Saturday, May 19, 2012
Countdown to July 20
I can hardly wait.
Link: http://www.kcsymphony.org/ContentCtl/ViewAct/TodaysNews/115
One world government?
"Mankind's desire for peace can be realized only by the creation of a world government." --Albert Einstein
What has this got to do with anything?
A lot, really.
If you think about it, given computers, technology, our ability to communicate with each other and the world, you have to realize that what we are headed for is a "world government", as Einstein spoke of all those years ago, just for different reasons.
I've been thinking of this for some time. It seems the movements and machinations in Europe this past year has proven it, too, what with the situation in Europe and their financial mess.
Germany has all the money, Greece, the debt. For Germany, specifically, to be strong-arming Greece, from without, to go on austerity budgets and slash spending, even if they--Germany--are the ones with the money, promising the helpful loans Greece needs, it seems an indication of what is happening along those lines in this new world.
Personally, I think an ultimate, "one-world government" would be a good thing. No, I think it would be a great thing. And the sooner it takes place, the better.
There will have to be all kinds of local structure in place and we'd have to communicate still further and--God forbid--talk to one another, through the nations and national government. In short, the world's people would have to open their minds. (That makes it seem virtually impossible, I must say).
But if we could see that we are, all of us, on this planet, in this together for and with all the natural resources and weather and everything, maybe, just maybe we'd all learn to share and maybe, just maybe then we'd never war again.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
What has this got to do with anything?
A lot, really.
If you think about it, given computers, technology, our ability to communicate with each other and the world, you have to realize that what we are headed for is a "world government", as Einstein spoke of all those years ago, just for different reasons.
I've been thinking of this for some time. It seems the movements and machinations in Europe this past year has proven it, too, what with the situation in Europe and their financial mess.
Germany has all the money, Greece, the debt. For Germany, specifically, to be strong-arming Greece, from without, to go on austerity budgets and slash spending, even if they--Germany--are the ones with the money, promising the helpful loans Greece needs, it seems an indication of what is happening along those lines in this new world.
Personally, I think an ultimate, "one-world government" would be a good thing. No, I think it would be a great thing. And the sooner it takes place, the better.
There will have to be all kinds of local structure in place and we'd have to communicate still further and--God forbid--talk to one another, through the nations and national government. In short, the world's people would have to open their minds. (That makes it seem virtually impossible, I must say).
But if we could see that we are, all of us, on this planet, in this together for and with all the natural resources and weather and everything, maybe, just maybe we'd all learn to share and maybe, just maybe then we'd never war again.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
Television more Americans should see
PBS and KCPT are going to show the "Independent Lens" series' show on an American soldier's and his wife's troubles after serving in the military and our wars. It's called "Hell and Back Again."
I mention this in hopes that more people will, in fact, see this program.
Watching this so we know what our American soldiers are going through--their difficulties and sacrifices and pain--is the least we can do, as citizens back home, here in the states.
If we support our soldiers, seeing this is something we owe them. It's the least we can do.
Link: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hell-and-back-again/
Watch Oscar-Nominated Hell and Back Again Comes to PBS on PBS. See more from Independent Lens.
I mention this in hopes that more people will, in fact, see this program.
Watching this so we know what our American soldiers are going through--their difficulties and sacrifices and pain--is the least we can do, as citizens back home, here in the states.
If we support our soldiers, seeing this is something we owe them. It's the least we can do.
Link: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hell-and-back-again/
Happy birthday, Gloria Emerson
Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/gloria-emerson-6163682.html
Friday, May 18, 2012
Entertainment overnight
You have to listen to the words.
Now that's funny. Man, she's good.
Have a great weekend, y'all.
Now that's funny. Man, she's good.
Have a great weekend, y'all.
Kansas City and Missouri on PBS' "Need to Know"
PBS' television show "Need to Know" is covering the state's current situation on payday loan offices and regulations on them pending right now in Jefferson City.
It's disgusting and it is, in fact, plainly immoral.
At least it's immoral to a great deal of us out here.
Link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/
Watch Loans on the line on PBS. See more from Need To Know.
Fortunately, this is one time organized religions--in this case, Catholics--are stepping up to say this is wrong, that this is morally wrong to charge and be able to charge up to and over 400% interest rates on their loans.It's disgusting and it is, in fact, plainly immoral.
At least it's immoral to a great deal of us out here.
Link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/
Notes on KCPT's "Kansas City Week in Review" this week
1) There is no way the Kansas tax bill will go through as is;
2) Rush Limbaugh being inducted into the Missouri Hall of Fame is disgusting, period;
3) The way the Republicans had this "ceremony" for Limbaugh's induction was disgusting and deceitful;
4) Dave Helling is right--the things the state governments in Kansas and Missouri has been spending their--our--time on is, too frequently, pointless, partisan and wasteful, at minimum, time and again and they need to stop this trend. The people will have to step up, speak up and get them to stop. Another example of the waste of State lawmakers' time, after the Rush Limbaugh bust and the ceremony for it is proposing and voting on a law against Sharia law. Just ignorant.;
5) The Star's articles this past week is the kind of good, reporting, hard-hitting research and writing they should be doing;
6) There is no way the Boilermaker's Union can support what The Star shows, specifically the pay of the top leaders of the group, for no bigger than the Union is;
7) Stacey Cameron doesn't look or seem trustworthy, unfair as that may be;
8) Dave Helling just doesn't look well. Naturally I/we hope he is.
Link: http://kcpt.org/localproductions/kansas-city-week-in-review/
2) Rush Limbaugh being inducted into the Missouri Hall of Fame is disgusting, period;
3) The way the Republicans had this "ceremony" for Limbaugh's induction was disgusting and deceitful;
4) Dave Helling is right--the things the state governments in Kansas and Missouri has been spending their--our--time on is, too frequently, pointless, partisan and wasteful, at minimum, time and again and they need to stop this trend. The people will have to step up, speak up and get them to stop. Another example of the waste of State lawmakers' time, after the Rush Limbaugh bust and the ceremony for it is proposing and voting on a law against Sharia law. Just ignorant.;
5) The Star's articles this past week is the kind of good, reporting, hard-hitting research and writing they should be doing;
6) There is no way the Boilermaker's Union can support what The Star shows, specifically the pay of the top leaders of the group, for no bigger than the Union is;
7) Stacey Cameron doesn't look or seem trustworthy, unfair as that may be;
8) Dave Helling just doesn't look well. Naturally I/we hope he is.
Link: http://kcpt.org/localproductions/kansas-city-week-in-review/
Poco's on the Boulevard
I enjoy Poco's on the Boulevard restaurant. I like the food, I enjoy the atmosphere and the service is at least pretty dependable. I always enjoyed the vegetarian tamales, I believe they were.
Anyway, I learned two things just now.
First, the restaurant is named after a real live person named Poco. So that's cool.
Second, sadly, Poco passed today. This from their Facebook page just now:
"We are sorry to announce that Poco has passed away and therefore our hours of operation on Saturday May 19th will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. only. No breakfast or lunch will be served on this day."
My condolences and sympathy to Poco's family, friends, staff and colleagues.
Anyway, I learned two things just now.
First, the restaurant is named after a real live person named Poco. So that's cool.
Second, sadly, Poco passed today. This from their Facebook page just now:
"We are sorry to announce that Poco has passed away and therefore our hours of operation on Saturday May 19th will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. only. No breakfast or lunch will be served on this day."
My condolences and sympathy to Poco's family, friends, staff and colleagues.
President Obama coming to Missouri
President Obama, it has been announced, is coming to Joplin this Monday, to
Obama to visit victims of Joplin, Mo., tornado
"President Obama will visit Missouri on Sunday to meet with victims of the storm that devastated the town of Joplin, Mo., two days ago and to hear about the disaster response from emergency officials."
It's a smart move, too. This way he looks presidential and can hopefully get on the good side of "average Americans" in that whole area. In that area of the state, he might get some good feeling from Kansas and Oklahoma, which, of course, are nearby.
Note the quote: "He said that while in Missouri, he is hoping 'to pray with folks and give them whatever assurance and comfort I can that the entire country is going to be behind them.'”
That is one shrewd, likely transparent statement.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/obama-to-visit-victims-of-joplin-mo-tornado/2011/05/24/AFvG3VAH_blog.html
Obama to visit victims of Joplin, Mo., tornado
"President Obama will visit Missouri on Sunday to meet with victims of the storm that devastated the town of Joplin, Mo., two days ago and to hear about the disaster response from emergency officials."
It's a smart move, too. This way he looks presidential and can hopefully get on the good side of "average Americans" in that whole area. In that area of the state, he might get some good feeling from Kansas and Oklahoma, which, of course, are nearby.
Note the quote: "He said that while in Missouri, he is hoping 'to pray with folks and give them whatever assurance and comfort I can that the entire country is going to be behind them.'”
That is one shrewd, likely transparent statement.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/obama-to-visit-victims-of-joplin-mo-tornado/2011/05/24/AFvG3VAH_blog.html
On the proliferation of inexpensive wine
First, there was, rather famously, "two-buck Chuck", introduced by Trader Joes.
And thank goodness for that.
They started the trend, I think we can say, clearly. That is, a fairly good, everyday table wine.
Of course, for the longest time, we couldn't get it here since we had no such store. Fortunately for us, that's changed with them having come to Ward Parkway Center.
Then, naturally, Walmart had to get in the mix so they introduced their own private label wine for nearly the same price. (It's actually about 20 cents less per bottle, as it should be. The quality, if you can call it that--"quality"--at this price level), is just not quite as good.
Now, I just learned last evening that local grocery store Hy-Vee has their own private label wine for $3 a bottle.
From what I understand, there is actually a glut of oil on the world markets.
I don't know. I can't check that out.
But I do know there is a glut of pretty good, inexpensive wine in the retail markets.
And for that, I'm grateful.
Very grateful.
Have a great weekend, y'all. And drink responsibly, if at all.
And thank goodness for that.
They started the trend, I think we can say, clearly. That is, a fairly good, everyday table wine.
Of course, for the longest time, we couldn't get it here since we had no such store. Fortunately for us, that's changed with them having come to Ward Parkway Center.
Then, naturally, Walmart had to get in the mix so they introduced their own private label wine for nearly the same price. (It's actually about 20 cents less per bottle, as it should be. The quality, if you can call it that--"quality"--at this price level), is just not quite as good.
Now, I just learned last evening that local grocery store Hy-Vee has their own private label wine for $3 a bottle.
From what I understand, there is actually a glut of oil on the world markets.
I don't know. I can't check that out.
But I do know there is a glut of pretty good, inexpensive wine in the retail markets.
And for that, I'm grateful.
Very grateful.
Have a great weekend, y'all. And drink responsibly, if at all.
Two questions on former Kansas City leaders (updated)
That last post on KCUR FM's new General Manager got me thinking yet again about two former leaders in town who not only quit their jobs and moved on but seemed to disappear quickly. Both cases seemed at least odd.
And both the gentlemen who left were Black---they were African-Americans--coincidentally.
The first was the President and CEO, I believe, of KCPT.
I can't remember his name.
All of a sudden, he quit, was gone and there was no explanation given.
The other was the head of Penn Valley Community College--Bernard Johnson was his name, I believe. One day he's working there, the next, he's turned in his resignation.
I thought both situations were so odd.
Here are high-paying positions commanding some respect and all of a sudden both of these gentlemen resigned and with no explanation.
And sure, maybe there was no big, dark, ugly secret to it but usually when people in these positions resign, it's very publicly announced that they're going on to such and such a new position and company.
If there was, in both these cases, nothing dark about the changes, it seems the changes made were very quietly kept.
It made me wonder why, at least.
If anyone knows what happened in either case, I'd love to hear. Just curious.
Now, breaking news, there's this today from KCUR:
Kemper Museum Announces Resignation Of Director
This seems to fit this thread, too.
So, questions:
Why? Why is the Kemper Museum abruptly, it seems, resigning? Was it a personality clash with someone? disagreement? What, exactly, went on here? Nothing? Something? Is it similar, in any way, to the reasons the other two men left their positions?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Link: http://kcur.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/kemper-museum-announces-resignation-director
And both the gentlemen who left were Black---they were African-Americans--coincidentally.
The first was the President and CEO, I believe, of KCPT.
I can't remember his name.
All of a sudden, he quit, was gone and there was no explanation given.
The other was the head of Penn Valley Community College--Bernard Johnson was his name, I believe. One day he's working there, the next, he's turned in his resignation.
I thought both situations were so odd.
Here are high-paying positions commanding some respect and all of a sudden both of these gentlemen resigned and with no explanation.
And sure, maybe there was no big, dark, ugly secret to it but usually when people in these positions resign, it's very publicly announced that they're going on to such and such a new position and company.
If there was, in both these cases, nothing dark about the changes, it seems the changes made were very quietly kept.
It made me wonder why, at least.
If anyone knows what happened in either case, I'd love to hear. Just curious.
Now, breaking news, there's this today from KCUR:
Kemper Museum Announces Resignation Of Director
This seems to fit this thread, too.
So, questions:
Why? Why is the Kemper Museum abruptly, it seems, resigning? Was it a personality clash with someone? disagreement? What, exactly, went on here? Nothing? Something? Is it similar, in any way, to the reasons the other two men left their positions?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Link: http://kcur.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/kemper-museum-announces-resignation-director
Good news for America; Bad news for Republicans
Just announced this morning:
Unemployment rates fall in two-thirds of US states
WASHINGTON (AP) — Unemployment rates fell in two-thirds of U.S. states last month, evidence that modest economic growth is boosting hiring in most areas of the country.
And in many states, unemployment has fallen well below the national average, which was 8.1 percent last month. Rates were lower than 7 percent in 22 states in April. That compares to only 13 states in April 2011.
The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates dropped in 37 states in April, the most in three months. Unemployment rose in 5 states and was unchanged in eight.
Nationally, the unemployment rate has fallen a full percentage point since August. Employers have added a million jobs over the past five months, although the pace of hiring slowed in March and April.
Good for Americans.
Good for the country.
Good for all us working stiffs.
Bad for the Republican political party.
The haters.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/unemployment-rates-fall-two-thirds-us-states-143609469--finance.html
Unemployment rates fall in two-thirds of US states
WASHINGTON (AP) — Unemployment rates fell in two-thirds of U.S. states last month, evidence that modest economic growth is boosting hiring in most areas of the country.
And in many states, unemployment has fallen well below the national average, which was 8.1 percent last month. Rates were lower than 7 percent in 22 states in April. That compares to only 13 states in April 2011.
The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates dropped in 37 states in April, the most in three months. Unemployment rose in 5 states and was unchanged in eight.
Nationally, the unemployment rate has fallen a full percentage point since August. Employers have added a million jobs over the past five months, although the pace of hiring slowed in March and April.
Good for Americans.
Good for the country.
Good for all us working stiffs.
Bad for the Republican political party.
The haters.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/unemployment-rates-fall-two-thirds-us-states-143609469--finance.html
KCUR's new GM
NPR radio station KCUR 89.3 FM announced that it has found and hired their new General Manager. He is Nico Leone, formerly of KDHX of St. Louis.
Just one question: They couldn't find anyone from here in Kansas City for the job?
It always surprises me when a company selects a person or a company--especially architects and the like--from outside the city.
Maybe a radio station GM for an NPR station is tough to get from here in town. It just seems there ought to maybe be enough people from some organization which they could choose.
He'll know radio.
He just doesn't know Kansas City or the people here.
Link: http://kcur.org/post/kcur-names-new-general-manager
Just one question: They couldn't find anyone from here in Kansas City for the job?
It always surprises me when a company selects a person or a company--especially architects and the like--from outside the city.
Maybe a radio station GM for an NPR station is tough to get from here in town. It just seems there ought to maybe be enough people from some organization which they could choose.
He'll know radio.
He just doesn't know Kansas City or the people here.
Link: http://kcur.org/post/kcur-names-new-general-manager
America's and American's so-wrong view of history
I think it's exemplified by this video.
"We didn't start the fire."
Nonsense.
Pardon the crude language but to be more emphatic, because it deserves it, bullshit.
I think it can easily, historically and factually be argued from at least Vietnam on that we--the US--did, in fact, start the fire.
We chose to go into Vietnam. We chose to add soldiers to the country. We chose to escalate the war. We chose to stretch it out, too, and bomb Cambodia.
To say otherwise gives us far too much credit and excuses our incredibly stupid, murderous, killing ways, then and now, what with Iraq and Afghanistan.
Our President at the time, one George W. Bush and his administration chose to go into Iraq, disgustingly, shamefully, ignorantly and irresponsibly enough. And totally against national and international law.
Far before Vietnam, too, there's the messy, inconvenient little truth and fact that the US chose to have Chile's own Salvador Allende assassinated. Sure, he was a Marxist but he was democratically elected by the people of that country.
"We didn't start the fire"?
Again, bullshit.
Let's not kid or lie to ourselves.
We've been starting a lot of fires, as a country.
And for a long time, sadly.
Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Allende; http://www.zompist.com/latam.html; http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lormand/poli/soa/chile.htm
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Quote of the day
"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood." --Martin Luther King, Jr.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
KCMO: One of "10 best cities for new graduates"
Well, in spite of all the naysayers and negative bloggers, our own Kansas City, Missouri hit yet another big, national list of good things about us.
We are, in fact, listed as one of the best cities in the nation for new graduates by CNBC. It's also being blared out on Yahoo! right now, too.
Their stats on us:
Unemployment rate: 7.6%
Cost of living index: 97.8
Mean annual income: $45,050
Top industries: business, agriculture
Followed by this little blurb about us:
"K.C. is well known for its contributions in the categories of barbecue, jazz, and blues, but it continues to evolve. 'Healthy living and an eco-friendly lifestyle are just one part of the booming downtown of Kansas City,' says Christina Aragon, director of strategy and customer insights at Rent.com.
So there you go. Yet one more feather in our cap, so to speak.
Fact is, there are a lot worse places to live in the world and country, folks, by a long shot.
Enjoy.
Links: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/10-best-cities-for-new-graduates.html; http://www.cnbc.com/id/47376598?__source=yahoorealestate%7Ccitiesforgraduates%7C&par=yahoorealestate
We are, in fact, listed as one of the best cities in the nation for new graduates by CNBC. It's also being blared out on Yahoo! right now, too.
Their stats on us:
Unemployment rate: 7.6%
Cost of living index: 97.8
Mean annual income: $45,050
Top industries: business, agriculture
Followed by this little blurb about us:
"K.C. is well known for its contributions in the categories of barbecue, jazz, and blues, but it continues to evolve. 'Healthy living and an eco-friendly lifestyle are just one part of the booming downtown of Kansas City,' says Christina Aragon, director of strategy and customer insights at Rent.com.
So there you go. Yet one more feather in our cap, so to speak.
Fact is, there are a lot worse places to live in the world and country, folks, by a long shot.
Enjoy.
Links: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/10-best-cities-for-new-graduates.html; http://www.cnbc.com/id/47376598?__source=yahoorealestate%7Ccitiesforgraduates%7C&par=yahoorealestate
To the Black--African-American--community
"We have not said much about the homosexual at all, but we must relate to the homosexual movement because it is a real thing. And I know through reading, and through my life experience and observations that homosexuals are not given freedom and liberty by anyone in the society. They might be the most oppressed people in the society." --Huey Newton, Co-founder of the Black Panther Party
August 15 1970
It's about equality, people.
Equality.
That's all.
The same thing you've been working and fighting for.
That's all.
Link: http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/looking-back-at-huey-newtons-thoughts-on-gay-rights-in-the-wake-of-obamas-endorsement/
August 15 1970
It's about equality, people.
Equality.
That's all.
The same thing you've been working and fighting for.
That's all.
Link: http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/looking-back-at-huey-newtons-thoughts-on-gay-rights-in-the-wake-of-obamas-endorsement/
Quote of the day
"The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists." --Ernest Hemingway
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
An example of why we don't need "guns, guns and more guns"
Kansas City got yet another example the other day on why we--our society, in general but Kansas City and the nation, both--absolutely don't need "more guns, everywhere, all the time" as the NRA and their supporters seem to support.
From The Kansas City Star:
Metro Squad investigates killing of Raytown man
"Harry M. Stone looked forward to his next physical challenge.
For the 60-year-old longtime Raytown resident, that meant jogging daily to prepare to join relatives this summer to climb Aspen Mountain in Colorado.
He was doing that Sunday morning when a gunman leaned out of a passing sedan and fatally shot Stone in what police believe was a random, unprovoked drive-by shooting."
A random, pointless, needless shooting that creates a tragedy. A life lost. A family deeply hurt. Friends who lose someone close and dear to them.
For nothing.
And sure, this is where the NRA and those supporters say "Sure, but if you take away guns, only the bad guys will have guns."
Right. I get so tired of that logic.
How, exactly, was this Mr. Stone supposed to know he was going to be shot for no reason, out of the blue, for starters? And so how, after that, was he supposed to know he should be "packing heat"--carrying a gun--for self-protection on his morning walk.
The logic doesn't fit. It doesn't fit at all.
As a society, as a culture, we Americans are just far too reliant and dependent on guns in our lives and in our world.
No nation on the planet has more shootings and so, more killings by handguns and other weapons than we do. And it's been this way for decades, at least. We're gun-wacko.
No, it just makes no sense.
The trouble is, I don't know how you reduce the number of guns that are in a society, once they're already out there. It's a deadly Pandora's box that can't be re-shut, it seems.
And just try suggesting that we register them.
Good luck and God help you with that.
So in the meantime, these people will suggest we have guns on our buses and in our passenger trains and in our National Parks, everywhere.
It's "All guns, all the time."
Yeehaw.
Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/13/3608567/man-wounded-in-raytown-shooting.html; http://www.kctv5.com/story/18375518/metro-squad-raytown-man-out-for-jog-gunned-down;
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/14/3609598_metro-squad-investigating-killing.html; http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2012/05/rage-and-reaction-regarding-innocent.html; http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/crime/daughter-of-raytown-man-shot-while-jogging-speaks-out; http://www.kctv5.com/story/18407272/raytown-church-leader-fatally-shot-during-jog-mourned-as-police-release-surveillance-video; http://fox4kc.com/2012/05/14/church-family-disturbed-by-members-murder/;;
From The Kansas City Star:
Metro Squad investigates killing of Raytown man
"Harry M. Stone looked forward to his next physical challenge.
For the 60-year-old longtime Raytown resident, that meant jogging daily to prepare to join relatives this summer to climb Aspen Mountain in Colorado.
He was doing that Sunday morning when a gunman leaned out of a passing sedan and fatally shot Stone in what police believe was a random, unprovoked drive-by shooting."
A random, pointless, needless shooting that creates a tragedy. A life lost. A family deeply hurt. Friends who lose someone close and dear to them.
For nothing.
And sure, this is where the NRA and those supporters say "Sure, but if you take away guns, only the bad guys will have guns."
Right. I get so tired of that logic.
How, exactly, was this Mr. Stone supposed to know he was going to be shot for no reason, out of the blue, for starters? And so how, after that, was he supposed to know he should be "packing heat"--carrying a gun--for self-protection on his morning walk.
The logic doesn't fit. It doesn't fit at all.
As a society, as a culture, we Americans are just far too reliant and dependent on guns in our lives and in our world.
No nation on the planet has more shootings and so, more killings by handguns and other weapons than we do. And it's been this way for decades, at least. We're gun-wacko.
No, it just makes no sense.
The trouble is, I don't know how you reduce the number of guns that are in a society, once they're already out there. It's a deadly Pandora's box that can't be re-shut, it seems.
And just try suggesting that we register them.
Good luck and God help you with that.
So in the meantime, these people will suggest we have guns on our buses and in our passenger trains and in our National Parks, everywhere.
It's "All guns, all the time."
Yeehaw.
Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/13/3608567/man-wounded-in-raytown-shooting.html; http://www.kctv5.com/story/18375518/metro-squad-raytown-man-out-for-jog-gunned-down;
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/14/3609598_metro-squad-investigating-killing.html; http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2012/05/rage-and-reaction-regarding-innocent.html; http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/crime/daughter-of-raytown-man-shot-while-jogging-speaks-out; http://www.kctv5.com/story/18407272/raytown-church-leader-fatally-shot-during-jog-mourned-as-police-release-surveillance-video; http://fox4kc.com/2012/05/14/church-family-disturbed-by-members-murder/;;
I'm so old...
...I remember when the late-night talk shows lasted an hour and a half.
And there was only one.
And it was funny.
Very funny.
Not only that, but as the guests came out and were done with their interview, they slid to the side, the left, as we faced them, and stayed on the show for the entire program.
Pretty different, especially compared to today's interviews and shows.
In case you didn't see it last night: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/tag/johnny-carson/
And there was only one.
And it was funny.
Very funny.
Not only that, but as the guests came out and were done with their interview, they slid to the side, the left, as we faced them, and stayed on the show for the entire program.
Pretty different, especially compared to today's interviews and shows.
In case you didn't see it last night: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/tag/johnny-carson/
Quote of the day
''Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don't learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying 'yes' begins things. Saying 'yes' is how things grow. Saying 'yes' leads to knowledge. 'Yes' is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say 'yes'.'' —Stephen Colbert
Monday, May 14, 2012
What they didn't tell you about using Bing
For anyone who cares and who pays attention to search engines and the progress of the internet, I thought this brief article, today, in The New York Times was interesting.
It seems, if you're going to flip over and use bing for your search, there's something you ought to know. That is:
"Last week, when Microsoft gave a reporter early access to the new version of Bing, a message in the search bar of the product indicated that all the search terms entered on Bing could be shared with friends in a Facebook social network."
Oh, joy.
One more place our information is not only shown to everyone else but collected and--yes--no doubt sold to other companies.
Yeehaw, eh?
Link: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/going-social-but-not-creepy-in-the-new-bing/
It seems, if you're going to flip over and use bing for your search, there's something you ought to know. That is:
"Last week, when Microsoft gave a reporter early access to the new version of Bing, a message in the search bar of the product indicated that all the search terms entered on Bing could be shared with friends in a Facebook social network."
Oh, joy.
One more place our information is not only shown to everyone else but collected and--yes--no doubt sold to other companies.
Yeehaw, eh?
Link: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/going-social-but-not-creepy-in-the-new-bing/
Every Facebook user's biggest fear
I just saw this movie trailer, earlier today. Naturally, my first thought was, yes, to be a "wise guy", of sorts, and crack that it is the biggest fear of any Facebook user. That is, not having any electricity so they couldn't get online.
Enough of the humor.
After that, this seems to be what every Right-Winger/Libertarian/Reactionary/"Ender" seems to think is America's future in the short-term. And of course it is since that Socialist/Commie/Leftist/Radical and, oh, yes, Black man, President Obama is in charge. Right? And women are getting more power, money and authority. That can't be good. And gays. They're gaining equality. You know we're all going to hell when all that happens.
Fascinating.
Not just because it's JJ Abrams but because I think there is a zeitgeist in, at minimum, our nation that is along these lines. That is, that we--the US, at least, if not civilization--is coming to the end. The "big" end. The end of everything.
If you notice, too, at the beginning of the trailer, a plane drops out of the sky rather like what was predicted for all of us at midnight when the clocks and calendars went from 1999 to 2000.
Except, of course, it didn't happen.
Links: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2070791/; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&list=PL2B104252E94684C2&src_vid=JwfCRAtkYEI&index=1&v=jWNlS51QYmQ&annotation_id=annotation_341689
Enough of the humor.
After that, this seems to be what every Right-Winger/Libertarian/Reactionary/"Ender" seems to think is America's future in the short-term. And of course it is since that Socialist/Commie/Leftist/Radical and, oh, yes, Black man, President Obama is in charge. Right? And women are getting more power, money and authority. That can't be good. And gays. They're gaining equality. You know we're all going to hell when all that happens.
Fascinating.
Not just because it's JJ Abrams but because I think there is a zeitgeist in, at minimum, our nation that is along these lines. That is, that we--the US, at least, if not civilization--is coming to the end. The "big" end. The end of everything.
If you notice, too, at the beginning of the trailer, a plane drops out of the sky rather like what was predicted for all of us at midnight when the clocks and calendars went from 1999 to 2000.
Except, of course, it didn't happen.
Links: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2070791/; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&list=PL2B104252E94684C2&src_vid=JwfCRAtkYEI&index=1&v=jWNlS51QYmQ&annotation_id=annotation_341689
Statistic of the day
From the "You think you have it tough?" department:
"For every dollar of non-home wealth owned by white families, people of color have only one cent."
Links: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/14-0; http://arc.org/downloads/2009_race_recession_0909.pdf
"For every dollar of non-home wealth owned by white families, people of color have only one cent."
Links: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/14-0; http://arc.org/downloads/2009_race_recession_0909.pdf
America: What we are, what we've become
I've written a little bit about this before, what we are, as America lately, what with the imbalances of our government and country.
Here are a few more tidbits on what we are and who we Americans have become, this time from the website Common Dreams:
For starters, according to the article (link at bottom, as usual): "We're near the bottom of the developed world in children's health and safety."
That was a stunner to me. Didn't we always think "We're number one!"? What happened to being "the richest country in the world"? What happened to having the highest standard of living in the world? Isn't that who we are? Don't we want to take care of our children's health and safety?
Or do we, instead, want to make absolutely sure that our health care corporations stay in a "free market" so they can do--and charge--whatever they please?
What and where are our priorities?
Second: "We've betrayed the young people who were advised to stay in school.
Over 40% of recent college graduates are living with their parents, dealing with government loans that average $27,200. The unemployment rate for young people is about 50%. More than 350,000 Americans with advanced degrees applied for food stamps in 2010."
Once more, what are our priorities?
For our children, for the next generation, for them, let alone for the nation, don't we value education? Isn't it more important that we keep top-notch education affordable, rather than letting corporations of all kinds--schools, book manufacturers, banks, etc.--make tons of money off them. And us?
Third: "The main source of middle-class wealth has been largely wiped out," as most of us so well know.
"American homeowners owe almost as much as the students, with $700 billion of debt over and above the value of their homes."
Here again, it seems we value and want to reward corporations--and the wealthy--before we protect the "common man", the working person, the middle- and lower-classes.
Does that make any sense? Does that seem like smart, productive priorities to you?
Fourth: "We give prison sentences for smoking marijuana, but not for billion-dollar fraud."
They write more--a bit more--about this at the original article but it's nearly that there isn't even any need for it. How much more gross inequality and unfairness can you get than that?
Finally, "You can have health care, if you pay for it."
Three statistics on American health care:
--More than 50 million of us have no health care at all because our system, being "free market Capitalism", leaves it up to us to get insurance and those people don't have it and can't afford it;
--We pay more, as a nation and as individuals, than any other people and nation in the world;
--We are ranked, again, nationally, 37th in the world, at best, in mortality rate. We are more likely to die younger here in the US than in 36 other nations.
Here again, we put our corporations and business and so, the wealthy, ahead--far ahead--of the common good for the nation. This is a health care system that patently isn't working. At least it's not working for the majority of the nation. Strange, dysfunctional priorities.
Their conclusion (at least part of it):
"Privatization simply hasn't worked for health care, mortgage banking, higher education, or prison management. There is little incentive for profit-motivated firms to invest in disadvantaged or underemployed Americans."
My conclusion:
Given all this and then that, on top of this, we spend more--$711 billion dollars per year--on "defense" than any other nation in the world, it seems more indications of strange, unnecessary, unsustainable and very nearly crazy priorities.
What it boils down to is that I don't think we--the American people--know or realize what kind of country we are, who we are, who and what we've become. Further, I don't think most people know what got us here or how we get out of it.
To me, the one most important thing we need to do is get the big money of corporation and wealthy out of our political system and government. We need true, stringent, tough, accountable campaign finance reform so our legislators and their legislation and so, our laws and government can no longer be bought. Until we do that, until we get this big, ugly money out of our system, nothing will change. Everything will remain the same. It will be government for the wealthy and corporations instead of for the average worker and schmoe on the street, so to speak. It will remain government for the top 1%. I think we all know this.
We need to get the money out of the system.
The fact is, we're not on a good path. We need to change that. And it will--has to--come from us, the people, in order to change.
Link to original post: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/14-0
Here are a few more tidbits on what we are and who we Americans have become, this time from the website Common Dreams:
For starters, according to the article (link at bottom, as usual): "We're near the bottom of the developed world in children's health and safety."
That was a stunner to me. Didn't we always think "We're number one!"? What happened to being "the richest country in the world"? What happened to having the highest standard of living in the world? Isn't that who we are? Don't we want to take care of our children's health and safety?
Or do we, instead, want to make absolutely sure that our health care corporations stay in a "free market" so they can do--and charge--whatever they please?
What and where are our priorities?
Second: "We've betrayed the young people who were advised to stay in school.
Over 40% of recent college graduates are living with their parents, dealing with government loans that average $27,200. The unemployment rate for young people is about 50%. More than 350,000 Americans with advanced degrees applied for food stamps in 2010."
Once more, what are our priorities?
For our children, for the next generation, for them, let alone for the nation, don't we value education? Isn't it more important that we keep top-notch education affordable, rather than letting corporations of all kinds--schools, book manufacturers, banks, etc.--make tons of money off them. And us?
Third: "The main source of middle-class wealth has been largely wiped out," as most of us so well know.
"American homeowners owe almost as much as the students, with $700 billion of debt over and above the value of their homes."
Here again, it seems we value and want to reward corporations--and the wealthy--before we protect the "common man", the working person, the middle- and lower-classes.
Does that make any sense? Does that seem like smart, productive priorities to you?
Fourth: "We give prison sentences for smoking marijuana, but not for billion-dollar fraud."
They write more--a bit more--about this at the original article but it's nearly that there isn't even any need for it. How much more gross inequality and unfairness can you get than that?
Finally, "You can have health care, if you pay for it."
Three statistics on American health care:
--More than 50 million of us have no health care at all because our system, being "free market Capitalism", leaves it up to us to get insurance and those people don't have it and can't afford it;
--We pay more, as a nation and as individuals, than any other people and nation in the world;
--We are ranked, again, nationally, 37th in the world, at best, in mortality rate. We are more likely to die younger here in the US than in 36 other nations.
Here again, we put our corporations and business and so, the wealthy, ahead--far ahead--of the common good for the nation. This is a health care system that patently isn't working. At least it's not working for the majority of the nation. Strange, dysfunctional priorities.
Their conclusion (at least part of it):
"Privatization simply hasn't worked for health care, mortgage banking, higher education, or prison management. There is little incentive for profit-motivated firms to invest in disadvantaged or underemployed Americans."
My conclusion:
Given all this and then that, on top of this, we spend more--$711 billion dollars per year--on "defense" than any other nation in the world, it seems more indications of strange, unnecessary, unsustainable and very nearly crazy priorities.
What it boils down to is that I don't think we--the American people--know or realize what kind of country we are, who we are, who and what we've become. Further, I don't think most people know what got us here or how we get out of it.
To me, the one most important thing we need to do is get the big money of corporation and wealthy out of our political system and government. We need true, stringent, tough, accountable campaign finance reform so our legislators and their legislation and so, our laws and government can no longer be bought. Until we do that, until we get this big, ugly money out of our system, nothing will change. Everything will remain the same. It will be government for the wealthy and corporations instead of for the average worker and schmoe on the street, so to speak. It will remain government for the top 1%. I think we all know this.
We need to get the money out of the system.
The fact is, we're not on a good path. We need to change that. And it will--has to--come from us, the people, in order to change.
Link to original post: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/14-0
Big, ugly, inefficient government?
Or people working together?
From Slate.com:
"Massachusetts tops the nation in fourth and eighth grade education, has the lowest child and teen mortality rates, the lowest percentage of uninsured residents, and the second-highest per capita personal income in the country.
Maybe the liberals there are doing something right?"
Link: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/05/massachusetts_is_the_best_state_in_the_union_.single.html
From Slate.com:
"Massachusetts tops the nation in fourth and eighth grade education, has the lowest child and teen mortality rates, the lowest percentage of uninsured residents, and the second-highest per capita personal income in the country.
Maybe the liberals there are doing something right?"
Link: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/05/massachusetts_is_the_best_state_in_the_union_.single.html
Solar Eclipse we can enjoy later this week
From KMBC 9 News/weather:
Sky watchers could be in for a treat on Sunday: Space.com reports that a solar eclipse will be visible over much of the United States, including Kansas City.
Space.com reports that the eclipse willget begin in the central time zone at 7:22 p.m. It will reach its maximum at 8:08 p.m.
Kansas City will see a partial eclipse. We likely won't to see the end of it because the sun will set before the event ends.
Link: http://www.kmbc.com/weather/31060504/detail.html
Most Americans want the defense budget cut
From a recent survey:
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Defense Cuts
"As Congress struggles to rein in the federal deficit, a new survey finds Americans preferred to cut defense spending more than any other program.
In a new survey that not only asked for opinion, but also briefed the respondents on the federal budget, Americans came to a bipartisan conclusion: 67 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats supported cutting the defense budget."
More:
"'When Americans look at the amount of defense spending compared to spending on other programs, they see defense as the one that should take a substantial hit to reduce the deficit,' said Steven Kull, director of the Program for Public Consultation (PPC), and the lead developer of the survey. 'Clearly the polarization that you are seeing on the floor of the Congress is not reflective of the American people.'"
We spend over 711 billion dollars, annually on defense.
It's disgusting.
It's out of balance.
It's not realistic.
It's not sustainable.
Write your Congressional members today. By email, it's easy.
Links: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/10/152426302/survey-americans-overwhelmingly-support-defense-cuts: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/355447-defense-budget-survey-full-results.html
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Defense Cuts
"As Congress struggles to rein in the federal deficit, a new survey finds Americans preferred to cut defense spending more than any other program.
In a new survey that not only asked for opinion, but also briefed the respondents on the federal budget, Americans came to a bipartisan conclusion: 67 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats supported cutting the defense budget."
More:
"'When Americans look at the amount of defense spending compared to spending on other programs, they see defense as the one that should take a substantial hit to reduce the deficit,' said Steven Kull, director of the Program for Public Consultation (PPC), and the lead developer of the survey. 'Clearly the polarization that you are seeing on the floor of the Congress is not reflective of the American people.'"
We spend over 711 billion dollars, annually on defense.
It's disgusting.
It's out of balance.
It's not realistic.
It's not sustainable.
Write your Congressional members today. By email, it's easy.
Links: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/10/152426302/survey-americans-overwhelmingly-support-defense-cuts: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/355447-defense-budget-survey-full-results.html
Inconsistencies
"Mentioning Jesus in your speech: Small government. Doing what Jesus asked: Big government." --Stephen Colbert, "The Colbert Report", Comedy Central
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