Bright child (from the "Occupy Wall Street" protests)

It's a fact.

Quote of the day

"We have the most legally corrupt political system in the world." --Jeffrey Sachs, American economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. Links: http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/1804; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Sachs

"11 Things Wrong with Congress"

Yes, there is an article out right now (see link below), stating just that--11 Things Wrong with Congress." I assume they stopped there to be brief. I think it great to point out. There more people that see it, the better: 1) Too many rich people; 2) Automatic pay raises; 3) Gold plated benefits; 4) Free parking (is this nit-picking?); 5) Earmarks; 6) Speeches to nobody; 7) Lack of competition; 8) No penalty for ignorance; 9) Lobbyists (ABOLUTELY. And their money); 10) The media; 11) Voters. We need to fix this thing called Congress and our government, absolutely. Link: http://www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/11-things-wrong-with-congress/2

CEO pay comparison

It speaks for itself. This is yet another example of why the rich should be taxed at least 3 to 4% higher than the rest of the nation. There are so many issues here, it's nearly overwhelming. This is insanity and no way to run a country.

Great question for Republican leaders but for the nation, too

"What sort of person does not think there is anything wrong with asking the folks that are tasked with teaching our children to take a 20% cut on a $50,000.00 salary but think it's a terrible idea to ask millionaires..." and billionaires "to pay an additional 3% in taxes?" --from a friend's Facebook page today.

The Party of "No"

Ain't it the truth? In the meantime, Americans go without jobs. Republican leaders in Washington fiddle.

Quote of the day

"Concentration of income, wealth, and power at the very top is undermining our economy and destroying our democracy." --Robert Reich, Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton, writer (thirteen books, including The Work of Nations, Locked in the Cabinet, Supercapitalism, and his most recent book, "Aftershock"). His "Marketplace" commentaries can be found on publicradio.com and iTunes. He is also Common Cause's board chairman. Link: http://robertreich.org/

On the 10th anniversary of our Afghan War

"We still have a choice today: nonviolent coexistence, or violent co-annihilation. We must move past indecision to action. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight." --Martin Luther King Jr. delivered 4 April 1967, Riverside Church, New York City. Link: http://october2011.org/

Famine--the real obscenity

So what are we going to do about it? Link:

Churches just want to be able to discriminate, that's all

The Supreme Court in Washington began hearing the case today (Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church vs. EEOC, see link, below) about the church who--get this--wants to be able to discriminate against its employees for whatever reason they deem fit (sexuality, age, disability, etc.) because they're supposed to be left alone by the state via the Constitution. Boy, that's a beauty. Sure, they also want tax deductions from that same state for the same reasons, then they want money from that same government in the form of "Faith-based initiatives", thanks to that last, ignorant administration out of the White House and now this. They really want everything. They want to have that cake and eat it, too. How a church could even remotely request, let alone demand, as they are here, that discrimination laws shouldn't apply to them is beyond the pale. It seems this Lutheran church isn't aware of that Jesus Christ guy and what he said and stood for. Sheesh. Link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/supreme-court-church-state-conflict-schools.html

RIP Steve Jobs

Love him or hate him, a brilliant, brilliant man. Truly a visionary.

"America's Most Dangerous Cities"---and we ain't on it

Yes, another new list out, this one also by Forbes Magazine and in spite of what some people--some locals, (Tony?)--might think, Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas--both, are no where on the list. (Link: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efel45mde/1-detroit-mich#content?partner=yahoore). By contrast, on their "Best Places for Careers and Business" list, Des Moines, IA is number two while Cedar Rapids from that same state is number 11. Also on the list are Lincoln, Nebraska at 12 and Omahama at 20. St. Loo, across the state, hits at 23. Oklahoma City gets in at 28. Even the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul gets in ahead of Kansas City at their number 34 ranking. (More: Little Rock, AR, 41, Indianapolis, IN at 43, Tulsa, OK, 46). Kansas City isn't on the list in the top 50. The good news? We're safer, maybe, than we thought. The bad? We don't coddle business enough, I guess. Link: http://www.forbes.com/2011/06/27/best-places-11-top-50_slide.html

This evening's entertainment

As soon as I heard David Gray's album, "Babylon", back in 1999, I was hooked. Clearly he was a great writer, singer and performer. This piece is a favorite but, truth is, each song on the album is terrific, rare as that is. If you don't know him or the album, you might check it out. Have a great evening, y'all.

About that helicopter crash in Jefferson City

You may have heard that this helicopter--a Seahawk--was crossing the US last weekend and ended up crashing in Jefferson City. Keeping in mind that it was a 38 million dollar aircraft, in the first place, and only had "20 hours of flight service" on it, according to the news, I sure hope the military has a buyer's warranty on that thing from the manufacturer. I know I'd demand it. Link: http://www.fultonsun.com/news/2011/oct/01/helicopter-crashes-jefferson-city-airport/

Andy Rooney? And Wikileaks?

Andy Rooney, of CBS News' famous "60 Minutes" news program retired, of sorts, Sunday evening as I think so many people know so he gave a bit of a goodbye talk. In it, he said "I believe that if all the truth in the world, it would be a better place to live." Now I ask you, does that not sound like something Wikileaks founder Julian Assange would say or has already said? As an example: “The aim of Wikileaks is to achieve just reform around the world and do it through the mechanism of transparency.” I would never have thought someone like Andy Rooney would sound even remotely like that. Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Assange; http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/julian_assange.html; http://anitasnotebook.com/misc/julian-assange-from-wikileaks-quotes

Gasoline in the area

Gas is, right now, $3.09 per gallon in Smithville. I assume it's like that also on the East side of the city but haven't confirmed yet. Anyway, there's news out today that oil is also going further down, on current news. With this, it seems like only a (short?) matter of time until we're under $3.00 a gallon again. To tell you the truth, at the rate it's falling locally, I wouldn't be surprised if by this weekend--or early next week at latest--we hit that mark and get $2.99 or less. Stay tuned. Link: http://www.omaha.com/article/20111004/AP05/301039969

Fantastic performers and performances

These 2 guys are known simply as 2Cellos. I saw their work first when they did their rendition of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal". I love their work. Enjoy.

On Japan's tsunami

I heard a statistic last evening on television that the Japanese tsunami that struck there last March moved the entire island 8 feet to the East. Yikes.

Gandhi's 7 Dangers to Human Virtue

1. Wealth without work; 2. Pleasure without conscience; 3. Knowledge without character; 4. Business without ethics; 5. Science without humanity; 6. Religion without sacrifice; 7. Politics without principle. (With thanks to long-time friend Dennis S. for this).

Quote of the day

“There are no excuses left,” Chris Hedges writes in a piece reprinted from the site Truthdig, where he has a regular column. "Either you obstruct, in the only form left to us, which is civil disobedience, the plundering by the criminal class on Wall Street and accelerated destruction of the ecosystem that sustains the human species, or become the passive enabler of a monstrous evil." Link: http://www.truthdig.org

We the people

This is what we're fighting, what we're fighting for and what we have to fight.

I'm so old...

...I remember when only Apple Computer products had a "shuffle" feature on their music.

Why can't I?

That's where you'll find me.

Quote of the day

"We still have a choice today: nonviolent coexistence, or violent co-annihilation. We must move past indecision to action. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight." --Martin Luther King Jr. delivered 4 April 1967, Riverside Church, New York City. Link: http://october2011.org/

October2011.com---an organization for the people (and guest post)

"We Stand With the Majority of Americans: Human Needs, Not Corporate Greed A large majority of the American people consistently support the following agenda: Tax the rich and corporations End the wars, bring the troops home, cut military spending Protect the social safety net, strengthen Social Security and improved Medicare for all End corporate welfare for oil companies and other big business interests Transition to a clean energy economy, reverse environmental degradation Protect worker rights including collective bargaining, create jobs and raise wages Get money out of politics The government, dominated by elite economic interests, is going in the opposite direction from what the people want. The American people’s agenda is our agenda. The broad agenda for Stop the Machine: Create a New World is to end corporatism and militarism and shift power to the people, so necessities can be met. In addition to stopping the machine we also want to show the “new world” we want to see. The seven issues above are part of our agenda, each of these issues are discussed below, primarily in relation to showing that according to polls, large majorities of Americans support each issue and in many cases have done so for years. While our agenda is based on fact, science and the type of world we want to see, not on polling, it is useful to know that the American people are in favor of the types of reforms October2011.org is advocating. We share these polling results to show that in all of these critical areas the government is going in the opposite direction than the people want the country to go. October2011.org is on the side of the people." Links: http://october2011.org/; https://www.facebook.com/pages/October2011com/128339797264686?sk=wall#!/pages/October2011com/128339797264686

Things that are "over"---or should be

A few things, it has occurred to me, are "over" in trends (which I hate anyway), yet you still see them. If you happen to still be doing any of them, I mean no offense. This is just meant as a statement of fact. The first is:

Crocs. Yes, crocs. Sure, they're so "over" the company that first made them went bankrupt but some people don't know they're done. Admittedly, they're handy and appropriate for gardening but if anyone isn't aware they're no longer a current trend, well, they're just not aware. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're over. Next up:

Shirts and/or t-shirts with wings on them. Yikes. Folks, this came out, what? 2 or 3 years ago? Some white with black ink, others the reversed. All virtually indistinguishable from one another. If you just bought one of these, you can't really think you're "with" current fashion, do you? I can't imagine a more tired idea or one more over-used. Could we all move on now? And finally, today, one that isn't "over" but should be:

Camouflage clothing. Could there be a worse fashion trend than this? Well, yes, maybe if you're showing your posterior AND your underwear, at the same time but other than that, "camo" has to rank as one of the worst fashion trends humankind has ever come up with, isn't it? Just when fewer people in the country than ever are hunting, yet "camo" comes out in everything from shirts and t-shirts to pants to shoes, hats--virtually everything. And the thing is, this is one trend and fashion that should be over--it's that ugly--yet I bet this is one trend that hangs on--at least with certain sub-groups of humans--in perpetuity (and, for that matter, ad nauseum). Some people just like it, period, forever and ever, amen. Scary.

Is this place EVER going to lease and fill?

You know the place? It's at 4700 Roanoke Parkway (hence the name), right on the Plaza, across the street from the Richard Bloch Cancer Park. I mean, this thing was under contruction for what? 2 years? They gutted the interiors. They stripped the exterior brick--when it started falling off anyway, I'm told--and it's sat empty ever since. I was by there today and the parking lots, front and back, are chained off for no access. Sure, they have signs saying call for information and you can find places inside for sale but what gives with this thing? The person and company who did it must have more money than Midas. They surely never seemed to be in any hurry to sell or rent out the place. Link: http://www.the4700.com/The_4700.html

Right wing ignorance on Sunday's op/ed page in The Star

I can't imagine two more Right Wing cases (outside of the Tea Party) than George Will, nationally, and Thomas McClanahan, locally. And each of them, yesterday, on the op/ed page had two of the most either wrong or ignorant columns I could imagine. Mr. Will came down squarely against campaign finance reform laws while Mr. McClanahan's headline spoke for itself: "IS PRESIDENT OBAMA TO THE LEFT OF DENG XIAOPING?" To Mr. Will's column, I have to ask, how else are we to get corporate and wealthy people's money (bribes) out of our legislator's pockets and out of legislation and so, out of our government, unless and until we kill these "campaign contributions." The answer is, of course, we won't. We need stringent campaign finance reform and we need it badly and as soon as possible. As for Mr. McClanahan's column, it's just too plainly ignorant to spend (waste?) time or energy on. Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/24/3164591/is-president-obama-to-the-left.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/24/3164592/rigging-the-process-via-curbs.html

Water busting out all over

I was on the East side of the city at the end of last week and noticed water pouring out of the street at 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard. At the time, I thought maybe I should call the water department and be sure they were aware of it, there was that much coming out, but I didn't. So then, yesterday, Sunday, I was there again and same thing--it was still flowing and very freely. So much so that it was pooling in the street, further down. So call I did. The result? I asked if they department was aware of it and the man on the other end said, yes, they were, he seemed to say, very aware of it. Oh, well, eh? This, along with the two breaks that are still on Southwest Trafficway (at least they're not pouring out at this fast a rate) and nothing seeming to be done. So it goes, eh, Mr. Mayor? And water department? I know they must have their hands full but aren't we wasting an awful lot of water? And doesn't that cost us?

Three good things, anyway, about the Chiefs' loss yesterday

First, they only lost by 3 points. Second, they got into double-digit territory, finally, with their score in the game and third, finally, the other team didn't rack up 40 or more points on them this time, as they did in the first two games. Does ANYONE who likes and follows this team think they have a chance in their schedule the rest of the year? If there is, I surely don't know who that would be. For that matter, is there anyone in town who thinks they'll have the same coach next year? I'd nearly bet otherwise. Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/25/3166687/chargers-20-chiefs-17-sunday-sept.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/25/3166930/cassels-mistake-makes-you-wonder.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/24/3164916/chiefs-haley-and-pioli-have-to.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/17/3149405/healthy-bit-of-anger-part-of-chiefs.html