2010-07-23

BP GUSHER What if Matt Simmons is right?

A serious person is asking some serious questions about a most serious matter; one that might affect everyone living on or near the Eastern Gulf coast.
 
Read through the brief item, then download the 15-minute mp3 and hear what Matt has to say. While you're here, feel free to scroll down for Matt Simmons' credentials in this area - he is no beginner. The most unsettleing thing for me is that Mr Simmons stands to lose quite a bit by taking the stance he does. His 40 years of building relationships in his industry may end up in tatters after all the shooting's over. He has nothing to gain by his present position. I have always thought of him as a man of principle; I think this cinches it.
 
 
Jim Kunstler's piece asks more questions based on Matt Simmons's concerns. They are almost as disturbing as Matt's original musings.
 
 
And if these two don't do it for you, have a look-see at my latest LATOC newsletter. There is plenty of mainstream media concern (just not on page one, or even 51), enough for our own concern.
 
 
 
As you can see/hear from the above, these are no wild-eyed doom-screamers. There is not a Chicken Little in the crowd. They are full of doubt, but borderline cynical about the lack of candor emanating from Washington and BP; as we all should be.
 
The consequences of not being, at the very least, aware of the possibility of a cataclysmic event a scant 150 miles west of Tampa Bay could be dire indeed. Like you, I haven't the foggiest as to my own actions if Mother has a hissy over all our gouging and digging. This is simply info we all should have, if for no other reason than to have an exit plan in case TSHTF.
 
Finally, as Lily says (see below), it really is hard to keep up. I had given little thought to the rumors that the "spill" was yet another false-flag op straight from the Rove-Cheney playbook. I still fail to see "who benefits." However, this post from Brasscheck gives me pause. See what you think.
 
 
 

Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

END GERRYMANDER! Please vote YES on Amendments 5 and 6

"No matter how cynical I get, I just can't seem to keep up."
 - Lily Tomlin

2010-06-24

peak BP GUSHER COULD KILL MILLIONS, RENDER GULF UNINHABITABLE 3 articles helium 06-23-10

How much did our conniving and criminal malgovernment allow BP to save via shortcuts? Goodness, I sure hope it was worh it.
 
 

This piece provides slightly less drama, but much more detail on how and why we got here in the first place:
 
Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"When plunder has become a way of life for a society, they create for themselves  a legal system that authorizes it, and a moral code that glorifies it."
- Frédéric Bastiat

2010-02-14

Happy V-D! (Valentines Day)

from Jean


Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti

 
It's not Jacquie, but it's the best on offer this year.
 
Love,
 
Nigel
 
I had an X-ray done today, and they found you in my heart. The Doctor said if they took you out, I would die, because I could not live without you as a friend.

 


2010-02-09

orb MASON BEES MAY BE PARTIAL ANSWER TO CCD bizmag 02-07-10

http://www.gizmag.com/mason-bees/14100/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=995304c309-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email
 



Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

BUSH-BURNING WITH SATANIC DREAMS OF GOG AND MAGOG secularhumanism.org 01-00-10

No revelations here for followers of Miller, Ivins, Hedges and other quotidian biographers of the Boy King (Shrub, as Molly dubbed him), but a still poignant reminder of the utter destruction wreaked on humanity by certainty, whatever its root.
 
My only quarrel is with the author's mention of the US's 4,000 dead soldiers. While no less a tragedy, such a mournful statistic pales in relation to the 1 to 1 1/2 million, mostly innocent, dead Iraqis in addition to the shattered lives of countless Iraqis and our own 50,000-odd wounded and maimed who return home only to fight yet another war, that of getting their own government to provide the care it promised in the recruiting booth, but are less than prompt at delivering it in the breach.
 
http://secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=haught_29_5
 
 



Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-02-04

crash08 HOUSING UNDERWATER - WALKING AWAY-THE CHORUS GROWS housingwatch 01-25-10

Also, CHER BAILS ON HER JUST-BUILT HOME (you know where to come for the good stuff - you know you want to know)
 
 
And why are we not surprised that morally-rudderless Realtors are now encouraging deluged owners to bail so they can sell them a new, now more affordable, home (provided they buy before they bail). Yes, yes, the same agents who ran with the whole kiting process with glee for 5 or 6 years, jimmying folks into way more house than they could possibly afford.
 
Sometimes i have to pinch myself to be sure I did this biz for 21 years without screwing a soul (well, there was this gal who owned...).
 
 
 
this just in
 
crash08 HOUSING UNDERWATER - WALKING AWAY-MORE OWNERS TAKE A HIKE  nyt  02-02-10



Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

bizism GOOGLE FOR PRESIDENT! miller-mccune 02-01-10

Oh, yeah. The logic is unassailable.
 
 
and check of this great vid #1.14 http://www.youtube.com/user/murrayhillcongress
 



Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-31

orb PERMACULTURE PRIMER - Geoff Lawton #7.17 youtube 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx59OY_7Lsc&feature=sdig&et=1264596900.99
 

This one technique could, all by itself, if widely adopted, sink the industrial ag machine.

Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

media AL JAZEERA ENGLISH - WHY ISN'T IT ON YOUR TV DIAL? (lengthy, but worth it) walrus-alternet 01-29-10

"Too bad Al Jazeera English is not available on most living-room screens in the US, and people there have to choke down the endless rotting fish heads of celebrity news, or the same tiresome group of ignoramuses shouting at each other in a studio -- both the cheapest forms of filling air time after a test card."
 
"Comparing it with the American networks "is like comparing The Economist to Newsweek,"
 
 
AJE has been among my must-read-or-view-daily Top 10 for the past year, or so. It is what BBC could be, but for its masters in London redacting any content that might upset 1600 Pennsylvania or #10 Downing Street..
 
Enjoy it while you can. It's survival depends on one Qatari, who overthrew the last guy running the place, his Pop. As a Progressive anomaly in a sea of 15th Century thought, the Emir of Qatar is prey to assassination or overthrow by his embarrassed and enraged neighbors - all of them - who would dearly love to shut him and his creation up. Add to that the far more lethal mercies of the CIA and, well, would you offer him a life insurance policy? It's a good thing he lives on an island.
 
NEWS-VIDEOS CLIPS http://english.aljazeera.net/
 
 
A half-hour with AJE TV will leave you 500% better informed than the nightly lobotomy you'd get from the Brian, Katie & Diane snooze. Try it, you'll love it.

AJE is also on YouTube
 
 
And if you really want to spread your wings...
 
I recommend France 24.

Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-29

JOKES

From Big Bend Larry's inexhaustible Yuk Locker
 

Dinner Reservations

 

A group of 40-year-old buddies discuss where they should meet for dinner. Finally, they agree to meet at Luigi's Restaurant, because the waitresses there have low-cut blouses and nice breasts.

 

10 years later, at 50 years of age, the group decides to meet again for dinner, and once again they discuss which restaurant. Again, they agree to meet at Luigi's, because the food and wine selection there is very good.

 

10 years later, at 60 years of age, the group decides to meet again for dinner, and once again they discuss which restaurant. Once again, they agree to meet at Luigi's, because they can eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke-free.

 

10 years later, at 70 years of age, the group decides to meet again for dinner, and once again they discuss which restaurant. Yet again, they agree to meet at Luigi's, because the establishment is wheel-chair accessible and there's even an elevator.

 

10 years later, at 80 years of age, the group decides to meet again for dinner, and once again they discuss which restaurant. Unanimously and enthusiastically, they agree to meet at Luigi's Restaurant, because none of them has ever been there before.

 

 

 Quick Thinking (or severely Smart Aleck, take your pick)

 

A man boarded a plane with 6 kids. After they got settled in their seats a woman sitting across the aisle from him leaned over to him and asked, "Are all of those kids yours?"

He replied, "No. I work for a condom company. These are customer complaints."

 

 

Thoughts to Ponder

 

Life is sexually transmitted.

Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals, dying of nothing.

Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

 




Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-28

crash08 REAL ESTATE TRAIN WRECK IN 2Q10 marketoracle 01-25-10

 
If you don't take the time to read, and internalize, every word of this brief interview, you're a fool.
 
Now that I have your attention (nothing like a good insult), I mean it. The interviewee - one Andy Miller - not only has the casual, matter-of-fact style that tells you he knows exactly what he's talking about (he sold off his considerable real estate holdings in 2005-2007), but he also appears to have not a hint of hesitation or hidden agenda about him; right between the horns about covers it. It's a bonus that his plain-talk style allows even a 5th grader to follow the bouncing ball. You need to read and heed.
 
Andy's news is grim. While there's not much new here for me - or for you if you've been actually reading the stuff I've been posting - the cold, clear way this fellow lays out the dreary facts tells me that we may not have as much time as I thought we might (before the shit hits the fan).
 
If you own property and have equity, dump it. If you owe more on your house than it's worth today, walk away; the banks are
 
. If you're renting, stay put. If you have more than the FDIC-insured amount in any one bank, spread it around to different institutions to get below the ceilings. Save more and spend less - more to come on this.
 
Begin to at least plan where you want to land when this economy disappears in a puff of smoke. It will happen fast when it does; a matter of a few weeks. We may have a few years, or not. Caution dictates, assume not.
 
His 2nd quarter guess is well-founded, but the government's and corporations' desire to avoid the inevitable is strong. Personally, I think that all concerned will try to keep all the balls in the air until they run out of, well, air. Denial is one of the more powerful human traits, and the stakes here are literally a matter of economic life-and-death for a host of companies as well as the Federal Government of these United States.
 
Like the man says, the longer they string this out, the worse it's gonna be. Use this period of massive national denial (and delay) to make your plans. More on this subject coming soon.
 
also from Patrick.net
 
When you have the time, this little item has all the charts you need to see the mess these bastards have made
crash08 THE U.S. ECONOMY  20 REASONS WHY IT'S DYING AND WILL NOT RECOVER  economiccollapse  01-25-10
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/economic-black-hole-20-reasons-why-the-u-s-economy-is-dying-and-is-simply-not-going-to-recover?source=patrick.net
 
 



Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-23

bizism CORPORATE PERSONHOOD Citizens United v FEC v STATE LAWS nyt 01-22-10

 
`Justice at Stake
 
Campaign JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN SPENDING for Fair & Impartial Courts
 
While it's impossible to predict every deleterious ramification of this rank judicial betrayal and dirk in the nation's vitals, this activist-umpire diktat will reveal itself , over many years, to be far, far worse than any measly Dred Scott or Bush v Gore one-off tantrum. The hordes of bad actors that will slip the noose of justice, as well as those who will now never see the light of a courtroom as they inflict future felonies - in broad daylight - on our battered and bloodied body politic, will be measured in the tens of thousands of outrages before this Apocalypse of a decision has run its course, taking with it, perhaps, the smoking and charred remains of this republic.
 
Pandora had nothing on these five minions of misanthropy. We shall reap the stone-cold injustice of their mockery of "justice."
 
 

Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-22

bizism CORPORATE PERSONHOOD's BIRTH the moment of THE THEFT OF HUMAN RIGHTS - Thom Hartmann opednews 07-18-09

With Thursday's Supremes' travesty fresh in our minds (Citizen's United v. FEC), I thought you might like to read the genesis of the bogus concept itself.
 
This article consists of the entire "nut" chapter of Thom's 2002, to-the-ramparts book, Unequal Protection. It is a cautionary tale reminding that the pen, when wielded by a zealot, is, by a factor, far more powerful than a million swords, or even, a million missiles. It just takes a little longer to complete its deadly mission.
 
 
Unequal is also one of the best books around as a guide to understanding the corporation's beginnings in America and its relentless and stealthy attempts to usurp and subvert the power of the state to its own purpose.
 
 
 
For the contrary POV, this piece lays out, in all its oxymoronic glory, the counterintuitive and contradictory case for corporate personhood.
 
bizism CORPORATE PERSONHOOD Citizens United v FEC THE PRO VIEW  cato@liberty  01-21-10
 
 


Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

gov Bernie Sanders' Blueprint for Dems

From one of the rapidly vanishing sane voices left in our federal government, a stirring call to arms.
 
The odds are getting longer, but, as with global warming, there is still time to blunt the worst: a Fascist police state.
 
Read now a true patriot, and throw out your TV and radio.


Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pinellas Progressives <info@pinellasprogressives.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 12:31
Subject: Excellent Read: Bernie Sanders' Blueprint for Dems
To:


forwarded by Marie Nelson


Democrats have tried to act "bipartisan" while Republicans got
obstructionist, and the Dems are paying for it.

Blueprint for Dems
Where Do We Go From Here?

By Bernie Sanders

This article appears in the February 1, 2010 edition of The Nation <http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100201/sanders/print
 
>.
This is an expanded version of Sanders's comments in the print edition.

One year ago the nation gave a collective sigh of relief as the worst and least popular administration in modern American history came to an end. Not only was the Bush administration heading out the door, but the Republican Party was reeling from two consecutive elections in which it suffered massive losses at all levels.

With a huge taxpayer bailout attempting to prop up a reckless and greedy financial system on the verge of collapse; with 700,000 workers a month losing their jobs in the worst recession since the 1930s; with the continuation of a war in Iraq that we never should have gotten into; with a rapidly increasing national debt caused largely by that unpaid-for war as well as tax breaks for the rich; and with the continued refusal to address or even acknowledge the crisis in global warming, the American people were ready for change.

In Senator Barack Obama, Americans at every level reached out to an inspiring young leader who, through a brilliant campaign, brought enormous energy into the political process. Young people who had never given much thought about elections were not only registering to vote in record-breaking numbers, but their newly tapped idealism was leading them to actively participate in the campaign. Workers and their unions, who were victims of corporate greed and the ongoing collapse of the middle class, were determined to elect political leadership that represented ordinary Americans, not just the wealthy and large corporations. Women, who had battled for eight years to maintain the reproductive and legal rights they had struggled for over generations, were eagerly awaiting an administration that was on their side. Seniors, who were tired of hearing about Republican efforts to privatize Social Security and Medicare, wanted a president who understood the importance of those vital federal safety-net programs. And minorities and people of color, some of whom had experienced the hurt and humiliation of American apartheid, were ecstatic that the dream of a nondiscriminatory society was taking a giant step forward. The result: with a strong voter turnout, Barack Obama was elected president; the Democrats picked up twenty-one seats in the House and seven in the Senate (eight by the time Al Franken survived a recount and court challenge).

That was then, one very long year ago. Where are we now?

Today, having already experienced decisive losses in governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia, the Democratic prospects for 2010 appear bleak. Polls show President Obama's approval numbers sagging and some recent "generic ballots" show Republican candidates ahead of Democratic candidates--a huge turnaround over the course of the year. Perhaps most ominously, these new polls show that enthusiasm and interest in voting among Republicans is far higher than with Democrats. Given that off-presidential-year elections (voter participation could fall by 50 million this year compared to 2008) are often dominated by older and more conservative voters, a particularly low voter turnout among Democrats this fall could result in disaster for them. Why has this occurred? What can be done within the next few months to turn this scenario around?

In my view, the Democrats--including the president--have absurdly continued to stumble along the path of "bipartisanship" at exactly the same time the Republicans have waged the most vigorous partisan and obstructionist strategy in recent history.

Instead of making it clear that the first two years of the Obama administration would be about digging the country out of the incredible mess that Bush's eight years left us in, (deep recession, financial collapse, record-breaking deficits, disintegrating healthcare system, two wars, lack of respect from the international community, neglect of the environment), Obama, incredibly, has enabled tens of millions of Americans to now believe that Bush's failures are his as well.

Unlike FDR in 1933, who consistently denounced Hoover's Republican policies as the cause of the country's perilous condition, Obama appears very reluctant to be partisan and point out to the American people the cause of our current crises. Can one imagine Obama, for example, telling the American people as Roosevelt did in 1936, "I welcome" the "hatred" of the "economic royalists" whose greed has devastated the country?

In response to Obama's genteel and bipartisan outreach, the Republicans have undertaken an unprecedented campaign of rhetorical savagery. The Right-Wing Echo Chamber of Fox News and talk-radio has implied that Obama is an "illegitimate" president not born in the United States, that he is a friend of terrorists, that he is an antiwhite racist, that he rules unconstitutionally and that his administration reeks of Chicago-style corruption. And those are the respectful attacks!

In the overwhelmingly Democratic Senate the situation has been equally dismal. There, the Senate Finance Committee created a Gang of Six that included three Republicans--two of whom (Grassley and Enzi) are extremely conservative--to determine the shape of healthcare reform. Amid cries of "death panels," "socialized medicine" and "government takeover of health care," the meetings dragged on and on. On the floor of the Senate, the situation has been even worse. The Republicans have played the most obstructionist role ever with a record number of filibusters and other delaying tactics. The Republicans recently even voted temporarily to deny funds to our troops in the field of combat as a way to delay healthcare reform. They are also unanimous in opposing the increase in the debt limit, which if not raised would likely cause the collapse of both the American and the international financial systems.

The result of all this is that Democrats of every stripe and many independents are perplexed, dispirited and sometimes disgusted. Constituency after constituency has been ignored or rejected. Some examples: Progressive activists are angry that a Medicare-for-all single-payer approach was totally ignored during the healthcare debate. They also cannot understand how, despite overwhelming support for a strong public option in healthcare reform, there will not be one in the final bill. Trade unionists, many of whom voted for Obama and against McCain because of the latter's position on taxing workers' healthcare benefits, are apoplectic that Obama and Senate Democrats now support the McCain position. Women are outraged that the Democratic House was put in the position of having to support major restrictions with regard to abortion rights. And seniors, who for the first time in forty-five years will not be receiving a Social Security cost of living adjustment, are responding to the hypocritical Republican attacks about "cuts" in Medicare.

Now, I may not be the greatest political strategist in the world, but I don't know how you win elections by ignoring the ideas of the progressives who have worked hardest at the grassroots level for your victories, or the trade unions that have provided significant financial support and door-to-door volunteers for Democratic campaigns. I don't know how you succeed politically when you insult women, who far more than men consistently provide you with great margins of support. How do you preserve a big majority in Congress when you fail to be aggressive in protecting the interests of seniors, a huge voting bloc in off-presidential-year elections? In other words, it should not surprise anyone that the Democrats are in serious trouble.

The time is short but I believe that the Democrats still have the potential to reverse their fortunes and bring out large numbers of their voters in the coming election. Here are some important steps forward that I believe should be undertaken in the coming months.

§Perhaps most important, let Obama be Obama. Bring back one of the great inspirational leaders of our time, who is more than capable of taking on the powerful special interests and rallying the American people toward a progressive agenda and a more just society. We have too quickly cast aside the audacity of hope as being too audacious. We need to aspire to more, not less: healthcare for all, education for all, a secure retirement for all, a world at peace and a nation bound together by looking out for what the Constitution called "the general welfare" rather than a series of special interests looking out for their own financial wellbeing.

§Pass the strongest healthcare reform legislation as soon as feasible - making it clear that it will be significantly improved in the near future. While it was a tragic mistake to believe that a strong bill could pass under the provision that required sixty votes--there was a procedural route that would have required only a simple majority--this legislation does contain a number of provisions that will profoundly help tens of millions of Americans in every state in the country. It is a bill that can be successfully defended in a campaign because, whatever its many weaknesses, it is an indication that we are finally, after countless decades of futility, moving forward. A president and a party that can provide insurance for 31 million more Americans is far preferable to most voters than a party that only says "No."

§Pass a major bill that creates millions of new jobs rebuilding our infrastructure and moving our energy system in a different and sustainable direction. At a time when we have the most inequitable distribution of wealth and income of any industrialized nation, this bill must be progressively funded. This means taxing the super-rich--the very people whom George W. Bush served so assiduously--in order to make life better for the average American family.

§Pass legislation allowing workers to have the right to join unions without unfair and illegal opposition from their employers. If we are going to reverse the race to the bottom, workers must have the right to engage in collective bargaining.

§Boldly address the economic and financial crisis, which has left 17 percent of our workforce unemployed or underemployed. This means that the Democrats must be prepared to take quick and decisive action against Wall Street and other Big Money interests, whose uncontrolled greed have lowered our standard of living and wreaked havoc on the middle class. Among other actions, we should: pass a strong anti-usury law that limits the interest rates that banks charge on credit cards. We must break up the huge financial institutions that are "too big to fail"--if they are too big to fail, they are too big to exist. We must significantly increase transparency at the Federal Reserve, and replace chairman Ben Bernanke, a major economic adviser in the Bush administration, with a progressive economist who understands that one of the Fed's core missions is full employment. We must either limit, or levy high taxes on, the bonuses paid by financial institutions.

§In the midst of these terrible economic times, we must continue the effort, which Democrats have already pushed, to strengthen the safety net. If the Republicans oppose these efforts, we must make this a major campaign issue. Millions of Americans face unemployment, hunger, homelessness and a desperate existence. This includes senior citizens living on inadequate Social Security benefits, people with disabilities and disabled veterans. In these difficult times we cannot turn our backs on them.

Bill Bucolo 
tel 727-347-1829        Email bbuc@me.com     Skype BillBucolo        Facebook: Bill Bucolo       Twitter: bbuc   

    "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world-- indeed it's the only thing that ever has."
        --Margaret Mead







Bill Bucolo 
tel 727-347-1829        Email Bill@PinellasProgressives.com Skype BillBucolo        Facebook: Bill Bucolo       Twitter: bbuc   

    "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world-- indeed it's the only thing that ever has."
        --Margaret Mead




2010-01-21

vim COOKING REVOLUTION via 3-D PRINTING Cornucopia gizmag 01-14-10

Print your food? Are you daft? That's what I thought, but as you get into this article, you see the stone genius (we are one clever/moronic species) this notion represents. You want eclectic? You got it!
 
A quick, fun read which may be a tad easier to understand if you substitute the words oil paint for print.
 
I can't wait until they figure out how to make babies with this! (hint: two squirts of cyan gives you a Nav'i)
 
http://www.gizmag.com/cornucopia-digital-gastronomy-3d-food-printer/13873/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=2fad465f18-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email
 



Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-20

civlib EXPRESSION Harvard law prof & Obama staffer wants ‘cognitive infiltration’ of 9-11 conspiracy groups rawstory 01-13-10

We may defeat our enemies, assuming, that is, we can manage to survive our friends.
 
 
 
Besides providing more evidence that the number of letters after one's name serves as no guarantor of clear thinking, the Professor also illustrates the perils of "fixing" what ain't broke. His "fix" amounts to nothing less than "managing" the news. One would think he could be more effective going after our sorry-ass MSM, who could teach him a thing or two on this subject.
 
Scroll down to the para on the First Amendment and you'll see the treacherous, sophistic path that has led him to his present proposal. Follow this notion to its ineluctable conclusion and you have... 1984! (or, our own, lovable, MSM)

Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-17

past A PEOPLE'S HISTORY MINI-PLAYS The People Speak - Howard Zinn #6-2 min clips historychannel 12-19-09

For those who have enjoyed the limited-distribution, A People's History of The United States by Howard Zinn (1980), this effort by the History Channel promises wider dissemination of Prof. Zinn's much-needed masterpiece of voices that really define the true spirit of this amazing experiment we call America. These are the folks who performed the civic mouth-to mouth to bring to life the dried, dead lines of the Founders. And the Founders heirs have let us know in no uncertain terms how unhappy they are about that. TFB, eh?
 
Simply click on the top clip, the rest will play in turn automatically, so you can go to full-screen.
 
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Zinn
 



Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

-EMPIRE 'The War On Democracy' - John Pilger #1.33.36 gvideo 2007

other Google Video documentaries & interviews http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=john+pilger&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#

 

I bookmarked this awhile ago and finally got around to viewing it.

For those who know Pilger's

 
work, this will prove to be just one more subject intelligently treated while still capturing the raw passions underlying any major trend of dynamic change in the world.

John's focus is on post-World War II Latin America, along with the not-so ur text of the rank hypocrisy and denial of the superduperpower in which we reside – by its government as well as the vast majority of its people. The first 40-odd minutes deal with Venezuela and the US-backed attempt to overthrow Hugo Chavez in 2002. He also examines the many methods our government employs - through both Democratic and Republican administrations - to have its way, most notably, the infamous School of The Americas (since renamed as something with the word democracy in it – same old Fascist shtik though). Most revealing are John's interviews with various admin's true believers. If you come away wondering if these cavalier people have even a shred of humanity left, well, I did too. But, then, I suppose I see their emphatic dismissal (John hardly ever gets to finish a question before they rush to the barricades) of the facts as a survival technique.

There is also a decent thumbnail of the CIA-wreaked aftermath of carnage in the wake of the overthrow of Chile's Allende in 1973, replete with Henry the K's pro forma denial of American involvement; "Nobody talked to anybody at anytime. Ever. But, we sure are glad that bunch of Commies is outta there"! (quote totally apocryphal).

John ends on an upbeat note: while there is plenty of work to be done, Latin America, and indeed the rest of the world, is basically through taking shit from The Great Satan we have become. We may need a tad more humbling and lots and lots of humiliation by folks running around in Goodyear sandals and planting $5 IEDs, before we get the message.

We could really make amends for much of our past misanthropy if we were to withdraw voluntarily and gradually. By so doing, we could avoid leaving the vacuum (which, as you recall, nature abhors) that will release all sorts of mischief in the world. The tragic fact remains that, we have been so successful in eliminating or beggaring our rivals that our rapid departure from the scene will tend to leave mostly anarchy in our wake.

For this UnAmerican (at least, for the atrocious version currently booted up), America's comeuppance can't come soon enough to suit me.

 

NjW


Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-12

crash08 MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS TO BE FROZEN IN 'EMERGENCIES' zero hedge 01-03-10

From LATOC
 
This is not easy reading, due both to the subject matter as well as the effect (hopefully) on the reader of the dire import of the news.
 
I barely understand portions of this piece, nor could I cogently explain much of it, but here's the gist
  • Money markets comprise some $3.3 trillion of American's savings. About 20% of that is by individuals, the balance institutional.
  • MMs are supersafe investments; high-grade, bulletproof, Fortune 500, yada-yada. For that reason, they return low interest; scant risk.
  • MMs pose a threat to our fiscal stability as our fiat government is bankrupt. The shark moves as it must, but the harpoon is lodged deep.
  • The threat is that MMs currently can, after their maturation date (90-day, etc), be  legally withdrawn; instantly and upon demand.
  • In the event of obvious signs that the U.S.'s Potemkin economy is coming asunder, MMs could pursue a run on the banks.
  • Other than the drama of a FDR-style "bank holiday," the best way to estop such action is to bar the withdrawal of funds.
  • The writer suggests that, if you own any MMs, you begin thinking about where else to park your bucks.
That's what this piece is about.
 
(let me know if I've gotten any of the major points wrong)
 
 
I don't make the news, but I feel it my duty to alert you all to upcoming events that you may have to deal with, like this one.
For a trenchant report on America's financial beggaring over the past two years, you won't find one any more candid - or informed - than this:
 
crash08 An investor's view of THE FUTURE OF AMERICA - Craig Harris  321gold  12-27-09
 
 
Finally, Arianna weighs in with some general advice on how to use your money to punish the bad guys:
 
Something to consider - I closed my Wachovia account and moved to Achieva (the old Pinellas Teachers Credit Union) in May. Not only did they treat me like a human - even after they had my business - but, after 90 days, added $100 to my savings account as a thank-you. If you plan on dropping by, let me know - I can use the $50 referral they will give me for your signing up.
 
Yes, it's a bit of a pain, especially the bill-pay transfers, but I felt better for having done it. The big banks have a new way to skim $$ each month. They proudly announce it with turgid "memos" to their customers on each statement. Despicable.
 
While I don't think this approach, or any other on this level, will change many hearts or minds along the Wall Street-Potomac noose around America's neck, it might at least be a reminder that there are one helluva a lot of us who are mighty unhappy with the state of this nation.
 
crash08 BANKSTERS  MOVE YOUR $$ FROM Too-Big-To-Fails #4.11  huffpo  01-03-09
 
 
Take care, it's a jungle out there.

Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.

2010-01-02

crash08 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MELTDOWN in 2010 if you thought housing was bad... escapefromamericamag

from Patrick.net (an excellent housing blog - get his daily e-mail letter and you'll know the real news on this vital subject)
 
Put this piece among the few must-read-and-heed items I send you. One has 3 options when presented with the sobering facts laid bare here (well-documented from other sources I have read):
 
1 - Hit delete, then crawl under the covers and never come out - ever;
2 - Read it and then, in your slough of despond, find a friendly rooftop (3 floors+ should ensure success) from which to hurl yourself;
3 - Preferably, make sure you understand the message - the info is just a credible even though the messenger's goal is to sell his services by showing others how they can profit from the wretched state of the teeming masses - then plan accordingly. The one big unknown is when the proverbial shit will hit the fan. This piece provides a few scenarios.
 
The inescapable truth is that we are very near the end of the formerly endless-credit-shopper's-paradise cycle of this republic, and the dire economic straits of commercial real estate will doubtless be a key factor in it's demise, for reasons that will be clear by the time you finish reading this.
 
We have time, just not too much. I wish the news was better too.
http://www.escapefromamerica.com/2009/11/if-you-thought-the-housing-meltdown-was-bad/?ref=patrick.net
 
 


BTW, this mag is all about moving offshore, how to disengage from America, and what to do with all your money (joke) when you get where you're going (you know you've always lusted after that cute little bungalow in Belize, yes?). Oh, yeah, you'll need lots of moolah if you follow their advice.  http://www.escapefromamerica.com/
 
 
 
NOTE: I deemed this article important enough to include my "no-group" group in this post. I hope you'll agree.
 
 
Nigel Watson  freethinker  727.493.1990 freesense@Gmail.com

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." – Krishnamurti
-A good pun is its own reword.