The Way We Live
Elkton’s “Blue Man” Hoax
It was in 1958, at about the time I was pouring over books in college that the police in Huron County, Michigan, where I grew up were dealing with the strange sightings of a “Little Blue Man.” People driving on some of the county’s lonely country roads late in the night were being startled by the figure of a bluish humanoid figure with flashing blue lights. They reported seeing this figure crossing the road ahead of them or walking along the road, sometimes just behind a fence row. The story was making headlines, not only in Huron County, but state-wide. Eventually the Associated Press picked up the story. Television stations all over the United States were reporting about the Elkton Blue Man. The story even got in Life Magazine and the military newspaper Stars & Stripes. A video production was even made.
It was in 1958, at about the time I was pouring over books in college that the police in Huron County, Michigan, where I grew up were dealing with the strange sightings of a “Little Blue Man.” People driving on some of the county’s lonely country roads late in the night were being startled by the figure of a bluish humanoid figure with flashing blue lights. They reported seeing this figure crossing the road ahead of them or walking along the road, sometimes just behind a fence row. The story was making headlines, not only in Huron County, but state-wide. Eventually the Associated Press picked up the story. Television stations all over the United States were reporting about the Elkton Blue Man. The story even got in Life Magazine and the military newspaper Stars & Stripes. A video production was even made.
The Dog Woman
She was known as the "Dog Woman." Her name is Ingeburg Erika Schulz. She was a young-looking 73 when I knew her; a bright, articulate and outspoken woman who believed she was the victim of a conspiracy by uncaring neighbors and a certain police officer who launched a personal vendetta against her. That vendetta, or perhaps the insistence by authorities to force a nonconforming eccentric woman like Schulz to "follow the law" no matter what her circumstances, succeed in destroying Ingeburg's life and making her a ward of the state.
She was known as the "Dog Woman." Her name is Ingeburg Erika Schulz. She was a young-looking 73 when I knew her; a bright, articulate and outspoken woman who believed she was the victim of a conspiracy by uncaring neighbors and a certain police officer who launched a personal vendetta against her. That vendetta, or perhaps the insistence by authorities to force a nonconforming eccentric woman like Schulz to "follow the law" no matter what her circumstances, succeed in destroying Ingeburg's life and making her a ward of the state.
Everybody Hates Time Changes – So Why Do We Do It?
People all over the United States will be turning back their clocks one hour this weekend as they shift from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time. There is a collective national moan when we have to do it, but everybody (almost everybody that is) marches in lock step and adapts to the change. The big arguments favoring Daylight Savings Time is that it provides for greater play time, mostly on golf courses, parks and other recreation areas, and encourages more evening shopping hours. It also extends U.S. office hours to periods of greater overlap with the European Economic Community, thus allowing for more business transactions from place to place. And those are not valid reasons.
People all over the United States will be turning back their clocks one hour this weekend as they shift from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time. There is a collective national moan when we have to do it, but everybody (almost everybody that is) marches in lock step and adapts to the change. The big arguments favoring Daylight Savings Time is that it provides for greater play time, mostly on golf courses, parks and other recreation areas, and encourages more evening shopping hours. It also extends U.S. office hours to periods of greater overlap with the European Economic Community, thus allowing for more business transactions from place to place. And those are not valid reasons.
Battling Zoning Codes to Live Green
There was a time not long ago when local building and zoning codes were considered a boon to safe and modern living. I was keenly aware of the need for safe building, plumbing and electrical codes during the years I served as a volunteer fire fighter and when I entertained a hobby of buying and restoring neglected old homes. I can’t count the times I discovered badly spliced wiring work within the walls that were so far out of code that I marveled the building was still standing. We found old lead plumbing that had been poisoning the users of those water lines for many years. And then there was the time we opened walls to find them supported by two-inch by two-inch timbers set farther than the standard twelve-inch center; suggesting the entire structure had never been designed to last. Indeed, it was because of the unscrupulous work of some building contractors that state and federal building codes came on the books.
There was a time not long ago when local building and zoning codes were considered a boon to safe and modern living. I was keenly aware of the need for safe building, plumbing and electrical codes during the years I served as a volunteer fire fighter and when I entertained a hobby of buying and restoring neglected old homes. I can’t count the times I discovered badly spliced wiring work within the walls that were so far out of code that I marveled the building was still standing. We found old lead plumbing that had been poisoning the users of those water lines for many years. And then there was the time we opened walls to find them supported by two-inch by two-inch timbers set farther than the standard twelve-inch center; suggesting the entire structure had never been designed to last. Indeed, it was because of the unscrupulous work of some building contractors that state and federal building codes came on the books.
Factory Farming Creating Deadly Food
I grew up in a farming area of Michigan during a time, not that long ago, when family owned and operated farms were doing a great job of providing all of the food needed in the United States and shipping the excess to other world countries. Food then was cheap and plentiful. That old way of life changed after I returned to the area a few years later. Those “modern” farmers operated from offices on the farm. Everything was changing. Those still actively farming were buying or leasing all of the additional farmland they could get their hands on, and buying giant super-sized tractors, combines and other machinery. The objective was to increase the quantity of crops all of that land demanded of them. Thus was born the modern factory farm.
I grew up in a farming area of Michigan during a time, not that long ago, when family owned and operated farms were doing a great job of providing all of the food needed in the United States and shipping the excess to other world countries. Food then was cheap and plentiful. That old way of life changed after I returned to the area a few years later. Those “modern” farmers operated from offices on the farm. Everything was changing. Those still actively farming were buying or leasing all of the additional farmland they could get their hands on, and buying giant super-sized tractors, combines and other machinery. The objective was to increase the quantity of crops all of that land demanded of them. Thus was born the modern factory farm.
Living With Outdated Zoning And Building Codes
Governments adopted uniform building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical codes establishing the number of electrical plug outlets, the way plumbing, furnaces and even hot water heaters were installed and located. New housing developments soon lost their individuality and all the houses began looking alike. The term “cracker box” housing became a common expression. People couldn't erect a shed in the back yard to put their yard tools without getting a building permit and having their work inspected and approved by building inspectors. Now as the cost of homes, maintaining them, paying the taxes and insurance and living with a rising cost of living while people earn less and less….and the energy crisis rearing its ugly head, those city ordinances so right for the 1970's are out of date and no longer filling contemporary needs.
Governments adopted uniform building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical codes establishing the number of electrical plug outlets, the way plumbing, furnaces and even hot water heaters were installed and located. New housing developments soon lost their individuality and all the houses began looking alike. The term “cracker box” housing became a common expression. People couldn't erect a shed in the back yard to put their yard tools without getting a building permit and having their work inspected and approved by building inspectors. Now as the cost of homes, maintaining them, paying the taxes and insurance and living with a rising cost of living while people earn less and less….and the energy crisis rearing its ugly head, those city ordinances so right for the 1970's are out of date and no longer filling contemporary needs.
Microwaves Are Destroying Our Brains
Since the 1960s the problems of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children have almost become household phrases. The number of youngsters diagnosed with this disease has been so massive schools across the United States have been forced to deal with it. Most of us know of at least one family with a child that suffers from some level of ADD or ADHD. A national survey, based on 1997-98 data from the Center For Disease Control (CDC), indicates that 1.6 million elementary school-aged children were diagnosed with the disorder. Many believe the numbers have been exploding since that study and that attention deficit disorder is now reaching epidemic proportions. We think we know why.
Since the 1960s the problems of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children have almost become household phrases. The number of youngsters diagnosed with this disease has been so massive schools across the United States have been forced to deal with it. Most of us know of at least one family with a child that suffers from some level of ADD or ADHD. A national survey, based on 1997-98 data from the Center For Disease Control (CDC), indicates that 1.6 million elementary school-aged children were diagnosed with the disorder. Many believe the numbers have been exploding since that study and that attention deficit disorder is now reaching epidemic proportions. We think we know why.
Insomnia; A National Dilemma
Like many Americans today I identify myself as an insomniac and understand the difficulty we have getting the sleep we need. But the story of a 77-year-old Vietnam man who hasn’t slept for 46 years is hard to believe. According to reports, Thai Ngoc has been awake since suffering a fever in 1973 and has remained constantly awake, being unable to even nap ever since. In spite of his unending state of wakefulness, Ngoc lives a somewhat normal life, farms and manages to work both day and night without suffering ill effects. In fact, he has never been ill during these years of going without sleep. Or so they say. Oh that the rest of us might function without a good night's sleep. Click to read on.
Like many Americans today I identify myself as an insomniac and understand the difficulty we have getting the sleep we need. But the story of a 77-year-old Vietnam man who hasn’t slept for 46 years is hard to believe. According to reports, Thai Ngoc has been awake since suffering a fever in 1973 and has remained constantly awake, being unable to even nap ever since. In spite of his unending state of wakefulness, Ngoc lives a somewhat normal life, farms and manages to work both day and night without suffering ill effects. In fact, he has never been ill during these years of going without sleep. Or so they say. Oh that the rest of us might function without a good night's sleep. Click to read on.
Death of Privacy
There has been a lot of media attention concerning the way big business interests are tracking everything we do, the places we go and especially the things we buy. It is perhaps troublesome that after we shop for a particular item on the Internet we are inundated with advertising for this particular product. It is almost as if a gene is sitting somewhere over us and recording our every thought and our every move. What may be scary to us is that in a sense, while it isn’t a gene that records our actions . . . it is our electronic gadgetry. And these things are doing exactly that . . . watching, listening and recording everything we say and do.
There has been a lot of media attention concerning the way big business interests are tracking everything we do, the places we go and especially the things we buy. It is perhaps troublesome that after we shop for a particular item on the Internet we are inundated with advertising for this particular product. It is almost as if a gene is sitting somewhere over us and recording our every thought and our every move. What may be scary to us is that in a sense, while it isn’t a gene that records our actions . . . it is our electronic gadgetry. And these things are doing exactly that . . . watching, listening and recording everything we say and do.
Moving Into Tiny Homes
America’s housing crisis is generating an interest in owning and renting tiny, self-containing homes. But draconian zoning and government housing ordinances, many of the laws created during the Johnson Presidential era tend to prohibit them. But they are less costly to buy, many come with wheels that make them extremely portable, and they are easy to maintain, cheap to heat and power. The new green renewable energy systems adapt more easily to these little houses. In fact, many tiny homes come equipped with solar panels or wind turbines that generate their own electricity. They also come equipped to collect and clean rainwater making them perfect for people wanting to live entirely off the grid.
America’s housing crisis is generating an interest in owning and renting tiny, self-containing homes. But draconian zoning and government housing ordinances, many of the laws created during the Johnson Presidential era tend to prohibit them. But they are less costly to buy, many come with wheels that make them extremely portable, and they are easy to maintain, cheap to heat and power. The new green renewable energy systems adapt more easily to these little houses. In fact, many tiny homes come equipped with solar panels or wind turbines that generate their own electricity. They also come equipped to collect and clean rainwater making them perfect for people wanting to live entirely off the grid.
Fond Memories Of Navajo Fry Bread
The head of an Indian rights organization in New Mexico once suggested that the Navajo, Apache and other tribes in Arizona and New Mexico are eating too much fry bread. But if there is anything unique that is sold by the native people at public reservation gatherings, it is fry bread. You see it everywhere. It is cheap. Easy to make. And tasty. Strangely, the Indians invented this delicacy out of necessity after they were rounded up and forced to live in government concentration camps in the mid-1800s. The women of the tribes did the best they could with the rations. They formed dough balls that were patted flat and then cooked in boiling animal fat over fires. For a time, it was a main staple in the Indian diet. Unfortunately, fry bread became popular. And it tastes very good.
The head of an Indian rights organization in New Mexico once suggested that the Navajo, Apache and other tribes in Arizona and New Mexico are eating too much fry bread. But if there is anything unique that is sold by the native people at public reservation gatherings, it is fry bread. You see it everywhere. It is cheap. Easy to make. And tasty. Strangely, the Indians invented this delicacy out of necessity after they were rounded up and forced to live in government concentration camps in the mid-1800s. The women of the tribes did the best they could with the rations. They formed dough balls that were patted flat and then cooked in boiling animal fat over fires. For a time, it was a main staple in the Indian diet. Unfortunately, fry bread became popular. And it tastes very good.
Noise Pollution is Contributing to The Destruction of Civilization
I lived and worked for years in what was supposed to be a "quiet" Midwestern American town of about 4,000 people. The word quiet, when used to identify this place, however, was a misnomer. My town, like nearly every community throughout the world, had become a very noisy place. We contend with police, fire and ambulance sirens, noon whistles, loud mufflers and passing cars with stereo speakers blasting.There are gas powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, trucks with loud beepers sounding when they are backing up, chain saws, and noisy garbage trucks. The noise pollution followed me to my job. There I worked against the sound of humming computers, chattering workers, ringing telephones, running motors, more community sirens and a variety of other sounds that cluttered the mind.
I lived and worked for years in what was supposed to be a "quiet" Midwestern American town of about 4,000 people. The word quiet, when used to identify this place, however, was a misnomer. My town, like nearly every community throughout the world, had become a very noisy place. We contend with police, fire and ambulance sirens, noon whistles, loud mufflers and passing cars with stereo speakers blasting.There are gas powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, trucks with loud beepers sounding when they are backing up, chain saws, and noisy garbage trucks. The noise pollution followed me to my job. There I worked against the sound of humming computers, chattering workers, ringing telephones, running motors, more community sirens and a variety of other sounds that cluttered the mind.
Ma and Pa Aren't On the Farm Anymore
I grew up during a time when families could make a good living on farms no larger than 160-acres. We lived on such a farm in Michigan. Those were the days when many dairy farmers milked their cows by hand and families dared to drink "raw" non-pasteurized milk laced with real cream. My father was a modern thinker who used our place as a hobby farm. He experimented with new chemicals and hired the owner of a combine to harvest his crops. Our neighbors, many of them first or second generation German, Dutch or Polish immigrants, still preferred the old way of doing things. They fertilized with cow manure. At harvest time they cut their grain, stacked it in shocks in the field, and thrashed. We could work our farm then with a tractor just large enough to pull a two-bottom plow. I recall spending most of a day pulling a harrow over a 40-acre plot of ground, or perhaps a day or two getting that same field plowed.
I grew up during a time when families could make a good living on farms no larger than 160-acres. We lived on such a farm in Michigan. Those were the days when many dairy farmers milked their cows by hand and families dared to drink "raw" non-pasteurized milk laced with real cream. My father was a modern thinker who used our place as a hobby farm. He experimented with new chemicals and hired the owner of a combine to harvest his crops. Our neighbors, many of them first or second generation German, Dutch or Polish immigrants, still preferred the old way of doing things. They fertilized with cow manure. At harvest time they cut their grain, stacked it in shocks in the field, and thrashed. We could work our farm then with a tractor just large enough to pull a two-bottom plow. I recall spending most of a day pulling a harrow over a 40-acre plot of ground, or perhaps a day or two getting that same field plowed.
Pesticide-Resistant Bedbugs Spreading Worldwide
Bedbugs are something we contemporary folks in the United States no longer think much about. The advent of pesticides and an understanding of how to keep our homes properly clean all but eliminated a tiny pest that was once a problem our ancestors dealt with on a regular basis. They were thought to have been eradicated in most of the developed countries in the 1980s. They were around recently enough that the old saying: "don’t let the bedbugs bite," is still repeated. And few kids in the U.S. today have any concept of what it is to wake up in the morning with bedbug bites. That is changing.
Imagine A World Without Toilet Paper
Most Americans who travel overseas know all about the toilets that eliminate the need to use toilet paper. Some have expressed shock and surprise at the sudden spray of water and sometimes warm air that hits them in the rump at about the time they would be reaching for the familiar roll of paper. The device, first used in Japan in about 1980, is now popular in homes throughout the industrial world. The United States may be among the last hold-outs, mostly because the price of these fancy toilets have been costly (estimated at about $600 in U.S. currency). But now new attachments for hand spraying can be purchased for $25 on up, depending on how fancy the user wants his service, or if warm water is desired.
Most Americans who travel overseas know all about the toilets that eliminate the need to use toilet paper. Some have expressed shock and surprise at the sudden spray of water and sometimes warm air that hits them in the rump at about the time they would be reaching for the familiar roll of paper. The device, first used in Japan in about 1980, is now popular in homes throughout the industrial world. The United States may be among the last hold-outs, mostly because the price of these fancy toilets have been costly (estimated at about $600 in U.S. currency). But now new attachments for hand spraying can be purchased for $25 on up, depending on how fancy the user wants his service, or if warm water is desired.
San Francisco Traps Motorists In Painted Boxes
It has been a few years since I have been in San Francisco. From what I hear from friends who have been caught up in a new anti-congestion effort involving painted boxes on roadways, I doubt if I will ever want to return . . . at least in my own car. People are receiving unexpected citations in the mail charging them with “blocking the box” and demanding payment of fines exceeding $100. My friend received such a citation after driving an elderly lady to SF to receive a medical treatment for cancer. When she received the ticket in the mail she believed she was being improperly charged with illegally parking in the treatment center’s parking lot. But tracking the citation number on line proved that the charge involved an “improper turn” somewhere else in the city. Was that a mistake?
It has been a few years since I have been in San Francisco. From what I hear from friends who have been caught up in a new anti-congestion effort involving painted boxes on roadways, I doubt if I will ever want to return . . . at least in my own car. People are receiving unexpected citations in the mail charging them with “blocking the box” and demanding payment of fines exceeding $100. My friend received such a citation after driving an elderly lady to SF to receive a medical treatment for cancer. When she received the ticket in the mail she believed she was being improperly charged with illegally parking in the treatment center’s parking lot. But tracking the citation number on line proved that the charge involved an “improper turn” somewhere else in the city. Was that a mistake?
Fake Monsters In The Lakes
A news story about a Saline, Michigan man who created a mechanical beast to imitate the famed Loch Ness Monster in a local lake as part of a local Celtic Festival reminded me of a similar creation some years back on the Western side of the state. I stumbled on the story when I was a young man working on the Kalamazoo Gazette, in Kalamazoo, a city that joined Portage. As the story went, an elderly gentleman who had lived all of his life on one of the four or five lakes in Kalamazoo County, told his story after years of fooling the people in the area with his cleverly concocted ruse.
A news story about a Saline, Michigan man who created a mechanical beast to imitate the famed Loch Ness Monster in a local lake as part of a local Celtic Festival reminded me of a similar creation some years back on the Western side of the state. I stumbled on the story when I was a young man working on the Kalamazoo Gazette, in Kalamazoo, a city that joined Portage. As the story went, an elderly gentleman who had lived all of his life on one of the four or five lakes in Kalamazoo County, told his story after years of fooling the people in the area with his cleverly concocted ruse.
Enjoying Christmas Lights
If ever there has been a “bah humbug” kind of guy at Christmas time, it has been this writer. I have been sickened by the excessive commercialism, the crazed rush to the stores and the social pressure to exchange gifts during parties and family get-togethers. But there is something very special about the way folks light up their homes, shops and towns for the holidays.
If ever there has been a “bah humbug” kind of guy at Christmas time, it has been this writer. I have been sickened by the excessive commercialism, the crazed rush to the stores and the social pressure to exchange gifts during parties and family get-togethers. But there is something very special about the way folks light up their homes, shops and towns for the holidays.
The Fight to Re-Legalize Marijuana in the US
It took two attempts, first in 2010 and again in 2016, before California voters approved the recreational use of marijuana. That year similar propositions won voter approval in Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts. At the time of this writing recreational marijuana use also is declared legal by voters in nine other states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands. They are Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, plus the District of Columbia.
It took two attempts, first in 2010 and again in 2016, before California voters approved the recreational use of marijuana. That year similar propositions won voter approval in Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts. At the time of this writing recreational marijuana use also is declared legal by voters in nine other states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands. They are Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, plus the District of Columbia.
Two Odd Encounters
I was experimenting with personal light energy while waiting for my wife. I was seated on one of the long “widower’s” benches at the front of the local Wal-Mart and I noticed that a number of people seemed to be responding to pleasant smiles and good-will greetings. Out of nowhere a big bearded man sat down beside me. He was a jolly fellow with a shopping cart containing two cases of Root Beer and a black box. After the initial greeting he wasted no time grabbing the black box and reading the information on its side. Just to strike up a conversation I asked him what he had in the box.
I was experimenting with personal light energy while waiting for my wife. I was seated on one of the long “widower’s” benches at the front of the local Wal-Mart and I noticed that a number of people seemed to be responding to pleasant smiles and good-will greetings. Out of nowhere a big bearded man sat down beside me. He was a jolly fellow with a shopping cart containing two cases of Root Beer and a black box. After the initial greeting he wasted no time grabbing the black box and reading the information on its side. Just to strike up a conversation I asked him what he had in the box.
The World Needs A Day Of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is perhaps among the best of the American holidays. It has few religious connotations, but is a day when we all gather with friends and family to reflect feelings of gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Unfortunately not all of the people in the world share in such a celebration. It may be just as well. Americans have done a very good job of spoiling the spirit of the holiday in every way possible. Gluttony, the commercialization of the Christmas spending spree and major league football games have worked their way into the scene in many homes. Consequently the sense of gratitude associated with Thanksgiving are basically overlooked. It has evolved into a day off from the job and for many a weekend to spend on self-gratification to the extreme.
Thanksgiving is perhaps among the best of the American holidays. It has few religious connotations, but is a day when we all gather with friends and family to reflect feelings of gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Unfortunately not all of the people in the world share in such a celebration. It may be just as well. Americans have done a very good job of spoiling the spirit of the holiday in every way possible. Gluttony, the commercialization of the Christmas spending spree and major league football games have worked their way into the scene in many homes. Consequently the sense of gratitude associated with Thanksgiving are basically overlooked. It has evolved into a day off from the job and for many a weekend to spend on self-gratification to the extreme.
The Time Change Brain Slam
Sunday, November 4, marks yet another mental adjustment to a seasonal switch to and from daylight savings time. It is an exercise in personal torture for people all over the United States and some countries abroad who have to force their bodies to shift their inner clocks by an hour. We all know the drill. In the spring we “spring forward,” which means we turn our clocks ahead late on Saturday, and give ourselves one day, Sunday, to try to adjust to the loss of an hour of time in our lives. That is supposed to make it easier when the alarm clock goes off on Monday morning and we crawl out of our beds for whatever routine we have established for our lives.
Sunday, November 4, marks yet another mental adjustment to a seasonal switch to and from daylight savings time. It is an exercise in personal torture for people all over the United States and some countries abroad who have to force their bodies to shift their inner clocks by an hour. We all know the drill. In the spring we “spring forward,” which means we turn our clocks ahead late on Saturday, and give ourselves one day, Sunday, to try to adjust to the loss of an hour of time in our lives. That is supposed to make it easier when the alarm clock goes off on Monday morning and we crawl out of our beds for whatever routine we have established for our lives.
Observing Sexual Body Signals
As I waited there I began to study the way both men and women walked through this very public place. As a student of sociology I have been keenly aware of body language for years and should have picked up on this behavior before now. I realized that the way young men and women walk in public clearly signals some kind of primeval kind of sexual invitation. What is more, I felt as if they may be sending these signals without being aware of it. Almost all young women have a way of rolling the hips as they walk. Some are more accomplished about this sexy body movement than others.
As I waited there I began to study the way both men and women walked through this very public place. As a student of sociology I have been keenly aware of body language for years and should have picked up on this behavior before now. I realized that the way young men and women walk in public clearly signals some kind of primeval kind of sexual invitation. What is more, I felt as if they may be sending these signals without being aware of it. Almost all young women have a way of rolling the hips as they walk. Some are more accomplished about this sexy body movement than others.
Mediterranean Fish Heads Deliver Magic Hallucinations
It seems that our world is filled with natural hallucinatory plant and animal life in spite of what governments do to cut off the supply. As the story was told, two men who dined on the heads of Sarpa salpa fish in a Mediterranean restaurant developed what was described as “a rare form of hallucinogenic poisoning.” One man was rushed to a local hospital after complaining of “vivid and terrifying auditory and visual hallucinations.” The news report was written as if the experience was so horrifying, the public is warned never to eat of this particular kind of fish for fear of it happening to others.
It’s Labor Day – So Who Is Celebrating?
The Labor Day holiday has been celebrated for the last century. But other than a day off from work and marking the traditional end of the summer vacation season, when children trudge back to school, the holiday has lost its glimmer for many Americans. If they are working, the job is usually labor intensive and the wages are so low that workers are forced to seek second jobs just to try to make ends meet. Many of the people who have jobs are slaving away at public service positions like fast-foot joints, Wall-Mart and service stations that keep their doors open on Labor Day. Thus, there is no time off with pay for them.
The Labor Day holiday has been celebrated for the last century. But other than a day off from work and marking the traditional end of the summer vacation season, when children trudge back to school, the holiday has lost its glimmer for many Americans. If they are working, the job is usually labor intensive and the wages are so low that workers are forced to seek second jobs just to try to make ends meet. Many of the people who have jobs are slaving away at public service positions like fast-foot joints, Wall-Mart and service stations that keep their doors open on Labor Day. Thus, there is no time off with pay for them.
Living With Outdated Zoning And Building Codes
Robin Speronis, a Cape Coral woman and former real estate agent, is fighting city hall over the renovations she made to her small duplex to simply cut her utility costs. Speronis installed solar panels to generate electricity, installed a tank on the roof to capture rainwater, uses a camp stove to cook and uses propane lamps to generate light and heat. The only public utility she is using is the city sewer system. A city building inspector determined that Speronis was in violation of city ordinance. He attempted to evict her from her home for not using public utilities. A local magistrate supported the eviction notice. So did a municipal judge who convicted her to a month in jail. The story made national headlines.
Robin Speronis, a Cape Coral woman and former real estate agent, is fighting city hall over the renovations she made to her small duplex to simply cut her utility costs. Speronis installed solar panels to generate electricity, installed a tank on the roof to capture rainwater, uses a camp stove to cook and uses propane lamps to generate light and heat. The only public utility she is using is the city sewer system. A city building inspector determined that Speronis was in violation of city ordinance. He attempted to evict her from her home for not using public utilities. A local magistrate supported the eviction notice. So did a municipal judge who convicted her to a month in jail. The story made national headlines.
Growing Threat Of Human Disconnect
Not many years ago I flew from California to my home in Michigan. The trip involved an eight-hour layover in Chicago O’Hare International Airport, so I was forced to experience a lengthy exposure to a lot of people over a long day. As a retired news reporter and trained sociologist, I am naturally an outgoing person who takes a keen interest in the people around me. What struck me during this trip was that very few of the people I came in contact with were interested in personal communication with those around them. Everybody appeared preoccupied with what was then the new I-Pads, Kindle reading and game devices, portable telephones and text message devices, portable laptop computers and music and telephone devices that plug into their ears.
Not many years ago I flew from California to my home in Michigan. The trip involved an eight-hour layover in Chicago O’Hare International Airport, so I was forced to experience a lengthy exposure to a lot of people over a long day. As a retired news reporter and trained sociologist, I am naturally an outgoing person who takes a keen interest in the people around me. What struck me during this trip was that very few of the people I came in contact with were interested in personal communication with those around them. Everybody appeared preoccupied with what was then the new I-Pads, Kindle reading and game devices, portable telephones and text message devices, portable laptop computers and music and telephone devices that plug into their ears.
How Big Can It Go?
Imagine: 3-D Printers That Manufacture Things!
There is another revolution occurring on the job market and it has the potential of competing for industrial manufacturing jobs all over the world. They have invented inexpensive three-dimensional computer printers that can conjure any shape from spools of plastic and leather. Billed at first as costly toys for the wealthy that were capable of making solid plastic objects out of anything the artist might imagine this new wave of printers, small enough to fit in a briefcase and costing no more than $2,000, is capable of manufacturing anything from leather wallets to lamps and circuit boards.
There is another revolution occurring on the job market and it has the potential of competing for industrial manufacturing jobs all over the world. They have invented inexpensive three-dimensional computer printers that can conjure any shape from spools of plastic and leather. Billed at first as costly toys for the wealthy that were capable of making solid plastic objects out of anything the artist might imagine this new wave of printers, small enough to fit in a briefcase and costing no more than $2,000, is capable of manufacturing anything from leather wallets to lamps and circuit boards.
The Height Of Stupidity; Tearing Up Our Railroads
Like any young boy of my day, I loved trains. I always had an active electric train set in my room. The walls of my bedroom were decorated with wallpaper depicting antique steam engines. My interest in trains has never wavered. I recognize a need for a good railroad system in our country as a way of moving a lot of people. And I have been appalled to think big business interests, the railroads, and many of our government leaders don’t seem to agree with me. I believe the railroad has always been a solution to our need for mass transportation and shipping. Rather than clutter our roads with pollution generating cars and trucks we should have followed the example chosen for Europe, China and Japan . . . replacing the old railroad systems with new, high-speed trains and good track to handle the nation’s needs.
Like any young boy of my day, I loved trains. I always had an active electric train set in my room. The walls of my bedroom were decorated with wallpaper depicting antique steam engines. My interest in trains has never wavered. I recognize a need for a good railroad system in our country as a way of moving a lot of people. And I have been appalled to think big business interests, the railroads, and many of our government leaders don’t seem to agree with me. I believe the railroad has always been a solution to our need for mass transportation and shipping. Rather than clutter our roads with pollution generating cars and trucks we should have followed the example chosen for Europe, China and Japan . . . replacing the old railroad systems with new, high-speed trains and good track to handle the nation’s needs.
Mystery Bug Bites In The Night
The story of a mystery insect biting the people of Lincoln County, Nebraska caught my eye some years back. The unseen critters were bothering the citizens enough that their story made news. While Health Department officials said they have no answers, I was quite sure that I did. I believe the culprits were what we Michiganders call No-see-ums, a biting midge or sand fly that is so tiny it can pass through screens and flit around your home undetected. Yet these little pests leave a hot, painful and stinging bite that lasts for days.
The story of a mystery insect biting the people of Lincoln County, Nebraska caught my eye some years back. The unseen critters were bothering the citizens enough that their story made news. While Health Department officials said they have no answers, I was quite sure that I did. I believe the culprits were what we Michiganders call No-see-ums, a biting midge or sand fly that is so tiny it can pass through screens and flit around your home undetected. Yet these little pests leave a hot, painful and stinging bite that lasts for days.
Store Security
As the economic crisis descended around us like a thick dark fog and people began losing their jobs, the shopkeepers in our town noticed a major increase in stolen merchandise. The local Walmart started hiring additional security guards after discovering that thieves were walking out of the door with wide-screen televisions, DVD players and other costly items. We know this because one of the elderly store greeters told us all about it when we were entering the store. While Doris did her shopping I hobbled over to my usual seat on the bench at the front of the store. From there I began watching the usual human carnival, this time with something new to spot.
As the economic crisis descended around us like a thick dark fog and people began losing their jobs, the shopkeepers in our town noticed a major increase in stolen merchandise. The local Walmart started hiring additional security guards after discovering that thieves were walking out of the door with wide-screen televisions, DVD players and other costly items. We know this because one of the elderly store greeters told us all about it when we were entering the store. While Doris did her shopping I hobbled over to my usual seat on the bench at the front of the store. From there I began watching the usual human carnival, this time with something new to spot.
Living “Off The Grid” is Illegal
As the battle against global warming and climate change zeros in on gas, oil and electric utility companies there has been a growing interest in finding alternative sources of energy and natural resources. Without government help the fight has fallen to state and private sources. Many homeowners are expressing an interest in owning electric cars, installing solar panels to heat and light their homes, and do home and organic gardening to produce their food. Unfortunately, there is a federal law in the United States against doing this very thing. It is the International Building Code (IBC), adopted by the International Code Council in 1997 to replace the older BOCA, SBCCI and ICBO codes used throughout the United States. The codes establish a standard for safe building standards designed to assure public safety within the places where people live and work.
As the battle against global warming and climate change zeros in on gas, oil and electric utility companies there has been a growing interest in finding alternative sources of energy and natural resources. Without government help the fight has fallen to state and private sources. Many homeowners are expressing an interest in owning electric cars, installing solar panels to heat and light their homes, and do home and organic gardening to produce their food. Unfortunately, there is a federal law in the United States against doing this very thing. It is the International Building Code (IBC), adopted by the International Code Council in 1997 to replace the older BOCA, SBCCI and ICBO codes used throughout the United States. The codes establish a standard for safe building standards designed to assure public safety within the places where people live and work.
Some Thoughts About Valentine’s Day
When we think about it the whole concept of Valentine’s Day is a nice one. It never hurts for us to express our love for one another. And valentines are exactly that. They are an expression of love. But all of the holidays, including Valentine’s Day, have become so commercialized that the fun has been stripped. Men now are expected to buy flowers for their wives or girlfriends. We see television advertisements suggesting materialistic gifts like jewelry, perfume, new clothes, or perhaps even a new car might be the correct way of expressing our love.
When we think about it the whole concept of Valentine’s Day is a nice one. It never hurts for us to express our love for one another. And valentines are exactly that. They are an expression of love. But all of the holidays, including Valentine’s Day, have become so commercialized that the fun has been stripped. Men now are expected to buy flowers for their wives or girlfriends. We see television advertisements suggesting materialistic gifts like jewelry, perfume, new clothes, or perhaps even a new car might be the correct way of expressing our love.
Lamenting The Restricted World Of Contemporary Childhood
There has been a movement among elementary school districts across the United States to ban children from playing all forms of contact games while left unsupervised on school grounds. School authorities cite the reason as fear of lawsuit from accidental injury. Recess is “a time when accidents can happen,” explained Gaylene Heppe, an elementary school principal at Attleboro, Massachusetts, where the board of education voted to ban games of tag, touch football and any other unsupervised “chase” game. My generation experienced no such restrictions and amazingly, we all grew up healthy and intact.
There has been a movement among elementary school districts across the United States to ban children from playing all forms of contact games while left unsupervised on school grounds. School authorities cite the reason as fear of lawsuit from accidental injury. Recess is “a time when accidents can happen,” explained Gaylene Heppe, an elementary school principal at Attleboro, Massachusetts, where the board of education voted to ban games of tag, touch football and any other unsupervised “chase” game. My generation experienced no such restrictions and amazingly, we all grew up healthy and intact.
Imagine A World Without Slavery
Slavery has been a way of life on Earth for as long as humans have recorded history. And there has always been a quest for freedom. The founders of the United States declared their new nation "the land of the free." That slogan has remained with us, even appearing in the lyrics of the National Anthem. Americans consider themselves free, but free of what? They have been relatively free of tyranny and after a bloody fight to gain the right to have collective bargaining at the work place they gained such extra things as paid health care, paid vacation time and paid sick time. They bargained for five-day work weeks and eight-hour work days. And child labor laws stopped employers from working children in their sweat shops. But they always had to return to that grueling place on the assembly line, or at a desk in front of a computer, spending eight long hours of monotonously doing the same thing day in and day out just to earn what they need to pay the rent, buy food for the family, and keep the family car on the road so they can get to and from their jobs.
Slavery has been a way of life on Earth for as long as humans have recorded history. And there has always been a quest for freedom. The founders of the United States declared their new nation "the land of the free." That slogan has remained with us, even appearing in the lyrics of the National Anthem. Americans consider themselves free, but free of what? They have been relatively free of tyranny and after a bloody fight to gain the right to have collective bargaining at the work place they gained such extra things as paid health care, paid vacation time and paid sick time. They bargained for five-day work weeks and eight-hour work days. And child labor laws stopped employers from working children in their sweat shops. But they always had to return to that grueling place on the assembly line, or at a desk in front of a computer, spending eight long hours of monotonously doing the same thing day in and day out just to earn what they need to pay the rent, buy food for the family, and keep the family car on the road so they can get to and from their jobs.
The Dark Ugly Month Of Christmas
We don’t like to celebrate Christmas at our house. We haven’t really done so since our children left the roost. Because of social influences, it is impossible for American families to avoid the frantic customs of the holiday when children are involved. They would not understand. Christmas is a very old holiday linked to the Winter Solstice, which occurs on or around December 21, and it has its roots in ancient Roman, German and Scandinavian celebrations. The Christians tossed the celebration of the birth of Jesus into the mix and somehow Christmas trees, candles, gift exchanges, mistletoe, and festive eating worked their way into it.
We don’t like to celebrate Christmas at our house. We haven’t really done so since our children left the roost. Because of social influences, it is impossible for American families to avoid the frantic customs of the holiday when children are involved. They would not understand. Christmas is a very old holiday linked to the Winter Solstice, which occurs on or around December 21, and it has its roots in ancient Roman, German and Scandinavian celebrations. The Christians tossed the celebration of the birth of Jesus into the mix and somehow Christmas trees, candles, gift exchanges, mistletoe, and festive eating worked their way into it.
Home Gardening May Be A Key To Our Survival
Most humans feel naturally drawn to the soil. Even if entrapped as city dwellers, we sense a need each spring to want to work the soil and plant things. This is expressed in the way we grow house plants and potted plants, even vegetables in prepared pots on our porches, in window boxes and in our yards. For years, because food at our local grocery stores has remained cheap and plentiful, our home gardens consisted mostly of flowers and decorative vines. But things are changing now. People are beginning to find creative ways to grow a variety of vegetables on those tiny home plots. Some people are even finding ways to put entire gardens on the flat roofs of commercial city buildings. But look out for the building inspectors.
Most humans feel naturally drawn to the soil. Even if entrapped as city dwellers, we sense a need each spring to want to work the soil and plant things. This is expressed in the way we grow house plants and potted plants, even vegetables in prepared pots on our porches, in window boxes and in our yards. For years, because food at our local grocery stores has remained cheap and plentiful, our home gardens consisted mostly of flowers and decorative vines. But things are changing now. People are beginning to find creative ways to grow a variety of vegetables on those tiny home plots. Some people are even finding ways to put entire gardens on the flat roofs of commercial city buildings. But look out for the building inspectors.
Are We Doomed to Forget Writing?
I would never have dreamed that the skills I was learning with pencil and lined paper in the first grade might someday be lost to a generation within my lifetime. Yet the new computer/mobile communication devices in the hands of so many youth today appear to be leading us blindly down what I consider to be a dangerous path predicated on a forever continuation of electric power. Schools are no longer teaching cursive writing. I am wondering if keyboard classes will be the next to fall; as will high school grammar classes. Even the skill of spelling seems to be under threat.
I would never have dreamed that the skills I was learning with pencil and lined paper in the first grade might someday be lost to a generation within my lifetime. Yet the new computer/mobile communication devices in the hands of so many youth today appear to be leading us blindly down what I consider to be a dangerous path predicated on a forever continuation of electric power. Schools are no longer teaching cursive writing. I am wondering if keyboard classes will be the next to fall; as will high school grammar classes. Even the skill of spelling seems to be under threat.
Thanksgiving 2017- Some Thoughts
It is time once again for Americans to gather with friends and family members to feast and give thanks for the blessings bestowed upon them during the year. At least that is the image we have always had about the Thanksgiving Holiday. It has traditionally been a celebration at the end of the harvest, when the larders are supposedly filled with food stored for the looming winter months. But alas, the picture is very bleak again this year for many Americans. It is no secret that the nation is in deep economic despair. We have elected a fool for a "president" who clearly represents wealthy mob bosses. There are many people out of work, or struggling to make ends meet on part time employment at such low wages they cannot pay their way.
It is time once again for Americans to gather with friends and family members to feast and give thanks for the blessings bestowed upon them during the year. At least that is the image we have always had about the Thanksgiving Holiday. It has traditionally been a celebration at the end of the harvest, when the larders are supposedly filled with food stored for the looming winter months. But alas, the picture is very bleak again this year for many Americans. It is no secret that the nation is in deep economic despair. We have elected a fool for a "president" who clearly represents wealthy mob bosses. There are many people out of work, or struggling to make ends meet on part time employment at such low wages they cannot pay their way.
The College Trap
While a college degree is still considered a must for ensuring good employment, many good students who cannot afford college without loans are discouraged from considering college. This is resulting in the possible loss of some of the best minds in the nation. It is looking more and more like college is available only for children of wealthy families rather than the finest students. All of this is creating a worsening of the class divide that has resulted in the loss of the nation’s Middle Class.
While a college degree is still considered a must for ensuring good employment, many good students who cannot afford college without loans are discouraged from considering college. This is resulting in the possible loss of some of the best minds in the nation. It is looking more and more like college is available only for children of wealthy families rather than the finest students. All of this is creating a worsening of the class divide that has resulted in the loss of the nation’s Middle Class.
The Strange Story Of The Ourang Medan
As the story is told, two American vessels steaming in the Strait of Malacca in Indonesian waters sometime during the summer of 1947 picked up a distress radio signal from a Dutch merchant ship, the Ourang Medan. The radio operator on the Ourang Medan sent the following Morse code message: “All officers including captain are dead lying in chartroom and bridge. Possibly whole crew dead.” This was followed by a final message: “I die.” After that, the ship’s radio went dead. The Silver Star was closest to the distressed ship and steamed to the scene. They found the Ourang Medan riding dead in the water and its decks littered with the gristly scene of the corpses of the crew. It was said the men’s eyes were wide, their faces twisted as if they died in agony and horror. Even the ship’s dog was found dead.
As the story is told, two American vessels steaming in the Strait of Malacca in Indonesian waters sometime during the summer of 1947 picked up a distress radio signal from a Dutch merchant ship, the Ourang Medan. The radio operator on the Ourang Medan sent the following Morse code message: “All officers including captain are dead lying in chartroom and bridge. Possibly whole crew dead.” This was followed by a final message: “I die.” After that, the ship’s radio went dead. The Silver Star was closest to the distressed ship and steamed to the scene. They found the Ourang Medan riding dead in the water and its decks littered with the gristly scene of the corpses of the crew. It was said the men’s eyes were wide, their faces twisted as if they died in agony and horror. Even the ship’s dog was found dead.
Ma and Pa Aren't On the Farm Anymore
I grew up during a time when families could make a good living on farms no larger than 160-acres. We lived on such a farm in Michigan. Those were the days when many dairy farmers milked their cows by hand and families dared to drink "raw" non-pasteurized milk laced with real cream. Those days are gone. The family-owned farm is fast disappearing. In their place is appearing the big factory farms where everything depends on profit.
I grew up during a time when families could make a good living on farms no larger than 160-acres. We lived on such a farm in Michigan. Those were the days when many dairy farmers milked their cows by hand and families dared to drink "raw" non-pasteurized milk laced with real cream. Those days are gone. The family-owned farm is fast disappearing. In their place is appearing the big factory farms where everything depends on profit.
Old Belief That Rain Followed the Plow
The people who dared to settle the arid Midwestern plains brought a lot of optimism when they moved west to claim the open lands. Rather than pasture cattle on the vast grasslands, they put the land to the plow and planted crops, believing that faith alone would bring the rain. Strangely it worked at first. Those early years produced bountiful crops because it did rain, even though the area was known for its long dry periods. And thus was born the theory that plowing the soil and planting crops caused nature to bring rain.
The people who dared to settle the arid Midwestern plains brought a lot of optimism when they moved west to claim the open lands. Rather than pasture cattle on the vast grasslands, they put the land to the plow and planted crops, believing that faith alone would bring the rain. Strangely it worked at first. Those early years produced bountiful crops because it did rain, even though the area was known for its long dry periods. And thus was born the theory that plowing the soil and planting crops caused nature to bring rain.
The Nose Picker’s Dilemma
Arthritic knees have made shopping trips to stores more troublesome to this writer than they used to be. Fortunately, the local Wal-Mart has installed numerous benches for folks like me to use while our partners shop the store. And that has made me a silent witness of many strange and sometimes humorous encounters. This one involves a young woman with a baby in her arms. When she thought no one was looking, this woman did something we all try not to do in public. She stuck the index finger of her right hand up her nose.
Arthritic knees have made shopping trips to stores more troublesome to this writer than they used to be. Fortunately, the local Wal-Mart has installed numerous benches for folks like me to use while our partners shop the store. And that has made me a silent witness of many strange and sometimes humorous encounters. This one involves a young woman with a baby in her arms. When she thought no one was looking, this woman did something we all try not to do in public. She stuck the index finger of her right hand up her nose.
Store Security
As the economic crisis descended around us like a thick dark fog and people began losing their jobs, the shopkeepers in our town noticed a major increase in stolen merchandise. The local Wal-Mart started hiring additional security guards after discovering that thieves were walking out of the door with wide-screen televisions, DVD players and other costly items. The general formula; as times get hard, people get desperate.
As the economic crisis descended around us like a thick dark fog and people began losing their jobs, the shopkeepers in our town noticed a major increase in stolen merchandise. The local Wal-Mart started hiring additional security guards after discovering that thieves were walking out of the door with wide-screen televisions, DVD players and other costly items. The general formula; as times get hard, people get desperate.
Male Established Laws Involving Women’s Wombs
Women of reproductive age living in the United States today are subject to a growing number of state and federal laws controlling their right to accept what happens in the womb during and after a male sexual encounter. The extreme right-wing-Christian-controlled fanaticism is getting so ridiculous that we would not be surprised if women didn’t start to choose chastity belts rather than consider the joys of a loving relationship with men.
Women of reproductive age living in the United States today are subject to a growing number of state and federal laws controlling their right to accept what happens in the womb during and after a male sexual encounter. The extreme right-wing-Christian-controlled fanaticism is getting so ridiculous that we would not be surprised if women didn’t start to choose chastity belts rather than consider the joys of a loving relationship with men.
Robots on the Farm
Now the new thing is robot operated tractors, harvesters and other machines. Why wouldn’t they create such devices? When the robot automobiles first appeared, it was only a matter of time before robot aircraft were being used by Amazon to deliver packages and the military to deliver bombs on the enemy. Next we heard about robot operated ships at sea, controlled by men in offices thousands of miles away. Robotic trains are being developed to be operated by computers. It should not be surprising, then, that farmers are not only experimenting with, but introducing robot tractors and harvesting machines to their operations.
Now the new thing is robot operated tractors, harvesters and other machines. Why wouldn’t they create such devices? When the robot automobiles first appeared, it was only a matter of time before robot aircraft were being used by Amazon to deliver packages and the military to deliver bombs on the enemy. Next we heard about robot operated ships at sea, controlled by men in offices thousands of miles away. Robotic trains are being developed to be operated by computers. It should not be surprising, then, that farmers are not only experimenting with, but introducing robot tractors and harvesting machines to their operations.
The Sex Horror Xenoestrogen
They are called xenoestrogens, part of a new field of xenohormones that they are found everywhere we use or come in contact with chemicals. A recent report notes that some of the 100,000 registered chemicals used in the world today have hormonal as well as toxic and carcinogenic effects on the people who come in contact with them. Plastics are among the worst offenders. Why are xenoestrogens a problem? Have you wondered why male erectile disfunction has become such a marked problem and we are seeing television ads for a line of new products that help men have sex? Hasn't it occurred to us that this might be abnormal and that something is going haywire with our environment?
They are called xenoestrogens, part of a new field of xenohormones that they are found everywhere we use or come in contact with chemicals. A recent report notes that some of the 100,000 registered chemicals used in the world today have hormonal as well as toxic and carcinogenic effects on the people who come in contact with them. Plastics are among the worst offenders. Why are xenoestrogens a problem? Have you wondered why male erectile disfunction has become such a marked problem and we are seeing television ads for a line of new products that help men have sex? Hasn't it occurred to us that this might be abnormal and that something is going haywire with our environment?
Why It’s Illegal To Feed The Homeless
Some years ago my wife and I had a hobby of vending collectible dishes and miscellaneous items at a Saturday morning flea market in downtown Port Huron, Michigan. This little market had a man and his wife who came each noon with delicious meals that we all enjoyed so much we didn’t bother bringing a lunch. Then one day the meals stopped coming. We learned that the city health department shut that business down because it was in violation of state and city health codes. While the food was prepared in a home kitchen, that kitchen did not meet regulations that called for stainless steel sinks, dishes and stoves and a license for operating that involved regular inspections by state officials.
Some years ago my wife and I had a hobby of vending collectible dishes and miscellaneous items at a Saturday morning flea market in downtown Port Huron, Michigan. This little market had a man and his wife who came each noon with delicious meals that we all enjoyed so much we didn’t bother bringing a lunch. Then one day the meals stopped coming. We learned that the city health department shut that business down because it was in violation of state and city health codes. While the food was prepared in a home kitchen, that kitchen did not meet regulations that called for stainless steel sinks, dishes and stoves and a license for operating that involved regular inspections by state officials.
Why People Avoid Police Contact
In these times of instant public communication via Internet social media and the popular use of cell phone cameras to record just about everything everywhere, we are shocked by images of people ignoring men and women who have fallen to the sidewalk or along the road. Where are the good Samaritans we ask? I suppose we can blame the police and the courts for this apparent public indifference. Too many folks have found themselves in jail or facing charges just for daring to talk to police or even photograph them doing something routine like making a traffic stop. Heaven help anyone found bent over the body of a dead or wounded person on a public sidewalk.
In these times of instant public communication via Internet social media and the popular use of cell phone cameras to record just about everything everywhere, we are shocked by images of people ignoring men and women who have fallen to the sidewalk or along the road. Where are the good Samaritans we ask? I suppose we can blame the police and the courts for this apparent public indifference. Too many folks have found themselves in jail or facing charges just for daring to talk to police or even photograph them doing something routine like making a traffic stop. Heaven help anyone found bent over the body of a dead or wounded person on a public sidewalk.
The Annual Rite Of The Eostre Holiday
The celebration is to the pagan goddess of spring and fertility, Eostre. It was never meant for Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church scooped up the trappings of the pagan rites of spring the turned it into a celebration of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In essence the holiday marks the end of winter, the rising of Ra, the Sun, and the rebirth of the green and growing foods from the earth. Labeled as the holiest holiday among Christians and Jews, for different reasons, the celebration has become a complex mixture of bunnies, baby chicks, painted chicken eggs, candies delivered in baskets filled with fake grass, and ladies wearing new spring hats.
The celebration is to the pagan goddess of spring and fertility, Eostre. It was never meant for Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church scooped up the trappings of the pagan rites of spring the turned it into a celebration of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In essence the holiday marks the end of winter, the rising of Ra, the Sun, and the rebirth of the green and growing foods from the earth. Labeled as the holiest holiday among Christians and Jews, for different reasons, the celebration has become a complex mixture of bunnies, baby chicks, painted chicken eggs, candies delivered in baskets filled with fake grass, and ladies wearing new spring hats.
All Fools’ Day – How Did This Get Started?
This is the first day of April. Those who might have overlooked checking the date may be easy prey for pranksters bent on keeping the traditions of April Fools’ Day alive. It is a day for pranks, hoaxes and practical jokes. Known as All Fools’ Day in other parts of the world, the day has never been a national holiday. But it is a day dedicated to an odd form of celebration none-the-less.
This is the first day of April. Those who might have overlooked checking the date may be easy prey for pranksters bent on keeping the traditions of April Fools’ Day alive. It is a day for pranks, hoaxes and practical jokes. Known as All Fools’ Day in other parts of the world, the day has never been a national holiday. But it is a day dedicated to an odd form of celebration none-the-less.
The Time Change Brain Slam
Today marks yet another mental adjustment to a seasonal switch to daylight savings time. It is an exercise in personal torture for people all over the United States and some countries abroad who have to force their bodies to shift their inner clocks by an hour. We all know the drill. In the spring we “spring forward,” which means we turn our clocks ahead late on Saturday, and give ourselves one day, Sunday, to try to adjust to the loss of an hour of time in our lives. That is supposed to make it easier when the alarm clock goes off on Monday morning and we crawl out of our beds for whatever routine we have established for our lives.
Today marks yet another mental adjustment to a seasonal switch to daylight savings time. It is an exercise in personal torture for people all over the United States and some countries abroad who have to force their bodies to shift their inner clocks by an hour. We all know the drill. In the spring we “spring forward,” which means we turn our clocks ahead late on Saturday, and give ourselves one day, Sunday, to try to adjust to the loss of an hour of time in our lives. That is supposed to make it easier when the alarm clock goes off on Monday morning and we crawl out of our beds for whatever routine we have established for our lives.
Should We Consider Returning To That Little Red School?
As the price of operating our public schools rises through the roof we are watching with alarm as local school districts struggle with drastic educational spending cuts. The new Trump Administration, with the appointment of school voucher advocate Betsy DeVos to head the Department of Education, does not appear to be leaning toward giving public schools any financial relief. Is it perhaps time for us to return to the old reliable neighborhood school system that once prevailed?
As the price of operating our public schools rises through the roof we are watching with alarm as local school districts struggle with drastic educational spending cuts. The new Trump Administration, with the appointment of school voucher advocate Betsy DeVos to head the Department of Education, does not appear to be leaning toward giving public schools any financial relief. Is it perhaps time for us to return to the old reliable neighborhood school system that once prevailed?
Capturing Energy In The Wind
Massive windfarms have been sprouting up in the U.S., especially on the open plains and on the vast shores where the wind blows free. Driving across the country it is common to come upon rows and rows of giant fans mounted on tall towers, all slowly turning to create a power source feeding nearby towns, farms and homes. The idea has been to capture the power when the wind blows, store it in batteries, and thus draw power from the batteries when needed. Now Duke Energy has completed a windfarm in Oklahoma that can produce enough power to replace a coal-fired electric plant.
Massive windfarms have been sprouting up in the U.S., especially on the open plains and on the vast shores where the wind blows free. Driving across the country it is common to come upon rows and rows of giant fans mounted on tall towers, all slowly turning to create a power source feeding nearby towns, farms and homes. The idea has been to capture the power when the wind blows, store it in batteries, and thus draw power from the batteries when needed. Now Duke Energy has completed a windfarm in Oklahoma that can produce enough power to replace a coal-fired electric plant.
Was Orwell’s "1984" A Prophetic Warning?
When published in 1949, I doubt if anyone ever thought the world depicted in George Orwell's novel "1984" would ever come into reality. Orwell described a complete enslavement of humanity by a privileged political elite. The government system was depicted by a Big Brother character that preached a socialistic system of collective behavior (Ingsoc) from giant television screens mounted everywhere.
When published in 1949, I doubt if anyone ever thought the world depicted in George Orwell's novel "1984" would ever come into reality. Orwell described a complete enslavement of humanity by a privileged political elite. The government system was depicted by a Big Brother character that preached a socialistic system of collective behavior (Ingsoc) from giant television screens mounted everywhere.
Giving Thanks In America
For most Americans the traditions are still in place for the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday. Families are gathering (if they can afford the trip or brave the weather) for a turkey dinner, rich salads, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie while the television covers Macy’s spectacular Thanksgiving Parade followed by an afternoon and evening of football. Or has everyone been lured to spend the day shopping instead?
For most Americans the traditions are still in place for the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday. Families are gathering (if they can afford the trip or brave the weather) for a turkey dinner, rich salads, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie while the television covers Macy’s spectacular Thanksgiving Parade followed by an afternoon and evening of football. Or has everyone been lured to spend the day shopping instead?
Dissolving Dead Bodies – A New Green Idea
There is a process called alkaline hydrolysis that has been used for the past 16 years to dispose of animal carcasses. Because of the high cost of funerals and because we are running out of places to bury all of our dead, the process is being seriously considered as an alternative to conventional ways of disposing of human bodies.
There is a process called alkaline hydrolysis that has been used for the past 16 years to dispose of animal carcasses. Because of the high cost of funerals and because we are running out of places to bury all of our dead, the process is being seriously considered as an alternative to conventional ways of disposing of human bodies.
Is This Election Driving People To Canada?
The emotions are more extreme than we have ever experienced preceding Tuesday’s Presidential election. So much so that many people, including some high profile names, are saying they plan to move to Canada if the "wrong" candidate wins the office. Saying this might be easier said than done, however.
The emotions are more extreme than we have ever experienced preceding Tuesday’s Presidential election. So much so that many people, including some high profile names, are saying they plan to move to Canada if the "wrong" candidate wins the office. Saying this might be easier said than done, however.
The Celebration of Halloween
As readers of this site have probably realized by now, we really like Halloween. It is among our favorite events, mostly because it has never been officially declared a real holiday, it has ancient Celtic roots and has not been adulterated to the extreme by Christianity.
As readers of this site have probably realized by now, we really like Halloween. It is among our favorite events, mostly because it has never been officially declared a real holiday, it has ancient Celtic roots and has not been adulterated to the extreme by Christianity.
The Human Perception of Reality
In the third book of his Cosmic Trigger trilogy, the late author Robert Anton Wilson takes a unique look at the concept of human conditioned "tunnel reality" by bringing his readers into a dark room filled with people looking at a television screen. It is such a brilliant way of explaining the way we are brainwashed by society to view our world, I am going to take the liberty this week of passing it on to you.
In the third book of his Cosmic Trigger trilogy, the late author Robert Anton Wilson takes a unique look at the concept of human conditioned "tunnel reality" by bringing his readers into a dark room filled with people looking at a television screen. It is such a brilliant way of explaining the way we are brainwashed by society to view our world, I am going to take the liberty this week of passing it on to you.
A Future World With Androids?
Modern researchers appear to be making great strides in the field of robotics. They have managed to make machines that look, speak and act so much like real humans they are unnerving to anyone that comes in contact. So how will this affect the way we live in the future? Will machines be someday capable of ruling the world? Perhaps surviving the death of our planet?
Modern researchers appear to be making great strides in the field of robotics. They have managed to make machines that look, speak and act so much like real humans they are unnerving to anyone that comes in contact. So how will this affect the way we live in the future? Will machines be someday capable of ruling the world? Perhaps surviving the death of our planet?
Consequences of America's Student Loan Debt Trap
Our best and brightest people, our college graduates, are so burdened with debt that they are delaying buying homes, cars, and even holding back on starting families. Potential doctors, lawyers and other professional people are so saddled with debt from their first four years they are not willing to borrow more money to finish their training. And those that do finish are forced to charge their clients high fees just to help pay off those bank loans. There is little incentive for young men and women in the U.S. to even consider college.
Our best and brightest people, our college graduates, are so burdened with debt that they are delaying buying homes, cars, and even holding back on starting families. Potential doctors, lawyers and other professional people are so saddled with debt from their first four years they are not willing to borrow more money to finish their training. And those that do finish are forced to charge their clients high fees just to help pay off those bank loans. There is little incentive for young men and women in the U.S. to even consider college.
We Are Not Slaves!
No longer protected by union contracts, workers in the United States have been subjected to pay cuts, loss of benefits and job security. Many states have adopted “right to work” laws, a label the belies the fact that the laws rip the guts out of union contracts and give employers the freedom to hire and fire workers at will and without cause. It should not be surprising then that a survey by Workplace Democracy Association found that one of every four American workers compared their workplace as a dictatorship. The story noted that job morale was low and we can expect that under the circumstances, the concept of pride in workmanship has all but disappeared.
No longer protected by union contracts, workers in the United States have been subjected to pay cuts, loss of benefits and job security. Many states have adopted “right to work” laws, a label the belies the fact that the laws rip the guts out of union contracts and give employers the freedom to hire and fire workers at will and without cause. It should not be surprising then that a survey by Workplace Democracy Association found that one of every four American workers compared their workplace as a dictatorship. The story noted that job morale was low and we can expect that under the circumstances, the concept of pride in workmanship has all but disappeared.
The Height Of Stupidity; Tearing Up Our Railroads
Like any young boy of my time I loved trains. I always had an active electric train set in my room. The walls of my bedroom were decorated with wallpaper depicting antique steam engines. My interest in trains has never wavered. I recognize a need for a good railroad system in our country as a way of moving a lot of people. And I have been appalled to think big business interests, the railroads, and many of our government leaders don’t seem to agree with me. Rather than clutter our roads with pollution generating cars and trucks we should have followed the example chosen for Europe, China and Japan . . . replacing the old railroad systems with new, high-speed trains and good track to handle the nation’s needs.
Like any young boy of my time I loved trains. I always had an active electric train set in my room. The walls of my bedroom were decorated with wallpaper depicting antique steam engines. My interest in trains has never wavered. I recognize a need for a good railroad system in our country as a way of moving a lot of people. And I have been appalled to think big business interests, the railroads, and many of our government leaders don’t seem to agree with me. Rather than clutter our roads with pollution generating cars and trucks we should have followed the example chosen for Europe, China and Japan . . . replacing the old railroad systems with new, high-speed trains and good track to handle the nation’s needs.
When The Power Is Gone
There is a strange unexplained effect experienced in the home when the electricity suddenly stops flowing. It isn’t exactly a silence. But the building feels almost “dead.” This is because our bodies, which are electricity charged, sense the electricity flowing through the wires of the walls.
There is a strange unexplained effect experienced in the home when the electricity suddenly stops flowing. It isn’t exactly a silence. But the building feels almost “dead.” This is because our bodies, which are electricity charged, sense the electricity flowing through the wires of the walls.
Remembering The Rainbow People
There was a story in 2006 about a group of teachers, students and social workers in New York that called themselves the “freegans.” They were going out at night, savaging rubbish bins outside supermarkets, bakeries and restaurants in and around town collecting food that is being tossed out at the end of every business day. The group was attempting to demonstrate how American over-consumption is a pernicious global trend. They were demonstrating how people can feed themselves for free on the mountains of produce discarded by others. The story reminded me of my encounter with The Rainbow People in Arizona and how they lived.
There was a story in 2006 about a group of teachers, students and social workers in New York that called themselves the “freegans.” They were going out at night, savaging rubbish bins outside supermarkets, bakeries and restaurants in and around town collecting food that is being tossed out at the end of every business day. The group was attempting to demonstrate how American over-consumption is a pernicious global trend. They were demonstrating how people can feed themselves for free on the mountains of produce discarded by others. The story reminded me of my encounter with The Rainbow People in Arizona and how they lived.
It’s Labor Day – So Who Is Celebrating?
The Labor Day holiday has been celebrated for the last century. But other than a day off from work and marking the traditional end of the summer vacation season, when children trudge back to school, the holiday has lost its glimmer for many Americans.
The Labor Day holiday has been celebrated for the last century. But other than a day off from work and marking the traditional end of the summer vacation season, when children trudge back to school, the holiday has lost its glimmer for many Americans.
Entering A New A-I World At High Speed
The brains of Silicone Valley are producing robotic machines that will soon provide for our every need. They are producing driverless cars, machines that manufacture other machines, machines that pick our fruit and vegetables, robotic telephone answering and message-sending services, robot carpet cleaners and more recently, an automated restaurant that services up-front customers. So how will this impact the job market? Are we prepared for this rapidly changing world?
The brains of Silicone Valley are producing robotic machines that will soon provide for our every need. They are producing driverless cars, machines that manufacture other machines, machines that pick our fruit and vegetables, robotic telephone answering and message-sending services, robot carpet cleaners and more recently, an automated restaurant that services up-front customers. So how will this impact the job market? Are we prepared for this rapidly changing world?
Our Sea Food Is Poisoned
It should be self-evident by now that those grand sea-food meals we once enjoyed are now laced with so much toxin that they no longer belong on our menu. Except for some areas of the North Atlantic and perhaps a few fresh-water inland lakes where human industrialization has not ventured, the consumption of fresh caught fish should be off-limits. We have literally poisoned the creatures of the lakes, streams and seas all over the world.
It should be self-evident by now that those grand sea-food meals we once enjoyed are now laced with so much toxin that they no longer belong on our menu. Except for some areas of the North Atlantic and perhaps a few fresh-water inland lakes where human industrialization has not ventured, the consumption of fresh caught fish should be off-limits. We have literally poisoned the creatures of the lakes, streams and seas all over the world.
The Barbaric Act Of Execution
We wince at the very thought of some criminal in some far-away prison being “legally” put to death following conviction for crimes he or she may or may not have committed. We also find ourselves turning away from pictures of captured people in foreign lands being lined up before firing squads, or being beheaded at the blade of a sharp sword. It is easy to rationalize when we see or hear of such things. We want to believe the person just put to death probably deserved his fate . . . that we are glad not to be in that person’s shoes. But what do we accomplish when we kill the killer? Does the hangman ever sleep at night?
We wince at the very thought of some criminal in some far-away prison being “legally” put to death following conviction for crimes he or she may or may not have committed. We also find ourselves turning away from pictures of captured people in foreign lands being lined up before firing squads, or being beheaded at the blade of a sharp sword. It is easy to rationalize when we see or hear of such things. We want to believe the person just put to death probably deserved his fate . . . that we are glad not to be in that person’s shoes. But what do we accomplish when we kill the killer? Does the hangman ever sleep at night?
Harsh Headlines Incites a Very Bad Day
Setting the political chaos aside, a look at real news events of a single day . . . we have picked May 31, 2016 . . . seems to describe a most troubled society that is having a hard time coping. Surely the news of that single day was most appalling; and if we think about it, each event may have world changing implications. Other than the single war story, not one of the reported events involved the firing of a gun.
Setting the political chaos aside, a look at real news events of a single day . . . we have picked May 31, 2016 . . . seems to describe a most troubled society that is having a hard time coping. Surely the news of that single day was most appalling; and if we think about it, each event may have world changing implications. Other than the single war story, not one of the reported events involved the firing of a gun.
The Police Crisis In America
The nation has been sliding toward a police state situation for a long time. I watched it happening during the years I spent reporting police news, covering major fires, murders, court trials and sometimes just riding around with the police on night patrol. There was a time when I had my own personal coffee cup hanging on a hook with the other cups at the Michigan State Police Post. I was given free access to the Sheriff’s Dispatcher’s radio room where I could read the nightly police and fire log. The night dispatcher usually called me at my office or home when major events were happening. Nothing that the police did in the county escaped my attention. After federal money began pouring into state and county coffers my access to police operations was cut off. And the troubles began.
The nation has been sliding toward a police state situation for a long time. I watched it happening during the years I spent reporting police news, covering major fires, murders, court trials and sometimes just riding around with the police on night patrol. There was a time when I had my own personal coffee cup hanging on a hook with the other cups at the Michigan State Police Post. I was given free access to the Sheriff’s Dispatcher’s radio room where I could read the nightly police and fire log. The night dispatcher usually called me at my office or home when major events were happening. Nothing that the police did in the county escaped my attention. After federal money began pouring into state and county coffers my access to police operations was cut off. And the troubles began.
Who’s On First? Nope, They Is
He says he did it as a joke, and the former Andrew Wilson’s decision to have his name changed to "They" has all the earmarks of slapstick comedy. The 43-year-old inventor from Branson, Mo. Was granted legal permission by a circuit judge to change his name to They. That’s all . . . just They. He has no surname. They said he did it to humor the common reference to "they." People are always saying "they do this," or "they are to blame for whatever . . . "They accomplish such great things. Somebody had to take responsibility," he said.
He says he did it as a joke, and the former Andrew Wilson’s decision to have his name changed to "They" has all the earmarks of slapstick comedy. The 43-year-old inventor from Branson, Mo. Was granted legal permission by a circuit judge to change his name to They. That’s all . . . just They. He has no surname. They said he did it to humor the common reference to "they." People are always saying "they do this," or "they are to blame for whatever . . . "They accomplish such great things. Somebody had to take responsibility," he said.
A Better Idea For A New World Calendar
Astrophysicist Richard Conn Henry of the Krieger School of Arts and Scientists and Steve H. Hanke, an applied economist at Whiting School of Engineering, have created a proposed new perennial calendar that they say will give the world some stability in the way we live. The Hanke-Henry Permanent Calendar would make each new 12-month year identical to the one that came before, and never change. The calendar would make all of the months 30 days in length except March, June, September and December, which would have 31 days.
Astrophysicist Richard Conn Henry of the Krieger School of Arts and Scientists and Steve H. Hanke, an applied economist at Whiting School of Engineering, have created a proposed new perennial calendar that they say will give the world some stability in the way we live. The Hanke-Henry Permanent Calendar would make each new 12-month year identical to the one that came before, and never change. The calendar would make all of the months 30 days in length except March, June, September and December, which would have 31 days.
A Tear Shed For The Decaying City of Detroit
Not long ago my I took a wrong turn on the expressway while driving through Detroit and found myself in an abandoned industrial part of that city. That drive through dark dead Detroit was probably the spookiest trip I have ever made. After leaving the industrial section I came upon neighborhoods of dilapidated and abandoned houses. I searched frantically for a way back to the expressway and an exit from the most uncomfortable place I have ever found myself in. Detroit today is a dying city. It is so eroded with closed and abandoned factories, vacated and abandoned houses and roaming gangs of thugs that few people dare to venture there, especially after dark. My heart went out to those still forced to be living in such a place. It wasn't aways like this.
Not long ago my I took a wrong turn on the expressway while driving through Detroit and found myself in an abandoned industrial part of that city. That drive through dark dead Detroit was probably the spookiest trip I have ever made. After leaving the industrial section I came upon neighborhoods of dilapidated and abandoned houses. I searched frantically for a way back to the expressway and an exit from the most uncomfortable place I have ever found myself in. Detroit today is a dying city. It is so eroded with closed and abandoned factories, vacated and abandoned houses and roaming gangs of thugs that few people dare to venture there, especially after dark. My heart went out to those still forced to be living in such a place. It wasn't aways like this.
Honoring The War Dead
Today is Memorial Day, the first national holiday of the summer throughout the United States. It was called Decoration Day when I was a young lad. It was always held on May 30, the day marked to honor the war dead by Civil War hero General John Logan, when he served as commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1868.
Today is Memorial Day, the first national holiday of the summer throughout the United States. It was called Decoration Day when I was a young lad. It was always held on May 30, the day marked to honor the war dead by Civil War hero General John Logan, when he served as commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1868.
Staying Upbeat On The Job
Maintaining a positive image while dealing with the public has long been an unspoken requirement for American workers. Most of us learned early how to hide our emotions and generate a “happy” front during those critical hours we spend at job slavery. When working for the “boss” we always understood the cardinal rule that “the customer is always right.” Thus we labored under the threat of possibly losing those jobs if a customer chooses to complain about our performance. Those of us who have had jobs that pushed us into daily confrontation with the outside world are well aware of just how volatile some situations can be.
Maintaining a positive image while dealing with the public has long been an unspoken requirement for American workers. Most of us learned early how to hide our emotions and generate a “happy” front during those critical hours we spend at job slavery. When working for the “boss” we always understood the cardinal rule that “the customer is always right.” Thus we labored under the threat of possibly losing those jobs if a customer chooses to complain about our performance. Those of us who have had jobs that pushed us into daily confrontation with the outside world are well aware of just how volatile some situations can be.
Why is Colorado Springs Being Radiated?
Weekly U. S. radiation reports by Bob Nichols on the Veterans Today website have repeatedly been showing Colorado Springs, Colorado as one of the most contaminated places in the nation. There are no known nuclear generating plants operating in the area so why is the region being radiated?
Weekly U. S. radiation reports by Bob Nichols on the Veterans Today website have repeatedly been showing Colorado Springs, Colorado as one of the most contaminated places in the nation. There are no known nuclear generating plants operating in the area so why is the region being radiated?
I Don't Say The Pledge Of Allegiance Anymore
There is nothing wrong with patriotism. National pride is the foundation of a strong nation where people can feel safe and secure. What I object to is media and socially imposed patriotism for the wrong reasons, and the constant use of old and sometimes meaningless cliches designed to excite crowds for political purpose rather than legitimate national defense. I am especially bothered by the Pledge of Allegiance that we make to our flag. Very little in the pledge remains true.
There is nothing wrong with patriotism. National pride is the foundation of a strong nation where people can feel safe and secure. What I object to is media and socially imposed patriotism for the wrong reasons, and the constant use of old and sometimes meaningless cliches designed to excite crowds for political purpose rather than legitimate national defense. I am especially bothered by the Pledge of Allegiance that we make to our flag. Very little in the pledge remains true.
All Fools’ Day – Exploring its Origins
This is the first day of April. Those who might have overlooked checking the date may be easy prey for pranksters bent on keeping the traditions of April Fools’ Day alive. It is a day for pranks, hoaxes and practical jokes. Known as All Fools’ Day in other parts of the world, the day has never been a national holiday. But it is a day dedicated to an odd form of celebration none-the-less. Historians can’t pin down the exact origin of all this foolishness but there are various interesting theories.
This is the first day of April. Those who might have overlooked checking the date may be easy prey for pranksters bent on keeping the traditions of April Fools’ Day alive. It is a day for pranks, hoaxes and practical jokes. Known as All Fools’ Day in other parts of the world, the day has never been a national holiday. But it is a day dedicated to an odd form of celebration none-the-less. Historians can’t pin down the exact origin of all this foolishness but there are various interesting theories.
Who Was Saint Patrick?
Today is St. Patrick’s Day all over the world. People in the United States, Japan, Argentina, Russia, Great Britain and Malaysia are among the folks who are joining the Irish in celebrating the holiday by wearing green, tipping green ale, holding parades and telling Irish jokes.
Today is St. Patrick’s Day all over the world. People in the United States, Japan, Argentina, Russia, Great Britain and Malaysia are among the folks who are joining the Irish in celebrating the holiday by wearing green, tipping green ale, holding parades and telling Irish jokes.
How Scary Is Our World?
Columnist William Blum writing for Counterpunch recently put forth an interesting question. He wrote: "Is the world actually so much more evil and scary today than it was in the 1950s of my upbringing, for which I grow more nostalgic with each new horror? Or is it that the horrors of today are so much better reported, as we swim in a sea of news and videos? Indeed, as a child of the 1950s, I also recognize Blum's nostalgia for "the good old days." But it is true, when we think back on it, those days weren't really as good as we now want to remember.
Columnist William Blum writing for Counterpunch recently put forth an interesting question. He wrote: "Is the world actually so much more evil and scary today than it was in the 1950s of my upbringing, for which I grow more nostalgic with each new horror? Or is it that the horrors of today are so much better reported, as we swim in a sea of news and videos? Indeed, as a child of the 1950s, I also recognize Blum's nostalgia for "the good old days." But it is true, when we think back on it, those days weren't really as good as we now want to remember.
They Want The Homeless To Go Away
Homelessness has become a major national problem in America. But instead of trying to do something about it, some city officials, worried that people sitting and sleeping on public streets will hurt business, are passing laws designed to make it illegal to be homeless. The callousness of this kind of thinking boggles the mind. The laws are compounding the homeless problem in unimaginable ways. The quest for money appears to be driving everybody insane. But there is a solution. They are calling it "Housing First."
Homelessness has become a major national problem in America. But instead of trying to do something about it, some city officials, worried that people sitting and sleeping on public streets will hurt business, are passing laws designed to make it illegal to be homeless. The callousness of this kind of thinking boggles the mind. The laws are compounding the homeless problem in unimaginable ways. The quest for money appears to be driving everybody insane. But there is a solution. They are calling it "Housing First."
New Year 2016 – Dare We Celebrate?
Someday – if we are lucky – we may look back on this point in time and realize it was an important milestone; either we made a good decision and saved our planet and ourselves from an ugly destructive fate or we chose to blindly take the fabled route of the lemmings and jump into the abyss. As people all over the world dig out their party hats, stock up on their favorite liquors, and prepare to launch a barrage of fireworks to welcome in the New Year, many of us shudder as we consider the issues facing us in the weeks and months ahead.
Someday – if we are lucky – we may look back on this point in time and realize it was an important milestone; either we made a good decision and saved our planet and ourselves from an ugly destructive fate or we chose to blindly take the fabled route of the lemmings and jump into the abyss. As people all over the world dig out their party hats, stock up on their favorite liquors, and prepare to launch a barrage of fireworks to welcome in the New Year, many of us shudder as we consider the issues facing us in the weeks and months ahead.
The God Called Materialism
Unless you were born and raised in a so-called third world country where the overcrowded masses eke out their existence in extreme poverty, or raised in an impoverished home in the United States, you were groomed from childhood to worship materialism. The need for warmth, food and shelter is basic. But to desire a luxury home with two-car attached garage, a swimming pool, two bathrooms, closets filled with clothes and a wine cellar stocked with the world’s finest, is pure gluttony. The celebration of Christmas is, in reality, a training ground for children. By experiencing the lights, glitter and rich foods leading up to the big day when a magical stack of free gifts are awarded, the child quickly adapts to the artificial thrill of acquiring shiny but usually unnecessary things.
Unless you were born and raised in a so-called third world country where the overcrowded masses eke out their existence in extreme poverty, or raised in an impoverished home in the United States, you were groomed from childhood to worship materialism. The need for warmth, food and shelter is basic. But to desire a luxury home with two-car attached garage, a swimming pool, two bathrooms, closets filled with clothes and a wine cellar stocked with the world’s finest, is pure gluttony. The celebration of Christmas is, in reality, a training ground for children. By experiencing the lights, glitter and rich foods leading up to the big day when a magical stack of free gifts are awarded, the child quickly adapts to the artificial thrill of acquiring shiny but usually unnecessary things.
Humans Are Their Own Worst Enemy
Americans have become a nation of overweight, unhealthy sheep who have lost their ability to think. We are skillfully manipulated through subliminal messages delivered via our televisions, radios and the Internet. We can be programmed to buy certain products, watch certain films, elect certain leaders, and even go to war without cause, almost at the flip of a switch. Why, for example, do you think the people would collectively agree to allow their president to declare a universal and unending state of war against a political philosophy called terrorism which can never be won? Or willingly allow our leaders to dismantle the freedoms we once enjoyed through the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, all in the guise of protecting us from terrorism within?
Americans have become a nation of overweight, unhealthy sheep who have lost their ability to think. We are skillfully manipulated through subliminal messages delivered via our televisions, radios and the Internet. We can be programmed to buy certain products, watch certain films, elect certain leaders, and even go to war without cause, almost at the flip of a switch. Why, for example, do you think the people would collectively agree to allow their president to declare a universal and unending state of war against a political philosophy called terrorism which can never be won? Or willingly allow our leaders to dismantle the freedoms we once enjoyed through the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, all in the guise of protecting us from terrorism within?
Lets Get Rid Of Planned Obsolescence
While few of us alive today can remember it, there was a time when people took great pride in the work they did. Swiss watches were known to be among the finest time pieces in the world. The Cadillac was recognized as among the finest cars manufactured in the United States. Navajo hand-crafted wool blankets are still highly regarded as among the finest to be found anywhere. Now we live in a throw-away society. Every city has a junk yard filled with the things that we no longer want because they are out of style, or broken. The waste of the natural resources of our world is staggering.
While few of us alive today can remember it, there was a time when people took great pride in the work they did. Swiss watches were known to be among the finest time pieces in the world. The Cadillac was recognized as among the finest cars manufactured in the United States. Navajo hand-crafted wool blankets are still highly regarded as among the finest to be found anywhere. Now we live in a throw-away society. Every city has a junk yard filled with the things that we no longer want because they are out of style, or broken. The waste of the natural resources of our world is staggering.
The Time Change Brain Slam
Today (November 1) marks yet another mental adjustment to a seasonal switch on and off of daylight savings time. It is an exercise in personal torture for people all over the United States who must force their bodies to shift their inner clocks by an hour. We all know the drill. In the spring we “spring forward,” which means we turn our clocks ahead late on Saturday, and give ourselves one day, Sunday, to try to adjust to the loss of an hour of time in our lives. In the fall we “fall back.” I preferred the autumn time switch because it gave us that lost hour back. But the body clock didn’t seem to like this switch any more than it did the spring change. It always takes me weeks to get adjusted and I have a difficult time being aware of the time of day in which I am operating. Nobody likes it. So why do we do this to ourselves?
Today (November 1) marks yet another mental adjustment to a seasonal switch on and off of daylight savings time. It is an exercise in personal torture for people all over the United States who must force their bodies to shift their inner clocks by an hour. We all know the drill. In the spring we “spring forward,” which means we turn our clocks ahead late on Saturday, and give ourselves one day, Sunday, to try to adjust to the loss of an hour of time in our lives. In the fall we “fall back.” I preferred the autumn time switch because it gave us that lost hour back. But the body clock didn’t seem to like this switch any more than it did the spring change. It always takes me weeks to get adjusted and I have a difficult time being aware of the time of day in which I am operating. Nobody likes it. So why do we do this to ourselves?
Chicago’s Phantom Kangaroo
It was in 1974 that stories about a kangaroo running at large in the streets of Chicago and the city’s suburbs began circulating. It began with an odd report in the Chicago Tribune on October 19, and got wildly out of hand after that. The beast, which was never captured, has since become part of the strange mythological collection of strange and unexplained stories that are fun to tell around campfires.
It was in 1974 that stories about a kangaroo running at large in the streets of Chicago and the city’s suburbs began circulating. It began with an odd report in the Chicago Tribune on October 19, and got wildly out of hand after that. The beast, which was never captured, has since become part of the strange mythological collection of strange and unexplained stories that are fun to tell around campfires.
America’s Student Loan Debt Trap
When I attended college in the late 1950s the sociologists jokingly called it a "four-year-extension of infancy." That was because any high school graduate with a high enough grade average or the capability of passing a college entrance exam could get a crack at a bachelor’s degree or more. Tuition and the price of used text books at the campus store made the price of attending college within grasp. That was because we could earn enough money on available summer jobs to pay that part of the bill. I was able to earn enough while in college, working at one of the dormitory cafeterias, to pay my off-campus room rent of seven dollars a week. A weekly $10 check from my parents covered my food bill. Boy have things changed since those days.
When I attended college in the late 1950s the sociologists jokingly called it a "four-year-extension of infancy." That was because any high school graduate with a high enough grade average or the capability of passing a college entrance exam could get a crack at a bachelor’s degree or more. Tuition and the price of used text books at the campus store made the price of attending college within grasp. That was because we could earn enough money on available summer jobs to pay that part of the bill. I was able to earn enough while in college, working at one of the dormitory cafeterias, to pay my off-campus room rent of seven dollars a week. A weekly $10 check from my parents covered my food bill. Boy have things changed since those days.
Should We Consider Returning To That Little Red School?
As the price of gasoline rises through the roof we are watching with alarm as local school districts struggle with drastic educational spending cuts just to cover the cost of keeping a fleet of big gas-guzzling buses on the road for another season. Those cuts are so extreme some school boards in our area are going beyond slashing the usual school functions like music, sports and school trips. They are no longer buying textbooks and essential teaching tools, and teachers are getting pink slipped. And there go all of the arguments used in the 1950s and 1960s for closing all the one and two-room country schools and consolidating districts to provide a better education for all children.
As the price of gasoline rises through the roof we are watching with alarm as local school districts struggle with drastic educational spending cuts just to cover the cost of keeping a fleet of big gas-guzzling buses on the road for another season. Those cuts are so extreme some school boards in our area are going beyond slashing the usual school functions like music, sports and school trips. They are no longer buying textbooks and essential teaching tools, and teachers are getting pink slipped. And there go all of the arguments used in the 1950s and 1960s for closing all the one and two-room country schools and consolidating districts to provide a better education for all children.
Experienced Journalists Hanging Heads In Shame
The first sign that something was out of whack with the "reliable" mainstream media was the day NBC Anchor Brian Williams was caught fabricating a story about taking fire while riding in a military helicopter in Afghanistan. He apologized on air the next day, but appears to have lost his job over the incident anyway. As a long time journalist now retired, I could not imagine what got into Williams’ head that made him make up such a story. Now, suddenly we have an epidemic in false news flooding the media! More Scolding
The first sign that something was out of whack with the "reliable" mainstream media was the day NBC Anchor Brian Williams was caught fabricating a story about taking fire while riding in a military helicopter in Afghanistan. He apologized on air the next day, but appears to have lost his job over the incident anyway. As a long time journalist now retired, I could not imagine what got into Williams’ head that made him make up such a story. Now, suddenly we have an epidemic in false news flooding the media! More Scolding
World At A Crossroad – Which Path Will We Take?
Unless we are buried under the stupor of beer, televised athletic events and the crass brainwashing effects of that idiotic barrage of network programming, most of us are keenly aware that the world is rushing toward an event of major significance. The world economy is collapsing, people are out of work, losing their homes, hungry and in the streets in protest, the nation is involved in what appears to be endless warfare, we are living in an overpopulated world, running out of natural resources and up to our necks in filth and pollution of our own making. What shall we do? Click For Thoughts
Unless we are buried under the stupor of beer, televised athletic events and the crass brainwashing effects of that idiotic barrage of network programming, most of us are keenly aware that the world is rushing toward an event of major significance. The world economy is collapsing, people are out of work, losing their homes, hungry and in the streets in protest, the nation is involved in what appears to be endless warfare, we are living in an overpopulated world, running out of natural resources and up to our necks in filth and pollution of our own making. What shall we do? Click For Thoughts
Breaking The Chains Of Bondage
The great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi once said: "In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth." There is a secret to be shared here that most people in the so-called "free world" will probably refuse to accept without giving it some thought: we have all been born into a society that accepts slavery as a way of life. Click For More
The great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi once said: "In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth." There is a secret to be shared here that most people in the so-called "free world" will probably refuse to accept without giving it some thought: we have all been born into a society that accepts slavery as a way of life. Click For More
The Education Of The People
In 1972 the United States still was considered a center of higher learning. Students came here from all over the world to attend our colleges and universities where we excelled. Our high schools were geared up to prepare graduates for either college or technical education programs. People sought to buy homes and raise their children within the boundaries of school districts that excelled. But something happened to our education system in the last 40 years. It was such a slow and gradual decline that we hardly noticed it, but today our children can no longer compete with students on the world market. Why did this happen and how can we fix it? Click For Story
In 1972 the United States still was considered a center of higher learning. Students came here from all over the world to attend our colleges and universities where we excelled. Our high schools were geared up to prepare graduates for either college or technical education programs. People sought to buy homes and raise their children within the boundaries of school districts that excelled. But something happened to our education system in the last 40 years. It was such a slow and gradual decline that we hardly noticed it, but today our children can no longer compete with students on the world market. Why did this happen and how can we fix it? Click For Story
Dealing With The Horrors Of Reality
Columnist Marty Kaplan, writing in The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, recently said: “Some facts are so disturbing that the only way we can handle them is magical thinking. If we don’t dwell on them they won’t hurt us. If we ignore them, they’ll go away.” Kaplan’s words ring true even though the behavior he describes appears to defy logic. What is there in the human thought process that causes us to ignore or declare disbelief in things so terrible they obviously threaten our lives, our life style and perhaps the extinction of us all? This is what appears to be occurring all over the world. We offer a message of hope. Click For Story
Columnist Marty Kaplan, writing in The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, recently said: “Some facts are so disturbing that the only way we can handle them is magical thinking. If we don’t dwell on them they won’t hurt us. If we ignore them, they’ll go away.” Kaplan’s words ring true even though the behavior he describes appears to defy logic. What is there in the human thought process that causes us to ignore or declare disbelief in things so terrible they obviously threaten our lives, our life style and perhaps the extinction of us all? This is what appears to be occurring all over the world. We offer a message of hope. Click For Story
The Brainwashing Of The Masses
Author and video producer Steven Jacobson said: "Television is the most powerful weapon of psychological warfare in history. The programming that we are constantly assaulted by throughout our lives conditions us. It programs us to a particular worldview. Now, we may consider it normal because we were born into this system of lies and deception. And because we were born into this situation and our parents were born into it and have suffered from it, we don’t know any better." Click For More
Author and video producer Steven Jacobson said: "Television is the most powerful weapon of psychological warfare in history. The programming that we are constantly assaulted by throughout our lives conditions us. It programs us to a particular worldview. Now, we may consider it normal because we were born into this system of lies and deception. And because we were born into this situation and our parents were born into it and have suffered from it, we don’t know any better." Click For More
News Stories Reflect Growing Human Lunacy
Columnist Thom Hartmann posted a column this week in which he argued that America’s failed education system and a subsequent dumbing down of the people has been responsible for the destructive mess that has been going on in Washington in recent years. Hartmann may be onto something. But the insanity appears to be breaking out all over the nation. More . . .
Columnist Thom Hartmann posted a column this week in which he argued that America’s failed education system and a subsequent dumbing down of the people has been responsible for the destructive mess that has been going on in Washington in recent years. Hartmann may be onto something. But the insanity appears to be breaking out all over the nation. More . . .
Was Orwell’s "1984" A Prophetic Warning?
When published in 1949, I doubt if anyone ever thought the world depicted in George Orwell's novel "1984" would ever come into reality. Orwell described a complete enslavement of humanity by a privileged political elite. The government system was depicted by a Big Brother character that preached a socialistic system of collective behavior (Ingsoc) from giant television screens mounted everywhere. People worked in little cubicles. Video cameras were mounted on all streets, public buildings and job sites. And the world was engaged in a perpetual war against a vague enemy. Sound familiar? Click For More
When published in 1949, I doubt if anyone ever thought the world depicted in George Orwell's novel "1984" would ever come into reality. Orwell described a complete enslavement of humanity by a privileged political elite. The government system was depicted by a Big Brother character that preached a socialistic system of collective behavior (Ingsoc) from giant television screens mounted everywhere. People worked in little cubicles. Video cameras were mounted on all streets, public buildings and job sites. And the world was engaged in a perpetual war against a vague enemy. Sound familiar? Click For More
The Abnormal Concept Of Ownership
The great wall of division among humanity has always been wealth. And wealth can be interpreted as ownership. Those with wealth possess land, the society’s monetary supply, and consequently power. Imagine living in a society where ownership of "things" does not exist. It has been said that when Europeans first stepped on American soil, the natives were puzzled at the idea of "owning land." Some of the languages lacked words to even describe personal ownership of anything. Click For More
The great wall of division among humanity has always been wealth. And wealth can be interpreted as ownership. Those with wealth possess land, the society’s monetary supply, and consequently power. Imagine living in a society where ownership of "things" does not exist. It has been said that when Europeans first stepped on American soil, the natives were puzzled at the idea of "owning land." Some of the languages lacked words to even describe personal ownership of anything. Click For More
State Legislation Insanity
While the national press focuses on the shenanigans in Washington, DC with the new Republican-controlled Congress, GOP-led state legislatures continue pushing bills that can variously be described as pernicious, contemptible or outright absurd. Alternet
While the national press focuses on the shenanigans in Washington, DC with the new Republican-controlled Congress, GOP-led state legislatures continue pushing bills that can variously be described as pernicious, contemptible or outright absurd. Alternet
The Robbery Of Our Nobility
There is a belief among many in esoteric circles that every human is on this planet at this time to fulfill a purpose. Many are here as volunteers, existing among the humans to carry out our part in a master plan to teach us all how to love one another and to love and cherish the Mother Earth from where we receive everything we need to exist. Our origins are of nobility. We were never meant to be slaves to certain recognized rulers. But there are those among us who assume the roles of leadership and the rest are inclined to gratefully follow in lock step, perhaps even glad to let someone else assume the responsibility of what we are doing and where we are going. But if we are all kings and queens, why would we allow this? Click For Thoughts
There is a belief among many in esoteric circles that every human is on this planet at this time to fulfill a purpose. Many are here as volunteers, existing among the humans to carry out our part in a master plan to teach us all how to love one another and to love and cherish the Mother Earth from where we receive everything we need to exist. Our origins are of nobility. We were never meant to be slaves to certain recognized rulers. But there are those among us who assume the roles of leadership and the rest are inclined to gratefully follow in lock step, perhaps even glad to let someone else assume the responsibility of what we are doing and where we are going. But if we are all kings and queens, why would we allow this? Click For Thoughts
Home Gardening A Key To Our Survival
For years, because food at our local grocery stores has remained cheap and plentiful, our home gardens consisted mostly of flowers and decorative vines. But things are changing now. People are beginning to find creative ways to grow a variety of vegetables on those tiny home plots. Some people are even finding ways to put entire gardens on the flat roofs of commercial city buildings. Click For More
For years, because food at our local grocery stores has remained cheap and plentiful, our home gardens consisted mostly of flowers and decorative vines. But things are changing now. People are beginning to find creative ways to grow a variety of vegetables on those tiny home plots. Some people are even finding ways to put entire gardens on the flat roofs of commercial city buildings. Click For More
Imagine: 3-D Printers That Manufacture Things!
There is another revolution occurring on the job market and it has the potential of destroying industrial manufacturing jobs all over the world. They have just invented inexpensive three-dimensional computer printers that can conjure any shape from spools of plastic and leather. Billed at first as costly toys for the wealthy that were capable of making solid plastic objects out of anything the artist might imagine this new wave of printers, small enough to fit in a briefcase and costing no more than $2,000, is capable of manufacturing anything from leather wallets to lamps to circuit boards. More . . .
There is another revolution occurring on the job market and it has the potential of destroying industrial manufacturing jobs all over the world. They have just invented inexpensive three-dimensional computer printers that can conjure any shape from spools of plastic and leather. Billed at first as costly toys for the wealthy that were capable of making solid plastic objects out of anything the artist might imagine this new wave of printers, small enough to fit in a briefcase and costing no more than $2,000, is capable of manufacturing anything from leather wallets to lamps to circuit boards. More . . .
Humanity In Self-Destruct
A new book by American ecologist Dr. Ellis Silver has caused a stir among the scientific community. Silver suggests that humans are not of this Earth, and may have been placed here thousands of years ago by an alien race as a punishment because of our inability to get along. In a sense, Silver argues, we are all in a kind of prison. He does not believe we have a chance of being released from this mess until we learn how to lay down our weapons and reach out to one another in love and kindness. It is obvious we have failed in this quest. Is our time running out? Click For Story
A new book by American ecologist Dr. Ellis Silver has caused a stir among the scientific community. Silver suggests that humans are not of this Earth, and may have been placed here thousands of years ago by an alien race as a punishment because of our inability to get along. In a sense, Silver argues, we are all in a kind of prison. He does not believe we have a chance of being released from this mess until we learn how to lay down our weapons and reach out to one another in love and kindness. It is obvious we have failed in this quest. Is our time running out? Click For Story
Do You Think You Own Your Home?
All of this drama about home foreclosures and mortgage foreclosures, declining property values and homeless people occupying vacant buildings is a very contemporary phenomenon. When the aboriginals occupied the North American continent, there was no such thing as land ownership. If you think about it, there still isn’t. At least for middle class Americans. Click For Story
All of this drama about home foreclosures and mortgage foreclosures, declining property values and homeless people occupying vacant buildings is a very contemporary phenomenon. When the aboriginals occupied the North American continent, there was no such thing as land ownership. If you think about it, there still isn’t. At least for middle class Americans. Click For Story
Recycled Radioactive Waste In Our Homes
If you have purchased something "new" for your home recently, it might be a good idea to have a Geiger counter handy. It appears that many of the household products we are buying are being manufactured from the tons of radioactive waste that have been piling up since we began manufacturing atomic bombs and building nuclear powered ships and electric generating plants. Click For More
If you have purchased something "new" for your home recently, it might be a good idea to have a Geiger counter handy. It appears that many of the household products we are buying are being manufactured from the tons of radioactive waste that have been piling up since we began manufacturing atomic bombs and building nuclear powered ships and electric generating plants. Click For More