The American Police State
By Chris Hedges
Truthdig" -- -- A Dallas jury, a week ago, deadlocked in its deliberations and caused a mistrial in the government case against this country’s largest Islamic charity. The action raises a defiant fist on the sinking ship of American democracy.
If we lived in a state where due process and the rule of law could curb the despotism of the Bush administration, this mistrial might be counted a victory. But we do not. The jury may have rejected the federal government’s claim that the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development funneled millions of dollars to Middle Eastern terrorists. It may have acquitted Mohammad el-Mezain, the former chairman of the foundation, of virtually all criminal charges related to funding terrorism (the jury deadlocked on one of the 32 charges against el-Mezain), and it may have deadlocked on the charges that had been lodged against four other former leaders of the charity, but don’t be fooled. This mistrial will do nothing to impede the administration’s ongoing contempt for the rule of law. It will do nothing to stop the curtailment of our civil liberties and rights. The grim march toward a police state continues.
Constitutional rights are minor inconveniences, noisome chatter, flies to be batted away on the steady road to despotism. And no one, not the courts, not the press, not the gutless Democratic opposition, not a compliant and passive citizenry hypnotized by tawdry television spectacles and celebrity gossip, seems capable of stopping the process. Those in power know this. We, too, might as well know it.
LINK
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Where Have All the Protests Gone?
By Tom Engelhardt
As I was heading out into a dark, drippingly wet, appropriately dispiriting New York City day, on my way to the "Fall Out Against the War" march -- one of 11 regional antiwar demonstrations held this Saturday -- I was thinking: then and now, Vietnam and Iraq. Since the Bush administration had Vietnam on the brain while planning to take down Saddam Hussein's regime for the home team, it's hardly surprising that, from the moment its invasion was launched in March 2003, the Vietnam analogy has been on the American brain -- and, even domestically, there's something to be said for it.
As John Mueller, an expert on public opinion and American wars, pointed out back in November 2005, Americans turned against the Iraq War in a pattern recognizable from the Vietnam era (as well as the Korean one) -- initial, broad post-invasion support that eroded irreversibly as American casualties rose. "The only thing remarkable about the current war in Iraq," Mueller wrote, "is how precipitously American public support has dropped off. Casualty for casualty, support has declined far more quickly than it did during either the Korean War or the Vietnam War." He added, quite correctly, as it turned out: "And if history is any indication, there is little the Bush administration can do to reverse this decline."
LINK
By Tom Engelhardt
As I was heading out into a dark, drippingly wet, appropriately dispiriting New York City day, on my way to the "Fall Out Against the War" march -- one of 11 regional antiwar demonstrations held this Saturday -- I was thinking: then and now, Vietnam and Iraq. Since the Bush administration had Vietnam on the brain while planning to take down Saddam Hussein's regime for the home team, it's hardly surprising that, from the moment its invasion was launched in March 2003, the Vietnam analogy has been on the American brain -- and, even domestically, there's something to be said for it.
As John Mueller, an expert on public opinion and American wars, pointed out back in November 2005, Americans turned against the Iraq War in a pattern recognizable from the Vietnam era (as well as the Korean one) -- initial, broad post-invasion support that eroded irreversibly as American casualties rose. "The only thing remarkable about the current war in Iraq," Mueller wrote, "is how precipitously American public support has dropped off. Casualty for casualty, support has declined far more quickly than it did during either the Korean War or the Vietnam War." He added, quite correctly, as it turned out: "And if history is any indication, there is little the Bush administration can do to reverse this decline."
LINK
Monday, October 29, 2007
Weekend Update
Well the weekend was pretty good. Friday I went out with a German friend but ended up hanging out with some Spanish friends that I made just that night. It was generally a pretty good time but perhaps a bit too late. I had attempted to call some of my contacts prior in the day but did not have any luck contacting anyone. I did however on Friday night make friends with a Masters student studying greenhouses who was more than willing to do an interview. Now the hard part of actually setting it up.
Saturday during the day did not amount to anything to productive besides a ride down by the beach just to get some air and sun. I watched Manchester United pounce Mittalsbourgh although I do not know how it is fare with such a gap in talent but I guess that is how sports seem to work. Just look at the World Series if you want a sport closer to the US. After that my roommates came back home to watch a movie. After several different arguments on what to watch somehow we ended up watching perhaps the oddest movie I have ever seen. It was basically a silent film mixed with Claymation and real actors, The Adventures of Tom Thumb. It lasted an hour and as odd and fucked up as it was....it was actually not too bad and kept my full and screwed eyes fixated to the screen for the full one hour. After the movie we went for sushi and found out how typical Spaniards think going out for sushi is. Actually ordering sushi is not likely and instead tempura, fried rice, and spring rolls are more likely. Also none of the Japanese beer for sale here was made in Japan....just a odd side note.
After returning to the house for a cocktail with the roommates I headed for La Cueva to catch a blues/rock band from Granada. Unfortunately by the time I got there only three songs remained. Although the lead was not Janis Joplin, she did a damn good job, certainly being Spanish speaking as well. The main guitarist was quite good and fit the bill with long hair and a mustache. Perhaps the best in the band was the German looking keyboardist jamming out for every song. Once the concert was over I hung out with my Spanish professor, her boyfriend, friend, and sister. At about 2 I was introduced to a guy from Costa Rica.
In addition to names being introduced I was labeled an "American" and said that I had visited Costa Rica several times when I was younger. Then came a conversation of spanglish in which he ridiculed the American people for not actually caring about the people of Costa Rica and instead liking the idea of cheap land to grab up. Although I agree with what he is saying it was a pretty intense conversation for 2am on a Saturday. But it goes to show the dark shadow we have shed across the world as a imperial power that does not care about the people and instead about how we can make more money. After 45 min of the conversation I was ready for bed.
Sunday I headed with one of my roommates and two of her friends to San Jose. San Jose is about 40km to the east of Almeria and located on the opposite side of Cabo de Gata, the natural park. We drove to the two different beaches that people go to. Regrettably the wind was in full force today and made the weather not to productive for beach walking. The sand grains seemed to be flying through the air at unrealistic speed splintering into any bare skin. However it was quite beautiful and easy to tell that on a more tranquil day it would be lovely. The second beach I found out is where people go to practice rock-climbing because when bouldering if you fall it is into soft sand. Check out my pictures for a visual tour of the weekend.
Sunday night Almeria played Barcelona in futbol. Almeria played damn well but lost 2-0, although the second goal via a penalty shot was a horrid called penalty by the ref. Today class by myself as the girls were returning from a weekend in Morocco.
PAZ AND AMOR
Ty
Well the weekend was pretty good. Friday I went out with a German friend but ended up hanging out with some Spanish friends that I made just that night. It was generally a pretty good time but perhaps a bit too late. I had attempted to call some of my contacts prior in the day but did not have any luck contacting anyone. I did however on Friday night make friends with a Masters student studying greenhouses who was more than willing to do an interview. Now the hard part of actually setting it up.
Saturday during the day did not amount to anything to productive besides a ride down by the beach just to get some air and sun. I watched Manchester United pounce Mittalsbourgh although I do not know how it is fare with such a gap in talent but I guess that is how sports seem to work. Just look at the World Series if you want a sport closer to the US. After that my roommates came back home to watch a movie. After several different arguments on what to watch somehow we ended up watching perhaps the oddest movie I have ever seen. It was basically a silent film mixed with Claymation and real actors, The Adventures of Tom Thumb. It lasted an hour and as odd and fucked up as it was....it was actually not too bad and kept my full and screwed eyes fixated to the screen for the full one hour. After the movie we went for sushi and found out how typical Spaniards think going out for sushi is. Actually ordering sushi is not likely and instead tempura, fried rice, and spring rolls are more likely. Also none of the Japanese beer for sale here was made in Japan....just a odd side note.
After returning to the house for a cocktail with the roommates I headed for La Cueva to catch a blues/rock band from Granada. Unfortunately by the time I got there only three songs remained. Although the lead was not Janis Joplin, she did a damn good job, certainly being Spanish speaking as well. The main guitarist was quite good and fit the bill with long hair and a mustache. Perhaps the best in the band was the German looking keyboardist jamming out for every song. Once the concert was over I hung out with my Spanish professor, her boyfriend, friend, and sister. At about 2 I was introduced to a guy from Costa Rica.
In addition to names being introduced I was labeled an "American" and said that I had visited Costa Rica several times when I was younger. Then came a conversation of spanglish in which he ridiculed the American people for not actually caring about the people of Costa Rica and instead liking the idea of cheap land to grab up. Although I agree with what he is saying it was a pretty intense conversation for 2am on a Saturday. But it goes to show the dark shadow we have shed across the world as a imperial power that does not care about the people and instead about how we can make more money. After 45 min of the conversation I was ready for bed.
Sunday I headed with one of my roommates and two of her friends to San Jose. San Jose is about 40km to the east of Almeria and located on the opposite side of Cabo de Gata, the natural park. We drove to the two different beaches that people go to. Regrettably the wind was in full force today and made the weather not to productive for beach walking. The sand grains seemed to be flying through the air at unrealistic speed splintering into any bare skin. However it was quite beautiful and easy to tell that on a more tranquil day it would be lovely. The second beach I found out is where people go to practice rock-climbing because when bouldering if you fall it is into soft sand. Check out my pictures for a visual tour of the weekend.
Sunday night Almeria played Barcelona in futbol. Almeria played damn well but lost 2-0, although the second goal via a penalty shot was a horrid called penalty by the ref. Today class by myself as the girls were returning from a weekend in Morocco.
PAZ AND AMOR
Ty
(A little French History and how it correlates to the modern day US Government....thanks to my French connection for this good article)
Bush’s Dangerous Liaisons
By FRANÇOIS FURSTENBERG
MUCH as George W. Bush’s presidency was ineluctably shaped by Sept. 11, 2001, so the outbreak of the French Revolution was symbolized by the events of one fateful day, July 14, 1789. And though 18th-century France may seem impossibly distant to contemporary Americans, future historians examining Mr. Bush’s presidency within the longer sweep of political and intellectual history may find the French Revolution useful in understanding his curious brand of 21st- century conservatism.
Soon after the storming of the Bastille, pro-Revolutionary elements came together to form an association that would become known as the Jacobin Club, an umbrella group of politicians, journalists and citizens dedicated to advancing the principles of the Revolution.
The Jacobins shared a defining ideological feature. They divided the world between pro- and anti-Revolutionaries — the defenders of liberty versus its enemies. The French Revolution, as they understood it, was the great event that would determine whether liberty was to prevail on the planet or whether the world would fall back into tyranny and despotism.
LINK TO REST
Bush’s Dangerous Liaisons
By FRANÇOIS FURSTENBERG
MUCH as George W. Bush’s presidency was ineluctably shaped by Sept. 11, 2001, so the outbreak of the French Revolution was symbolized by the events of one fateful day, July 14, 1789. And though 18th-century France may seem impossibly distant to contemporary Americans, future historians examining Mr. Bush’s presidency within the longer sweep of political and intellectual history may find the French Revolution useful in understanding his curious brand of 21st- century conservatism.
Soon after the storming of the Bastille, pro-Revolutionary elements came together to form an association that would become known as the Jacobin Club, an umbrella group of politicians, journalists and citizens dedicated to advancing the principles of the Revolution.
The Jacobins shared a defining ideological feature. They divided the world between pro- and anti-Revolutionaries — the defenders of liberty versus its enemies. The French Revolution, as they understood it, was the great event that would determine whether liberty was to prevail on the planet or whether the world would fall back into tyranny and despotism.
LINK TO REST
Friday, October 26, 2007
(GET OUT THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE)
What We Can Do to End the War
By Tara Lohan, AlterNet.
The majority of Americans and Iraqis oppose the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Polls indicate that 70 percent of Americans are against the war and over 80 percent of Iraqis want coalition troops out of their country. In the four and a half years since the invasion, nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed and nearly 30,000 seriously wounded. There have also been an estimated 1 million Iraqi civilians killed and over 4 million have fled for their lives.
The war has racked up a bill of over $600 billion of our taxpayer money and yet left Iraq a country in economic shambles and political unrest, and with a population living in fear of daily violence. (Check out the video to the right.)
For the duration of this war, people in the United States have raised their voice in opposition. They have marched, signed petitions, held vigils and written to their elected officials. But it hasn't been enough. Yet.
This Saturday, Oct. 27, United for Peace and Justice, the largest anti-war coalition in the United States, has organized 11 massive anti-war rallies to take place around the nation. Participating organizations include veterans and military family groups, as well as hundreds of national and local peace groups.
LINK
What We Can Do to End the War
By Tara Lohan, AlterNet.
The majority of Americans and Iraqis oppose the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Polls indicate that 70 percent of Americans are against the war and over 80 percent of Iraqis want coalition troops out of their country. In the four and a half years since the invasion, nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed and nearly 30,000 seriously wounded. There have also been an estimated 1 million Iraqi civilians killed and over 4 million have fled for their lives.
The war has racked up a bill of over $600 billion of our taxpayer money and yet left Iraq a country in economic shambles and political unrest, and with a population living in fear of daily violence. (Check out the video to the right.)
For the duration of this war, people in the United States have raised their voice in opposition. They have marched, signed petitions, held vigils and written to their elected officials. But it hasn't been enough. Yet.
This Saturday, Oct. 27, United for Peace and Justice, the largest anti-war coalition in the United States, has organized 11 massive anti-war rallies to take place around the nation. Participating organizations include veterans and military family groups, as well as hundreds of national and local peace groups.
LINK
Friday report
Nothing to exciting to report really. Yesterday I had class until 230 which was pretty typical class. There were times when the frustration levels were immense, similar to a my head being like the top a thermometer….just waiting for that next word not to make since, because of a complete understanding of the Spanish being thrown around the rooms and then were times when I do pretty good. My expertise of course is more in the cultural things....this seems easier for me to at least attempt to put a sentence together. The only unusual thing that happened was one of my classes mates kind of freaked out. We were taking turns talking about the city we live and it was this persons time to go....me and the other classmate were silently clowning around....the person talking thought we were laughing at her and snapped into almost tears....we explained are selves and all was better but still a little odd. Shit like that makes me nervous and contradicts how I can act around her because I have to worry about hurting her feelings. My profesora did say that she thinks I have all ready learned a lot, so she is either a nice person or it has approved somewhat.
Flash forward to the night. After running (along with two friends who are trying to get into running), we met back up for a few tapas. My friend Demali helped me to semi translate my interview from Wednesday. I found out a couple more interesting facts but things I kind of all ready knew. It was a good start but a bit short. She refused to let me buy here tapas for helping me and said that she liked to translate because it helped her with Spanish and English. So cool for me.....the problem that may arise is not having direct quotes to use in the paper and instead paraphrasing from what they are saying.
Today I did not have class until 1pm so I got to sleep in. It was one of the better nights of sleep I have had in awhile and was needed. Tonight I think I will go out with my friend Roman that is if he calls me. Tomorrow night there is a blues/rock concert at my favorite bar, La Cueva. Ooo In addition I got the names of three professors that should give me interviews or at least point me to where I can get one. In addition, Roman has one friend that works for a seed company here in Almeria and another friend that is a chemist or hydrologist for a greenhouse that should be willing to give me an interview. The final row of interviews will hopefully come via the husband of a friend’s friend.....
Que Mas
I signed up for Rock-climbing (3 days), hiking (only a day trip) and Mountain Biking (day trip). I figure that five days of play cannot be too bad.
Paz and Amor
Ty
Nothing to exciting to report really. Yesterday I had class until 230 which was pretty typical class. There were times when the frustration levels were immense, similar to a my head being like the top a thermometer….just waiting for that next word not to make since, because of a complete understanding of the Spanish being thrown around the rooms and then were times when I do pretty good. My expertise of course is more in the cultural things....this seems easier for me to at least attempt to put a sentence together. The only unusual thing that happened was one of my classes mates kind of freaked out. We were taking turns talking about the city we live and it was this persons time to go....me and the other classmate were silently clowning around....the person talking thought we were laughing at her and snapped into almost tears....we explained are selves and all was better but still a little odd. Shit like that makes me nervous and contradicts how I can act around her because I have to worry about hurting her feelings. My profesora did say that she thinks I have all ready learned a lot, so she is either a nice person or it has approved somewhat.
Flash forward to the night. After running (along with two friends who are trying to get into running), we met back up for a few tapas. My friend Demali helped me to semi translate my interview from Wednesday. I found out a couple more interesting facts but things I kind of all ready knew. It was a good start but a bit short. She refused to let me buy here tapas for helping me and said that she liked to translate because it helped her with Spanish and English. So cool for me.....the problem that may arise is not having direct quotes to use in the paper and instead paraphrasing from what they are saying.
Today I did not have class until 1pm so I got to sleep in. It was one of the better nights of sleep I have had in awhile and was needed. Tonight I think I will go out with my friend Roman that is if he calls me. Tomorrow night there is a blues/rock concert at my favorite bar, La Cueva. Ooo In addition I got the names of three professors that should give me interviews or at least point me to where I can get one. In addition, Roman has one friend that works for a seed company here in Almeria and another friend that is a chemist or hydrologist for a greenhouse that should be willing to give me an interview. The final row of interviews will hopefully come via the husband of a friend’s friend.....
Que Mas
I signed up for Rock-climbing (3 days), hiking (only a day trip) and Mountain Biking (day trip). I figure that five days of play cannot be too bad.
Paz and Amor
Ty
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
(Check this out guys and gals.....VOTE FOR KUCINICH he is the one person who may be able to put us in the right direction before all really is lost!!!)
The BRAD BLOG Speaks with Dennis and His Wife About Voting Rights, Election Reform, Impeachment, and the Need for an Outcry from the American People
Rep. Kucinich Vows to Use 'Privileged Resolution' to Force Vote on Impeachment of Cheney in U.S. House
ED NOTE: The BRAD BLOG's Emily Levy sat down with Dennis Kucinich on Sunday, just before serving as a hand-counter for votes in the first Democratic San Mateo County Presidential Straw Poll. Results of that poll are below. Kucinich spoke about his plans to force a vote in the U.S. House on the Impeachment of Dick Cheney; on having officially removed his name as co-sponsor of Rep. Rush Holt's flawed Election Reform Bill; his interest in hand-counted paper ballots; and concerns about e-voting systems. As it turns out, however, his wife Elizabeth may have stolen the show with an impassioned speech on what America must do to restore "a rigged and a fake political system," which, she told Levy, is "very, very undemocratic."
LINK FOR INTERVIEW
The BRAD BLOG Speaks with Dennis and His Wife About Voting Rights, Election Reform, Impeachment, and the Need for an Outcry from the American People
Rep. Kucinich Vows to Use 'Privileged Resolution' to Force Vote on Impeachment of Cheney in U.S. House
ED NOTE: The BRAD BLOG's Emily Levy sat down with Dennis Kucinich on Sunday, just before serving as a hand-counter for votes in the first Democratic San Mateo County Presidential Straw Poll. Results of that poll are below. Kucinich spoke about his plans to force a vote in the U.S. House on the Impeachment of Dick Cheney; on having officially removed his name as co-sponsor of Rep. Rush Holt's flawed Election Reform Bill; his interest in hand-counted paper ballots; and concerns about e-voting systems. As it turns out, however, his wife Elizabeth may have stolen the show with an impassioned speech on what America must do to restore "a rigged and a fake political system," which, she told Levy, is "very, very undemocratic."
LINK FOR INTERVIEW
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
My first day out in the greenhouse world
....Finally
So I have been my usual self and put off contacting my short list of contacts to conduct interviews. Finally the end of last week I got the huevos, cojones, balls, will, nerves or whatever you choose to call them, to call first the person who's greenhouse I toured this summer (Lola) and two the man I met during this tour (Fernando). Lola said that she would call me next time she was in Almeria to meet up and get coffee so that I could ask her the questions. Fernando asked if I could come to El Ejido (about 40km from Almeria) today at 4pm. So finally today the nerves of actually having to conduct an interview (in spanglish no less) hit both my head and stomach hard....the gargling could be heard in class, as could the lack of patience in the class.
I caught the direct bus to El Ejido remembering that the last time I took a similar route it was anything but direct and was like being stuck on a burning bus with no way out. Basically a ride that should take 30min took an hour and a half....including stopping at every possible bus stop known to man/woman. So needless to say I was looking for the direct. Once upon arrival in El Ejido, I took a Taxi to the Centro de commercial where I was to meet Fedrico. In my normal fashion I was about an hour early so I got a snack to eat and walked in circles a couple of times. Surely looking like some crazy person or like the tourist I am.
Fedrico, in usual Andalucía fashion was about 25 minutes late and with a coworker. We went for coffee so that I could ask my questions. I actually do not know exactly what he answered but it seemed like it was good stuff, although it was shorter than I expected.
After the interview we went to three different greenhouses so that I could see differences between them. The first was the least typical but most environmental friendly of the bunch. It used or reused I should say all of the water necessary for the mass of tomatoes plants being grown in sheetrock likes material. In addition to the water recycling, these greenhouses used a radiant heat like system of pipes that could be used to moderate the temperature of the greenhouse. I was told that this idea comes from the Dutch. I was pretty impressed with this although he admitted that it only up one percent of the greenhouses.
The second greenhouse was the most typical of the tree. Its only ventilation came from the screen windows surrounding the greenhouse. The water system was not recycled but was drip irrigation. This greenhouse used the most common "Sand Plot" technique for soil. This consist of the regular ground, a layer of clay, fertilizer, and then finally sand. He said that this is the most traditional and most widely used form of greenhouse agriculture. Why? Because the other system cost a lot of money and only a smaller profit benefit...some farmers do not see the benefit even if it better for people and the environment. During this visit I got to meet the owner of the greenhouse who was picking his zucchini with three of his Moroccan workers. Turned out that the majority of the greenhouses are owned by multiple families and it goes generation to generation....I could explain more but I will save that for the thesis.
Ok so finally we went to a kind of "in-between" the other two greenhouses. The water was not recycled, heavy chemical use, but instead of the sand plot technique they used recycled coco mulch to grow the tomatoes in. The owner of this greenhouse was a short, stocky man, very friendly, and very socialist (this I found out later but I had kind of guessed it). He and his wife (woman as he called her) were picking tomatoes when we arrived without the help of any workers. What soon exploded was a flurry of Spanish in which I picked up only a few words. Enough to realize that it was a discussion on politics.....I wish I would have recorded it because it was a great example of Spanish people just talking about politics. I wish we in the USA had similar conversations. We said are goodbyes, drove past the "bad" vegetable recycling center where veggies not sent to France, Germany, England, or pick your rich northern European country are recycled into fertilizer and used in the sand plots.
He gave me a ride back to the bus station and we said our goodbyes and I thanked him for being such a nice host. He said that if I could not understand any of the interview to just call him and that he would Two other interesting figures:
1) 22,000 hectors of greenhouses in the Campo de Dalias and 10,000 in the Campo near Almeria
This means Almeria has the highest number of greenhouses and largest concentration of greenhouses in the world.
2) The seed company and nursery are both locally owned and do not make genetically modified seeds.
The Bad (at least from visually seeing the greenhouses and understanding the bit of Spanish that I do)
The plants that do not recycle their water, i.e. the majority, are also the greenhouses that use the highest amounts of chemicals. The problem arises that since there is no drainage system the only place for the chemical to drain is into the earth, then the water (both drinking and AG water), and then back onto the plants via the drip irrigation. This could be the case why my roommates tell me that Almeria has one of the higher parentages of children with genetic disorders (like MS, autism, etc.). But this is only putting this together and not scientific proof.
Paz y Amor
Ty
....Finally
So I have been my usual self and put off contacting my short list of contacts to conduct interviews. Finally the end of last week I got the huevos, cojones, balls, will, nerves or whatever you choose to call them, to call first the person who's greenhouse I toured this summer (Lola) and two the man I met during this tour (Fernando). Lola said that she would call me next time she was in Almeria to meet up and get coffee so that I could ask her the questions. Fernando asked if I could come to El Ejido (about 40km from Almeria) today at 4pm. So finally today the nerves of actually having to conduct an interview (in spanglish no less) hit both my head and stomach hard....the gargling could be heard in class, as could the lack of patience in the class.
I caught the direct bus to El Ejido remembering that the last time I took a similar route it was anything but direct and was like being stuck on a burning bus with no way out. Basically a ride that should take 30min took an hour and a half....including stopping at every possible bus stop known to man/woman. So needless to say I was looking for the direct. Once upon arrival in El Ejido, I took a Taxi to the Centro de commercial where I was to meet Fedrico. In my normal fashion I was about an hour early so I got a snack to eat and walked in circles a couple of times. Surely looking like some crazy person or like the tourist I am.
Fedrico, in usual Andalucía fashion was about 25 minutes late and with a coworker. We went for coffee so that I could ask my questions. I actually do not know exactly what he answered but it seemed like it was good stuff, although it was shorter than I expected.
After the interview we went to three different greenhouses so that I could see differences between them. The first was the least typical but most environmental friendly of the bunch. It used or reused I should say all of the water necessary for the mass of tomatoes plants being grown in sheetrock likes material. In addition to the water recycling, these greenhouses used a radiant heat like system of pipes that could be used to moderate the temperature of the greenhouse. I was told that this idea comes from the Dutch. I was pretty impressed with this although he admitted that it only up one percent of the greenhouses.
The second greenhouse was the most typical of the tree. Its only ventilation came from the screen windows surrounding the greenhouse. The water system was not recycled but was drip irrigation. This greenhouse used the most common "Sand Plot" technique for soil. This consist of the regular ground, a layer of clay, fertilizer, and then finally sand. He said that this is the most traditional and most widely used form of greenhouse agriculture. Why? Because the other system cost a lot of money and only a smaller profit benefit...some farmers do not see the benefit even if it better for people and the environment. During this visit I got to meet the owner of the greenhouse who was picking his zucchini with three of his Moroccan workers. Turned out that the majority of the greenhouses are owned by multiple families and it goes generation to generation....I could explain more but I will save that for the thesis.
Ok so finally we went to a kind of "in-between" the other two greenhouses. The water was not recycled, heavy chemical use, but instead of the sand plot technique they used recycled coco mulch to grow the tomatoes in. The owner of this greenhouse was a short, stocky man, very friendly, and very socialist (this I found out later but I had kind of guessed it). He and his wife (woman as he called her) were picking tomatoes when we arrived without the help of any workers. What soon exploded was a flurry of Spanish in which I picked up only a few words. Enough to realize that it was a discussion on politics.....I wish I would have recorded it because it was a great example of Spanish people just talking about politics. I wish we in the USA had similar conversations. We said are goodbyes, drove past the "bad" vegetable recycling center where veggies not sent to France, Germany, England, or pick your rich northern European country are recycled into fertilizer and used in the sand plots.
He gave me a ride back to the bus station and we said our goodbyes and I thanked him for being such a nice host. He said that if I could not understand any of the interview to just call him and that he would Two other interesting figures:
1) 22,000 hectors of greenhouses in the Campo de Dalias and 10,000 in the Campo near Almeria
This means Almeria has the highest number of greenhouses and largest concentration of greenhouses in the world.
2) The seed company and nursery are both locally owned and do not make genetically modified seeds.
The Bad (at least from visually seeing the greenhouses and understanding the bit of Spanish that I do)
The plants that do not recycle their water, i.e. the majority, are also the greenhouses that use the highest amounts of chemicals. The problem arises that since there is no drainage system the only place for the chemical to drain is into the earth, then the water (both drinking and AG water), and then back onto the plants via the drip irrigation. This could be the case why my roommates tell me that Almeria has one of the higher parentages of children with genetic disorders (like MS, autism, etc.). But this is only putting this together and not scientific proof.
Paz y Amor
Ty
Iraq: Was the US Occupation Deliberately Fucked Up?
by max blunt
It's the Oil Reserves, Stupid
Iraq is ‘unwinnable’, a ‘quagmire’, a ‘fiasco’: so goes the received opinion. But there is good reason to think that, from the Bush-Cheney perspective, it is none of these things.
Indeed, the US may be ‘stuck’ precisely where Bush et al want it to be, which is why there is no ‘exit strategy’.
Iraq has 115 billion barrels of known oil reserves. That is more than five times the total in the United States. And, because of its long isolation, it is the least explored of the world’s oil-rich nations.
A mere two thousand wells have been drilled across the entire country; in Texas alone there are a million.
It has been estimated, by the Council on Foreign Relations, that Iraq may have a further 220 billion barrels of undiscovered oil; another study puts the figure at 300 billion.
LINK
by max blunt
It's the Oil Reserves, Stupid
Iraq is ‘unwinnable’, a ‘quagmire’, a ‘fiasco’: so goes the received opinion. But there is good reason to think that, from the Bush-Cheney perspective, it is none of these things.
Indeed, the US may be ‘stuck’ precisely where Bush et al want it to be, which is why there is no ‘exit strategy’.
Iraq has 115 billion barrels of known oil reserves. That is more than five times the total in the United States. And, because of its long isolation, it is the least explored of the world’s oil-rich nations.
A mere two thousand wells have been drilled across the entire country; in Texas alone there are a million.
It has been estimated, by the Council on Foreign Relations, that Iraq may have a further 220 billion barrels of undiscovered oil; another study puts the figure at 300 billion.
LINK
On the Eve of Destruction
By Scott Ritter
Don’t worry, the White House is telling us. The world’s most powerful leader was simply making a rhetorical point. At a White House press conference last week, just in case you haven’t heard, President Bush informed the American people that he had told world leaders “if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing [Iran] from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.” World War III. That is certainly some rhetorical point, especially coming from the man singularly most capable of making such an event reality.
Pundits have raised their eyebrows and comics are busy writing jokes, but the president’s reference to Armageddon, no matter how cavalierly uttered and subsequently brushed away, suggests an alarming context. Some might note that the comment was simply an offhand response to a reporter’s question, the kind of free-thinking scenario that baffles Bush so. In a way, this makes what the president said even more disturbing, since we now have an insight into the vision, and related terminology, which hovers just below the horizon in the brain of George W. Bush.
LINK
By Scott Ritter
Don’t worry, the White House is telling us. The world’s most powerful leader was simply making a rhetorical point. At a White House press conference last week, just in case you haven’t heard, President Bush informed the American people that he had told world leaders “if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing [Iran] from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.” World War III. That is certainly some rhetorical point, especially coming from the man singularly most capable of making such an event reality.
Pundits have raised their eyebrows and comics are busy writing jokes, but the president’s reference to Armageddon, no matter how cavalierly uttered and subsequently brushed away, suggests an alarming context. Some might note that the comment was simply an offhand response to a reporter’s question, the kind of free-thinking scenario that baffles Bush so. In a way, this makes what the president said even more disturbing, since we now have an insight into the vision, and related terminology, which hovers just below the horizon in the brain of George W. Bush.
LINK
(Have to keep the people from wanting to take action....this seems like the step of a government who knows that they are wrong. The sad thing is that our congress does not do anything about it. What has happened?)
Some 60 demonstrators arrested outside U.S. Capitol
22 Oct 2007 15:07:48 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - About 60 peaceful demonstrators, including several dressed as polar bears, were arrested outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday protesting the Iraq war and global warming, authorities said.
"People are being arrested out here because you (Congress) are not doing your job," antiwar activist Ann Wright shouted into a bullhorn.
Demonstrators were arrested on charges of unlawful assembly and blocking entrances to the Capitol, which was ringed by members of the U.S. Capitol Police.
Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a police spokeswoman, said, "We've had about 60 arrests." She said she had received no reports of violence LINK
Some 60 demonstrators arrested outside U.S. Capitol
22 Oct 2007 15:07:48 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - About 60 peaceful demonstrators, including several dressed as polar bears, were arrested outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday protesting the Iraq war and global warming, authorities said.
"People are being arrested out here because you (Congress) are not doing your job," antiwar activist Ann Wright shouted into a bullhorn.
Demonstrators were arrested on charges of unlawful assembly and blocking entrances to the Capitol, which was ringed by members of the U.S. Capitol Police.
Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a police spokeswoman, said, "We've had about 60 arrests." She said she had received no reports of violence LINK
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Weekend Report
I think this weekend, well actually since Wednesday, has been a little too much fun. It just goes to show you what a girl can do to someone. Wednesday night I, the two American, and one Italian girl went out for what was originally just a mellow Tapas excursion into the city. Somehow one of us came up with the idea of going to a nearby "Rock" (more swinging oldies) bar that they had wanted to show me. What then showed its self was a night of gluttony, like hoards returning from battle to celebrate are victories. I had been really attracted to one of the girls for some time (well generally since I first lay eyes on her) but had not made a "move" because of the tension that I figured would emerge with another one of the girls.
It turned out or at least I think it did that the girl liked me as well. Well a problem that I seem to always have with a girl I like is I start not thinking in common sense and instead I am transformed into a savage barbarian doff, the only thing on my mind is the girl and all else seems to just zip past my ears at light speed. Thursday night was thankfully pretty chill and in reflection I am glad because the weekend was much more then I wanted.
Friday night we went (Two girls and the German boyfriend number II) to the museum about 30 min before it closed. Actually it was a pretty impressive museum with a lot of interactive panel boards that are in Spanish and English. After the museum we came over to my house to have a few drinks and visit because my apartment is near the museum. We agreed that we would meet at La Cueva (A rock bar we were told was very cool) at sometime past midnight. Once they left my timid roommates creped out of their room to visit with me. It turned out they were going to La Cueva as well, so I went with them at 1130.
What a relief to actually go to a bar with good music....two stories with the top being the better of the two all night but Saturday, because of better music. A shitty DJ was rolling away on the turntables like he was newborn baby trying to put together a rubrics cube. I hung out with my Spanish friends for about an hour before the two girls showed up. The night was pretty fun and we even saw our Professora with her boyfriend. Funny that just that morning she was in the hospital for test and the same night having a good time at the bar.
We finished up at 330 and headed out in search of another bar (Me, two girls and the German guy). One of the girls did not want to continue into the darkness of the night so she headed back home with the German following after her. Turns out that she does not really like him anymore but cant tell him straight up....kind of sucks, I would much rather be told then played with. So we walked into a few bars only to walk right back out and then just walked around chatting until 430 or so.
Saturday was not much better. After sleeping late because of the 5am bed time, I went down to the beach to read my book and enjoy the beautiful day. After a couple of hours I ran into my roommates getting some lunch on the beach so I stopped to have a drink with them. They told me that tonight (Saturday) there was a very famous flamenco singer. My friend and I had been invited on Wednesday night by my roommate’s friends to get into the concert for free because her mom worked at the place. Flash forward to about 830 (concert at 10), my roommates are watching a movie when all of a sudden they get up and say I am I ready to go to the concert because we have to be there at exactly 845. I attempt to be ready but on the way I realize I still have to pick up my friend.....so I get dropped off and attempt to get the friend with time to spare but it was just to limited of a window. Another odd way of doing things here in Spain. O well, in reflection I should have gone but instead I went for the girl.
Sushi for dinner with the two friends, back to La Cueva to watch a blues concert. This time downstairs at the same bar, a great local blues band rocked out until 230am. It was a great time until the Germans arrived and then I got distracted from the good music. I stayed out until 540am that night. It was not such for the enjoyment of the night but more what a girl can do to your mind. In the end I do not know if I am being played with or what the case is but I cannot do the late night thing again. It is just not worth it....or maybe it is, for now I have to remember THESIS THESIS not fiesta, fiesta!!
Peace and Love
Ty
I think this weekend, well actually since Wednesday, has been a little too much fun. It just goes to show you what a girl can do to someone. Wednesday night I, the two American, and one Italian girl went out for what was originally just a mellow Tapas excursion into the city. Somehow one of us came up with the idea of going to a nearby "Rock" (more swinging oldies) bar that they had wanted to show me. What then showed its self was a night of gluttony, like hoards returning from battle to celebrate are victories. I had been really attracted to one of the girls for some time (well generally since I first lay eyes on her) but had not made a "move" because of the tension that I figured would emerge with another one of the girls.
It turned out or at least I think it did that the girl liked me as well. Well a problem that I seem to always have with a girl I like is I start not thinking in common sense and instead I am transformed into a savage barbarian doff, the only thing on my mind is the girl and all else seems to just zip past my ears at light speed. Thursday night was thankfully pretty chill and in reflection I am glad because the weekend was much more then I wanted.
Friday night we went (Two girls and the German boyfriend number II) to the museum about 30 min before it closed. Actually it was a pretty impressive museum with a lot of interactive panel boards that are in Spanish and English. After the museum we came over to my house to have a few drinks and visit because my apartment is near the museum. We agreed that we would meet at La Cueva (A rock bar we were told was very cool) at sometime past midnight. Once they left my timid roommates creped out of their room to visit with me. It turned out they were going to La Cueva as well, so I went with them at 1130.
What a relief to actually go to a bar with good music....two stories with the top being the better of the two all night but Saturday, because of better music. A shitty DJ was rolling away on the turntables like he was newborn baby trying to put together a rubrics cube. I hung out with my Spanish friends for about an hour before the two girls showed up. The night was pretty fun and we even saw our Professora with her boyfriend. Funny that just that morning she was in the hospital for test and the same night having a good time at the bar.
We finished up at 330 and headed out in search of another bar (Me, two girls and the German guy). One of the girls did not want to continue into the darkness of the night so she headed back home with the German following after her. Turns out that she does not really like him anymore but cant tell him straight up....kind of sucks, I would much rather be told then played with. So we walked into a few bars only to walk right back out and then just walked around chatting until 430 or so.
Saturday was not much better. After sleeping late because of the 5am bed time, I went down to the beach to read my book and enjoy the beautiful day. After a couple of hours I ran into my roommates getting some lunch on the beach so I stopped to have a drink with them. They told me that tonight (Saturday) there was a very famous flamenco singer. My friend and I had been invited on Wednesday night by my roommate’s friends to get into the concert for free because her mom worked at the place. Flash forward to about 830 (concert at 10), my roommates are watching a movie when all of a sudden they get up and say I am I ready to go to the concert because we have to be there at exactly 845. I attempt to be ready but on the way I realize I still have to pick up my friend.....so I get dropped off and attempt to get the friend with time to spare but it was just to limited of a window. Another odd way of doing things here in Spain. O well, in reflection I should have gone but instead I went for the girl.
Sushi for dinner with the two friends, back to La Cueva to watch a blues concert. This time downstairs at the same bar, a great local blues band rocked out until 230am. It was a great time until the Germans arrived and then I got distracted from the good music. I stayed out until 540am that night. It was not such for the enjoyment of the night but more what a girl can do to your mind. In the end I do not know if I am being played with or what the case is but I cannot do the late night thing again. It is just not worth it....or maybe it is, for now I have to remember THESIS THESIS not fiesta, fiesta!!
Peace and Love
Ty
Friday, October 19, 2007
Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. ~Langston Hughes
So today in this arid sun parched land the rain continues to beat down. It started yesterday at about 8pm or so and has not let up since now 2pm. It seems like such a odd sight when you have put so much energy into writing a thesis about the lack of water in a region with little. I even checked out the averages for this time of the year and at most for October its 1 inch. I think they exceeded this in the current storm so it’s either climate change or just a fluke storm.
To make things more interesting, I received a text message (sms) last night at 11pm from my profesora. She had been feeling bad in class today and this message was to let me know that we had no class today because she had to go the hospital for test. Hopefully she is ok. So I slept and slept well, like a bear hibernating wrapped in my blankets, blinds shut, thunder rumbling in the distance, rain popping on the roof like fairies dancing on the rooftops. 10 hours later I finally decided that I should probably come out my comfort and into the world. Of course it was raining so my options on what to do where immediately limited to a grain.
So I wrote 11 postcards...made my way through the flooded streets to the post office, and then went for one of my wandering walks to nowhere. On this one I went into a CD shop trying to find a Spanish musician I enjoy only for him to look at me like some unique species from another universe speaking in a unknown and undistinguishable form of tongue. SO I said adios and got out of there. Stopped for bottles of water and then back to the casa
Thats my day thus far
Paz and Love
Ty
So today in this arid sun parched land the rain continues to beat down. It started yesterday at about 8pm or so and has not let up since now 2pm. It seems like such a odd sight when you have put so much energy into writing a thesis about the lack of water in a region with little. I even checked out the averages for this time of the year and at most for October its 1 inch. I think they exceeded this in the current storm so it’s either climate change or just a fluke storm.
To make things more interesting, I received a text message (sms) last night at 11pm from my profesora. She had been feeling bad in class today and this message was to let me know that we had no class today because she had to go the hospital for test. Hopefully she is ok. So I slept and slept well, like a bear hibernating wrapped in my blankets, blinds shut, thunder rumbling in the distance, rain popping on the roof like fairies dancing on the rooftops. 10 hours later I finally decided that I should probably come out my comfort and into the world. Of course it was raining so my options on what to do where immediately limited to a grain.
So I wrote 11 postcards...made my way through the flooded streets to the post office, and then went for one of my wandering walks to nowhere. On this one I went into a CD shop trying to find a Spanish musician I enjoy only for him to look at me like some unique species from another universe speaking in a unknown and undistinguishable form of tongue. SO I said adios and got out of there. Stopped for bottles of water and then back to the casa
Thats my day thus far
Paz and Love
Ty
Thursday, October 18, 2007
( A list of some of my favorite quotes)
Even society as a whole, a nation, or all existing societies put together, are not owners of the Earth. They are merely its occupants, its users; and like good caretakers, they must hand it down improved to subsequent generations.
-Marx, Capital, Vol I
The rich are tolerable only so long as their gains appear to bear some relation to roughly what they have contributed to society. John Maynard Keynes
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds"
- Einstein
When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. -----Thomas Paine----
"Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I am not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
"The only thing for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"
----- Edmund Burke
Master the toughest opponent you face in achieving your goal......Your Own State of Mind!
- Charles Austin, So High Sports & Fitness
All that we see or seem, Is but a dream within a dream.
Edgar Allan Poe
When the power of love is greater then love of power the world will know peace...anonymous
There are few things in life that are not only good for you both physically and spiritually, but can also bring you great joy and pleasure. Hiking is one of them.
The World is divided into armed camps ready to commit genocide just because we can't agree on whose fairy tales to believe.
In the end, Religion will kill us all.
-- Ed Krebs
As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such a twilight that we all must be aware of change in the air-however slight-lest we become unwilling victims of the darkness. ~Justice William O. Douglas
euskara edozen txoriri eder bere kabia....every bird thinks its own nest is the best...Basque saying
Tomorrow when I die, do not come to me to cry, nor look for me in the ground, I am the wind of freedom. Ernesto Che Guevara
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
Nietzsche
...I have seen that we do not intend to free, but to subjugate the people.... We have gone there to conquer, not to to redeem...I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land. --Mark Twain (talking about occupation of Philippins)
A regime which provides human beigns no deep reasons to care about one another cannot long preserve its legitimacy. -- Sennett
Even society as a whole, a nation, or all existing societies put together, are not owners of the Earth. They are merely its occupants, its users; and like good caretakers, they must hand it down improved to subsequent generations.
-Marx, Capital, Vol I
The rich are tolerable only so long as their gains appear to bear some relation to roughly what they have contributed to society. John Maynard Keynes
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds"
- Einstein
When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. -----Thomas Paine----
"Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I am not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
"The only thing for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"
----- Edmund Burke
Master the toughest opponent you face in achieving your goal......Your Own State of Mind!
- Charles Austin, So High Sports & Fitness
All that we see or seem, Is but a dream within a dream.
Edgar Allan Poe
When the power of love is greater then love of power the world will know peace...anonymous
There are few things in life that are not only good for you both physically and spiritually, but can also bring you great joy and pleasure. Hiking is one of them.
The World is divided into armed camps ready to commit genocide just because we can't agree on whose fairy tales to believe.
In the end, Religion will kill us all.
-- Ed Krebs
As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such a twilight that we all must be aware of change in the air-however slight-lest we become unwilling victims of the darkness. ~Justice William O. Douglas
euskara edozen txoriri eder bere kabia....every bird thinks its own nest is the best...Basque saying
Tomorrow when I die, do not come to me to cry, nor look for me in the ground, I am the wind of freedom. Ernesto Che Guevara
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.
Nietzsche
...I have seen that we do not intend to free, but to subjugate the people.... We have gone there to conquer, not to to redeem...I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land. --Mark Twain (talking about occupation of Philippins)
A regime which provides human beigns no deep reasons to care about one another cannot long preserve its legitimacy. -- Sennett
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
A short midweek update...
Well class the last two days has been better than before but still frustrating. But I got some good advice on how to combat frustration when you may be trying to force something upon yourself that you can’t handle. So although I am not going to not take class seriously, I need to just lighten up, go with the flow like a coconut in the ocean and just float along picking up what I can along the ride.
Just a bit ago I made my first contact for a interview!!! The women, Lola, is the owner (daughter of owner but runs it now), of the greenhouse I toured this summer on my previous excursion into the unknown. She was great on the phone and said that as long as I try to speak Spanish, she can answer in English. SO luckily I have the interview questions translated all ready. I figure November will be my month of interviews and thesis information with a few other things thrown in the buffet to stay sane.
Ok so a quick story on another way the Andalucians are very into being.....do it later, take your time, etc etc. So I wanted to sign up for a rock-climbing and scuba diving course that the University offers because those are two things I really want to know how to do. More rock-climbing (escalado) then scuba (buceo). So I went to the deportes (US equivalent of intramural office) to attempt to sign up using my great hand gestures and broken Spanish. Like usual, hand gestures and a good smile worked....well kind of.
I was told that I need to go to a tent that was set up in the middle of the quad where a special booth was located where I could sign up. So I made my way over there. Once there I was told that I needed to go to the on campus bank to pay the 10 Euros necessary for a full year of intramural usage. So after waiting 20 minutes in line at the back, I went back to pick up my t shirt and....I thought sign up for the climbing and scuba. But the women had run out of forms for me to sign, or did not understand me, one or the other. I waited about ten minutes, cause I thought that is what she told me to do...eventually the crowd of swarming students overtook my metal stability and I biked away into the sun....hoping that tomorrow would bring better luck. Maybe the Spanish language ferry will visit me tonight!!! haha!
Current events wise: Two things of importance....of too many to list...1) Turkey moving into northern Iraq and the impacts that will have on the all ready torn country (thanks to us), 2) Will we really take aggressive action on Iran. If we do and people do not get out in the streets in MASS!!!! Then all really is completely lost! It may not happen but....things are already bad and with Hillary the primary democratic candidate, hell who knows what will happen. I wish Dennis Kucinich really had a chance in our country!!!! He will get my vote either way unless some other candidate arises with a similar conscience and government standards!!
Peace and Love
Ty
Well class the last two days has been better than before but still frustrating. But I got some good advice on how to combat frustration when you may be trying to force something upon yourself that you can’t handle. So although I am not going to not take class seriously, I need to just lighten up, go with the flow like a coconut in the ocean and just float along picking up what I can along the ride.
Just a bit ago I made my first contact for a interview!!! The women, Lola, is the owner (daughter of owner but runs it now), of the greenhouse I toured this summer on my previous excursion into the unknown. She was great on the phone and said that as long as I try to speak Spanish, she can answer in English. SO luckily I have the interview questions translated all ready. I figure November will be my month of interviews and thesis information with a few other things thrown in the buffet to stay sane.
Ok so a quick story on another way the Andalucians are very into being.....do it later, take your time, etc etc. So I wanted to sign up for a rock-climbing and scuba diving course that the University offers because those are two things I really want to know how to do. More rock-climbing (escalado) then scuba (buceo). So I went to the deportes (US equivalent of intramural office) to attempt to sign up using my great hand gestures and broken Spanish. Like usual, hand gestures and a good smile worked....well kind of.
I was told that I need to go to a tent that was set up in the middle of the quad where a special booth was located where I could sign up. So I made my way over there. Once there I was told that I needed to go to the on campus bank to pay the 10 Euros necessary for a full year of intramural usage. So after waiting 20 minutes in line at the back, I went back to pick up my t shirt and....I thought sign up for the climbing and scuba. But the women had run out of forms for me to sign, or did not understand me, one or the other. I waited about ten minutes, cause I thought that is what she told me to do...eventually the crowd of swarming students overtook my metal stability and I biked away into the sun....hoping that tomorrow would bring better luck. Maybe the Spanish language ferry will visit me tonight!!! haha!
Current events wise: Two things of importance....of too many to list...1) Turkey moving into northern Iraq and the impacts that will have on the all ready torn country (thanks to us), 2) Will we really take aggressive action on Iran. If we do and people do not get out in the streets in MASS!!!! Then all really is completely lost! It may not happen but....things are already bad and with Hillary the primary democratic candidate, hell who knows what will happen. I wish Dennis Kucinich really had a chance in our country!!!! He will get my vote either way unless some other candidate arises with a similar conscience and government standards!!
Peace and Love
Ty
(I think we should putting more energy into devloping different things then devices used to spy on the citizens....what do you think!!!)
Dragonfly or Insect Spy? Scientists at Work on Robobugs.
By Rick Weiss
Vanessa Alarcon saw them while working at an antiwar rally in Lafayette Square last month.
"I heard someone say, 'Oh my god, look at those,' " the college senior from New York recalled. "I look up and I'm like, 'What the hell is that?' They looked kind of like dragonflies or little helicopters. But I mean, those are not insects."
Out in the crowd, Bernard Crane saw them, too.
"I'd never seen anything like it in my life," the Washington lawyer said. "They were large for dragonflies. I thought, 'Is that mechanical, or is that alive?'
That is just one of the questions hovering over a handful of similar sightings at political events in Washington and New York. Some suspect the insectlike drones are high-tech surveillance tools, perhaps deployed by the Department of Homeland Security.
Others think they are, well, dragonflies -- an ancient order of insects that even biologists concede look about as robotic as a living creature can look.
LINK
Dragonfly or Insect Spy? Scientists at Work on Robobugs.
By Rick Weiss
Vanessa Alarcon saw them while working at an antiwar rally in Lafayette Square last month.
"I heard someone say, 'Oh my god, look at those,' " the college senior from New York recalled. "I look up and I'm like, 'What the hell is that?' They looked kind of like dragonflies or little helicopters. But I mean, those are not insects."
Out in the crowd, Bernard Crane saw them, too.
"I'd never seen anything like it in my life," the Washington lawyer said. "They were large for dragonflies. I thought, 'Is that mechanical, or is that alive?'
That is just one of the questions hovering over a handful of similar sightings at political events in Washington and New York. Some suspect the insectlike drones are high-tech surveillance tools, perhaps deployed by the Department of Homeland Security.
Others think they are, well, dragonflies -- an ancient order of insects that even biologists concede look about as robotic as a living creature can look.
LINK
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Nemesis: The World Reacts to American Arrogance
by max blunt
Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic
In another “wake-up call for America,” Chalmers Johnson confronts the overreaching of the U.S. empire and the threat it poses to the republic.
In his prophetic book Blowback, Chalmers Johnson linked the CIA’s clandestine activities abroad to disaster at home.
In The Sorrows of Empire, he explored how the growth of American militarism and the garrisoning of the planet have actually jeopardized our safety.
Now, in Nemesis, the final volume in what has become the Blowback trilogy, he shows how imperial overstretch is undermining the republic itself, both economically and politically.
Delving into new areas -- from plans to militarize outer space to Constitution-breaking presidential activities at home -- Nemesis offers a striking description of the trap into which the grandiose dreams of America’s leaders have taken us.
LINK
by max blunt
Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic
In another “wake-up call for America,” Chalmers Johnson confronts the overreaching of the U.S. empire and the threat it poses to the republic.
In his prophetic book Blowback, Chalmers Johnson linked the CIA’s clandestine activities abroad to disaster at home.
In The Sorrows of Empire, he explored how the growth of American militarism and the garrisoning of the planet have actually jeopardized our safety.
Now, in Nemesis, the final volume in what has become the Blowback trilogy, he shows how imperial overstretch is undermining the republic itself, both economically and politically.
Delving into new areas -- from plans to militarize outer space to Constitution-breaking presidential activities at home -- Nemesis offers a striking description of the trap into which the grandiose dreams of America’s leaders have taken us.
LINK
(Interesting article on new devlopment popping up in Lybia. I like that she says the meditteranean is turning into a gaint swimming pool surrounded by concrete devlopments)
A Green Resort Is Planned to Preserve Ruins and Coastal Waters
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: October 16, 2007
CYRENE, Libya — In this remote eastern region of Libya, where the bleak hills resemble a lunar landscape, the Green Mountain Sustainable Development Area is the latest in a spate of recently announced projects that form a sort of environmental coming-out party for this former pariah country.
Fleets of white Mercedes vans ferried guests along newly paved roads for a lamb dinner among the ruins and a signing ceremony presided over by Saif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, eldest son of the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
In an area where many residents are illiterate, newly erected signs in crisp white and blue say “Airport” in Arabic and English. Development is coming to town.
In an area the size of Wales centered on the Greek ruin here, the younger Qaddafi, a group of wealthy Libyans and a bevy of consultants are planning a carbon neutral green-development zone, catering to tourism and serving as a model for environmentally friendly design, they say.
LINK
A Green Resort Is Planned to Preserve Ruins and Coastal Waters
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: October 16, 2007
CYRENE, Libya — In this remote eastern region of Libya, where the bleak hills resemble a lunar landscape, the Green Mountain Sustainable Development Area is the latest in a spate of recently announced projects that form a sort of environmental coming-out party for this former pariah country.
Fleets of white Mercedes vans ferried guests along newly paved roads for a lamb dinner among the ruins and a signing ceremony presided over by Saif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, eldest son of the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
In an area where many residents are illiterate, newly erected signs in crisp white and blue say “Airport” in Arabic and English. Development is coming to town.
In an area the size of Wales centered on the Greek ruin here, the younger Qaddafi, a group of wealthy Libyans and a bevy of consultants are planning a carbon neutral green-development zone, catering to tourism and serving as a model for environmentally friendly design, they say.
LINK
Monday, October 15, 2007
....con
It was nice to see some trees and a river. But the hike was a little short for my taste. Saturday night was much more low key and we watched a movie...I think they might have watched two movies. The movies were entirely in Spanish with no sub titles so I could only understand bits and pieces of the story. I think, it was about a woman who has a bike accident, loses her memory, a man who pretends to be her boyfriend, and then a series of events at a campsite leading up to an encounter with her psycho ex boyfriend....ooo and something to do with red squirrels. I think I will try to find out about it when I get home so I can watch it with English subtitles.
So after a reasonable 9 hours of sleep I woke up and watched some TV waiting for the rest of the gaggle to summon its self. With half we took off on what I thought was only a coffee trip but ended up a tour of the city. This confusion sucked because I forgot my damn camera for all the beautiful pictures of the town. We ended the day with a giant meal. The meal consisted of 1) calamaries, 2) judia (not sure what this is) 3) a huge salad and finally (4) a giant steaming bowl of paella. The paella was served in its traditional paella cooking bowl/ware and was the size of an extra large pizza. It had rabbit, peppers and rice.....I tried the rabbit just to be hospitable and then just stuck to the rice. I realize that the rice had just as much rabbit juice on it but ooooo well you do what you can.
We returned to Almeria by about 730 pm.
Classes continue to be hard and only seemed to heighten my frustration as each day passes. I am either getting dumber each day or the two girls in the class are quickly lapping me and coming back for seconds. My real problem is that I need a teacher to just explain what she means in English just once and then yeah go back to Spanish. But when you cannot understand the verb tense, or other rule it makes it all most impossible to excel. I still have the thesis laying on my conscience like a hidden bear clawing at the inside of my skull. The bear wants to come out and explore and gain information but remains in his cave because of other forces taking the needed brain power to write. Meaning I feel like doing nothing after a day of Spanish classes.
....I will just have to make myself. well hope you enjoyed the weekend update, thats all from this side of the world!!
PEACE LOVE
TY
It was nice to see some trees and a river. But the hike was a little short for my taste. Saturday night was much more low key and we watched a movie...I think they might have watched two movies. The movies were entirely in Spanish with no sub titles so I could only understand bits and pieces of the story. I think, it was about a woman who has a bike accident, loses her memory, a man who pretends to be her boyfriend, and then a series of events at a campsite leading up to an encounter with her psycho ex boyfriend....ooo and something to do with red squirrels. I think I will try to find out about it when I get home so I can watch it with English subtitles.
So after a reasonable 9 hours of sleep I woke up and watched some TV waiting for the rest of the gaggle to summon its self. With half we took off on what I thought was only a coffee trip but ended up a tour of the city. This confusion sucked because I forgot my damn camera for all the beautiful pictures of the town. We ended the day with a giant meal. The meal consisted of 1) calamaries, 2) judia (not sure what this is) 3) a huge salad and finally (4) a giant steaming bowl of paella. The paella was served in its traditional paella cooking bowl/ware and was the size of an extra large pizza. It had rabbit, peppers and rice.....I tried the rabbit just to be hospitable and then just stuck to the rice. I realize that the rice had just as much rabbit juice on it but ooooo well you do what you can.
We returned to Almeria by about 730 pm.
Classes continue to be hard and only seemed to heighten my frustration as each day passes. I am either getting dumber each day or the two girls in the class are quickly lapping me and coming back for seconds. My real problem is that I need a teacher to just explain what she means in English just once and then yeah go back to Spanish. But when you cannot understand the verb tense, or other rule it makes it all most impossible to excel. I still have the thesis laying on my conscience like a hidden bear clawing at the inside of my skull. The bear wants to come out and explore and gain information but remains in his cave because of other forces taking the needed brain power to write. Meaning I feel like doing nothing after a day of Spanish classes.
....I will just have to make myself. well hope you enjoyed the weekend update, thats all from this side of the world!!
PEACE LOVE
TY
the other side of the story.....
So Friday night...well this story will be downgraded some from its originality because of other peoples request and just other reasons. So the reason for this weekend excursion was to celebrate a birthday. So this being the case, it was not too far into arriving that we were quickly taken away for the tapas (although not called tapas there and instead are just a portion of food to be shared with all. And in addition they do not drink canas (small tap beer), tuvos (round tube shaped beers0, and instead drink jaras (pitchers of beer). Needless to say we started out with lots of food and lots of beer/ vino verano (tap wine more or less). The next part of the night was to a bar that had been opened up early for friends of the birthday guy for free alcohol/beer. Then the regular bar was open until the police came to turn down the music!! So if that was not enough we went back to the house to enjoy the night some more before I finally could not have enough sometime near sunset.
So the next morning, or so I thought, make that the afternoon 230pm..........Jesus!!! I could not believe it and nor do I fully want to enjoy that indulgence again. It was semi fun but is it really worth doing it that hard for even a couple days of the month....to me, I don’t think so....maybe one....at most two. But of course the whole things were relatively safe because most people just walk everywhere and live relatively close. Once the horrible next day syndrome hid its self for the short coming we headed for a little nature road/mini mini hike trip in the surrounding mountains/hills. Definitely my favorite part of the trip....
Sorry to do this again but I gotta get some rest....the final part and summery of the week tomorrow!!
PEace and LOve
So Friday night...well this story will be downgraded some from its originality because of other peoples request and just other reasons. So the reason for this weekend excursion was to celebrate a birthday. So this being the case, it was not too far into arriving that we were quickly taken away for the tapas (although not called tapas there and instead are just a portion of food to be shared with all. And in addition they do not drink canas (small tap beer), tuvos (round tube shaped beers0, and instead drink jaras (pitchers of beer). Needless to say we started out with lots of food and lots of beer/ vino verano (tap wine more or less). The next part of the night was to a bar that had been opened up early for friends of the birthday guy for free alcohol/beer. Then the regular bar was open until the police came to turn down the music!! So if that was not enough we went back to the house to enjoy the night some more before I finally could not have enough sometime near sunset.
So the next morning, or so I thought, make that the afternoon 230pm..........Jesus!!! I could not believe it and nor do I fully want to enjoy that indulgence again. It was semi fun but is it really worth doing it that hard for even a couple days of the month....to me, I don’t think so....maybe one....at most two. But of course the whole things were relatively safe because most people just walk everywhere and live relatively close. Once the horrible next day syndrome hid its self for the short coming we headed for a little nature road/mini mini hike trip in the surrounding mountains/hills. Definitely my favorite part of the trip....
Sorry to do this again but I gotta get some rest....the final part and summery of the week tomorrow!!
PEace and LOve
Sunday, October 14, 2007
A weekend away from Almeria,
So Friday afternoon me, two of the roomies, and two of their girlfriends took off to the Murcia Province of Spain. At the time I thought we were going to the city of Murcia but soon into the trip I discovered that we were headed to small pueblo located near Murcia, Cieza. The drive was interesting for me for several reasons. Five of us, four women and me the sole male, were crammed into your typical Europeans, gas conscience car….in this case the French made Peugeot. Of course the conversation was a flurry of Spanish being thrown across the car with Spanish music in the background…..this kind of scenario creates what I like to think of a scenery overload for the ears and the brain. Basically you have to make the decision on what you want to know……do you want to listen to the lyrics in the hope that you too can sing along in the song or do you want to venture a try a deciphering a conversation and then trying to bring in your input in some kind of Spanglish. Usually I choose neither and just listened and only answered when I heard my name.
The landscape started as the usual Almeria desert with large mountains in the background that are equally as dry…..in addition greenhouses scatter along the landscape for 70km outside Almeria, sometimes resembling a sea of plastic or at other times a kilt with some patches of tierra and others of plastico. Soon things start to slowly make the transition into a green landscape with valleys of orchards and mountains with trees intermixed with large rock outcroppings. To my desert perceived eyes it was a shock to actually see a river, pumping out of some unknown source invisible from afar. The town of Cieza sits below two huge (one bigger than other) rock outcroppings with one topped by some sort of hold watchtower or fortress. The city is surrounded by an old wall from another time and a substantial river flowing along two sides of the outer wall.
Friday night we went out and out more than Ty likes to go out…….More tomorrow, need to do homework!!!!
PEACE AND LOVE
TY
So Friday afternoon me, two of the roomies, and two of their girlfriends took off to the Murcia Province of Spain. At the time I thought we were going to the city of Murcia but soon into the trip I discovered that we were headed to small pueblo located near Murcia, Cieza. The drive was interesting for me for several reasons. Five of us, four women and me the sole male, were crammed into your typical Europeans, gas conscience car….in this case the French made Peugeot. Of course the conversation was a flurry of Spanish being thrown across the car with Spanish music in the background…..this kind of scenario creates what I like to think of a scenery overload for the ears and the brain. Basically you have to make the decision on what you want to know……do you want to listen to the lyrics in the hope that you too can sing along in the song or do you want to venture a try a deciphering a conversation and then trying to bring in your input in some kind of Spanglish. Usually I choose neither and just listened and only answered when I heard my name.
The landscape started as the usual Almeria desert with large mountains in the background that are equally as dry…..in addition greenhouses scatter along the landscape for 70km outside Almeria, sometimes resembling a sea of plastic or at other times a kilt with some patches of tierra and others of plastico. Soon things start to slowly make the transition into a green landscape with valleys of orchards and mountains with trees intermixed with large rock outcroppings. To my desert perceived eyes it was a shock to actually see a river, pumping out of some unknown source invisible from afar. The town of Cieza sits below two huge (one bigger than other) rock outcroppings with one topped by some sort of hold watchtower or fortress. The city is surrounded by an old wall from another time and a substantial river flowing along two sides of the outer wall.
Friday night we went out and out more than Ty likes to go out…….More tomorrow, need to do homework!!!!
PEACE AND LOVE
TY
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Hola mundo,
Another day, another week through school! Class has continued its spiral of intense Spanish teetering on a level of being too great for my mind to compute. It just shows me how much information can be lost in three years when you are entering that much data into your brain. I am definitely envious of any person that has the capability or brain storage compactly to be multi-lingual and do something else. Having a class of three people is two things....1) It’s great to have the availability of the profesora and be close to the students in your class and 2) It’s a burden to be the worst person in the class, when everyone gets what is going on and you (me) are starring at a piece of paper like I was trying to answer the questions of the universe.
In class I feel like I do not know how much more we could cover before either my brain explodes (total recall style) or we covered the entire Spanish language (at least it seems that way to me). My Wednesday and Thursday class is actually a lot better. I am the only one in the class and instead of jumping straight into Spanish business; the teacher has been doing refresher Spanish language courses with me in the hope of sparking some lost brain cells. Whether this will work or not I am not sure.
Last night me, Olivia, Laura (two girls from class), Demaili (An Italian ISA direct girl), Roman (aka boyfriend 2, German Erasmus student), and two of his German friends went out for Tapas. It was a pretty good time and the discussions ranged from gitty metaphor humor to intellectual philosophy question about nature and nurture. Of course I was the odd one out.....but it was nice to have a good discussion with people who capable of having that deep of a conversation. I left at about midnight (past my bedtime) and got to sleep a little before 1am. This no sleeping stuff really gets me. I have been trying to siesta but only managing a short 20-40min nap a day.
So today it rained and actually rained pretty damn hard for this being the driest desert in Europe. Of course the weather was wrong so I rode my bike to class thinking nothing of the grey sky and elevated humidity and instead enjoying the cooler than normal temperatures as my growing hair flapped in the whisping breeze.
Tomorrow I decided that I am going to Murcia with my roommates. I had been pondering hanging around for this extended weekend but what better way to practice Spanish then to go on a road trip to a new city. OOO yeah, I am not skipping class!!! It’s one of many catholic fiestas tomorrow.
I have made two preliminary contacts for my thesis and only need to set up an appointment to get the interviews.
I started reading two new books: Dark Ages America and Fatal Harvest (a collection of essays, not really a book). The introduction and first chapter of Dark AA has me salivating for more. Although its semi depressing, it’s so interesting to have ideas that float through your head written in a book by an author who has done his research. I would recommend this book for everyone. I wish we did not live in a era of surveillance and armored police because I think we could make a difference. But with cameras on street corners in citys, you have to be ready to disappear behind steel bars or into the woods. That’s all I will say but if you are smart enough you know what I mean. When will people stop living in the cave and walk out and free themselves from brainwashing of capitalism and globalization! Maybe in the end the thing to do is just drop out.....when the future looks so bleak......
PEACE LOVE
TY
Another day, another week through school! Class has continued its spiral of intense Spanish teetering on a level of being too great for my mind to compute. It just shows me how much information can be lost in three years when you are entering that much data into your brain. I am definitely envious of any person that has the capability or brain storage compactly to be multi-lingual and do something else. Having a class of three people is two things....1) It’s great to have the availability of the profesora and be close to the students in your class and 2) It’s a burden to be the worst person in the class, when everyone gets what is going on and you (me) are starring at a piece of paper like I was trying to answer the questions of the universe.
In class I feel like I do not know how much more we could cover before either my brain explodes (total recall style) or we covered the entire Spanish language (at least it seems that way to me). My Wednesday and Thursday class is actually a lot better. I am the only one in the class and instead of jumping straight into Spanish business; the teacher has been doing refresher Spanish language courses with me in the hope of sparking some lost brain cells. Whether this will work or not I am not sure.
Last night me, Olivia, Laura (two girls from class), Demaili (An Italian ISA direct girl), Roman (aka boyfriend 2, German Erasmus student), and two of his German friends went out for Tapas. It was a pretty good time and the discussions ranged from gitty metaphor humor to intellectual philosophy question about nature and nurture. Of course I was the odd one out.....but it was nice to have a good discussion with people who capable of having that deep of a conversation. I left at about midnight (past my bedtime) and got to sleep a little before 1am. This no sleeping stuff really gets me. I have been trying to siesta but only managing a short 20-40min nap a day.
So today it rained and actually rained pretty damn hard for this being the driest desert in Europe. Of course the weather was wrong so I rode my bike to class thinking nothing of the grey sky and elevated humidity and instead enjoying the cooler than normal temperatures as my growing hair flapped in the whisping breeze.
Tomorrow I decided that I am going to Murcia with my roommates. I had been pondering hanging around for this extended weekend but what better way to practice Spanish then to go on a road trip to a new city. OOO yeah, I am not skipping class!!! It’s one of many catholic fiestas tomorrow.
I have made two preliminary contacts for my thesis and only need to set up an appointment to get the interviews.
I started reading two new books: Dark Ages America and Fatal Harvest (a collection of essays, not really a book). The introduction and first chapter of Dark AA has me salivating for more. Although its semi depressing, it’s so interesting to have ideas that float through your head written in a book by an author who has done his research. I would recommend this book for everyone. I wish we did not live in a era of surveillance and armored police because I think we could make a difference. But with cameras on street corners in citys, you have to be ready to disappear behind steel bars or into the woods. That’s all I will say but if you are smart enough you know what I mean. When will people stop living in the cave and walk out and free themselves from brainwashing of capitalism and globalization! Maybe in the end the thing to do is just drop out.....when the future looks so bleak......
PEACE LOVE
TY
Oil, Israel, and America: The Root Cause of the Crisis
By Scott Ritter
10/09/07 "Common Dreams" -- -- There is no shortage of examples of historical points of friction between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States to draw upon in order to illustrate the genesis of the current level of tension. One can point to the Islamic revolution that cast aside America’s staunch ally, Reza Shah Pahlevi, the period of reactionary exportation of Islamic “revolution” that followed, the take over of the US Embassy and subsequent holding of Americans hostage (replete with a failed rescue mission), the Iranian use of proxy’s to confront American military involvement in Lebanon, inclusive of the bombing of the Marine barracks and US Embassy compounds, America’s support of Saddam Hussein during the 8-year war between Iran and Iraq, the ‘hot’ conflict between Iran and the United States in the late 1980’s, or Iran’s ongoing support of the Hezbollah Party in Lebanon. The list could continue.
With the exception of the current situation in Lebanon, most of these “friction points” are dated, going back nearly three decades past. And when one examines the ‘root’ causes of these past points of friction, we find that there is no simple ‘black and white’ causal relationship which places Iran firmly in the wrong. Much of the early animosity between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States was derived from the resentment most Iranians felt over American support for a brutal, repressive regime. This resentment, coupled with an uncompromising approach taken by the United States towards maintaining cordial relations with a post-Shah Iran, manifested itself in the furtherance of anti-American activity in Iran, which in turn hardened the posture of the US government against Iran, leading to a cycle of devolution that ultimately resulted in the severance of all ties between the two nations.
LINK
By Scott Ritter
10/09/07 "Common Dreams" -- -- There is no shortage of examples of historical points of friction between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States to draw upon in order to illustrate the genesis of the current level of tension. One can point to the Islamic revolution that cast aside America’s staunch ally, Reza Shah Pahlevi, the period of reactionary exportation of Islamic “revolution” that followed, the take over of the US Embassy and subsequent holding of Americans hostage (replete with a failed rescue mission), the Iranian use of proxy’s to confront American military involvement in Lebanon, inclusive of the bombing of the Marine barracks and US Embassy compounds, America’s support of Saddam Hussein during the 8-year war between Iran and Iraq, the ‘hot’ conflict between Iran and the United States in the late 1980’s, or Iran’s ongoing support of the Hezbollah Party in Lebanon. The list could continue.
With the exception of the current situation in Lebanon, most of these “friction points” are dated, going back nearly three decades past. And when one examines the ‘root’ causes of these past points of friction, we find that there is no simple ‘black and white’ causal relationship which places Iran firmly in the wrong. Much of the early animosity between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States was derived from the resentment most Iranians felt over American support for a brutal, repressive regime. This resentment, coupled with an uncompromising approach taken by the United States towards maintaining cordial relations with a post-Shah Iran, manifested itself in the furtherance of anti-American activity in Iran, which in turn hardened the posture of the US government against Iran, leading to a cycle of devolution that ultimately resulted in the severance of all ties between the two nations.
LINK
Our Drinkable Water Supply Is Vanishing
By Tara Lohan, AlterNet.
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, the Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize winner for medicine once said, "Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water."
We depend on water for survival. It circulates through our bodies and the land, replenishing nutrients and carrying away waste. It is passed down like stories over generations -- from ice-capped mountains to rivers to oceans.
Historically water has been a facet of ritual, a place of gathering and the backbone of community.
But times have changed. "In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water has become the victim of his indifference," Rachel Carson wrote.
As a result, today, 35 years since the passage of the Clean Water Act, we find ourselves are teetering on the edge of a global crisis that is being exacerbated by climate change, which is shrinking glaciers and raising sea levels.
LINK
By Tara Lohan, AlterNet.
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, the Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize winner for medicine once said, "Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water."
We depend on water for survival. It circulates through our bodies and the land, replenishing nutrients and carrying away waste. It is passed down like stories over generations -- from ice-capped mountains to rivers to oceans.
Historically water has been a facet of ritual, a place of gathering and the backbone of community.
But times have changed. "In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water has become the victim of his indifference," Rachel Carson wrote.
As a result, today, 35 years since the passage of the Clean Water Act, we find ourselves are teetering on the edge of a global crisis that is being exacerbated by climate change, which is shrinking glaciers and raising sea levels.
LINK
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
The War on Pot: America's $42 Billion Annual Boondoggle
By Rob Kampia, AlterNet.
What would you buy if you had an extra $42 billion to spend every year? What might our government buy if it suddenly had that much money dropped onto its lap every year?
For one thing, it might pay for the entire $7 billion annual increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program that President Bush is threatening to veto because of its cost -- and there'd still be $35 billion left over.
Or perhaps you'd hire 880,000 schoolteachers at the average U.S. teacher salary of $47,602 per year.
Or give every one of our current teachers a 30 percent raise (at a cost of $15 billion, according to the American Federation of Teachers) and use what's left to take a $27 billion whack out of the federal deficit.
Or use all $42 billion for a massive tax cut that would put an extra $140 in the pockets of every person in the country -- $560 for a family of four.
LINK
By Rob Kampia, AlterNet.
What would you buy if you had an extra $42 billion to spend every year? What might our government buy if it suddenly had that much money dropped onto its lap every year?
For one thing, it might pay for the entire $7 billion annual increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program that President Bush is threatening to veto because of its cost -- and there'd still be $35 billion left over.
Or perhaps you'd hire 880,000 schoolteachers at the average U.S. teacher salary of $47,602 per year.
Or give every one of our current teachers a 30 percent raise (at a cost of $15 billion, according to the American Federation of Teachers) and use what's left to take a $27 billion whack out of the federal deficit.
Or use all $42 billion for a massive tax cut that would put an extra $140 in the pockets of every person in the country -- $560 for a family of four.
LINK
The Government Sanctioned Bombing of Appalachia
By Antrim Caskey, AlterNet.
On a calm, clear morning in the forested mountains of southern West Virginia, 12-year-old Chrystal Gunnoe played outdoors in the green mountain valley where her family has lived for hundreds of years. It was Veteran's Day and a school holiday. Chrystal's mother, Maria Gunnoe, 38, was inside when she heard her daughter yell for help.
Gunnoe rushed outside to find Chrystal coming towards her. Chrystal was coughing and struggling to breath, running from a strange-looking cloud that was moving down the valley and headed towards their house. Gunnoe would later learn the strange cloud came from something known as a "slow burning blast" -- an explosion set at the coal mine above her home that failed to ignite and instead burned slowly, releasing a wet toxic cloud of nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide.
Gunnoe lives in Bob White, W.Va., where coal companies have become increasingly unfriendly neighbors. Her home is surrounded by thousands of acres where a radically destructive type of coal mining is practiced -- mountaintop removal/valley fill (MTR) coal mining -- and it's turning Maria Gunnoe's life upside down.
LINK
By Antrim Caskey, AlterNet.
On a calm, clear morning in the forested mountains of southern West Virginia, 12-year-old Chrystal Gunnoe played outdoors in the green mountain valley where her family has lived for hundreds of years. It was Veteran's Day and a school holiday. Chrystal's mother, Maria Gunnoe, 38, was inside when she heard her daughter yell for help.
Gunnoe rushed outside to find Chrystal coming towards her. Chrystal was coughing and struggling to breath, running from a strange-looking cloud that was moving down the valley and headed towards their house. Gunnoe would later learn the strange cloud came from something known as a "slow burning blast" -- an explosion set at the coal mine above her home that failed to ignite and instead burned slowly, releasing a wet toxic cloud of nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide.
Gunnoe lives in Bob White, W.Va., where coal companies have become increasingly unfriendly neighbors. Her home is surrounded by thousands of acres where a radically destructive type of coal mining is practiced -- mountaintop removal/valley fill (MTR) coal mining -- and it's turning Maria Gunnoe's life upside down.
LINK
Monday, October 08, 2007
Well another day in Espana!!
I forgot to do my homework over the weekend....some how I missed that instruction in the flurry of rapid spanish being launched at my head at gargantuin speeds, ripping the drumbs my ears into a state of stupidity. Alas, I had ten minutes to write a page on a trip I have taken in the past using past tense verb forms. I wrote about my trip to central and eastern europe last summer. For ten mintues it was pretty impressive but you would not think so from the amount of red lashed on the paper by the professora. It appeared more like rabbit had been slaugtered on it then a simple page on a past vacation. After in class we learned about country names and a little bio information on espana. I really do not have that many problems understanding spanish when they talk slowley but to speak it is another story. My brain seems uncapable of translating a sentance that does not take 10 min to think about. I hace certaintly seen some difference in the last week.....and hey its only been a week. I road to and back to class in my new bicyle....a lot faster then my nuevo madres. Then before the 330 lunch that seems to be the norm in this casa, I went for a short 6k run on the calle martimo (the road on the sea).
More later in the week! Thanks mom and dad for the emails, keep m coming. Dad glad you liked that movie! Mom glad you had fun on your car trip. OOO and its Ivy's B Day on the 10th for all of you who care!!
PAZ, AMOR, ADIOS
Ty
I forgot to do my homework over the weekend....some how I missed that instruction in the flurry of rapid spanish being launched at my head at gargantuin speeds, ripping the drumbs my ears into a state of stupidity. Alas, I had ten minutes to write a page on a trip I have taken in the past using past tense verb forms. I wrote about my trip to central and eastern europe last summer. For ten mintues it was pretty impressive but you would not think so from the amount of red lashed on the paper by the professora. It appeared more like rabbit had been slaugtered on it then a simple page on a past vacation. After in class we learned about country names and a little bio information on espana. I really do not have that many problems understanding spanish when they talk slowley but to speak it is another story. My brain seems uncapable of translating a sentance that does not take 10 min to think about. I hace certaintly seen some difference in the last week.....and hey its only been a week. I road to and back to class in my new bicyle....a lot faster then my nuevo madres. Then before the 330 lunch that seems to be the norm in this casa, I went for a short 6k run on the calle martimo (the road on the sea).
More later in the week! Thanks mom and dad for the emails, keep m coming. Dad glad you liked that movie! Mom glad you had fun on your car trip. OOO and its Ivy's B Day on the 10th for all of you who care!!
PAZ, AMOR, ADIOS
Ty
UK 2017: under surveillance
By Neil Mackay
10/07/07 "Sunday Herald" -- -- IT is a chilling, dystopian account of what Britain will look like 10 years from now: a world in which Fortress Britain uses fleets of tiny spy-planes to watch its citizens, of Minority Report-style pre-emptive justice, of an underclass trapped in sink-estate ghettos under constant state surveillance, of worker drones forced to take on the lifestyle and values of the mega-corporation they work for, and of the super-rich hiding out in gated communities constantly monitored by cameras and private security guards.
This Orwellian vision of the future was compiled on the orders of the UK's information commissioner - the independent watchdog meant to guard against government and private companies invading the privacy of British citizens and exploiting the masses of information currently held on each and every one of us - by the Surveillance Studies Network, a group of academics.
On Friday, this study, entitled A Report on the Surveillance Society, was picked over by a select group of government mandarins, politicians, police officers and academics in Edinburgh. It is unequivocal in its findings, with its first sentence reading simply: "We live in a surveillance society." The information commissioner, Richard Thomas, endorses the report. He says: "Today, I fear that we are, in fact, waking up to a surveillance society that is already all around us."
The academics who compiled the study based their vision of the future not on wild hypotheses but on existing technology, statements made about the intentions of government and private companies and studies by other think tanks, regulators, professional bodies and academics.
The report authors say that they believe the key theme of the future will be "pervasive surveillance" aimed at tracking and controlling people and pre-empting behaviour. The authors also say that their glimpse of the future is "fairly conservative. The future spelled out in the report is nowhere near as dystopian and authoritarian as it could be."
Here's how 2017 might look...LINK
By Neil Mackay
10/07/07 "Sunday Herald" -- -- IT is a chilling, dystopian account of what Britain will look like 10 years from now: a world in which Fortress Britain uses fleets of tiny spy-planes to watch its citizens, of Minority Report-style pre-emptive justice, of an underclass trapped in sink-estate ghettos under constant state surveillance, of worker drones forced to take on the lifestyle and values of the mega-corporation they work for, and of the super-rich hiding out in gated communities constantly monitored by cameras and private security guards.
This Orwellian vision of the future was compiled on the orders of the UK's information commissioner - the independent watchdog meant to guard against government and private companies invading the privacy of British citizens and exploiting the masses of information currently held on each and every one of us - by the Surveillance Studies Network, a group of academics.
On Friday, this study, entitled A Report on the Surveillance Society, was picked over by a select group of government mandarins, politicians, police officers and academics in Edinburgh. It is unequivocal in its findings, with its first sentence reading simply: "We live in a surveillance society." The information commissioner, Richard Thomas, endorses the report. He says: "Today, I fear that we are, in fact, waking up to a surveillance society that is already all around us."
The academics who compiled the study based their vision of the future not on wild hypotheses but on existing technology, statements made about the intentions of government and private companies and studies by other think tanks, regulators, professional bodies and academics.
The report authors say that they believe the key theme of the future will be "pervasive surveillance" aimed at tracking and controlling people and pre-empting behaviour. The authors also say that their glimpse of the future is "fairly conservative. The future spelled out in the report is nowhere near as dystopian and authoritarian as it could be."
Here's how 2017 might look...LINK
Irresponsible Americans
by Joel S. Hirschhorn
(Swans - October 8, 2007) Plagued by intellectual curiosity, I often ask why so many people believe, think, or act in baffling and irresponsible ways. Personal irresponsible behavior harms the individual. Civic irresponsible behavior harms US society and government. The epidemic proportions of the first type, driven by business interests only concerned with making more money, have expanded the second behavior, driven by political interests intent on maintaining their clout (by serving the business interests), even if it means damaging American democracy.
Irresponsible behavior flourishes despite attempts to inform, educate, and persuade people to change it. Such behavior is seen subjectively as acceptable, logical, and reasonable. It is justified and reinforced systematically by myriad social and cultural forces. This explains why experience shows us how difficult it is to erase irresponsible behavior, even when attempts come from parents, spouses, friends, physicians, counselors, and teachers.
Personal Irresponsibility
Some examples of personal irresponsible behavior: Why do so many people still smoke cigarettes despite all the evidence of their health risk? Why do so many refuse to use seat belts in their cars despite their clear benefit? Why do so many drive when drunk, high on illegal drugs, or distracted by using cell phones? Why do so many eat large quantities of fat and sugar-rich foods (or allowing their children to do so) knowing that they make people overweight and unhealthy?
LINK
by Joel S. Hirschhorn
(Swans - October 8, 2007) Plagued by intellectual curiosity, I often ask why so many people believe, think, or act in baffling and irresponsible ways. Personal irresponsible behavior harms the individual. Civic irresponsible behavior harms US society and government. The epidemic proportions of the first type, driven by business interests only concerned with making more money, have expanded the second behavior, driven by political interests intent on maintaining their clout (by serving the business interests), even if it means damaging American democracy.
Irresponsible behavior flourishes despite attempts to inform, educate, and persuade people to change it. Such behavior is seen subjectively as acceptable, logical, and reasonable. It is justified and reinforced systematically by myriad social and cultural forces. This explains why experience shows us how difficult it is to erase irresponsible behavior, even when attempts come from parents, spouses, friends, physicians, counselors, and teachers.
Personal Irresponsibility
Some examples of personal irresponsible behavior: Why do so many people still smoke cigarettes despite all the evidence of their health risk? Why do so many refuse to use seat belts in their cars despite their clear benefit? Why do so many drive when drunk, high on illegal drugs, or distracted by using cell phones? Why do so many eat large quantities of fat and sugar-rich foods (or allowing their children to do so) knowing that they make people overweight and unhealthy?
LINK
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Hola to all,
Well I figured it was about time for a weekly report from the scorched, arid land of Almeria. This last week has been nothing to exciting and mostly just class, eating, and well that is about it. My classes run Monday through Friday and usually get out at 1230 or 1 but on Wednesday and Thursday I take a Spanish business class that goes to 230. The language course is intense, as I said in the other summery, but I really think it will be that much of a benefit for me.
On Thursday and Friday I took my roommates bike to class. Her bike is a 15 year old steel frame mountain bike on its last fiber...I mean technically it is still ok but without the needed maintenance it has been neglected I think a full makeover is necessary. So after two days of riding it pretty hard, I decided investing in a cheap bike would be a more logical solution. So Saturday/yesterday I purchased a bike for 130 Euros. It is actually a pretty nice bike for only costing that much. I am sure that it is built pretty cheaply but hey for getting to school and back....and around town, not to bad. When I leave I will sell it to my American friend Laura for half price...
Ok so how about the weekends? Bottellon....this means getting a bottle of alcohol and your preferred soda beverage and some tuvo cups (long cups that look like a tube). Then you go to a park that runs parallel to one of the main roads in Almeria and start drinking as new friends come in to say hi and move on to the next group. This last until 2 or 3 am depending on who you go with. After this it is on to my least favorite thing to do.....discoteca... or as I call them crap! But to be nice you follow your friends and try!!! to enjoy yourself. I usually about 30min to maybe an hour before my brain feels like it is getting ready to explode and I say my good byes and move on. So that is the general way things go here on the weekends. Next time I am on the search for good music!!
Saturday during the day I went to the beach at Cabo de Gata with my two American friends, Italian friend and there host family. The beach we went to was about a skipping rock throw away from the actual Parke Natural but still beautiful. Beautiful that is minus the beach that was covered in trash. I do not know how people do not get the point of recycling or at the least....use a trash bin. Anyhow the BBQ was a lot of fun and everyone there was great. I met a German girl studying here, about 6'2'', bright green eyes, dark hair....aka beautiful, that is studying geography. After her undergrad she wants to do a thesis on water issues relating to greenhouses in the Campo de Dalias. Sound familiar.....I could not believe it....it’s a small world after all!!! The BBQ consisted of a shit load of meat, so I stuck with good ol iceberg lettuce, tuna, and pan (bread). I ended up with some sun....a little sun burnt but not that bad. O by the way its October and 80 degrees???
A quick last story about the bike ride to campus + more. So I was riding to campus, passing along the beach and developments sprouting out of previously uninhabitable land and on to the long rows of Almeria greenhouse, that seem to encircle the campus like some plastic defense mechanize or moat of the 21st century. I began to smell the rotten, chemically induced smell of pesticides arising and drifting through the clean sea air into my virgin nostrils and instantly giving me a headache. The smell was so intense, I thought that a crop duster airplane might have missed its target and let loose on the environmentally conscience bikers making their way to campus....but atlas it was the greenhouses. The contradiction between the greenhouses I toured this summer with its recycled water, no pesticide, state of the art system contrast 10 fold to the pesticide rich, water robbing greenhouses that seem to be the norm. I am hoping that I can get to tour one of these less "eco friendly" greenhouses to see and photo the contrast.
....Ok finally related to the above. I was attempting to have a conversation with my nuevo madre (host mom) and she was telling me that Almeria province has one of the highest levels of children born with Down syndrome in Spain. The correlation she believed had to do with the amount of pesticides used in the greenhouses. I do not think any scientific evidence actually exist to confirm this but.....it does make since and I would not think they would way anything with the amount of money that the greenhouse industry brings into Almeria!!!
That is all for now....hope all is well where ever you are!!!
PEACE AND LOVE
Ty
Well I figured it was about time for a weekly report from the scorched, arid land of Almeria. This last week has been nothing to exciting and mostly just class, eating, and well that is about it. My classes run Monday through Friday and usually get out at 1230 or 1 but on Wednesday and Thursday I take a Spanish business class that goes to 230. The language course is intense, as I said in the other summery, but I really think it will be that much of a benefit for me.
On Thursday and Friday I took my roommates bike to class. Her bike is a 15 year old steel frame mountain bike on its last fiber...I mean technically it is still ok but without the needed maintenance it has been neglected I think a full makeover is necessary. So after two days of riding it pretty hard, I decided investing in a cheap bike would be a more logical solution. So Saturday/yesterday I purchased a bike for 130 Euros. It is actually a pretty nice bike for only costing that much. I am sure that it is built pretty cheaply but hey for getting to school and back....and around town, not to bad. When I leave I will sell it to my American friend Laura for half price...
Ok so how about the weekends? Bottellon....this means getting a bottle of alcohol and your preferred soda beverage and some tuvo cups (long cups that look like a tube). Then you go to a park that runs parallel to one of the main roads in Almeria and start drinking as new friends come in to say hi and move on to the next group. This last until 2 or 3 am depending on who you go with. After this it is on to my least favorite thing to do.....discoteca... or as I call them crap! But to be nice you follow your friends and try!!! to enjoy yourself. I usually about 30min to maybe an hour before my brain feels like it is getting ready to explode and I say my good byes and move on. So that is the general way things go here on the weekends. Next time I am on the search for good music!!
Saturday during the day I went to the beach at Cabo de Gata with my two American friends, Italian friend and there host family. The beach we went to was about a skipping rock throw away from the actual Parke Natural but still beautiful. Beautiful that is minus the beach that was covered in trash. I do not know how people do not get the point of recycling or at the least....use a trash bin. Anyhow the BBQ was a lot of fun and everyone there was great. I met a German girl studying here, about 6'2'', bright green eyes, dark hair....aka beautiful, that is studying geography. After her undergrad she wants to do a thesis on water issues relating to greenhouses in the Campo de Dalias. Sound familiar.....I could not believe it....it’s a small world after all!!! The BBQ consisted of a shit load of meat, so I stuck with good ol iceberg lettuce, tuna, and pan (bread). I ended up with some sun....a little sun burnt but not that bad. O by the way its October and 80 degrees???
A quick last story about the bike ride to campus + more. So I was riding to campus, passing along the beach and developments sprouting out of previously uninhabitable land and on to the long rows of Almeria greenhouse, that seem to encircle the campus like some plastic defense mechanize or moat of the 21st century. I began to smell the rotten, chemically induced smell of pesticides arising and drifting through the clean sea air into my virgin nostrils and instantly giving me a headache. The smell was so intense, I thought that a crop duster airplane might have missed its target and let loose on the environmentally conscience bikers making their way to campus....but atlas it was the greenhouses. The contradiction between the greenhouses I toured this summer with its recycled water, no pesticide, state of the art system contrast 10 fold to the pesticide rich, water robbing greenhouses that seem to be the norm. I am hoping that I can get to tour one of these less "eco friendly" greenhouses to see and photo the contrast.
....Ok finally related to the above. I was attempting to have a conversation with my nuevo madre (host mom) and she was telling me that Almeria province has one of the highest levels of children born with Down syndrome in Spain. The correlation she believed had to do with the amount of pesticides used in the greenhouses. I do not think any scientific evidence actually exist to confirm this but.....it does make since and I would not think they would way anything with the amount of money that the greenhouse industry brings into Almeria!!!
That is all for now....hope all is well where ever you are!!!
PEACE AND LOVE
Ty
Friday, October 05, 2007
Hydropower Doesn't Count as Clean Energy
By Sarah Phelan, Earth Island Journal
Opponents of dams have long argued against putting barriers in the natural flow of a river. Dams, they point out, prevent endangered fish from migrating, alter ecosystems, and threaten the livelihoods of local communities.
Native Americans, fishing communities, and environmentalists have made these arguments in their quest to decommission four dams on Klamath River, which runs from southwest Oregon to the coast of California. But with California requiring a 25 percent reduction in the state's carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, clean energy has suddenly entered the Klamath dam debate.
Bill Fehrman, president of PacifiCorp, the hydropower company that owns these Klamath dams, says replacing the power from these dams "could result in adding combustion emissions to the environment."
Meanwhile, across the border in Canada, Hydro-Québec, the world's biggest producer of hydropower, claims that "compared with other generating options, hydropower emits very little greenhouse gas," thus "contributing significantly to the fight against climate change."
Maybe not. Recent reports on methane emissions suggest that dams are anything but carbon-neutral.
http://alternet.org/environment/64445/
By Sarah Phelan, Earth Island Journal
Opponents of dams have long argued against putting barriers in the natural flow of a river. Dams, they point out, prevent endangered fish from migrating, alter ecosystems, and threaten the livelihoods of local communities.
Native Americans, fishing communities, and environmentalists have made these arguments in their quest to decommission four dams on Klamath River, which runs from southwest Oregon to the coast of California. But with California requiring a 25 percent reduction in the state's carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, clean energy has suddenly entered the Klamath dam debate.
Bill Fehrman, president of PacifiCorp, the hydropower company that owns these Klamath dams, says replacing the power from these dams "could result in adding combustion emissions to the environment."
Meanwhile, across the border in Canada, Hydro-Québec, the world's biggest producer of hydropower, claims that "compared with other generating options, hydropower emits very little greenhouse gas," thus "contributing significantly to the fight against climate change."
Maybe not. Recent reports on methane emissions suggest that dams are anything but carbon-neutral.
http://alternet.org/environment/64445/
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Loaded Language and Loaded Guns
The Meaning of Opposites
By Charles Sullivan
10/03/07 "ICH" -- - -One can no longer understand US governmental policy on the basis of conventional language or traditional wisdom. Language itself and its long-established meanings were long ago twisted and distorted in order to deceive the people. Now war is peace and terror and occupation is liberation. In order to make sense of what is happening, it is important to understand everything within the context of a specific economic philosophy, and the distorted capitalist system that spawned it.
That ideology was crafted by a diminutive economist named Milton Friedman, at the University of Chicago some five decades ago. The holy trinity of Friedman’s version of capitalism—privatization of the public domain, corporate deregulation, and deep cuts in social spending—has resulted in enormous societal inequity and socio-economic classes. It has given us the haves and the have-nots, the haves and the have-mores.
Friedman and his disciples, collectively known as ‘The Chicago School’ do not believe in a minimum wage—much less a living wage, unions, worker rights, environmental protections, worker safety, or any other kind of restraint imposed upon corporations. In Friedman’s view, the market should rule and profitability should be the guiding principle, the end results always justifying the means.
The implementation of Friedman’s version of unfettered capitalism relies upon munificent corporate welfare, tax cuts to the wealthy, exploitation of workers, and the outright theft of other sovereign nation’s natural wealth through military force—including oil and minerals, water supplies and other societal infrastructure; cheap labor, and a procession of consumers of goods and services without limits—an impossibility in a closed ecological system.
Convincing the public to support policies that are, in fact, detrimental to them, requires enormous marketing skill, as well as a corporate owned and operated propaganda apparatus that is second to none. This is accomplished by cloaking harmful policies in patriotic language, and other forms of seduction. LINK to great article
The Meaning of Opposites
By Charles Sullivan
10/03/07 "ICH" -- - -One can no longer understand US governmental policy on the basis of conventional language or traditional wisdom. Language itself and its long-established meanings were long ago twisted and distorted in order to deceive the people. Now war is peace and terror and occupation is liberation. In order to make sense of what is happening, it is important to understand everything within the context of a specific economic philosophy, and the distorted capitalist system that spawned it.
That ideology was crafted by a diminutive economist named Milton Friedman, at the University of Chicago some five decades ago. The holy trinity of Friedman’s version of capitalism—privatization of the public domain, corporate deregulation, and deep cuts in social spending—has resulted in enormous societal inequity and socio-economic classes. It has given us the haves and the have-nots, the haves and the have-mores.
Friedman and his disciples, collectively known as ‘The Chicago School’ do not believe in a minimum wage—much less a living wage, unions, worker rights, environmental protections, worker safety, or any other kind of restraint imposed upon corporations. In Friedman’s view, the market should rule and profitability should be the guiding principle, the end results always justifying the means.
The implementation of Friedman’s version of unfettered capitalism relies upon munificent corporate welfare, tax cuts to the wealthy, exploitation of workers, and the outright theft of other sovereign nation’s natural wealth through military force—including oil and minerals, water supplies and other societal infrastructure; cheap labor, and a procession of consumers of goods and services without limits—an impossibility in a closed ecological system.
Convincing the public to support policies that are, in fact, detrimental to them, requires enormous marketing skill, as well as a corporate owned and operated propaganda apparatus that is second to none. This is accomplished by cloaking harmful policies in patriotic language, and other forms of seduction. LINK to great article
Will New Food Labels Make Americans Thinner?
By Alex Jung, AlterNet. Posted October 3, 2007.
The line between health education and marketing just got blurrier.
2005 was the year of the whole grain. While nutritionists and dietitians had long touted the benefits of whole grains, it was food behemoths like General Mills and Kraft that had the financial capabilities of generating national buzz by transforming their classic products into more nutritional edibles. Nutritional fads are nothing new and neither are the reformulations processed foods undergo to cater to them. For example, Trix, that rainbow-hued confection with a sugar-induced white rabbit for a mascot, could now boast wholesome graininess on the side of its box. And while the cereal technically reduced its sugar content, it maintained the same number of calories (as well as a disturbing 13 grams of sugar per 30-gram portion). It was a superficial makeover designed to ease the consciences (but not the waistlines) of consumers.
What we choose to eat is often determined less by a food's nutritional value than by the way that nutritional information is packaged. The consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest submitted a petition last November to the Food and Drug Administration advocating a national system of symbols to adorn packaged foods. The idea is to create an easy cheat sheet for consumers so they don't have to read through the fine print while grocery shopping.
LINK
By Alex Jung, AlterNet. Posted October 3, 2007.
The line between health education and marketing just got blurrier.
2005 was the year of the whole grain. While nutritionists and dietitians had long touted the benefits of whole grains, it was food behemoths like General Mills and Kraft that had the financial capabilities of generating national buzz by transforming their classic products into more nutritional edibles. Nutritional fads are nothing new and neither are the reformulations processed foods undergo to cater to them. For example, Trix, that rainbow-hued confection with a sugar-induced white rabbit for a mascot, could now boast wholesome graininess on the side of its box. And while the cereal technically reduced its sugar content, it maintained the same number of calories (as well as a disturbing 13 grams of sugar per 30-gram portion). It was a superficial makeover designed to ease the consciences (but not the waistlines) of consumers.
What we choose to eat is often determined less by a food's nutritional value than by the way that nutritional information is packaged. The consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest submitted a petition last November to the Food and Drug Administration advocating a national system of symbols to adorn packaged foods. The idea is to create an easy cheat sheet for consumers so they don't have to read through the fine print while grocery shopping.
LINK
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Hola todo el mundo!!!!
Well maybe not the whole world....but at a few of you who still read this...haha.
So a little brake down on my current class life, new family life, Almeria, etc.
...I guess its best to start with the vida de la casa....life off the house
I got off the bus at about 1030 pm (2230) in Almeria after a lovely day made up of nine hours of bus travel. Let me say that nine hours on a bus is like having your eyes ripped from your eye balls in the slowest possible way...not that I know this feeling but trust me...it sucked. That being said, I heard that Grey Hound in the good ol US is worse then that....so I guess better here then there. Ok back to getting off the bus....Encarni, my nuevo madre (mother)....more hermana (sister) late thirties, and another women/girl about late twenties where wating to take me to my nuevo casa. They had driven Encarni's new pugout hatchback car and thought that I had brought way too much shit...probally true. Onward to the apartment, located two blocks from the Rambla, the main road through Almeria. The apt is a three bed, one bath shared with the four people...counting me. I make up the only Y chromosome in the house.
.....All three of them or great people and only one speaks english. They all seem to be semi cooks with the one who speaks english being thus far the best cook. I told them I am not much of a meet eater which spaniards translate to no pork or beef only....I guess this will have to do for a couple of months. There is no dinning room and dinner is eaten is front of a tv where my ability to understand the rapid array of spanish is limiting to the least. But every once in a while I pick up a word I reconize and can share in the laughter. A funny or not so funny story: I thought that some joke had happened in football game and that fans were just over reacting but....it turns out some guy died and it was his girlfriend crying....whooops!
....Class is pretty damn hard and we started with past tense right away, skipping the present tense. I have not been in a actual spanish class in three years so my vocab ability is limited..hopefully my brain starts sparking some of the lost spanish. But maybe all the CAT scans, etc....fried the vocab right out.....doubt it but it seems like a good excuse. The class is made up of three people and two times a week I take a course by myself (spanish business). 9-1230 MTF and 9-230 WTH.
....So last night I finally put together that two of my roomates were roomates....not that I care but after hearing how I would be put in a tradional family......thus far they are far from it. But like I said they are cool, down to earth people who are very patient with my poor spanish.
....Finally I talked or tried to with my professora about politicis.....I told her of my disproval (putting in extremly lightly) with are current government...including the democrats. She said that Spain is the same and that the current socialist goverment is far from a true socilialist government and that there right/left is just like the US. So alas....all of us fall into the corporate world that is to far away to stop.....depressing yes. I really dont think I will stop to belive that we cant make a difference. I meet to many people that think the same....alas how many are just brain washed robots>...maybe to many.
Well till next time!!!!!!!!!
PAZ LOVE AND BEST TO ALL.........speek your mind and look behind the curtain that covers your eyes from the false reality we are in.....
Ty
Well maybe not the whole world....but at a few of you who still read this...haha.
So a little brake down on my current class life, new family life, Almeria, etc.
...I guess its best to start with the vida de la casa....life off the house
I got off the bus at about 1030 pm (2230) in Almeria after a lovely day made up of nine hours of bus travel. Let me say that nine hours on a bus is like having your eyes ripped from your eye balls in the slowest possible way...not that I know this feeling but trust me...it sucked. That being said, I heard that Grey Hound in the good ol US is worse then that....so I guess better here then there. Ok back to getting off the bus....Encarni, my nuevo madre (mother)....more hermana (sister) late thirties, and another women/girl about late twenties where wating to take me to my nuevo casa. They had driven Encarni's new pugout hatchback car and thought that I had brought way too much shit...probally true. Onward to the apartment, located two blocks from the Rambla, the main road through Almeria. The apt is a three bed, one bath shared with the four people...counting me. I make up the only Y chromosome in the house.
.....All three of them or great people and only one speaks english. They all seem to be semi cooks with the one who speaks english being thus far the best cook. I told them I am not much of a meet eater which spaniards translate to no pork or beef only....I guess this will have to do for a couple of months. There is no dinning room and dinner is eaten is front of a tv where my ability to understand the rapid array of spanish is limiting to the least. But every once in a while I pick up a word I reconize and can share in the laughter. A funny or not so funny story: I thought that some joke had happened in football game and that fans were just over reacting but....it turns out some guy died and it was his girlfriend crying....whooops!
....Class is pretty damn hard and we started with past tense right away, skipping the present tense. I have not been in a actual spanish class in three years so my vocab ability is limited..hopefully my brain starts sparking some of the lost spanish. But maybe all the CAT scans, etc....fried the vocab right out.....doubt it but it seems like a good excuse. The class is made up of three people and two times a week I take a course by myself (spanish business). 9-1230 MTF and 9-230 WTH.
....So last night I finally put together that two of my roomates were roomates....not that I care but after hearing how I would be put in a tradional family......thus far they are far from it. But like I said they are cool, down to earth people who are very patient with my poor spanish.
....Finally I talked or tried to with my professora about politicis.....I told her of my disproval (putting in extremly lightly) with are current government...including the democrats. She said that Spain is the same and that the current socialist goverment is far from a true socilialist government and that there right/left is just like the US. So alas....all of us fall into the corporate world that is to far away to stop.....depressing yes. I really dont think I will stop to belive that we cant make a difference. I meet to many people that think the same....alas how many are just brain washed robots>...maybe to many.
Well till next time!!!!!!!!!
PAZ LOVE AND BEST TO ALL.........speek your mind and look behind the curtain that covers your eyes from the false reality we are in.....
Ty
Monday, October 01, 2007
How to Address Humanity's Global Crises? Challenge Corporate Power, Embrace True Democracy
By Vandana Shiva
Before I came here I was very fortunate to join the group of scientists and religious leaders who made a trip to the Arctic to witness the melting of the icecaps. An entire way of life is being destroyed. You've seen the polar bears losing their ecological space, but the highest mobility in that part of the world is the dog sledge. And they can't use it. They're locked into their villages because the ice is now too thin to travel on it. But it's still there and therefore not good enough for them to use boats.
The same melting is making the Himalayan glaciers in my region, the Ganges glacier, recede by 30 meters a year. In twenty years time, the Himalayan glaciers will have reduced from 500,000 square kilometers to 100,000 square kilometers. And given our rainfall patterns, in the hot summer season when we have a drought, it's only the melting of the glaciers that brings us water. So we're talking about one-fifth of humanity, twenty to thirty years from now, having no water in the grand rivers around which the grand civilizations of Asia have been built.
And where did this start? All this feels so timeless, but it started with humanity getting at the fossil fuel, which was never supposed to be touched… But that model carries on. And globalization now is industrializing every activity of every human being's life across the planet. For me, globalization is really expanding the use of fossil fuel. LINK
By Vandana Shiva
Before I came here I was very fortunate to join the group of scientists and religious leaders who made a trip to the Arctic to witness the melting of the icecaps. An entire way of life is being destroyed. You've seen the polar bears losing their ecological space, but the highest mobility in that part of the world is the dog sledge. And they can't use it. They're locked into their villages because the ice is now too thin to travel on it. But it's still there and therefore not good enough for them to use boats.
The same melting is making the Himalayan glaciers in my region, the Ganges glacier, recede by 30 meters a year. In twenty years time, the Himalayan glaciers will have reduced from 500,000 square kilometers to 100,000 square kilometers. And given our rainfall patterns, in the hot summer season when we have a drought, it's only the melting of the glaciers that brings us water. So we're talking about one-fifth of humanity, twenty to thirty years from now, having no water in the grand rivers around which the grand civilizations of Asia have been built.
And where did this start? All this feels so timeless, but it started with humanity getting at the fossil fuel, which was never supposed to be touched… But that model carries on. And globalization now is industrializing every activity of every human being's life across the planet. For me, globalization is really expanding the use of fossil fuel. LINK
Time to Boycott VotingLet's Take Back Our Government
By Joel Hirschhorn
After many years of political disappointment, more progressives, liberals and conservatives - and certainly moderates and independents - know in their hearts that voting for Democrats or Republicans is a waste. Just imagine if voter turnout was cut to 25 percent or less! Let the whole world see Americans boycotting a broken and corrupt political system and rejecting what has become a delusional democracy. To keep voting in an unjust political system makes us willing political slaves that the rich and powerful elites exploit.Just leaving the major parties is not good enough and, besides, most Americans are not party members. We need a bolder strategy. We must humiliate the political elites in both major parties and the corporate interests that support both of them. We can send a shock wave throughout the political establishment by not voting in the 2008 presidential election.Stop playing THEIR game. Take back control. Take back YOUR nation. Time to boycott voting. This strategy is consistent with the thinking of Gandhi and King: peaceful resistance to political tyranny that can bring the corrupt system to its knees. Ultimately, the most effective protest is through civil disobedience - to visibly and stubbornly refuse to respect what has become a corrupt, untrustworthy system. Before it can be fixed it must be deconstructed and then rebuilt. Taxation with MISrepresentation means we need a Second American Revolution; it must begin - not with violent action - but with massive withdrawal by citizens that have seen the light. We have a good head start with about half of eligible voters already so turned off that they don't vote. Obviously that has not been sufficient to change the system...... LINK
By Joel Hirschhorn
After many years of political disappointment, more progressives, liberals and conservatives - and certainly moderates and independents - know in their hearts that voting for Democrats or Republicans is a waste. Just imagine if voter turnout was cut to 25 percent or less! Let the whole world see Americans boycotting a broken and corrupt political system and rejecting what has become a delusional democracy. To keep voting in an unjust political system makes us willing political slaves that the rich and powerful elites exploit.Just leaving the major parties is not good enough and, besides, most Americans are not party members. We need a bolder strategy. We must humiliate the political elites in both major parties and the corporate interests that support both of them. We can send a shock wave throughout the political establishment by not voting in the 2008 presidential election.Stop playing THEIR game. Take back control. Take back YOUR nation. Time to boycott voting. This strategy is consistent with the thinking of Gandhi and King: peaceful resistance to political tyranny that can bring the corrupt system to its knees. Ultimately, the most effective protest is through civil disobedience - to visibly and stubbornly refuse to respect what has become a corrupt, untrustworthy system. Before it can be fixed it must be deconstructed and then rebuilt. Taxation with MISrepresentation means we need a Second American Revolution; it must begin - not with violent action - but with massive withdrawal by citizens that have seen the light. We have a good head start with about half of eligible voters already so turned off that they don't vote. Obviously that has not been sufficient to change the system...... LINK
Hello everyone,
I made to it to Almeria safe. My host famiy is made up of one women and two other girls/women who are studying here as well. Everyone seems really cool and one talks english if I get to confused. The one that speaks english worked at the campground I stayed at when I was here last time....but not this summer when I was here. Today I got a semi run down of what my class load will be but it still left me confused on what the hell I will be doing. I will know a hell of alot more after this week and will fill everyone in with the correct information. Besides that nothing interesting has happend. I have been getting the itch to run or bike or some form of exercise and might do something this afternoon. The bus took 45 min to get to Almeria which was way to damn long....I think a bike would have been a faster option.
PAz
Ty
I made to it to Almeria safe. My host famiy is made up of one women and two other girls/women who are studying here as well. Everyone seems really cool and one talks english if I get to confused. The one that speaks english worked at the campground I stayed at when I was here last time....but not this summer when I was here. Today I got a semi run down of what my class load will be but it still left me confused on what the hell I will be doing. I will know a hell of alot more after this week and will fill everyone in with the correct information. Besides that nothing interesting has happend. I have been getting the itch to run or bike or some form of exercise and might do something this afternoon. The bus took 45 min to get to Almeria which was way to damn long....I think a bike would have been a faster option.
PAz
Ty
The End of Bonapartism and the War on Terror by Juan Cole
NYT columnist Tom Friedman's column, "9/11 is over," sounds the death knell for the Neoconservative use of 9/11 and is in particular an attack on Rudy Giuliani.Friedman's main arguments are that the Bush administration's approach to dealing with al-Qaeda has so damaged the US image abroad, has so inconvenienced foreign travelers and visiting business investors, and has so diverted spending from essential US infrastructure such as bridges and airports, that it risks making the US economically backward in a globalizing world.The column is significant because it argues that Bushism- Cheneyism is bad for business. The United States is the world's foremost business society, and virtually everything in the society (low taxes on the wealthy, no health care for the middle classes and poor, no protections for labor organizers, favoring of certain kinds of international trade over lower middle class job security, etc.) is arranged for the convenience of the business classes. If Friedman's conviction becomes widespread in that community, the pressures to abandon the 'War on Terror' will be irresistible.
Bushism-Cheneyism has aspects of Bonapartism, whereby the state rules in an authoritarian way and disregards the people, representing itself as the true representative of the business classes. In fact, it serves only a small spectrum of corporate cronies of the ruling elite, disadvantaging almost everyone else. It expands government, but not into provision of useful infrastructure (bridges, airports), but toward the provision of "security" (often just a label for make-work unnecessary jobs, such as extra al-Qaeda-fighting police in Wyoming) or of artificial "investment opportunities" such as an Iraq under US military occupation.. LINK
NYT columnist Tom Friedman's column, "9/11 is over," sounds the death knell for the Neoconservative use of 9/11 and is in particular an attack on Rudy Giuliani.Friedman's main arguments are that the Bush administration's approach to dealing with al-Qaeda has so damaged the US image abroad, has so inconvenienced foreign travelers and visiting business investors, and has so diverted spending from essential US infrastructure such as bridges and airports, that it risks making the US economically backward in a globalizing world.The column is significant because it argues that Bushism- Cheneyism is bad for business. The United States is the world's foremost business society, and virtually everything in the society (low taxes on the wealthy, no health care for the middle classes and poor, no protections for labor organizers, favoring of certain kinds of international trade over lower middle class job security, etc.) is arranged for the convenience of the business classes. If Friedman's conviction becomes widespread in that community, the pressures to abandon the 'War on Terror' will be irresistible.
Bushism-Cheneyism has aspects of Bonapartism, whereby the state rules in an authoritarian way and disregards the people, representing itself as the true representative of the business classes. In fact, it serves only a small spectrum of corporate cronies of the ruling elite, disadvantaging almost everyone else. It expands government, but not into provision of useful infrastructure (bridges, airports), but toward the provision of "security" (often just a label for make-work unnecessary jobs, such as extra al-Qaeda-fighting police in Wyoming) or of artificial "investment opportunities" such as an Iraq under US military occupation.. LINK
9/11 Is Over
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Not long ago, the satirical newspaper The Onion ran a fake news story that began like this:
“At a well-attended rally in front of his new ground zero headquarters Monday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani officially announced his plan to run for president of 9/11. ‘My fellow citizens of 9/11, today I will make you a promise,’ said Giuliani during his 18-minute announcement speech in front of a charred and torn American flag. ‘As president of 9/11, I will usher in a bold new 9/11 for all.’ If elected, Giuliani would inherit the duties of current 9/11 President George W. Bush, including making grim facial expressions, seeing the world’s conflicts in terms of good and evil, and carrying a bullhorn at all state functions.”
Like all good satire, the story made me both laugh and cry, because it reflected something so true — how much, since 9/11, we’ve become “The United States of Fighting Terrorism.” Times columnists are not allowed to endorse candidates, but there’s no rule against saying who will not get my vote: I will not vote for any candidate running on 9/11. We don’t need another president of 9/11. We need a president for 9/12. I will only vote for the 9/12 candidate.
What does that mean? This: 9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11 — mine included — has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again. LINK
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Not long ago, the satirical newspaper The Onion ran a fake news story that began like this:
“At a well-attended rally in front of his new ground zero headquarters Monday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani officially announced his plan to run for president of 9/11. ‘My fellow citizens of 9/11, today I will make you a promise,’ said Giuliani during his 18-minute announcement speech in front of a charred and torn American flag. ‘As president of 9/11, I will usher in a bold new 9/11 for all.’ If elected, Giuliani would inherit the duties of current 9/11 President George W. Bush, including making grim facial expressions, seeing the world’s conflicts in terms of good and evil, and carrying a bullhorn at all state functions.”
Like all good satire, the story made me both laugh and cry, because it reflected something so true — how much, since 9/11, we’ve become “The United States of Fighting Terrorism.” Times columnists are not allowed to endorse candidates, but there’s no rule against saying who will not get my vote: I will not vote for any candidate running on 9/11. We don’t need another president of 9/11. We need a president for 9/12. I will only vote for the 9/12 candidate.
What does that mean? This: 9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11 — mine included — has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again. LINK
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