwise, remain (Hopefully sober!) and above all, silent when intercepted, detained, or arrested. I can't emphasize sufficiently how often people should simply reserve the right to remain SILENT in that cop car. Let ones lawyer do the talking instead, at the proper time. If incarcerated, don't blab to likely jail-house snitches. There are so many strategies intelligent people can wisely implement, if they keep their wits about them. So often they don't, even when there is minimal prospect of the pigs "bringing out the rubber hoses!" There's no guarantee of success even if all these procedures are assiduously adhered to, not even a promise of mitigating damage done. But I can't even begin to count the incidences I am aware of when people facilitated their own imprisonment by ignorance, carelessness or recklessness. As you can easily guess, many of the anonymous individuals I referenced are/were were very, very close to me personally. Others are of either casual acquaintance or extremely remote at this time. Generally speaking, there is a completely understandable reticence on the part of most of the "audience" to get involved with this particular discussion, especially considering the unusual way I broached the subject, not to mention the horrific impact of America's largely indiscriminate penalization process. Importantly, I burned the list last night; I actually felt slightly evil compiling it in the first place; a kind of private intrusion into the affairs of others, even though ultimately, I kept it absolutely secret. But there was simply no way to retain my estimate without committing it to writing. Doubtless I have known at least twice as many jailed and imprisoned folks during my 49 years - but I have lost track of many more, and was unwilling to reference CCAP or other such pernicious databases. In all seriousness, I passionately hope I'll see nobody I thought of, nor anyone on this thread, if/when I'm detained in the new Gulag. But who knows what the future holds in store! http://​www.usconstitution.net/http://www.archives.gov/​exhibits/charters/​bill_of_rights_transcript.h​tml

Has Paul Ryan got something to hide?

It's bad enough that he wants to essentially gut Medicare by turning it into a block grant. His intentions for Medicaid and Social Security appear to be even worse. Now Paul Ryan has informed the American Public that he will only release two years of his tax returns, same as his running mate Mitt Romney. That reminds me of something Republicans and other "national security" aficionados said in 2001, after the vast majority of Congress members voted to pass the PATRIOT Act, most of them not having read the entire bill. They told people who are concerned about the fate of the Bill of Rights that "if we weren't doing anything wrong, we have nothing to worry about." They steadfastly maintained that the intelligence community had a desperate need to "sneak and peek" search our houses, without a warrant and while we were away from home. They said the FBI must tap your phone and read your email, also without a warrant demonstrating probable cause. They said it was all right for spies to access your library records - surely you have nothing to hide? According to the modern McCarthyites, Republican & Democrat, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant." Well, I admit that's all water under the bridge. Nonetheless, now's the time those two Republican candidates for high office shed some badly-needed light on their own activities. Come clean, Paul Ryan & Mitt Romney!

Just a stupid primary

I have a terrible confession to make... I voted today. Yes, I tried to tell myself (quite accurately) that it's mostly become a pathetic, meaningless ritual, and I shouldn't bother, especially since it was just a stupid primary. The only meaningful (but BORING) "choice" available was to vote for one of the two "Progressives" on the "Democratic" ticket who stand a chance of winning. Indeed, BORING a...nd pretty much a waste of time, since those two Dem candidates for US House of Representatives are really pretty similar in their outlook. On the other hand, I would have cast a ballot for one of the Republican US Senate candidates running today, if by so doing I could have hurt one or all of the others. But that didn't seem like a possibility - there's precious little difference between Mark Neumann, Tommy Thompson , Jeff Fitzgerald or Eric Hovde; "A Pox on ALL their Houses!" Afterward, I was given one of those little staickers - "I Voted Today." Still, it was my obligation, in some sense to vote. Having met Fannie Lou Hamer long ago in my youth, I realize how important it is to exercise that right, for which many "brave souls" sacrificed their very lives. Still, I feel rather foolish, and definitely in the minority; Wisconsin Public Radio reported this morning that the expected turnout in the Repub Senate race was going to be a WHOPPING 20% of eligible voters.

"Gimme that Old Time Religion!"

"Gimme that Old Time Religion..." From The King James Bible, Isaiah 3; 16: "Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the head of the daughters of Zion, AND THE LORD WILL DISCOVER THEIR SECRET PARTS." (my emphasis added to that especially naughty clause) Continuing now with some more apparent Biblical smut from Isaiah Three: "18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their round tires like the moon,..." (The inevitable question pops up: "Round tires like the moon?" Is that Bible-babble for, ahem... "Sexy behind?" Anyway, the references to "discovering their secret parts" and "round tires" were conveniently removed, edited, CENSORED right out of my copy of the "New International Version of the Holy Bible." That is, the good, juicy, salacious, FUN parts were EXPUNGED from the goddamn "White Bread Bible," as I like to label it. "Translator = Traitor," as a fine old Italian saying has it.

"I Am A sinner"

Here's something quaint and amusing - if it weren't so sad - which a poor deluded child of probably 10 years age wrote on the inside cover of the aforementioned King James Bible, which I got at a church bake sale. His name has been changed to protect the innocent: "My name is Mitchell Bolton Jr. I Am A sinner, and I believe that God sent His son Jesus Christ The Lord To Die on The cross To Pay for My sins. I Believe That on the Day Jesus Returns, I will be lifted up into Heaven To Join Him & our Heavenly father, AMEN! in Jesus' name." Well, pretty good compositional skills for a young man of his apparent age (I'm judging mostly from the kind of handwriting, very good but revealing) but I have only one Question for young Mitch: "Who was the caterer at Jesus's Bar-Mitzvah?" And always remember, young man: "He that sups with the devil must have a long spoon." And this, from Electrolux 13-13: "Thou shalt not step on a Sidewalk Crack, lest thou shouldst break thy Mother's back."

The Count

Very much in keeping with America's current "Vampire Fixation." I got news for you: Paul Ryan is really "Count Chocula." Anyway, if a majority, or even a plurality of senior citizens vote for Willard Romney and Paul Ryan, we are a confirmed nation of masochists. Hmmm... "we" elected Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Dick Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and other monstrosities in the 20th Century. Even worse was to follow in the 21st. Yep, that confirms it. Masochists... or just plain sociopaths? Imbeciles? All of the above? I'm moving to a CIVILIZED country like... Transylvania! http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/live-video-mitt-romney-announces-vp-pick-123251121.html

SHAME

What on earth could anyone have against Sikh Americans? They seem rather innocuous, as far as religious practice goes. And there are relatively few of them. Ah, yes, white supremists hate anyone who wears a turban. Another terrible day for Amerika, and especially for my home state. I actually felt ashamed watching the news yesterday. Even though it's my habit to consciously try to avoid feeling guilty for things I didn't do. Nonetheless, for a shameful deed, I apologize.

August 4, 2012

I note Barry Obama's birthday, and let him know that I will only vote for him if between now and the first week of November something totally dramatic takes place, something that allows me to discern the indisputable fact that he is in multiple ways better than Willard Mitt Romney. And I don't mean the fact, already known to me that Obama gives rousing speeches, or that he is intelligent and cultu red. I don't mean the fact per se that Barry O is better on reproductive rights than his corporate-raider Repub opponent, he of the $250 million offshore fortune. I don't refer, as a decisive factor, to the probability that Willard would surely appoint someone even worse than Obama would, were the ailing 79-year-old Ruth Bader-Ginsburg to step down from the Supreme Court. Oh, wait, the latter just MIGHT, if I really thought about it LONG and HARD, force me to reluctantly support Pres Obie, all the intense grievances I justifiably hold against him notwithstanding. But for the time being, at this point, I'm leaning heavily toward voting for a third party candidate. Convince me I'm wrong, if you have the stomach, the patience, tenacity and the supernatural ability. Tell me I should go on electing "Democrats" who betray their base every day, in almost every way. Do YOU still hold fast to that stubborn, yet utterly unreasoning hope for "Change We Can Believe in." Despite all we've witnessed since Jan 20, 2009? Hrrrrrmph!

Sonny and Cher

I hate "Amerika" because it is the least interesting of Franz Kafka's three novels. Just kidding. My favorite is The Castle, then The Trial and Amerika comes in third. Just didn't have quite the level of curious explicitness (Thomas Mann's description) of the first two. Oh, America? I love the guy who rode his lawnmower from Anderson Indiana to Green River Wyoming, but I hated Amber and Jason when they ate Denibian Slime Worms on "Fear Factor." I love the guy who shot his TV set because Bristol Palin sucked on "Dancing With The Stars," but I hate the two young Cops who intercepted Bob Dylan when he was strolling down the street in suburban Long Island; those policemen, probably born after I was already 25, took Bob to the station-house, 'cause he "looked suspicious" and they didn't know who the hell he was! I hated Sonny and Cher, but love Milky Way bars. I hate Hillary Clinton, but thought Chelsea ran an admirable campaign. I love the rich taste, it's the Mountain Dew I can dew without, and last weekend I picked a terrible time to quit amphetamines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmW-ScmGRMA

Obie Wan Kenobe

I'm not an enthusiastic Obama supporter - Barack has a lot to explain in terms of how he betrayed those of us on the "Left" who supported him in 2008. Hell, I HAVE a lot to explain as to why I voted for him. I guess it boils down to: "Me, vote for McCain!?!" That would've been insane. "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb Iran..." Cute. Plus, McCain would have escalated in Iraq, just as Rick Perry still wanted to, in 2011!Obie's escalation of Bush's Afghan war and his trampling on the human rights of American citizens on his "Kill List" are just two of many terrible deeds. But some of the Repub accusations are patently disingenuous, and laughable at best. As if Obama were singularly guilty of running up the national debt through his inadequate "Stimulus!" Face it, Repubs, Obama inherited much of that debt, in the form of the continuing effects of George W. Bush's notorious tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, which further drained the treasury. Republicans invariably spend like drunken sailors. They start unjustified wars that they finance "off the books." They pass Medicare prescription drug bills that only benefit Big Pharma, and cost a fortune. And they insist on giving the One Percenters yet more and more tax breaks, even as their claims that such tactics will create more jobs fall flat. Of course, Obie's consistently maintained those manifestly unfair subsidies for the Richie Richers. Obama continues to commit big "fiscal errors," by pandering to the Wall Street crowd who supported his 2008 campaign to the tune of $600 million. Obama basically gives the plutocrats everything they demand. Now, with his Super PAC, Obama is barely distinguishable from the Repubs in terms of fundraising. But if I ever expected anything different... that's MY folly! Still, In the final analysis... if I were religious, I'd say: "Thank god I'm not a Republican!" I'm still strongly considering writing-in Bernie Sanders in November, unless someone can convince me there's a better candidate.

Jesus was a nice JEWISH Boy

I've been meaning to be fair about all this anti-religion rant and rave I've been promulgating. So it's time to go after Judaism. Now, I need to be careful, given the notorious historical fact of Anti-Semitism. Don't want to get tagged as a self-hating Jew. Even though it's only my NAME, not ME, who is Jewish. Hey, there's a place to begin right there - my mama ain't Jewish, but my papa is, yet I'm a sheggitz! I'm goddamn Goyim, even though Grandpa and Grandma were respectable, if not devout, Jewish Folk. So I feel rejected, Wah! Well, I've got the solution: I despise the Hebrews who penned Old Testament, and here's why: Any group of MEN who could write such a phony, primitive, sick, sadistic, genocidal, perverted book as the Old Testament sure as fork cannot be "All Good." On the other hand, if you examine the New Testament, it would appear that the morbidly-fixated Jews who wrote that compendium of fables must have been.... masochists. "Get me down off that cross, PLEASE!"

Remember Antelope Valley!

American society's short-term memory affects the national awareness to a surprising extent. How many of USA's people now living remember the 1942 German invasion of southern California? Starting out from their bases in the Bismarck Archipelago, island-hopping across the vast Pacific, the Krauts stormed the beaches of Malibu that July. After secure beachheads were established in LA and Ventura counties, the Jerries fought their way north-east, into Antelope Valley and the San Gabriels. The Wehrmacht very nearly cut off Metro LA from the rest of the country. You probably don't remember any of this if born after 1950. Fortunately, USA's educational system, including instructional TV, was much better during the Great Society. That's how we know the deciding factor in the epic Battle of California was bad screen-writing and the Krauts' inability to withstand Death Valley's relentless heat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgoiDbhff9Q&feature=endscreen&NR=1

God is Dead

I realize I've been treating the psychic and physical crimes of Organized Religion with kid gloves lately; nonetheless, it may be time to move on to less nauseating phenomena. It's like the old saying, "Don't want to flog a dead god..." So allow me to leave my reluctant audience-victims with this bit of fun: http://brucegerencser.net/tag/freedom-from-religion-foundation/

That Dirty Book, the Holey Bible

Yet AGAIN, late last night, I tried to read that Bad, Baddest, Bad-Assed Book, The King James Bible. Love the lurid, licentious language, but the text is generally too psycho-pornographic. Beginning with the geriatric jism of Genesis, and ending with the ergot-induced rascals who rabidly wrote the ribaldry in Revelation, the Holey Bible is just too dirty, even for me. Too much Sodomy in Leviticus, and the erotic imagery of the Song of Songs gets me too hot and bothered to fall asleep without dramatically increasing my valium dosage. Too many women get stoned, not with enjoyable herbs, but with boulders. Too many cities wiped off the map, and hapless wenches transformed to pillars of salt. God is a mean and sadistic old man, and he badly needed an editor. I like Shakespeare, but Old King Jimmy didn't benefit enough from his scribes' abilities: most of the passages are sophomoric, redundant, and redundant. The Bible: Pretty much a real snoozer, fit only for a boozer.

Harry Hopkins had it right!

I saw on a friend's Facebook page the other day that "Economic Stimulus plans are unconstitutional" and "The 'panics' of the 19th Century were short-lived." My response: "It's interesting that you point to the 'Panics' (really Depressions) of the 19th Century as evidence for your claims. Though you maintain they were short-lived (apparently as a result of any and all government intervention in the "Glorious Free Market") let me go back in time to a rather more recent period, and quote Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Federal Emergency Management Administrator, Harry Hopkins. Regarding the more than 3000 writers and artists helped extensively by the New Deal, Hopkins quipped: "Hell! they've got to eat just like other people." How true! Starving people, of whom there were a surprisingly large number in the 1930s, had to eat right THEN, not a couple years down the road. Indeed, we all have to eat, and recessions/depressions and "panics" as they were called back in 1837 often lead to overall economic downturns lasting for several years:" http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071001164354AApUblEstarted this off with a digression. But what I really want to confront is the unsubstatiated contention that economic stimulus programs are illegitimate. Let's take as our paramount example the most well-known stimulus program of all, the New Deal of (roughly) 1933-1940. First, let's begin by conceding that the USA had been in Depression since 1930 (the agricultural sector, actually suffered through a terrible and prolonged farm crisis throughout most of the 1920s, but that's grist for another argument) when FDR was inaugurated on March 4, 1933. FDR's predecessor Herbert Hoover had displayed a disgracefully inept and callous attitude to the widespread joblessness and suffering across the land. Examples: employing army units under Douglas MacArthur to drive out the "Bonus Marchers" (please google) encamped in Washington, and doing far too little far too late to allieviate the plight of those living in miserable, tar-paper "Hoovervilles." Hoover was so unpopular during that era of official 25-33% unemployment, he had tomatoes thrown at him during a speech in Detroit. The Capitol was surrounded by armed troops, a bit like these days, but that's another digression. Suffice to say, the country was largely overjoyed when the New Dealers moved into the White House. What was the New Dealers' answer? Well, one of an admittedly bewildering array of New Deal programs was the Civil Works Administration, or C.W.A. It ended up employing 4,264,000 people. It built or improved 40,000 schools; laid 12,000,000 feet of sewer pipe; it built 469 airports, and improved another 529; the C.W.A. built or improved 255,000 miles of roadway; employed 50,000 to teach adults or keep open rural schools that would have otherwise been closed; it built or improved 3,700 playgrounds and athletic fields. (see "Roosevelt And Hopkins, by Robert E. Sherwood, Harper & Brothers, P. 57 Copyright 1948): http://books.google.com/books?id=24cGAQAAIAAJ&q=roosevelt+and+hopkins&dq=roosevelt+and+hopkins&source=bl&ots=8DMYcEv1gO&sig=YAoKlgjFf46zI6tHwmjlXM9xUbU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9iQCUMmoJ4rArQG_jbmxDA&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAARoosevelt and Hopkins books.google.com. Meanwhile, all through this period, and especially during the earliest days of the Great Depression, the rich minority stubbornly refused to spend any substantial part of their fortunes in a productive manner. The "Magical Hand" of Private Enterprise remained idle while banks failed, wiping out the life-savings of untold hundreds of thousands. Factories were shuttered, resulting in untold millions of men and women losing jobs. Nobody knows even how many children went hungry. I won't even address in this comment how the Depression itself was brought about by Avaricious American Capitalism, whose stock market encouraged millions to invest irresponsibly on "Margin." But check this out: http://www.amazon.com/The-Pecora-Report-Practices-Commission/dp/1449523226The Pecora Report: The 1934 Report on the Practices of Stock Exchanges from the "Pecora Commission" www.amazon.com

"She blinded me with Science!"

has to be fair and admit that, although I favor reason and the scientific method over religion and superstition, Science has gotten us in one hell of a pickle. Chloro-flourocarbons wearing out the Earth's protective ozone layer. Massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions, a result of burning fossil fuels in reckless ways that Eighteenth, Nineteenth and even Twentieth-Century science enabled. At least Science also provides us with the solutions to those grave problems science had much to do with bringing about in the first place. Yet when it comes to the Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, widespread proliferation of nuclear power plants like Three Mile Island and Fukushima Dai'ichi, and the deadly fallout they created, I'm not so sure even Science can save us. "Captain Picard, we need you and your Enterprise, now!" Still, moi, I prefer analysis and the empirical method over prayer, "speaking in tongues" and self-inflicted rattlesnake bite.

What would make me happy?

To begin with, I'd be happy just to see "prayer" and "faith" kept out of the schools and courthouses, off the currency, and don't even get me started on the Pledge of Allegiance.

Willard the Rat Romney

When one considers the total down-side of a rat-like WILLARD Romney presidency... Well, let's just say the "alternative" to Barry Obama looks less and less tolerable. Each and every day Willard denies being with "Bain Capital Punishment" is another day full of Romneyesque lies. If it looks like a document, talks like a document... it probably IS a 2001 document with Willard's signature on it. Yet ...the Mittster claims he was only "visiting" the old office!? And demands apologies from Obie, with a straight face!? Obama has a lot to apologize for, but not for actual truth telling. Wow. If Romney IS "elected" (another presidential fix seems to be in the cards, in Florida yet again) we will ALL soon be shouting: "All hail the OUTSOURCER in CHIEF!" And we'll be yelling such things straight outta the unemployment line.

Irrational Believers ruined my Secular Country

While it's highly likely your average person of faith is a decent fellow or gal, I question the ability of each and every theist or pantheist, be they Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim, or Hindu, to routinely think rationally. I believe they are handicapped from the beginning by adherence to their various irrational faiths. And the hierarchies? UGGGHHHH!

My favorite tongues

likes (the audible impressions of) German for its clarity, Dutch for its gutteral quality, French for its elegance, Spanish for its rapidity, Portuguese for its sensuality, Italian for its romance, Hawaiian for its simplicity, Norwegian for its musicality, Danish for its slurring, Swedish for its melancholy, Czech for its majesty, Polish for its unspeakableness, Russian for its intrinsic poetry, Arabic for its phonetic complexity, English for its ineffability, Finnish for its perfectly phonetic spelling, Persian for its oddness, Hindi for its strangeness, Serbian for its prettiness, Hungarian for its weirdness, and Hebrew for its downright ugliness. What's YOUR favorite language?

Happy Independence Day!

Fourth of July you say? Well then!"I pledge indifference, to the Frag of the Divided Stakes of Americorn. And to the Republic, for which it STOOD, one station, Blunder God, with Servitude and Injustice for Oil!"

Citizens United, unrevisited

Well, there you have it! In overturning Montana's sensible century-old restrictions on campaign spending, The Supreme Injustices in Washington have reminded us all, once again, of our basic obligation to be polite and sociable. Next time you drive through a suburban business strip, remember to pay Ms. Dairy Queen the same kind of courtesy you'd extend to any other friend; tip your hat or wave and call out "Hello, dear!" When you travel through Mr. Weyerhaeuser's Oregon property, remember to give a little beep of the horn, and yell: "Thanks for letting me drive on your (18,000 acre) front lawn, Mr. Weyerhaeuser!" Corporations ARE people, my friend. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/opinion/the-court-citizens-united.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Ron is very unKIND

Today's Demo protesting Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) was a Barrel of Fun! Not only did Representative Kind vote in favor of the Iraq War, he's one of the "Blue Dogs" who keeps voting in favor of funding and perpetuating the war in Afghanistan. He's also very pro-"Free Trade." We waved "Communist" Chinese flags and chanted things like: "Free Trade isn't Free!" I made up a slogan of my own: "This is NOT K STREET - This is MAIN STREET!" Boy, was Ron Kind surprised and pissed off when he walked up to Brocach Irish Pub on Capitol Square in Madison. A small but very spirited rally of perhaps 50 or 100 people, maximum. But you shoulda seen it! That is, if you were one of those who missed it. Let it not be said I let politicians off the hook just 'cause they're Dems: http://www.ontheissues.org/​House/Ron_Kind_War_+_Peace.htm http://www.examiner.com/article/activists-target-madison-ron-kind-fundraiser-over-free-trade-and-war-votes

Dog Food

Seeing how Tropical Storm Debby is now or will soon be pounding the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas, all that is possible should be done to aid the residents of the Redneck Riviera. All that is possible, that is, within the potential of PRIVATE organizations alone. Let the Red Cross handle it Solo. Since Florida Governor Rick Scott - that Government employee - and his supporters purport to be so "Anti-Big Government," they must decline any and all asisstance from the Federals. Federal Government, that is. No official state of emergency should be honored - that would be Government interference of the BIGGEST and Worst kind. Suffering, schmuffering! The Tea Baggers, Koch Brothers, ALEC, Scott Walker and all the other supposedly rugged individualists were instrumental in turning us Wisconsinites into a population of 5.3 million lab rats. They did so in the name of their very selective "Austerity." We're enduring a brutal form of collective punishment here; so let them eat dog food down there, for all I care: http://www.youtube.com/​watch?v=03sf-hJZ4OQ&feature=rel​ated

Eli Eli lama sabachthani

As Johnny Carson used to bait Ed McMahon and the rest of the Tonight Show audience: "So just how damn dumb are most Americans?..." And they'd answer..."Johnny, they're so damn dumb that..." In this connection, I was eating dinner at a modestly-priced restaurant just now with a friend who happens to be "christian." I launched into the old joke that by now he's heard a thousand times: "Well, I don't mind one bit if you Christers want to worship a nice Jewish boy..." Tommy was nodding his head in amused affirmation when a dork from a nearby table said: "Jesus wasn't Jewish." "Ah yeah," I replied, "whatever you say." Quite unusually easy-going for me. Didn't have the heart to add, "Well, according to Your Own Gospels, among 'Our Lord's' very last 'mortal' words were these: 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?'" MAYBE Aramaic, but CERTAINLY not Norwegian, not Spanish, not Polish. Rather, very likely Hebrew, translated - by way of New Testament Greek - into 1610's King James Bible. It means "My Lord, why hast thou forsaken me?" So I suppose, under duress, Jesus suffered a Momentary Lapse of Linguistic Reason? I guess he called out to Gawd in his native Latin that day? And so tonight I'm imploring Him: "Gawd, PLEASE save me from your 'Foolowers!'" All of this, of course is predicated on the questionable existence of Jesus Christ.

Bummer, man.

I don't mean to be a downer, but... I can't help feeling that "...all the poisons that lurk in the mud ARE hatching out." There seems to be something inexorable about the Road to Hell we're on. I really don't know if the War Train can be stopped, but it certainly won't so much as slow down, long as 280+ million Americans are either too reactionary, too stupid, or too disaffected to even try. We in Wisconsin know what I mean - that it's tough, really tough, to keep fighting the good fight. I've seen so many whom I thought would persevere, I've seen them... just give the hell up, roll over. There may indeed be such a thing as Destiny, if not Fate. Well, I just had three espressos and registered for to post my inciteful commentary on Isthmus's "The Daily Page." First time I've been there in three, four years. I feel better already! I really mean it! "Can you tell me how to get, how to get to..." ...the nearest Fallout Shelter! Best of luck, everybody!

Cool, Dark, Slightly Musty Tavern Just Outside Phoenix

He, the Desert Wind. Blows such peace If you're away, away along ago. Avoid all light all heat all noise all sourcing confusion. Child is close to the edge Too close. Don't argue with me Don't argue with you Not Today Not Tomorrow. Comrade Comfort, on the short fuse lit. T'was once, THAT was a time "A Time to TRY the SOUL of Man! Wasn't that a time? Isn't that a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TIME!" NOT just "Because." Thanks, Pete! The Heron, he told you "It's Winter, Winter in America." And IT was. Always take me to, take me too. Dear Delighted FRIGID Paradise! Always And Ever AGAIN! Good Times! Neptune Here I COME. But NOW, Don't PUSH me! Don't TOUCH me! Even IF you Love me. ESPECIALLY if you Love me. So Happy, DAMN Happy! What a bother it used to be Caring. Maria sang, sang of Midnight. Now that's the RIGHT Time. "Midnight at the Oasis..." Lo, we hear in his SCREAM: "I get so lonely LONELY for the NIGHT (because) I can't DREAM." A Cool, dark slightly musty tavern Just Outside Phoenix. I've never BEEEN. Except in the life of the CHILD. The Air Conditioning's ON. Who needs a beer? Give me MY Martini, My first Ever. DRY. Cool. Action. Delayed. We'll Live to Slave... ANOTHER DAY.

Watergate 40

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, which took place on June 17, 1972. Below is a piece I wrote on that subject in 2010, mimimally re-edited today for punctuation, style, and grammar: Did it start with WATERGATE? No, not the age-old political dirty tricks. Rather, the monumental, "fashionable" apathy. Were millions so shocked, so scandalized by Nixon's minor malfeasance - which ended up nailing him - they simply dropped out of meaningful politics? I'm talking about Tricky Dick's minor crimes, as he was actually caught and forced to resign on account of a second-rate break-in at Democratic National Committee Headquarters; not for the massive war crimes committed in SE Asia. But the real focus of my inquiry concerns the American Public. I'll always remember being ten years old and visiting my best friend's house in the Summer of 1973. Nancy, Peter's mom, was glued to the telescreen, enthralled with the Watergate Hearings. I was naturally bored on the one hand, being ten years old, and quite unable to fathom why Ms. ____ was so obsessed with such nonsense. On the other hand, I was fascinated, intrigued with the intrigue. Of course, the United States had experienced political scandal before. Teapot Dome in the 1920's. Bobby Baker's misdeeds during the LBJ years. Nixon's 1952 "Checkers" imbroglio. But never before had so many Americans paid so much attention to cloak-and-dagger antics emanating from the White House. So how do we explain the subsequent humongous level of depoliticization in the aftermath of the "Plumbers'" shenanigans? In May 1960, Eisenhower had already been caught red-handed in a major diplomatic LIE, when he falsely denied Francis Gary Powers had been shot down during a U-2 spying mission over the USSR. Faith in the supposed truthfulness of Presidents certainly took a hit; but the early-'60s populace generally didn't seem to wallow, as a result, in complete indifference. But following Watergate, it became "cool" to not give a shit. "Cool," when I was in Middle School in 1975, was showing off your Converse All Stars and running around the Gym to the tune of "Pickin' Up The Pieces" by the Average White Band. Don't get me wrong - Great Song! It was evidently quite cool to make it known to everyone you'd seen the latest "Tony Orlando And Dawn" episode on ABC. Of course, I'm talking about kids here, but I'll wager many of those mental children who were absolutely THRILLED by "The Towering Inferno" were over 18 years of age. CONVERSELY (heh heh) it became equally "uncool" to care about things that actually mattered; eyes were interminably rolled to high heaven if you so much as mentioned any actual, grown-up ISSUE. By the time I entered High School in 1977, the fashionable boredom was so thick you could cut it with a switchblade. Example: We had Madison's Chief of Police visit the class one day. I expected someone to challenge him, to call him a goddamn fascist pig, SOMETHING. Instead, the entire class, girls and boys alike, sat there for 60 minutes like a bunch of granite statues. Myself as well: I wouldn't have been caught dead being curious and "uncool." Now more than ever, I realize scarcely anyone gives a shit, so I'll STFU and have a nice day. P.S: What did Nixon/Walker know and when did he know it? http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Wars_of_Watergate.html?id=k2U9w6RVpowC

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Kevin: If the believers in God and other spiritualists are right, you're still out there somewhere. Alternately, if I'm right, there is only a pitch-black, eternal void after we die. Either way: Happy 51st birthday to Jimmy the Go-Go Man!!

Bored and disgusted. With love,...

I'm so damn bored and disgusted with those on "my" side of the political divide, including the putatively "Spiritual" types who insist we here in Badgerland need to meditate, accomodate and ultimately collaborate in the supposedly inevitable process of our own socio-economic undoing. By all means! Let's discover some new and self-pacifying, lovey-dovey sentiment to direct toward our Pathological RepubliCON adversaries. Let's jump for joy while we make nice with the likes of Scott Walker, Leah Vukmir, Jeff FitzGerald, Robin Voss and Mitt Romney. It's Reconciliation Time, eh, Unitarians? How's about we send David Koch a nice little Sponge-Bob toy, covered with XoXoXos, written in lipstick? Get thee hence, and gently paint another question mark on somebody ELSE's face, oh Ye pontificating political appeasers of the flimsiest motivation! Personally, I don't lack the slightest doubt concerning MY resolve. Listening to all the crap circulating now about "we need to mend fences with the GOP" EXTREMISTS, you'd think Frederick Douglass had it all wrong. Turns out the famous saying really goes: "Power concedes anything, if only we continue to utter our plaintive wail." I'm Dan Goldstein, and I APPROVE of this colorful rant. Please check out the following, with special attention paid to the President's speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uX508P-FUs

Syria: Too close to "USS Israel"

I've been watching the BBC news which airs here at about 11:30 nightly. I'm deeply disturbed by images of the ongoing bombardment and slaughter in Homs and other cities. But I oppose the notion that the US should intervene there, an unlikely prospect anyway, as Syria is just a bit too close to the "USS Israel." Why did it take me only a few seconds' reflection to oppose the prospect of US military intervention? I can answer that in 10 points: 1. Last year's NATO intervention in Libya was less than a spectacular success. 2. The catastrophic, unconstitutional, immoral 2003 Iraq War, and its subsequent disastrous occupation. 3. The illegal, criminal 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan and the ongoing disastrous conflict/occupation in Af-Pak. 4. The current non-reported US war against Yemen. 5. The disastrous 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia/Kosovo. 6. The disastrous, murderous 1993 US invasion/intervention in Somalia, and it's present reincarnation. 7. The criminal, illegal US-led Guf War of 1991. 8. The disastrous, murderous US invasion and occupation of Panama, beginning in 1989. 9. The outrageous 1983 US invasion of tiny Grenada. 10. The spectacularly genocidal US war against Vietnam from 1961-1975. I'll address today's US saber-rattling directed against Iran at a later date. Anyone need any more reasons justifying my opposition to these US/NATO interventions?

Concerning travels to post industrial wastelands. For and English friend.

I will definitely try to expand upon this. Meanwhile, you are exclusively invited to fly to Detroit International Airport, where I'll meet you near the duty-free shop. We'll ride the suburban transit bus to a point near Detroit's city limits, split the price of a clean but inexpensive room with two beds, and get some rest. Next morning bright and early, we'll head Downtown, where we'll combine your artisitc ability with my statistical skills, or versa-vicea. We'll conduct important sociological research. We'll interview Detroit residents on such questions as: "How does it feel to not only be "down-sized" and disenfranchised PERSONALLY, but on a vast, municipal level as well?"; "Does it usually take the Detroit Fire Department half an hour or an entire hour to respond to a 911 (999) call, or do they never arrive at all as the house next door burns to the ground?"; "Do you pity General Motors' billionaire CEO?" Oops, I forgot, I was the one who first asked you to be my FB friend, so I owe you a trip to the UK first. After my arrival at Heathrow, I'll meet you at the International Terminal. We'll rest up a bit, then we'll travel to Glasgow...:)

Rock River Valley Blues

Whoever posted this youtube video needs to work on their grammar, composition, and spelling. But I can vouch for the accuracy of these images, having made a trip to Janesville on May 4, 2012. I actually walked down Delavan Drive, which borders the closed plant to the north. I saw the ghostly specter of a formerly productive, currently deserted factory. This is how things presently ARE, not as the "Free Market's" wishful thinking WOULD have them be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evS4GuPPsJk

Detroit, soon to be revisited

Dan Goldstein's next major trip of geographic exploration and socio-economic investigation outside Wisconsin will be to Detroit Michigan, which I haven't visited since September 1999. There are cheap, decent hotels in Royal Oak, a suburb situated a few miles north of Eight Mile Road. Back then, during the Clinton Era "Boom Years," I rode the city buses. One of them had graffiti, written in magic marker: "Beware of pickpockets and thieves on Detroit city buses." I saw many, many dilapidated residences and others that were boarded-up or even burnt out. I saw several beautiful, mostly deserted art-deco skyscrapers, many dating from the 1920's or possibly even earlier. Strolling north from Downtown's Cadillac Square, I made my way up Woodward Avenue in the daytime. There were many vacant storefronts. One store that was in business had a sign on the front door, berating the burglars who had recently broken in. After a quick stop to check my email at the main Detroit Public Library, I continued northbound. I saw large areas north of Wayne State University, some covering entire city blocks, that apparently had been abandoned since 1967's "Detroit Rebellion." There were weeds growing there; I swear, some appeared to be as tall as a two-story house. I hope to make a long-awaited return trip during the first week of July. I'd invite you all, but I prefer to travel single. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6WKMNmFsxM

What about Rockford?

Dan Goldstein took a trip one week ago, 65 miles south of Madison, to Rockford, Illinois. I decided to visit the area around 6th Avenue and Kishwaukee St, where I spent an interesting weekend during Sep or Oct 1982. In '82, Rockford's Near South Side was a moderately prosperous, predominently "white" working class district, bounded on the South and West by some highly productive industrial areas, and other manufacturing areas that appeared to be suffering from 1981-82's "Reagan Recession." I didn't detect many signs of active manufacturing last Monday, but we'll get to that in a minute. Good news about Rockford? The "Sixth and Kishwaukee" area is now much more "racially integrated." The Bad? It's now a "mixed" district that appears to be populated mainly by poor people. Strolling down Kishwaukee, a major traffic artery, I saw Hispanic people drive by in their cars. I passed by two young black men leaving a market, one carrying a 12-pack of beer. I passed a house (could it have been the one I stayed in?) whose white inhabitants cast me a wary glance - it's possible they were in the midst of an alcoholic reverie. In general, it was obvious quite a few vacant lots now occupy the space where houses and apartment buildings once stood, and many of the surviving residences have windows boarded up, or show other clear signs of disrepair/abandonment. I'm currently attempting to find enlightening digital pics of the area. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_40420.htm#51-0000

What about Detroit?

It may seem obsessive on my part, and perhaps it is. But I find myself frequently preoccupied with such questions: "What does it mean for the (low income and working class, especially) People of the United States when the Mayor of our once proud Motor City, Detroit, announced in 2010 his unprecedented plan to demolish at least one fourth of Motown's remaining neighborhoods, the aim being to concentrate Detroit's 700,000 or 750,000 inhabitants (Detroit's population was approximately 1,800,000 in 1950!) into a geographically limited number of "viable" districts?" The issue goes far beyond Detroit, to equally devastated Flint in Michigan. To Cleveland, Canton and Akron in Ohio. Buffalo NY and St. Louis Missouri. Here in Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Janesville, Racine and Beloit aren't quite in the Detroit/Flint category, but they're sure suffering. I'd very much like to hear or see, from academics and the unemployed; from professional demographers and Rust Belt refugees; from anyone with an opinion. Share your stories, your analysis, your hopes and dreams. Your demands that the USA - the need seems plain as daylight to me - embrace a NEW Industrial Policy. How about ANY Manufacturing policy at all? I'm no professor, but I'd appreciate valuable input of a statistical, personal, even anecdotal nature. Though I intend to subject the latter (both positive and negative in their implications) to a vigorous analysis. I'm prepared to stay open-minded and dispassionate. I'll give due consideration to all viewpoints. This subject continues to be much in the way of a learning experience for me. http://loadstonerock.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/bulldozing-detroit-a-radical-solution-for-urban-blight/ http://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/138576100/is-detroit-the-next-brooklyn

CAN Stand the heat!

Now this kind of DRY 90-degree F. heat I can tolerate, even LIKE. Quite unlike my summer vacations in South Florida, where the 95-degree Fahrenheit days were accompanied by 95% humidity, day after sweat-soaked day, from May till September! Palm Beach County, where the COLD water would come out of the tap HOT. And I mean HOT, not luke-warm. The nights down there, for some odd reason, seemed hotter than the days. The only saving grace was a typically dependable sea breeze off the Atlantic. But this, by comparison, is A-OK! One's just got to make sure to drink enough water, take it easy, wear sunglasses that protect against 99% of Ultra-violet rays, and apply a good sunscreen. Enjoy!

Ah Well. Another stolen election.

Ah well. The extent to which the Democrat-leaning vote was supressed couldn't have changed the outcome, so forget about it, RIGHT? Hey, I don't know about YOU all, but... somewhere along the line I was taught that ANY amount of electoral crookedness provided ample cause to doubt and challenge the final tally. Silly me: in this day and age, Republican-sposored election theft is simply taken for granted. So "Why fight (Waukesha) City Hall, eh!?!" Tell you what: Scores of people DIED attempting to secure their RIGHT to cast a ballot for the candidate of their choice, as recently as circa 1965. This is no petty/irrelevant matter! http://warisacrime.org/content/reports-voter-suppression-wisconsin-robocalls-targeting-recall-petition-signers

Roll over, Barrett, roll over.

That's just about what Barrett deserved, for making me eat my words about his "running an admirable campaign this time around." It sure as hell isn't admirable to concede to a monster like Scott Walker before all the votes have been counted, and while of anecdotal evidence of voter supression against pro-recall voters were (still are) making the rounds. Shame on YOU, Tom Barrett - never again will I cast so much as a PROTEST VOTE for you, as I did in last night's recall election! http://www.wqow.com/story/18719291/tom-barrett-was-slapped-by-supporter