Mom, how can I tell you something,

something you would already know...

How can I express to you my thoughts

on how your life made my life

something that touched me deep into my soul

It has been many years since joining your journey

through time and space, so many years since

the first time I can remember the first time I saw your face.

In the years that came, you made me laugh, you made me smile

you made me cry, and you could get me riled...

 

How many times did I share experiences in this life?

How many times did I square off , yelling, screaming,

pouting, shouting, then let it go as if to show that

it didn’t matter, because we had each other-and

even if neither said what the other knew was true

that life wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for you.

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I've been reviewing the debate on heath care, taxation, assistance to the poor, greater assistance to the rich, and the fallout that occurs as the politicians run for cover or simple stand their ground regardless of how stupid the position is, and I've decided that some of what is going on amounts to loyalty to an old proposition: social Darwinism.

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In the past five months, I have been in the sinking social classification known as the "99'ers," the ubiqutous group of the unemployed that led the pack into the Great Recession and now have been left to die in the desert by the government, by our neighbors, friends and families.I am amazed at the amount of venomous comments I read around the country when it comes to the unemployed and any benefits that were being given to us during this marathon of a non-job recovery.

I am sickened to read ... << MORE >>

∞The Flow Of Money∞

Today, I read something that should be considered highly disturbing and a real wake up call for American citizens, especially those of you who don't pay attention to what the rest of the planet thinks.

According to the news, a very extensive poll was just completed that assessed the performance of President Obama, what his standing is in the world and how the world views America. The Pew Center ... << MORE >>

Recently, the Obama Administration has taken yet another turn towards the right when they chose to back a proposal to create an exception to the requirements over reading a suspect their rights under the Miranda v United States ruling.

When the constitution was written, many of the architects of this document would agree that giving up your rights and freedoms in exchange for the illusion of security would be foolish, and it wouldn't work. The only thing that would be gained is the undermining of the ...

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Politicians are running scared this week as the incumbents in several races have been getting the proverbial guillotine in the primaries. What could be the problem?  What is going on that could be causing so much voter ire that they simply would vote in someone who they don't even believe in just to get rid of the guy holding the job right now?

It's so simple that I can't understand how these guys in Congress are missing the point. It's not really about deficits, or Iran, or healthcare-those things are made up issues that ... << MORE >>

Since the dawn of the internet, the pundits and press have dubbed this the "information age."  This was supposed to be the new age of knowledge, where the latest news would be available 24/7, broadcast from around the world.  This new nirvana would spread democracy, enlighten the masses and make governments more transparent than ever.

So, what the hell is the problem? What about this new age has made our political system pucker up like a newly arrived inmate on the maximum security yard?  How did the availability of information create an unmanageable information beast that is filled with opinions, faux faq, greater government secrecy and expanded stupidity?

I have a theory, much like everyone else in the i-Nirvana, and I want to share it with you, much like everyone else in i-Nirvana as well.  The problem is that we as a nation of simple folk have too much information on our hands at once, and we don't have enough time to digest said information before we are bombarded with the rebuttals, the reprisals, the repercussions and the recycling of that information, thus leaving us staggering around like zombies trying to keep track of what we are mad about in the last thirty minutes.

Once upon-a-time, back in the analog age when the nation had newspapers, newsmagazines and a couple of T.V. networks that provided all the news, there would be time to think about what was reported, usually at least twelve or more hours until the next printing of the paper, 24 hours until the next newscast and a week before the next Newsweek.  We could re-read the story, discuss it with neighbors, friends, family, churchfolk, co-workers, etc. and come to some kind of conclusion as to the what the information meant and what we should do with it or about it.

Now, that's nearly impossible with the instant soup of news and talking heads constantly blaring away, 24 hours a day. And, we are not the better for it.  Just examine the recent political situation as we go into the midterm elections for Congress.  Somehow, the Republicans believe that they are entitled to a return to control of the Congress, and shockingly, voters seem to believe that they may deserve this as well.

It hasn't even been two years since the Republicans got the boot for the way they have created our economic mess and the simple folk around the country are already thinking about bringing them back for more gridlock, more lies and more of the same game they have always played.

However, the way the news is crammed down the throats of the simple viewers, they are simply unable to clear their heads long enough to think about what the implications are of placing the Republicans in control of the Congress once more.  If they thought about it they would realize that the Republicans stand for nothing but helping the rich get richer, keeping the poor ever poorer and claiming that they are for downsized government which really means they want to see all government services turned into private corporation contracts-something that is so dangerous for this country that it would do more to damage us than any terrorist cell ever could.

The Democrats are barely doing any better.  Under Obama, the country still practices the illegal and immoral renditions, we still defend holding onto suspects without trial or possibility of release even when the courts order them to be released, we have expanded our ridiculously expensive campaign in Afghanistan, we didn't leave Iraq, we gave the banks trillions and the unemployed the shaft and all for what?  What have we gained?

Well, we don't have time to even consider that point before it is racked with the rebuttals, the reprisals, the repercussions and the recycling of that information, thus leaving us staggering around like zombies trying to keep track of what we are mad about in the last thirty minutes.

from Alternet.org

Senators McCain and Lieberman have introduced a shameful piece of legislation that would make it possible to declare virtually anyone, anywhere an "unpriveleged enemy combatant," including U.S. Citizens.  Just exactly what are these two cave dwellers thinking?

The bill would authorize and direct the military to make these arrests and it also specifies that the people who get arrested have no rights, and can be held without charge for as long as 'hostilities' exist, which in the U.S. means forever.

I suggest that you read up on this because if it were to pass then we would be plunged into a police state nightmare. It would be wise to remember that the Supreme Court is loaded with like-minded individuals thanks to all the Republican Presidents over the past 20 years, so I think it would be safe to bet they would'nt declare a law like this unconstitutional.

You can read the actual text by clicking here.  If you care about having a free America, then you may want to tell your Congressman to kill this bill.

If you are wondering what the Democrats are doing about this, then your guess is as good as anyone else's.

If there is one thing that I cannot tolerate its the abusive relationship humans have with the animals that share the planet with us. Recently, I watched the documentary "The Cove" which is a film about the annual dolphin hunt in Japan. In the movie, the Japanese government's representatives to the International Whaling Commission tried to justify the continued slaughter of whales and dolphins for a variety of reasons including:

1. Whales and dolphins eat fish that we like to catch.
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