from the department of wtf?

i really don't know what to say about this one

'A shadowy security company, which seems to have no history and which no one seems to know much about, has secured a contract to take over a jail in the small town of Hardin, Montana.'

is this how the right is going to goad obama into martial law and then civil war?

things i find interesting or ironic

we hear about the recession and tent cities and joblessness- and they are all big issues here in america. that's why i found these stories ironic- a few posts ago, i posted on how folks discovered that 'going green' was pretty easy- it meant reduce, reuse and recycle- not buy, buy, buy. so, imagine my surprise when i read blue gal's post on the underemployed young demographic. i guess it really should come as no surprise because i know at least 4 people who are or have been unemployed recently in my age group or a wee younger- all seemed content to run their unemployment out before looking for more work. those folks either didn't want to work or were determined to hold out to get another job in the same field-- which laid them off in the first place. sigh.

then, i ran across this gem: green cleaning services. really? really? not that i begrudge the cleaning crews their jobs. my mother cleaned houses for years to support my sister and me. but, you can't clean your own home? you are so busy you can't pick up a rag and run it over your coffee table? sweet jesus in heaven- we are in big, big trouble.

so, i haven't been following the news much lately because, well, quite frankly i am less than interested in the 'health care reform debate' as it is simply something to keep constituents revved up before elections. seriously. the politicians have already been bought and paid for by every corporate associated with 'health care' and if you don't see that- well, you probably believe that your vote still counts too.

anyhoo, i have noticed a trend amongst the right and left- the right is getting fringier and crazier and the left digs deeper and deeper into denial. let's call it like we see it shall we? the lunatic fringe on the right is being cultivated and stoked by the pundits and politicians for a bigger agenda- they want to stage a coup. now, i have been saying this for years- but i'll say it again- there will be another civil war. this time it will be ideologies but geography won't mean as much. any group that calls for the assassination of a president for a coup or otherwise- well, they don't give a rat's ass about their neighbors. in fact, they believe that anyone not adhering to their particular ideology deserves to be dead. and that's the unvarnished truth.

many on the left discount folks like me- we 'conspiracy theorists' should just shut up because we are hurting 'the cause.' what cause it is that we are hurting- well, i haven't figured that out yet as poll after poll shows the majority of americans have doubts about the truth of the official version of 9/11 events and also shows they favor universal health care in the same vein as medicare. it's the left wing politicians and their supporters who should put up and shut up.

but who am i to say? i am nobody of any importance in either side's 'cause.'

update:

perhaps newsmax editors got a coloring book edition of what treason and sedition means- cause they took down the article calling for a coup.

just an fyi

i am at the peace tree today- well, my post is. i am up to my eyeballs in cleaning my basement. it's right about now i wonder what the hell i was even thinking. i have an extra book shelf i have no idea where to put. not that i don't have a need for it- i just have nowhere to put it. sigh.

values voters at it again

lettin' their 'values' hang out all over to show the world just how 'christian' they are

proof america is no different than any other nation

cia torture- experiments on prisoners and results published

christianity fueling righwing hatemongering

true words

thanks to jonestown for saying what needs to be said.

rainy and cool

i guess autumn really did come with the equinox this year. leaves are turning and it's rainy and chilly here. i put the flannels on the bed as we haven't officially turned on the heat yet. spent my time reading and cooking yesterday. perhaps more of the same today. i am going to attempt my hand at sourdough biscuits. i have 2 batches of sourdough going in the fridge- one is a milk based and the other a water based. for those who have no idea what it is i am talking about

sourdough is essentially flour and a liquid- milk or water- and yeast. now, you can add yeast yourself or attempt to catch it from the air like the early folks did. i chose not to go that route for my maiden voyage into the seas of sourdough- i just added a packet of yeast. perhaps as i get more proficient- i'll give it a whirl. so, you let it sit and ferment for a day or so- and then fridge it until you want to use it. you have to 'feed' it once a month or if you use it- by adding liquid and flour in equal amounts.

so far, i have made a carrot cake- of which i didn't try because i added raisins. not a fan of raisins. and today i will make biscuits. i just didn't feel like kneading the dough yesterday :) but i made hubby chicken soup as he is getting sick and i baked squash that i didn't harvest myself. but that's a bitch for another day...

some overlooked stories

top 25 censored stories for 2010

remember sibel edmonds? do ya even know who she is? you may not as the media seems loathe to cover her

apparently, cheney and rummy were for an all out power grab- gave themselves power to override the supremes

michael moore versus wolf blitzer- is it really a fair fight?

and for some humor- mark morford on how to talk to complete idiots

good lord it's friday!!!

this week went by a bit fast for me. i lost track of what day it was :) but, it's time for only the good friday. mmmm..... i can't complain- my life is good overall. as long as i pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist, i pretty much have the perfect life :) therein lies the rub doesn't it?

anyhoo, i got an updated library card this week and have taken out books on my heritage. my father's mother was a part of the seneca nation and i am hoping to find out about the 5 nations. it saddened me to know that many ancient artifacts were lost during a 1911 fire at the museum in albany but for now, the books survive. much of the work done on the history of the 'iroquois' nations was done in the early twentieth century which is commendable. but, the Haudenosaunee, 'people of the longhouse,' were long gone as a power by then. the european invasion wiped them out through war and greed. it's the same tired story of greed and betrayal- the haudenosaunee assisted the british against the french in the 'french and indian wars' and sided with the americans in the revolution and were repaid by having their land taken from them in various 'treaties.'

the books i took out were written in a time period that was- oh, let's say not politically correct- so, that in and of itself is interesting. these were folks who were sympathetic to the five nations and the way they presented them was, well, ethnocentric to say the least. since they are library books, i can't write in them as i do in my books- i call it active reading ;)- so, i have to do things the old fashioned way and take notes. something i haven't done since college. should be fun.

reading thoreau at bedtime. he is a hoot! i don't know that he and i would have gotten on famously- he was a bit theatrical and melodramatic with a flair for sarcasm ;) but we would have had pleasant conversation about nature and gardening and politics. he didn't care much for the state or for conventional thinkers. so, life is full. haven't really been working on the retro ripple this week although i said i would. haven't been in the mood. it was 80 degrees and muggy one day. no good for crochet.

don't forget to take a peek at shelly's- and if you want, feel free to leave a linky to your post in the comments.

wake up western world

i haven't been writing much lately- haven't had much to write about. news continues to be grim and no one really wants to be reminded of that fact- least of all me. but i do read. i read around the blogosphere and in the facebook now. and, i felt i should point out something because it's something many are still not aware of

the government does not answer to the people. should i repeat? they are not listening because they answer to their corporate overlords. it really is that simple.

look, it isn't ineptitude- it's greed. these folks wanted power and the only way to get it is to crawl in bed with the folks who have the money. we are being distracted by the 'wrangling' for votes in congress for a watered down, worthless health care bill. why? because in the end, they aren't going to change anything anyway. really. our country has not changed much since 2006 when the so called left took over congress. americans across the board overwhelmingly booted out incumbents and republicans in the last election-- to send a message.

and take a look at the way things are now. i am not saying folks shouldn't fight back- i am simply saying that it's useless to tilt at windmills. you have to know what you are fighting in order to fight it effectively- and that's where most on the left lose it. many americans cling to the idea that we have an american system. that was gone with globilization hate to break it to you. we are now, one world and one world order. it's called 'multinational corporatocracy' seriously. make no mistake, there is no democracy in america. how can there be with a police state in force?

we all hear the news. we all hear about the raids and the security drills and they are going on in our own home towns. i see it here in my little upstate new york city. these are unnecessary for the country's security from outside forces- but gets us used to seeing it and believing it's a normal part of our democracy.

there are not enough people to who are ready, willing or able to start fighting this. there are still too many people in denial and the cognitive dissonance is deafening. to be honest, it isn't worth it to me to fight because there aren't many who would do the same for me in this country. we are losing our freedoms on pace with the arctic ice shelf melting and folks are still sleeping. perhaps the next generation will fight to reclaim what we have simply ceded.

mark morford

"The real truth is, we are not immune to those very things we were essentially convinced we were immune from. It's the lesson we try to avoid at all costs: the more you think you can control even a fraction of the system and the more you try to block out at least a few of the potential calamities, the more the system reveals that it's no system at all, and is actually a slapdash madhouse tinderbox of careening laws and makeshift rules and barely controlled chaos no one really understands. Neat!

No matter. We do it anyway. We carefully set up all these mechanisms, all these banking systems and savings plans and financial strategies, all these cartoonish religious beliefs and social contracts and ridiculous tribal allegiances, all to give us the illusion of stability, the false sense of security and place. How cute we are.

And we grip these illusions more and more tightly, absolutely refusing to believe what we already know, deep down: that when you finally open up your hand, there's actually nothing there. Ain't it grand?"

robert reich

"In other words, the Dow is up despite the biggest consumer retreat from the market since the Great Depression because of the very thing so many executives are complaining about, which is government's expansion. And regardless of what you call it - Keynesianism, socialism, or just pragmatism - it's doing wonders for business, especially big business and Wall Street. Consumer spending is falling back to 60 to 65 percent of the economy, as government spending expands to fill the gap.

The problem is, our newly expanded government isn't doing much for average working Americans, who continue to lose their jobs and whose belts continue to tighten, and who are getting almost nothing out of the rising Dow because they own few if any shares of stock. Despite the happy Dow and notwithstanding the upbeat corporate earnings, most corporations are still shedding workers and slashing payrolls. And the banks still aren't lending to Main Street.

Trickle-down economics didn't work when the supply-siders were in charge, and it's not working now that -- despite all their cries of "socialism" -- big business and Wall Street are very quietly in charge."

right wing declares war on net neutrality

the american war machine

classy

i'll bet 'their women' feel valued too... i'll bet they love that chattel feeling- makes 'em glow.

nothing much to say i suppose

had another nice weekend. mr. betmo took a few days off and we got to spend some time together and he crossed a few things off of his 'to do' list. we got some lighting ideas for the house- and we may have to mortgage it again in order to afford them. geez- who knew really cool lights were so expensive? next year maybe...

went open housing again- saw a few nice layouts but i must say i was overall disappointed. in this area anyway, expensive housing simply means more added rooms. we aren't looking to upgrade instantly but wanted to know what we had as options. i was thinking perhaps some neat features or upgrades- especially with older housing stock. apparently, not. lots and lots of 4 and 5 bedroom colonials with no personality. who knew?

i have also settled on the fact that i just don't like the telephone. nope. never have really. when i was a teenager living at home- we screened our calls. back then, we had the answering machine pick up and if we wanted to talk- we simply picked up the phone. these days- we have caller id on the cells. i still screen. i much prefer email or texts or simply snail mail. i don't live an interesting enough life to be on twitter or talk on the phone. what i have to say can fit into two lines of email with a picture. seriously. it's a personality thing i suppose. i guess it's why i prefer blogging to facebook. i am not into the instant thing. a phone call is a demand of my time. someone wants an instant answer or conversation. i prefer the slower approach. which- is ironic in the age of instant everything.

anyhoo- i am having an evening tea- i am pooped. last mow of the season at the fam's today and putting away air conditioners and putting down storm windows. washing of the comforters and whatnot. in a week or two- it will be time to fire up the fireplace and snuggle in a comfy chair with a throw. and that pretty much sums up my weekend. i have not followed any news at all and have been watching the netflix and movies we own. i cry everytime in every movie of the lord of the rings trilogy. mr. betmo and i just started the matrix trilogy. i love hugo weaving. perhaps a little v for vendetta in the queue too :)

chasing the wind

one of the things i have the most trouble with studying buddhism- is trying to stay in the moment. one of the main tenets of buddhism is that life is constant change. moment by moment is changing- whether we can sense it or feel it- many buddhists liken it to waves upon the sand. perhaps it is just me or perhaps it is the culture that i grew up in- i don't know- but i do know i have always struggled with change. i really don't know how people cope with loss- of loved ones especially- but they have been doing it for milennia. lately, it just feels like sand in the hour glass slipping quickly away. the damned general electric commercial song has been playing through my mind over and over- which is probably what they wanted but i am not going to rush out and buy a new fridge. maybe it's the change of seasons too- i love autumn but it comes in bittersweet always as the death of summer and onset of winter sets in.

the fact that there is such a disparity between what i see passing for 'discourse' in american life these days and the love i have in my own circle- mr. betmo and i celebrated our twelfth married year and a buddy of mine- her parents- their 48th. and we all still love each other. insulating myself has certainly been less stressful but it sets up a different host of issues as the insane 'real world' clashes with my version of reality. it also doesn't help that i have been reading walt whitman and henry david thoreau- because that has helped drive the point home that human nature doesn't change. technology changes- human beings don't.

and i guess in the grander scheme of things- i don't care about other people. self centered and egocentric for sure but when push comes to shove, the only people i know i can rely on are my family. we have always been on the outside looking in and i used to feel it in a negative way. now, i am grateful we were different. life is so fragile and so many people just squander it and fritter it away. thoreau- to paraphrase- believed that people should better themselves mentally. he believed that people should actively learn- read classics and not just pop literature or the newspaper. what i found amusing- and i chuckle as i read- his opinion of the news mirrors many of ours today- he said that they could simply keep printing the same stuff out of europe (of his time in the 1840's) and mix up the names a bit- or not- and folks wouldn't know the difference. he felt that they were simply gossip rags. he also believed too many folks were too dependent on buying things and being upwardly mobile. not much has changed in a couple hundred years.

anyhoo- i have been keeping up with the news on the periphery and been reading folks who are eloquent in the english language. it keeps my mind sharp and it keeps me focused on what is. it doesn't help me deal with change and the fact that time keeps slipping away from me. i guess that comes with trying again to live each moment to the fullest and appreciating what i have now.

i have to stop trying to catch the wind.

fear and loathing in america

and the bought and paid for media go along for the ride

just an fyi

amidst the racism and other distractions caused by the outright lies and distortions by the right wing republicans, i found this gem:

police to get access to classified military info

i also recently read a story that more campus police are getting tasers- and coming on the heels of the police seemingly tasering everyone they aren't falsely arresting- well, that also gave me pause. i really don't hold out any hope for america. not when so very many are willing to put themselves into 'law enforcement' and related industries- because that's what they are. the military industrial complex is now feeding the police state industry. guess who gets to be the serfs in this feudal system?

really?

really? santorum is serious about running for president? question of the day- should he pick palin or bachman as his running mate?

capt fogg does it again

Human Voices: Censorship in America

funny how time slips away

ever hear that song? popped into my head this morning. seems like time is moving faster than i want it to but also seems to move slowly when i don't want it to. yep. hubby and i celebrated our 12th anniversary going to open houses yesterday :) yes, we already bought a house but it's fun to go- and we are looking at houses in the price range we actually want to buy in one day- to get an idea of what is in our area.

word of advice to any potential sellers- wall paper is a deal breaker for me. one or two rooms- ok, maybe i'll entertain the idea. but--- if you haven't upgraded your house since 1988 because you didn't want to fuss with the wallpaper- neither will i. i hate wall paper.

we aren't in any hurry to move but we also want to do some upgrades to our current home. wanted to see what folks were doing to the higher end homes. another note- don't think that just because you plunk high end upgrades in your house that folks will overlook the fact that that is exactly what it looks like. flow of rooms is important so, don't add the jet tub and stand alone shower and make the bathroom awkward.

too many folks are watching hgtv and diy and just throwing stuff into homes with no other thought than that. you don't have to have granite countertops in a cape cod middle class neighborhood where all of your neighbors have corian. trust me- you won't recoup your investment. also, not everyone likes hardwood in every single room. you have to clean it daily or it looks dusty and dirty- especially the darker wood. i would rather have carpet in my bedrooms and hardwood in my dining room. just an fyi.

anyhoo- we had a great day and had fun. we ended up at lowes and dinner before i spent the rest of the evening wrestling with paint colors. sigh. i am really glad that we still like each other after spending the last 15 years or so together. he loves me and that's all that matters to me. and i like him pretty good too :)

only the good friday

HomebodyCrochet on Etsy: only the good friday

don't forget to drop by shelly's place for only the good friday too. as always, feel free to leave a link to your friday post in the comments. thanks.

fyi

for anyone interested, i updated my etsy shop to include international shipping. i am looking for information and feedback on pricing and customs and whatnot- so, if you have any- feel free :) i have a crochet blog- so, please, check it out and the etsy shop- i kept the name simple :)

homebody crochet on etsy- shop

homebody crochet on etsy- blog

far be it from me to say...

but i didn't realize hate was a good thing in the bible. wow- am i glad i am not a christian- i would have to hate people who didn't think like me.

whew!

the google reader is full- of crap mostly to be deleted- but here are a few tidbits:

good to know our 'allies' the israelis are a strong democracy much like ourselves:

"The Israeli government has launched a television and Internet advertising campaign urging Israelis to inform on Jewish friends and relatives abroad who may be in danger of marrying non-Jews."

i suppose that their strong, compassionate conservatism is what allows them to so this and i suppose their democracy isn't in anymore trouble than ours as they grow increasingly less secular and push their religious agenda in their military as we do.

of course, if we can't convert the troops, we can just start from the ground up and build an all religious military. kind of gives 'jesus camp' a whole new meaning doesn't it?

oh, did i fail to mention that while the obama administration is allegedly curtailing private contractors, we are still the leading arms dealer of the world? but don't fret, all of that military industrial complex money being made by war profiteers will eventually trickle down into the middle class coffers. in the meantime, there are a few who still have a job and apparently, have to shoulder the load for the rest. i mean the few of us left who own a home and earn a wage have had tax increases across the board to shoulder the burden for those who do not. isn't it time for a better way to raise revenue? but i digress....

going to the grocery store with our food stamps in hand may be a moot point at some point anyway. i find it ironic that so many still cling to the belief in the american 'system' so stubbornly when it is clearly broken beyond repair. while i understand the need to have public structure, it is clear that pretending all is well-- isn't working. and if you think marching up to the voting booth to express your displeasure will work, well, bless you.

we are a divided nation- in more ways than one. i can tell you this- the theory is 'divide and conquer' and that is precisely what most everyday americans will not grasp. we have been conquered by the ruling class. we are not a democracy- but we play one on tv. reality is a harsh mistress but is one we need to get to know a bit better. the lies and propaganda can't stand up to the light of day unless we let them.

this picture is real. i can't post it because an associated press reporter shot the picture and i won't engage with the ap ever. but the guardian runs the article and if you don't follow a single link above- this one pretty much sums up the whole sordid mess.

unfortunate

the cheney government was behind the 9/11 attacks. the al quaida of the msm does not exist. yes, there is terrorism in the middle east and yes, there are al quaida groups- but our own corporately owned government was behind the airplanes driven into the twin towers.

van isn't an embarrassment as much as he is a liability. can't have folks sniffing around the 'conspiracy theory' angle now can we?

interesting stories

the pope blames athiests for global climate change

“Is it not true that inconsiderate use of creation begins where God is marginalized or also where his existence is denied?"

well, i am a rabid environmentalist and a devout athiest. many of the 'christians' i know drive big cars; live in big houses and insist on shopping, shopping, shopping. so, no, your popeness- i am going to say 'no.'

swine flu prevention tips- listen, they don't have a magic cure for swine flu. around here, they treat the swine flu the same as any other flu- so, don't catch it to start with and you'll be better off.

and, one more case for making homemade food- less chance of getting listeria or salmonella or any of the other toxic bacteria

saturday laugh out loud

bachmann thinks she has a shot at the white house

only the good friday

today is one of those perfect late summer days- not too hot but plenty of sunshine. i am still not operating at 100% and my husband is telling me to take tomorrow off- which i just might do. my sister is on a more regular schedule at work- so it's a wee less stressful for her in that regard- so that's good. i am working to finish another project and have started another- which is actually quite fun for me- as i am learning another stitch.

overall life is good. have not been paying much mind to the world these days- the die has been cast and i am living each day as if it was mine alone. i regret i haven't been making the rounds as much as i would like- i do miss my blog buddies :) perhaps when summer is over and folks move it back inside- we can all get together and catch up.

don't forget to drop by shelly's for 'only the good' friday info- and post. thornie and spadoman may or may not have a post up- but check them out for good posts anyway. as always, if you want to leave a link to your post in the comments- feel free.

mother jones does it again

just when i have lost hope- there may be a 'great white hope' for the rethugs. maybe.

my space versus facebook

very interesting article

"The inequalities and divisions in society have emerged online in social networks despite the belief that everyone is connected by the Internet. "

in spite of myself

i can't stop putting out the truth and valuable info. in reality, it's futile. there is no change and nothing left to really believe in- except ourselves. and isn't that what the common folks have always done in america? truth be told, america was founded- not by common folks but by elite nobleman and landowners. for them. and what they wanted it to be. not us.

we were sold a bill of goods and generations of us believed in the narrative- america for the people by the people. it was all a lie. now, we are splintered into crazy, right wing nutjobs manipulated for agendas out of the loop for us; left wing corporate shills who sold their souls to the highest bidders and forsook their principles for profit; confused and naive masses who want something to continue to believe in- and the rest of us. those of us who see and know where we are headed and realize that there isn't a god damned thing we can do at this point beyond living the rest of our lives as best we can.

i have been reading walt whitman these last few weeks- and i really admire his spirit. he had this vision of america and democracy that was so idealistic- so hopeful. 120 years or so later- well, let's just say walt would be sorely disappointed. he witnessed the civil war once- and i know that he would be heartbroken to know we have revived it.

piggybacking on the last post

and cap't fogg's link-

"Dear Republicans,

Fuck you. No, I'm not joking. I'm sick of this bullshit.

I'm sick of the way you've corrupted the public discourse. The way you've made it acceptable to hurl any insult you like at public officials."

and this is why--- and this is why

amongst many, many, many other reasons.

boy did i get lucky

my blog buddies do good work- check out these finds:

human voices

and, yes, i do take it personally

dandelion salad

'i sit and look out' by walt whitman

I sit and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and
upon all oppression and shame,
I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men at anguish
with themselves, remorseful after deeds done,
I see in low life the mother misused by her children, dying,
neglected, gaunt, desperate,
I see the wife misused by her husband, I see the
treacherous seducer of young women,
I mark the ranklings of jealousy and unrequited love
attempted to be hid, I see these sights on the earth,
I see the workings of battle, pestilence, tyranny, I see
martyrs and prisoners,
I observe a famine at sea, I observe the sailors casting lots
who shall be kill'd to preserve the lives of the rest,
I observe the slights and degradations cast by arrogant
persons upon laborers, the poor, and upon negroes,
and the like;
All these--all the meanness and agony without end I sitting
look out upon,
See, hear, and am silent.

fyi

over at the peace tree today- oh, the post is about euthanasia :)