He ain't heavy, he's my brother...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1KtScrqtbc
8/10/10
Quote of the Day
Quality and care...
A person who sees Quality and feels it as he works is a person who cares. A person who cares about what he sees and does is a person who's bound to have some characteristics of Quality.
from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Part III, Chapter 24
copyright 1974, 1999
A person who sees Quality and feels it as he works is a person who cares. A person who cares about what he sees and does is a person who's bound to have some characteristics of Quality.
from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Part III, Chapter 24
copyright 1974, 1999
8/9/10
Quote of the Day
How to Lose an Election Without Really Trying...
Could George W. Bush be a kind of Gipper-in-reverse and win yet one more for the Democrats? Clearly this White House sees him as the gift that keeps on giving. The 2010 campaign against the Bush Administration is in full cry, with President Obama leading the charge. The Republicans are "betting on amnesia" he confidently told the claque at a recent fund-raiser, "they don't have a single idea that's different from George Bush's ideas." It's now the incessant party line.
Sounds plausible, but it's Obama who's on the wrong side of that bet, to his own political peril. Betting on amnesia is almost always a winning, not a losing, wager in America.
Eventually you must have your own ideas, your own agenda and own your own administration and campaign on your own record.
Frank Rich
Could George W. Bush be a kind of Gipper-in-reverse and win yet one more for the Democrats? Clearly this White House sees him as the gift that keeps on giving. The 2010 campaign against the Bush Administration is in full cry, with President Obama leading the charge. The Republicans are "betting on amnesia" he confidently told the claque at a recent fund-raiser, "they don't have a single idea that's different from George Bush's ideas." It's now the incessant party line.
Sounds plausible, but it's Obama who's on the wrong side of that bet, to his own political peril. Betting on amnesia is almost always a winning, not a losing, wager in America.
Eventually you must have your own ideas, your own agenda and own your own administration and campaign on your own record.
Prepare To Go Japanese
Big Government intervention: Deflation, Inflation Stagflation...
Big Government is probably here to stay for awhile, due to the economic crisis and entitlement psychology of a large segment of the American people, at the very least until the 2016 election. It is due to the major political parties having a stranglehold on the "two-party system" and despite protestations to the contrary, Republicans are as much Big Government (think defense, corporate influence, Social Security and Medicare) as the Democrats. Expect lots of government intervention to unnaturally fix a natural correction.
Prepare to go Japanese and be in economic, political and social stagnation for the rest of the decade. Deflation, Inflation, Stagflation.
Unless government intervention breaks and forces have built up to recognize that the Supremacy Clause, Federal Reserve, the 16th and 17th Amendments, among other things, aren't reformed or repealed, we will by the end of the decade really be like Japan, which is now into 20 years of stagnating decline. The US will be in the long slow decline of a once great country, following other great civilizations that throughout history, have fallen in stature. The United Kingdom is starkly well into it now.
Know the Geography of Your Mind
The key on a personal level to survive what is coming is by remaining psychologically intact, avoiding depression, alcohol and drugs and dangerous escapist behaviors like the population of another great power, Russia. This will be very hard work and require some good old American True Grit and courage. Individually we must also be responsible for ourselves and those close to us and vigilantly rebuild or maintain our personal economic situations to scale. Most importantly we need to make important choices about maintaining our values and ethics, guarding our minds, spiritual selves, personal associations, while navigating a toxic culture.
Although I think this era is much worse, I learned a lot from the economic, social and political era of 1968 through 1983. Technically during that time there were four recessions, but for most people I knew, it was just one long haul. I was neither rich nor poor but I became very wealthy in resourcefulness and for that reason, life was not so bad. It wasn't always easy, I had moments when I pondered if the future would ever bring an improvement and what it would look like if it happened.
Imitation of Life
Regretfully most of my generation, those of us statistically born at the height of the baby boom, when the early eighties recession ended and an economic revival began, suddenly lost their senses. They became consumers with rapidity, imitating the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." One week they were driving a nice, decent car and the next week a Mercedes, jeans were out and fancy pants were in and their hair was expensively styled. I don't feel sorry for them now, they've spent decades complacent in their overpaid careers, under performing while gorging on consumer goods and ill-prepared for what is happening to them now.
Self-reliance and being resourceful is key
Meanwhile I know people of all ages who didn't buy into consumerism or who for the past few years, self-aware, have been in consumerist recovery and getting back on the best track possible in these times. They all genuinely understand fully what is going on and although in the minority, there are millions of us and we'll make it somehow. I suspect that resourcefulness I never forgot from the early part of my life will come in handy for quite some time.
How To Make A Fountain Under $100
http://www.youtube.com/user/mhguy77
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fb9w_Wl8WM
Big Government is probably here to stay for awhile, due to the economic crisis and entitlement psychology of a large segment of the American people, at the very least until the 2016 election. It is due to the major political parties having a stranglehold on the "two-party system" and despite protestations to the contrary, Republicans are as much Big Government (think defense, corporate influence, Social Security and Medicare) as the Democrats. Expect lots of government intervention to unnaturally fix a natural correction.
Prepare to go Japanese and be in economic, political and social stagnation for the rest of the decade. Deflation, Inflation, Stagflation.
Unless government intervention breaks and forces have built up to recognize that the Supremacy Clause, Federal Reserve, the 16th and 17th Amendments, among other things, aren't reformed or repealed, we will by the end of the decade really be like Japan, which is now into 20 years of stagnating decline. The US will be in the long slow decline of a once great country, following other great civilizations that throughout history, have fallen in stature. The United Kingdom is starkly well into it now.
Know the Geography of Your Mind
The key on a personal level to survive what is coming is by remaining psychologically intact, avoiding depression, alcohol and drugs and dangerous escapist behaviors like the population of another great power, Russia. This will be very hard work and require some good old American True Grit and courage. Individually we must also be responsible for ourselves and those close to us and vigilantly rebuild or maintain our personal economic situations to scale. Most importantly we need to make important choices about maintaining our values and ethics, guarding our minds, spiritual selves, personal associations, while navigating a toxic culture.
Although I think this era is much worse, I learned a lot from the economic, social and political era of 1968 through 1983. Technically during that time there were four recessions, but for most people I knew, it was just one long haul. I was neither rich nor poor but I became very wealthy in resourcefulness and for that reason, life was not so bad. It wasn't always easy, I had moments when I pondered if the future would ever bring an improvement and what it would look like if it happened.
Imitation of Life
Regretfully most of my generation, those of us statistically born at the height of the baby boom, when the early eighties recession ended and an economic revival began, suddenly lost their senses. They became consumers with rapidity, imitating the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." One week they were driving a nice, decent car and the next week a Mercedes, jeans were out and fancy pants were in and their hair was expensively styled. I don't feel sorry for them now, they've spent decades complacent in their overpaid careers, under performing while gorging on consumer goods and ill-prepared for what is happening to them now.
Self-reliance and being resourceful is key
Meanwhile I know people of all ages who didn't buy into consumerism or who for the past few years, self-aware, have been in consumerist recovery and getting back on the best track possible in these times. They all genuinely understand fully what is going on and although in the minority, there are millions of us and we'll make it somehow. I suspect that resourcefulness I never forgot from the early part of my life will come in handy for quite some time.
How To Make A Fountain Under $100
http://www.youtube.com/user/mhguy77
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fb9w_Wl8WM
8/8/10
Be Prepared For Political Bashing
What is troublesome about the Boy Scouts booing Obama video...
Several things bother me about this video of the Boy Scouts booing President Obama's prerecorded speech to the National Jamboree in Virginia. It's occurred to me for awhile now that it serves no useful purpose to bash a President, whether it's Bush or Obama, rather it's simply being a poor sport and a sore loser. Legitimate criticism is one thing but the endless Bush and Obama bashing are just bad form and old news.
The Boy Scouts are not the organization I grew up with but I've known that a long time. I do expect certain things out of the leaders of a group of young people that are supposedly being trained in moral qualities of better character. If the President chose to go on The View instead of attending the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts, that is a reflection on him. That he chose to appear at their National Jamboree in a prerecorded videotaped session falls in the same category. Regardless if the Boy Scouts in attendance were booing Obama for not appearing in person or whether they "like" him or not is being a bad sport, lacks character and is disrespectful. That reflects on their leaders more than it does on them. It indicates they are not being trained in higher moral standards and good character. If they were they would know, whether you like any President or not, you respect the Office of the Presidency and booing a video monitor doesn't qualify as having good character, it is just unsupervised juvenile behavior.
On the other hand, it also reflects poorly on President Obama. Common political horse sense should have told him to not appear at all, in person or videotaped, at the National Jamboree. Let the criticism fly that he didn't, that would have been the better option of two bad options. It is another indication that our current President is not very good at knowing his audience, the limits of who his constituents are and having savvy political advisors. He made his choice to appear on The View and in the nuances of politics, negated anything he could have said at an appearance in front of the Boy Scouts. Sadly, his poll ratings indicate how poorly he is perceived by a lot of Americans and he should consider his every move knowing that. Remarking that he doesn't seem to be very politically astute, is not bashing him, merely an observation of his political skills.
I'm left wondering if anyone really believes in striving for Duty to Self, Boy Scout or not, the Promise of the Boy Scout Oath. "Keeping yourself physically strong means taking care of your body. Eat the right foods and keep your strength. Staying mentally awake means learn all you can, be curious, and ask questions. Being morally straight means to live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and actions, and to be a person of strong character."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAWsy7VV8oE
Several things bother me about this video of the Boy Scouts booing President Obama's prerecorded speech to the National Jamboree in Virginia. It's occurred to me for awhile now that it serves no useful purpose to bash a President, whether it's Bush or Obama, rather it's simply being a poor sport and a sore loser. Legitimate criticism is one thing but the endless Bush and Obama bashing are just bad form and old news.
The Boy Scouts are not the organization I grew up with but I've known that a long time. I do expect certain things out of the leaders of a group of young people that are supposedly being trained in moral qualities of better character. If the President chose to go on The View instead of attending the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts, that is a reflection on him. That he chose to appear at their National Jamboree in a prerecorded videotaped session falls in the same category. Regardless if the Boy Scouts in attendance were booing Obama for not appearing in person or whether they "like" him or not is being a bad sport, lacks character and is disrespectful. That reflects on their leaders more than it does on them. It indicates they are not being trained in higher moral standards and good character. If they were they would know, whether you like any President or not, you respect the Office of the Presidency and booing a video monitor doesn't qualify as having good character, it is just unsupervised juvenile behavior.
On the other hand, it also reflects poorly on President Obama. Common political horse sense should have told him to not appear at all, in person or videotaped, at the National Jamboree. Let the criticism fly that he didn't, that would have been the better option of two bad options. It is another indication that our current President is not very good at knowing his audience, the limits of who his constituents are and having savvy political advisors. He made his choice to appear on The View and in the nuances of politics, negated anything he could have said at an appearance in front of the Boy Scouts. Sadly, his poll ratings indicate how poorly he is perceived by a lot of Americans and he should consider his every move knowing that. Remarking that he doesn't seem to be very politically astute, is not bashing him, merely an observation of his political skills.
I'm left wondering if anyone really believes in striving for Duty to Self, Boy Scout or not, the Promise of the Boy Scout Oath. "Keeping yourself physically strong means taking care of your body. Eat the right foods and keep your strength. Staying mentally awake means learn all you can, be curious, and ask questions. Being morally straight means to live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and actions, and to be a person of strong character."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAWsy7VV8oE
8/7/10
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