They have always been here

Shortly after midday on 16 January 1958, a series of photographs were taken from a ship anchored off Trindade Island, about 650 miles from the coast of Brazil.


The photographer, a Brazilian named Almiro Barauna, claimed to have seen a dark grey object approach the island, fly behind a mountain peak and then turn around and head back the way it came, disappearing at high speed over the horizon.


The object glittered and was surrounded by a green mist, and it displayed an undulating motion, changing to a tilted position as it passed over the island. On board the ship with Barauna were some 300 other crew, and around 50 of them are claimed to have seen the object.

April 11, 2008

Harvest Of Fear

For centuries—millennia—farmers have saved seeds from season to season: they planted in the spring, harvested in the fall, then reclaimed and cleaned the seeds over the winter for re-planting the next spring. Monsanto has turned this ancient practice on its head.

Monsanto developed G.M. seeds that would resist its own herbicide, Roundup, offering farmers a convenient way to spray fields with weed killer without affecting crops. Monsanto then patented the seeds. For nearly all of its history the United States Patent and Trademark Office had refused to grant patents on seeds, viewing them as life-forms with too many variables to be patented. "It’s not like describing a widget," says Joseph Mendelson III, the legal director of the Center for Food Safety, which has tracked Monsanto’s activities in rural America for years.

Indeed not. But in 1980 the U.S. Supreme Court, in a five-to-four decision, turned seeds into widgets, laying the groundwork for a handful of corporations to begin taking control of the world’s food supply. In its decision, the court extended patent law to cover "a live human-made microorganism." In this case, the organism wasn’t even a seed. Rather, it was a Pseudomonas bacterium developed by a General Electric scientist to clean up oil spills. But the precedent was set, and Monsanto took advantage of it. Since the 1980s, Monsanto has become the world leader in genetic modification of seeds and has won 674 biotechnology patents, more than any other company, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

(excerpts from Vanity Fair - read more)

(americanbuilt.us)

ART ?

I've been wondering lately about what exactly, or generally, to consider the definition of "ART".

I am leaving the question open and collecting opinions, including my own, in an effort to coagulate thought and suggestion into a workable definition.

Oddly enough,since I have begun thinking about this, I have noticed references to this question in the media that I am usually exposed to. Pops up in newspaper, magazine, and even cartoon jottings. It's uncanny but probably just that I am noticing these coincidences when I normally wouldn't see them.
But to consider presentations of painting, metalwork, photography, mixed media,sculpture,printmaking, wood, ceramics, fiber, digital renderings, and glass; not to mention music, theater, dance, and building construction -- we must consider the possibility for each to be an exhibit of artistic value either to us alone or to us all in general.

The above art by Camille Rose Garcia from Subterranean Death Clash series ,2006

Let it roll around in your head for awhile and please let me know anything that collects in the corners,

Theocratic Myopia

"This was a portrait of the Republican Party fully in the grip of its right wing: almost exclusively white, overwhelmingly evangelical, fixated on abortion, homosexuality, and abstinence education; resentful and angry; and unable to discuss how and why it had become this way. Noticeably absent from the convention were moderate Republicans. Senator Lincoln Chafee, legatee of the moderate Republican tradition in Rhode Island, was defeated in the 2006 midterms, and he was endorsing Obama. The last Republican House member from New England, Representative Chris Shays of Connecticut, would lose his seat in two months. None of the great Republican families of the past, from the Rockefellers to the Eisenhowers, were there either. Both of Ronald Reagan's natural children, Ron and Patti, endorsed Obama. President Dwight Eisenhower's granddaughter, Susan, addressed the Democratic National Convention in Denver just moments before Barack Obama appeared to accept his party's nomination. How did a party once known for its "big tent" philosophy become a one-ring circus? How did a Republican Party that had dominated American politics for over twenty-five years become so marginalized?" (read more)

Maybe we should start over

American Private Police Force

Private armies

Hired by private corporations

Let the healing begin

(read more)

The Voice of Reason

Kill the Monster

Unbridled capitalism

is a money machine

that will eat you alive,

kill the monster.

http://www.americanhealthcarereform.org/

The Voyage to the Moon

A Trip to the Moon (French: Le Voyage dans la lune) is a 1902 French black and white silent science fiction film. It is based loosely on two popular novels of the time: From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne and The First Men in the Moon by H. G. Wells. The film was written and directed by Georges Méliès, assisted by his brother Gaston. Méliès had intended to release the film in the United States to profit from it; however, Thomas Edison's film technicians secretly made copies of it and distributed it throughout the country. Méliès never profited from it and eventually went broke. (read more)

Shade grown

My friend Joey spends a lot of time in Indonesia helping coffee growers organize co-ops. He is surprised when he sees nature taking matters into it’s own hands. If a coffee grower isn’t practicing ‘shade-grown’ farming techniques ..elephants will actually appear at the edge of his plantation and eat whatever coffee bushes are growing in the deforested area. Occasionally he hears stories about tigers killing loggers who inadvertently cross over into federally protected forestland. When he mentioned this to the National Park Service in Sumatra, they told him it’s the law of the jungle ..when wild animals sense that their habitat is shrinking ..they begin defending their territory more aggressively. When he talks to the encroaching farmers however ..he gets another story. They believe that the tiger is a deity enforcing proper human behavior. They tell him the killing was more likely a punishment for breaking a tribal taboo such as adultery. “Maybe the victims did something bad, like sleeping with someone who was not their wife. Cutting the trees is OK. There's no problem with that.” They cannot conceive of the notion that the attacks are related to the destruction of the animal’s habitat.

Man attack

Women Rule The World

Lysistrata is one of the few surviving plays written by

the master of Old Comedy, Aristophanes. Originally

performed in classical Athens in 411 BC, it is a comic

account of one woman's extraordinary mission to end

The Peloponnesian War. Lysistrata convinces the women

of Greece to withhold sexual privileges from their

husbands as a means of forcing the men to negotiate

peace, a strategy however that inflames the battle

between the sexes. The play is notable for its exposé

of sexual relations in a male-dominated society and for

its use of both double entendre and explicit obscenities.

(read more)

Lunar Tide

Aurora Borealis sunlight play

Mirrored in Moon’s soft visage

Snow tuft dotted indigo backdrop

A Burning Bush to see directly

Planet’s Soul carries, sways

Gentle lapping, cooling, calming

Blue Beauty reflected, too

Sigh in unison with the earth

Chariot lays Sun to rest

Navy speckled starlit sky

Brilliant Moon come out to play

Silvery dancing lights the way

Silken blanket battles chill

Anticipation of the flight

Upheaval crashing rolling speed

Unity as Mother carries Eve

Tickling fizzing lighter than love

Racing flying flash of life

Yells both Man and Sea

Glorious dramatic climactic release

Gasps draw breath for smiles

An agreement has been made

Hands dip, clasp, give thanks

Sea holds close, lets go for play

Moon grins, drips its light to guide

Winds pass only to refresh

No longer riling fury waves

Allowing surfer girl to glide.

Happy Birthday

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948)

Streaming music

Investigators have uncovered a subconscious ‘stream of music’ running through my head. It contains mostly fragments of old songs I heard while I was growing up. Songs like “..doze eat oats and mares eat oats and little lambs eat ivy”. But it also plays some contemporary pieces like “..help I’m alive” or “gimmie a break, gimmie a break.” Some investigators tell me it’s purpose is to keep my brain entertained so I stay alert. Others tell me it was set in motion to supply my ego with a stream of self-images ..keeping me anchored in the culture and generation where I live. I notice that it pops into hearing range from time to time for no apparent reason. When it does, I can tell that the songs I grew up with are more prevalent ..I don’t hear too many Moroccan tunes ..although sometimes I’d prefer it. There is one thing investigators agree on however: they say if it pops up to often ..or stays on the surface too long ..it could become pathological. I ask them if that’s because of all the disturbing memories it might bring up. No, they say it’s because of all the disruption it would cause my ordinary stream of consciousness. It would sound like I had Tourettes or something. Either that, they say ..or it would become stagnant and block me from learning any new tunes. I tell them I’m not sure which is worse.

Image by ~> Luana Silense
Based on notes taken during a lecture by ~> Oliver Sacks
If you get a chance, listen to the audio at the bottom. It will be worth it.

The Delicacy of Light

Dispatched from our generous star,
light gives texture to the most ordinary
and the most sublime,
it bears no prejudice,
it reserves no judgment.

Light gives meaning to the darkness
by dispelling it.

Light brings life to all
without respite,
a gift freely given,
sweet song of the ages.

Light exposes the
majesty and delicacy of the planet.

Dispatched from our generous star,
light is the keeper of all we possess.

Here's Your Wake Up Call

The "Phoenix Lights"

were a deliberately planned display

by alien visitors,

they want us to know they are here.



(watch movie)

The Latest economic news is that the gap between the rich and the rest of us is growing. This is further proof of the continued decline of the middle class in America. Those responsible for the current economic situation, due in large measure to unregulated speculation, may have seen their wealth diminish somewhat (they remain wealthy) while millions of Americans of lesser means have been catapulted into an exceedingly precarious economic situation. In a society that prides itself in punishing those who commit crimes, most of those who have propelled many of us into the economic abyss remain essentially unscathed. Not only have they escaped justice, they seem to be thriving.

While the President attempts to address the pressing issues that pursue and perplex the society at large, millions upon millions of corporate dollars flow into the hands of members of the Congress and the Senate from the bountiful pockets of a veritable sea of lobbyists. These monies have one primary purpose and that is to create obstacles to the reform that the majority of the people desire. Money and power have effectively corrupted democracy in this country to the point that real and substantial reform has become near impossible.

The purported values of the wider culture have been supplanted by the lure of money and power. There is no escaping this conclusion; the evidence for it is too overwhelming. Is this the nature of our politics?

Destroy Your Credit Cards

DESTROY

YOUR

CREDIT CARDS

NOW!

Fly

I used to think there was
A monster underneath my bed
Haunting while I slept
Spinning nightmares in my head

Every night before lights out
I’d search, crawling on my knees
Look, listen, and look again
I found no sign of this disease

But soon as my eyes closed
My thoughts began to race
His jagged breathing rattled me
My feeble heart began to race

Toss and turn and flail around
Weep and sigh; lament the day
Chaotic sounds filled up my ears
Help! I cannot get away!

One night, in fact, I saw this beast
Gnashing, hating, bleeding lies
Wicked decaying spindly wings
“Oh fuck,” I thought, “he flies.”

Some time later I decided
To steal his evil wings
“Ah ha!” I cried; it’s time to fight
“Victory for human beings!”

Bloody battle did ensue
His advantages were clear
But I had heart, and I would win
My sanity was dear!

So up, up, up he flew
As I straggled far behind
But I won, as heroes do;
I caught him with my mind.

I tore those ugly wings of his
Ripped them off his skin
I looked at them in awe and thought,
“I didn’t think I’d win.”

And, so, to ensure that I was safe
I took the wings upon my back,
Wrote a reminder to myself:
Fly, fly, fly away upon attack.

Pigs At The Trough

Provocative political commentator Arianna Huffington yanks back the curtain on the unholy alliance of CEOs, politicians, lobbyists, and Wall Street bankers who have shown a brutal disregard for those in the office cubicles and on the factory floors. As she puts it:

"The economic game is not supposed to be rigged like some shady ring toss on a carnival midway." Yet it has been, allowing corporate crooks to bilk the public out of trillions of dollars, magically making our pensions and 401(k)s disappear and walking away with astronomical payouts and absurdly lavish perks-for-life.

The media have put their fingers on pieces of the sordid puzzle, but Pigs at the Trough presents the whole ugly picture of what’s really going on for the first time—a blistering, wickedly witty portrait of exactly how and why the worst and the greediest are running American business and government into the ground.

From 1997 to 1999, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, the number of registered lobbyists in Washington grew by 37 percent, to more than 20,000, while the amount of money they spent reached $1.42 billion. Crunch the numbers: That's roughly 38 lobbyists for each member of Congress. Like a swarm of ravenous termites reducing a house to sawdust, they are making a meal out of the foundations of our democracy.

And what are we ordinary Americans doing about it? Not much-- at least not yet.

(excerpts from Powell's Books)

The Fearless Vampire Killers

"The Fearless Vampire Killers"

starring Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski,

written and directed by Roman Polanski,

is one of the funniest vampire movies ever made.

Fast forward to present day,

Roman Polanski got arrested today,

I'm sure he'll remember, never, never, never

drug and rape a thirteen year old girl.

Victimizers bailout victimizers in

The Weaponization Of Space

The stated goal of the United States Air Force

is to "control the high ground",

in other words, space.

Space is the ultimate high ground.


The U.S. Space Command Long Range Plan is committed to

"the control and exploitation of space".

The Air Force Space Command motto: "Master of Space".

If you have a good telescope you can see

what all your hard earned tax money is buying.

Morihei Ueshiba

Economy is the basis of society.

When the economy is stable, society develops.

The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material,

and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love.

...Morihei Ueshiba...

The Love Of Money

(movie trailer)

Stamp act

The states that banned marijuana were primarily in the south and southwest, where economics and prejudice played a major role. During the great depression, migrant workers from Mexico were no longer needed nor welcome. People feared that Mexican immigrants were undercutting American workers for jobs so they were trying to get them to go back to Mexico. Since many of these immigrants smoked marijuana, it was thought that banning marijuana would help. So, in 1937 Congress passed The Marijuana Tax Stamp Act. The Act itself did not actually criminalize possession or use of marijuana, but required anyone doing so to pay roughly one dollar to receive the stamp. In the 1930’s, this would have been prohibitively expense to migrant farm workers, however, it didn’t matter ..the government was only issuing them to doctors and dentists. This created a catch-22 for recreational users ..the penalty for not having the stamp was a fine of up to $2000 and five years’ imprisonment. This put recreational users at great risk, and for the Mexican immigrant, it meant certain deportation.

Why people in olden times were happier

OPIUM FOR NEW BORNS-I'm sure this would make them sleep well (not only the Opium, but 46% alcohol!)

Very popular for children in 1885. Not only did they relieve the pain, they made the children happy! COCAINE DROPS FOR TOOTH ACHE


COCAINE TABLETS-1900-All stage actors, singers teachers andpreachers had to have them for a maximum performance. Great to "smooth" the voice.


OPIUM FOR ASTHMA

A paper weight promoting C.F. Boehringer & Soehne ( Mannheim , Germany ).. They were proud of being the biggest producers in the world of products containing Quinine and Cocaine.


Mariani wine (1875) was the most famous Coca wine of it's time. Pope Leo XIII used to carry one bottle with him all the time. He awarded Angelo Mariani (the producer) with a Vatican gold medal.



Coca Wine, anyone? Metcalf Coca Wine was one of a huge variety of wines with cocaine on the market. Everybody used to say that it would make you happy and it would also work as a medicinal treatment.



Produced by Maltine Manufacturing Company of NewYork. It was suggested that you should take a full glass with or after every meal... Children should take half a glass.






Bayers Heroin


A bottle of Bayer's heroin. Between 1890 and 1910 heroin was sold as a non-addictive substitute for morphine. It was also used to treat children with strong cough.

No wonder they were called The Good Old Days!!
BRING THEM BACK, BY ALL MEANS!

Zeitgeist, The Movie

A matter of perspective

Has it ever occurred to you

that you might be wrong?

...Charles M. Schulz...


(link)