AH HA!

Monkey seen wondering around an Ikea store in a designer coat. Humm now I know where the republicans shop.

Speaking of which I may have found the cause.

Could microscopic parasites have the ability to take control of a human being? Scientists are starting to think so.   

So this explains republicanism! It all fits. The symptoms:
Lack of empathy.
No self preservation instinct
Less altruistic
Lack of fear
Non diplomatic
May cause or increase schizophrenia

Now if we could only find a cure.

My god can beat up your god... infidel

No banks took a hit this week but that doesn't mean other things didn't get hit. Here we see an unexploded bomb from Syria. Imagine that hitting your house. And even if it didn't go off it could do some serious damage. I like my duds of the milk variety thank you very much. Aside from the greed and tribal differences stirring the hatred and fighting in the middle east we have something as old as Methusela making for unpleasant mornings filled with rockets and dead women and children. That'd be religion. It's almost an illness when you think about it. All centered around superstitions of an ancient era when men danced around a fire hoping for a better hunt the next day. I'll explain.

 I used to be a somewhat religious guy but then I had a bout of sanity and all that changed. Like it or not we function as self serving and self protecting organisms in a finite universe. We always wonder where we come from but that question will never be answered. There are no scientific instruments to measure heaven or hell. No Ghost Busters gizmos to measure ectoplasm or the coming of Zool. And there's something that gets echoed several times through out history farther back than the days of Jesus. A concept that some martyr died and will some how magically come back to grace our presents. The idea has been repeated several times even before Jesus. It won't happen. Not unless Doc actually did invent a time machine and Marty shows up on your door step looking for his sports magazine.

 So in our feeble attempt to make sense of this world we call life, superstitions were born. It's our poor attempt at trying to seek logic only too much of it was illogical. Dancing in a circle isn't going to make the crops grow no matter how fervent the effort. And yet like Charlie Brown we always seem to fall for it. It must give some sense of satisfaction or comfort or it wouldn't have prevailed this long. And there's always an excuse when things don't go as planned. Must not have danced long enough or shouted loud enough so we'll have to try harder the next time around. And when that doesn't work we can blame it on some outside force or forces. Remember we were polytheistic before the monos came into being. And the head banging against the wall continues until somebody gets the bright idea that the crops need water and there's a river not too far away.

 Somewhere ingrained in our being is a touch of selfishness. Call it self preservation but it is always at odds with preserving the group as a whole. It creates many moral dilemmas but more so is the motivating factor of fear. I'd almost be certain that the first fear was that of the lack of food and water. But it is the unfounded fears that create the biggest problems. It's that perception that the plants might fail or the river might dry up that can wreck havoc with our ability to think rationally. And hence superstitions were born. It was only a coincidence that shaking a rattle at the clouds produced rains but if it worked once why not try it again? And so rituals were started that soon developed into a religious heirachy we see today all based on things not seen unknowable or illogical.

 Researchers say there's a spiritual part of the brain. I say it's a part of the brain that's trying hard to make sense of the physical world with abstract ideas and not coming up with any good explanations. I might have bought into the religious trap had it not been for the fact that people were tortured and killed for believing scientific facts. And even today there's an arrogance of self righteousness complete with more blood shed and suffering that pervades all religions. Just study your religions' history past and present if you don't believe me. There may be altruistic concepts gracing the brands but that's just the window dressing to get you in the door. Inside it's a different story when the skeletons come out of the closet.

 I've heard some pretty stupid things come out of the mouths of religious people. Most of it about scientific facts. Well here's one for you Sparky. Had it not been for the fact that a few daring souls stepped away from the pulpit and decided to find out things for themselves then technology wouldn't have advanced. The sun doesn't revolve around a flat earth no matter how much you might want to believe it. Global warming is quite real. The earth is more than 6000 years old and computers aren't evil.

Friday Pussy no egg on her face

There was almost something done in congress yesterday. Ha! And we all thought they did nothing all day. I take that back they did basically nothing. Laying the trap Harry Ried permitted Mitch McConnell to bring forth a bill concerning the debt ceiling. It would have given the president the power to raise the debt ceiling without congressional approval. Why would McConnell agree to such a move? He figured that the senate would not have enough democratic votes to pass such legislation. Reid pulled a quick one by demanding passage with only 51 votes instead of a 61 vote super majority.  McConnell was therefore forced to filibuster his own bill. Talk about psychosis. Careful what you wish for Mitch you just might get it.

Now for anyone following this three ring circus the congress has exactly three days left to hash out of budget before we all go crashing off a cliff. Rumor has it that the republicans are waiting for it to all come crashing down before they'll do anything. Which means next year. Now if that's their plan they'd better think twice about that. It would mean sending the economy into a recession, lowering our credit rating and massive automatic cuts to everything from the military down to the disabled. And that's not to mention what it would do to the world economy. Everyone seems to be on the same page on this issue. Business doesn't want a crash. Wall Street couldn't play their games and the average working stiff would see his taxes raised to boot. And we'd all know who's fault it would be. The president made his offer and the republicans made their counter offer which was the same Romney Ryan plan they pushed for the last year that America hated and voted against. Bank fails later

Stick a fork in it it's done

Interesting news day yesterday. So much going on that I didn't post. Some up front in your face issues that of course made the top of the top headline news. Some obscure items just as important that never saw the light of day.

Canada
An activist group called Comer is suing the government over the fact that it shifted its' central federal financial system to private corporations. The framework for this started in 1974 when the country joined with the G8. It was a requirement to join. In essence Canada sold out it's sovereignty. The Bank of Canada gives very low interest loans to private banks and corporations who in turn loan the money to Canadians at high interest rates. Prior to 1974 all loans made by the government went for things like building the highways and railroads and the funds went back with interest into the countries coffers. All of this privatization is against their constitution.

Egypt
With a referendum fast approaching on their newly written constitution protesters took to the streets in mass. Anti presidential protesters clashed with the Muslim Brotherhood who support their newly elected president Morsi. Morsi in essence gave himself ultimate powers over the country and now appears to be the new dictator. But not if the protesters have their way. It was reported that several of his ministers resigned. From a broad perspective this is looking much like the 21st century at odds with the 13th century. But one has to wonder if there wasn't some outside assistance in these riots as the country has shifted from secular to Islamic.

Syria
The fighting is getting very intense as the FSA has gained ground in cities like Alepo and Damascus. It has been rumored that chemical weapons have been rolled out and are being readied for use. I seriously doubt that these weapons will be used especially in an urban area. First they are difficult to control. Changing wind conditions can render them useless and as scary as they may seem it is easy to protect oneself from their effects. It was also reported that more have defected from Assads' army.

Our U.S. congress
Once again no deal much less even talks about the budget. So I think it's a given that this country will go off the cliff. Congress has after all only three days to hammer out an agreement and they aren't even talking. There is also the issue of the debt ceiling something Obama said he would not negotiate on (Homey don't play that game!). If that's the case and no deal is reached I hope he's prepared to institute the 14th amendment which says basically that the bills must be paid even if the president has to do it by executive order.

So this should be an interesting three or four weeks as we sit here watching the world implode. Film at 11.

You little rascals can't fool me

Amazing what they'll try to scam you with these days.

Okay we've all gotten our fair share of viagra and weight loss email spam. And yes I'm even getting some Australian outfit spamming my comments at times ( I think they sell shoes or something). But the latest incarnations in the inbox are getting very creative. We have:

Rejection of your tax appeal (Interesting seeing as how I've never had trouble with the IRS...ever)

Re: Scan from a Xerox W. Pro # xxxx  (sorry I ordered nothing from you guys and I don't do Windows)

Re: Leslee - Copies of policies (what policies? Mine are in the file cabinet )

Re: End of Aug. Stat. Required  (Sorry I'm not a mathematician statistically speaking)

Re: Wire transfer (Oh I'll take that just put it in my Swiss account)

RE: Wire Transfer cancelled (Darn I knew it was too good to be true)

Fwd: Changelog New (I like the old log just fine thank you)

Lastly we have Gretta Lauren wanting to sell me penis enlargement pills. Gee Gretta I didn't think it was that small.

But there's one more issue to be dealt with here. Some sneaky bums are using blogger names in their addresses. Nice try guys but we gotcha.

Yet more news you can't use

It's official they'll now take Charlie for the canned tuna. Who's feeling sorry now Charlie?

No global warming?

Two top head lines - Scientists are measuring the polar ice melt. Ice sheets melting at poles faster than before.

(Gee BP might not have lied when it said it  had a plan to protect the walruses in the Gulf of Mexico) ( And the good ole boys down in Georgia might be surprised when they can apply for a white bear hunting license.)

Pacific nations alarmed by tuna overfishing

Let me see, you have Cambodian anglers spending the better part of their lives (24/7) on a boat hauling in tuna. The Australians corralling so much blue fin that the season now runs in minutes rather than days. Add to that the Japanese who'll pay a couple hundred thousand for one fish. Is it any wonder? Forget chicken of the sea soon it'll be more like caviar of the sea. Same things have happened off our northeast coast with cod and lobster. Ten bucks says that Maine lobster on your restaurant dinner plate came from somewhere else. 

A Norman Rockwell painting from WWII was sold at auction which got me to thinking what sacrifices were made then and now. Back then there were metal drives and tire drives and all manner of rationing to pay for the war efforts. War bonds and even stamps were sold up into the late 1950s to cover the costs. Today we have yellow ribbons made by chinese peasant workers slapped on the backs of gas guzzling SUVs. But lest I forget the fine folks who tanked the economy, and made off with our home equity and the better part of our retirements. Today when Johnny came marching home looking for a job he found Jose already had the job and Jody made off with his wife or girlfriend. That is if the bank hadn't already foreclosed on his house too. And they tell us all this debt will be slapped on our kids and grand kids. Yeah right pal. Not when the kids moved back home along with the parents because they can't find a job either. And what of our Johnnys coming home. What do they have to look forward to? Point man for an insurgent patrol or IED disposal tech does really translate well for a job application for nurses aid or hospital orderly. Forget flipping burgers Johnny, Jose's wife got that job.

A private rail bridge collapsed this week in NJ causing the release of vinyl chloride gas.

I'll be the first to admit that that's very nasty stuff. I was once required to take a sample from a drum of wastewater suspected of containing that chemical. I was fortunate enough to have an industrial hygienist with me to monitor the situation. Had there been any of the chemical present we could not proceed with the sample gathering. Even at low levels requires full encapsulating suit with air tanks. Yes it's that bad.

But the real issue here is the state of our infrastructure. This bridge was a private bridge know to have problems. It had collapsed once before just 3 years earlier. It is an iron structure built in 1867! But the problem is the inspections. There are no set requirements for inspections unless a problem has been detected and reported. And you know companies won't report anything wrong if it involves a lot of money. A hands on inspection can cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Yet here we sit with the average age of our bridges at 43 years. The latest report is that 18,000 bridges in the U.S. are near the dangerous stage, old and need of maintenance or replacement. And once again our politicians turned their backs on the problem by underfunding the highway bill.  

More news you can't use

On Friday 4 workers were injured when the concrete roof they were pouring collapsed. Luckily no one was killed but it hits at the heart of how far we've come in just the last 10 years or so. There was a time when a work site would consist of 20 or 30 guys busy moving materials and meticulously fabricating a building structure. There was a sense of craftsmanship and accomplishment as the building took shape. No more. Anymore you're lucky to have more than six guys on a crew and a foreman too busy filling out enough paperwork as thick as a Russian novel. He's never abashed to admit that he'll be headed to the trailer office when asked if certain corners can be cut. Out of sight out of mind and a good case for plausible deniability. Can't expect him to be everywhere at once.
But I have three possibilities for the above accident. One was that the scaffolding they were using wasn't set up properly. In multi stage scaffolding if the entire length isn't exactly level the stresses can collapse the middle. Second observation from the photo is that they were using aluminum pole scaffolding which has a lower weight load than steel frame variety. Third possibility was that due to the heavy rains we've had here the footings were undermined but that's hard to say without seeing the inside whether it be a dirt floor or concrete. But such is the nature of the construction business these days.

Now while these guys were risking their lives actually trying to get something done our congress was busy with their usual "no we can't do that" attitude by rejecting all but two amendments to a couple of bills. Of the amendments passed I thought this was particularly poignant:

To clarify that an authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

(Humm, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that part of our constitution already? It's called due process.)

And what examples have we set in these foreign lands when we've rendered their citizens, held them without trial and even tortured them in places like Abu Ghraib? Then there's the issue of heros. A hero isn't somebody who got shot down.  A hero isn't somebody who got lost was attacked then captured. Try telling your boss you just crashed the corporate jet and see what he says. Or maybe that you got lost and couldn't make it to the job site. Oh he'll be thrilled but the military makes heros out of these people. Not buying it anymore. The real heros you never hear about. They are the ones who did their job of 3 and 4 tours and managed to come out of it without much harm.

And then there are drones. There is legislation to prevent autonomous drones from being used because they might kill innocent women and children. I just have to ask. What about the remote flying models they're using now? Manned from a base in Nevada with little to no ground intelligence that are killing women and children. And you just know DARPA is working on something like the one pictured. Glad I won't be around to witness the wars of the future because you just know that if they can make a law against it they can just as easily make another that says it's alright. All in the name of truth justice and the American way... yeah right.