FREE LEONARD PELTIER!

On this 40th anniversary of the incident that lead to Leonard Peltier's false imprisonment - Mr. Peltier having been illegally extradited from Canada and framed for the killing of two FBI agents - it is time to redouble our efforts to have this brave freedom fighter LIBERATED! Mr. Obama, PARDON Leonard Peltier! http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/home/about-peltier/activist/

Virginia Slims

You've come a long way baby To get where you are today You've got your own cigarette now baby You've come a long long way! (Still copyrighted, ya think?)

We've No'n each other all these years.

You mean anything to me - you're my best acquaintance!

A teeney little millimeter longer

Put your thumb and index finger together in the "OK" position, separated by one millimeter's distance. Your opinion counts - that much!

Ford four by four

You can pick your truck, you can pick your pickup truck, but you can't pick up your pickup truck.

LED ZEPPELIN

Led Zeppelin was so influential, with their astronomical, ecstatic, incendiary, in some sense dangerous Jimmy Page guitar catharsis, and ethereal, "histrionic" Robert Plant vocals, that I could never deal with their impact intellectually, only emotionally. That is, from the time I first smoked MJ and hash at the age of seven - and storm-danced to The Zep all wild and childish - till just Yesterday when I started reading the volume below. The band has been accused, perhaps with some justification, of dabbling in the occult; but I FEEL some of Mr. Page's Mega-best guitar riffs belong in the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. I "talked" (SHOUTED) to myself at great length last night, while reading the book; a kind of "Thank-you-for-that, Dude!" affirmation I've been waiting most of my life to toss out there at no one, at everyone.... https://books.google.com/books?id=lZXkAAAACAAJ&dq=led+zeppelin+cross+flannigan+preston+1991&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4eiIVeeEC4SfyQTDlo7oCA&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAA

The Mother Tongue, Morning Headlines and Manufacture of Consent

Language itself, even as cynically utilized by the movers and the shakers, by the architects of "acceptable" public opinion, is bursting with meaningful messages. But its meaning actually resides in the intent of the professional propagandist. It resides within the usually unstated goal of various "brainwashers." The language utilized is typically meant to instill a certain set of "values." Why give an impressionable person, especially a young person who may be future "Leader," - or, by contrast, a dissident - the opportunity to think in a way that may be counterproductive to the aims of those whose intent is the Manufacture of Consent? Why foster the possible formulation of ideas that are contrary to the relentless pursuit of what is commonly known as Mind Control. "Those guys ain't dumb;" they know their job description calls for conditioning millions to accept the status quo, not for encouraging the "Sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be determined," if I might plagiarize and paraphrase the Late Great University of Wisconsin's mission statement. Dumbing down the discourse, applying false labels, muddying the waters is one way - perhaps the best way - to render masses of people docile in the face of injustice; both the injustices directed at others, and the injustice that's meant to contravene the search for one's own best interest. "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media:" https://books.google.com/books?id=Kv_-bvCqgrEC&dq=manufacture+of+consent&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UYSFVaa7LsmLyASj0YPACQ&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAQ If you think what I've written here just now is off-base, just check out this morning's headlines in the Wisconsin State Journal, USA Today or New York Times. Or examine critically Isthmus's newly intensified focus on fine wining and dining, sports, and what for lack of a better word, has become known as "Identity Politics." All of which are propagated to appeal to the lowest common intellectual denominator, and to the detriment of genuine, hard hitting News and Information. "Public Opinion: An Important Work on the Theory of Public Opinion in Relation to Traditional Democratic Theory" https://books.google.com/books?id=6weo9GKptAYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=public%20opinion%20walter%20lippmann&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6YSFVeDII4eXygTGr4foCw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=public%20opinion%20walter%20lippmann&f=false

Yesterday's subject continued

From the Salon.com piece I posted yesterday, "Fascism is rising in America. The Koch brothers and democracy's dispiriting demise:" "As the American Heritage Dictionary noted, fascism is: 'A system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with belligerent nationalism.'” Fascism is either on its way, or has already arrived, as it pertains to a number of crucial societal traits. The ubiquitous "security" cameras; the plethora of draconian laws, scarcely improved as the "USA Patriot Act" is hurriedly subjected to a number of rather minor amendments, and becomes re-christened, with President O'Bomber's enthusiastic support, as the "USA Freedom Act." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Freedom_Act I intend to stick to my guns, to employ a slightly regrettable cliche. The moniker "President O'Bomber?" It stays, as it is literally true. The US remains the world's foremost military power, with more than 800 military bases in over 140 countries, last I checked. Year after year, the Pentagon's massive and bloated budget has no real rivals. American society has been thoroughly corrupted by unchecked militarism and nationalistic aggression. Our American Gulag, for lack of a better term, is the biggest in the world, hands down; no other country that I'm aware of locks up as many of its own citizens, a significant majority for non-violent offenses. But I'll concede, instead of the highly charged and controversial term "Ultra-Fascism," I should have used the term "Techno-Fascism." President Kennedy, in his inaugural address of January 20, 1961: "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." It is up to all of us to guarantee JFK's words do not ring hollow; not today, and not in years to come. Except for Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning and a handful of other intrepid souls, we've all fallen short of the mark.

Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean Fascism is an illusion

The other day, in commenting on the rise of Fascism in America, I referred to this nation's chief executive as "President Obomber." That was pure hyperbole, of course. I now regret the error of my ways. Taking into account his Irish ancestry, I should have written, "President O'Bomber." "Fascism is Rising in America:" http://www.salon.com/2015/02/08/fascism_is_rising_in_america_the_koch_brothers_and_the_painful_demise_of_democracy_partner/ "Eroding Liberty: Rights and Freedoms We have Needlessly Lost in the Name of National Security" http://www.nyclu.org/pdfs/eroding_liberty.pdf "The Illusory Eighth Amendment:" John F. Stinneford (University of Florida Levin College of Law) http://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1439&context=facultypub "- Where Big Corporations Have Become Our Government -" FascismUSA.com "Is the U.S. a Fascist Society? Fascism is a Political Economic Structure Which Serves Corporate Interests" http://www.globalresearch.ca/is-the-us-a-fascist-society-examining-the-existence-of-fascism-in-the-united-states/5377146 "2 out of every 3 Americans lost Fourth Amendment protections to DHS" http://www.computerworld.com/article/2474541/data-privacy/2-out-of-every-3-americans-lost-fourth-amendment-protections-to-dhs.html

Home School 'em?

I used to think the vast majority of hard-working parents weren't really up to the task of imparting a comprehensive education to their kids at home. I may still feel that way, but in this era of enormous Walkerite (Republican) budget cuts directed against K-12 teachers and schools, home schooling may be more necessary than I ever believed. https://books.google.com/books?id=wlrGrW4pJpAC&q=homeschool+taking+the+first+step+borg+hendrickson&dq=homeschool+taking+the+first+step+borg+hendrickson&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAGoVChMI_pWI37SSxgIVBBesCh0nyAB4

RusskiTroll.con

Everything I tell you is the truth; the last statement I uttered was a lie, and that's no paradox. I'm genuinely outraged - I demand the REAL fake news, as it appears daily on Fox, CNN and MSNBC!I hear some of the employees at RusskiTroll.con are grossly under educated; they demonstrate a poor command of English grammar, among their other major failings. Think I could get a job with the American counterpart? My writing's improved dramatically since I hooked up with the American Legion. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/magazine/the-agency.html

US-Cuba Rapprochement opens big can of worms

From the article, which I refuse to purchase from TIME's online store: "The literacy rate is 99.8%, and the health system is among the world's best. Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate than America." Mind you, this is TIME Magazine talking. http://www.amazon.com/Time-April-Change-Americans-Arrive/dp/B00VC9T1JO On the one hand, potential business opportunities abound, for both Cubans and Americans; charter-boat fishing tours will now probably span the Florida Keys to the Cuban islands. Eventually, there will be direct ferry service between Key West and Havana. Ordinary Cubans' diet may improve markedly, if US agricultural interests are able to ship Midwestern grain and other products right down the Mississippi, then across the gulf to Cuban ports. On the other hand, Cuba will no doubt lose some of its major appeal, such as its relatively pristine natural areas, likely to be overrun in the future by hordes of tourists riding personal watercraft. Havana's beautiful and authentic historic neighborhoods may also be in peril. Still, this thaw in relations stands to benefit both countries, if carried out with caution and concern for the PEOPLE.

President Obomber strikes (out) again

Time keeps on slippin', slippin. slippn', into the Future. The slippery slope to yet another major foolhardy military engagement may be directly ahead of us. If so, that can only spell anguish for Iraq and the USA. We needn't do the stupid and brutal thing merely because that's what we've done before, time and again. But I suppose the US Empire, in its waning years, utterly lacks for imagination, and our society is so thoroughly permeated with militarism the powers that be - the "men in the shadows" who represent General Dynamics, Raytheon and Halliburton - would never let Mr. Obama do things differently, even if he were so inclined. One doesn't have to be an "isolationist" to clearly recognize the fact that renewed military engagement ANYWHERE is in no way beneficial to the real interests of this country, and that the "threat" supposedly posed by ISIS to those interests is a complete fabrication. Let's stay the hell out of Iraq, as much as practically possible, and deal with the pressing needs of our former republic head-on. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33076238

Those daring dudes straight outta Dannemora

I may not approve of the crimes for which they were convicted, but Run Boys Run! Wanted to post this yesterday, the anniversary of the glorious 1963 "Escape From Alcatraz;" such escapes prove the indomitable spirit of human freedom survives, even in these ultra-fascist times. Dannemora is only twenty miles from Canada, boys - hope you make it across! After all, President Obomber meets every Tuesday morning with his "Nationa Security team," to discuss who on his "kill list" will be the unfortunate victim of an unmanned drone strike. These two guys, bad as they may be, hardly rate! http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dannemora-prison-break-how-dangerously-charismatic-escapee-richard-matt-is-at-the-centre-of-a-new-york-manhunt-10316193.html

About Sheboyganland

The corporation that outsources the most flies the biggest American Flag. I just visited Sheboygan and Kohler Wisconsin over the weekend. The Kohler Corporation makes bathroom and kitchen fixtures, and a variety of other ceramic and metal products. The company still employs several thousand people here in Wisconsin, but they used to employ thousands more than they do nowadays. So much cheaper to exploit vulnerable, low-wage workers in Mexico and elsewhere, don't you know! But Kohler, WI, is now largely a resort town with a world-famous golf course, as if that were a major asset to most of the displaced blue-collar workers who once manned the assembly lines. Sheboygan itself was formerly a formidable manufacturing city - these days many of those once-busy factories are gone, forever. And don't even get me started about the de-industrialization of Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Beloit and Janesville. Even Madison has lost thousands of jobs at Oscar Mayer since circa 1977, to say nothing of the complete elimination of the jobs that used to employ hundreds, if not thousands, at Gisholt, Marquip, Rayovac and Mautz Paint. Nevertheless, Sheboygan County and just about the entire tier of counties along Lake Michigan reliably vote for Republicans every election. It's extremely distressing to see working-class Americans voting for candidates who work so tirelessly against the best interests of blue-collar voters. And unfortunately, most Democratic candidates are scarcely any better when it comes to outsourcing. Just look at the support in both parties for the "Trans-Pacific Partnership." Even as these "patriotic" companies take cynical advantage of the lack of workplace safeguards and environmental regulations in the Third World, those politicians who promote the business interests of the Super-Rich work indefatigably to lower workplace standards and expectations here, in Europe and Britain. I'm just not so confident as I used to be that those of us who oppose massive outsourcing of US jobs are capable of retaining our natural political allies in the American working class, be they Republican, Democratic or Independent; so many stubbornly refuse to see sense. The Mass Brainwashing Apparatus is a hell of a lot more powerful than we are. I know this is a bit of a digression, but the exporting of US manufacturing predates Walker and the present GOP crew by at least three, more like four decades. I'd love it if someone on this forum could PROVE me wrong, of course.

Patriotically exporting jobs

The corporation that outsources the most flies the biggest American flag.

Friggin' deer ticks, wood ticks, etc.

I've got nothing to say except.... if you live in the Wisconsin countryside - or even on the fringe thereof - be on alert for deer ticks. A potential case of Lyme disease is no small matter. I got a big ugly wood tick that lodged itself into my left tit the other day - fortunately I was able to dig it out, head and all. But for a while I thought I'd grown a second nipple. This life has so many interesting twists and turns.... Have an ICE day, and welcome Winter when he returns!

Soglin still $ucks, and Blaska bloviates big time

Any society that values human greed over human need is not just worthy of reform, it merits being on the receiving end of an actual revolution. Mayor Paul Soglin and the rest of the so-called Liberals on the Madison Common Council (Conservatives like Blaska too, but they aren't numerous on the council) really need to be put out on the street, for at least a full month. Then maybe they could empathize.... but who am I kidding? That ain't never gonna happen in this era of unmitigated heartlessness. http://www.ibmadison.com/Blogger/Bring-It/April-2015/Three-cheers-for-Paul-Soglin--Enough-is-enough-is-right/