THE WINDWARD WALK

I wrote this poem in 1993, in one sitting without edits. It flowed through me from elsewhere.

The Windward Walk

When e’re I walk this walk, the windward walk,
My heart takes solace from the wrath, the jealous talk.
These beings who shall seek for to destroy
That which they find they do not know,
These creatures, in their hearts find little joy,
As full they reap what past these fools did sow.

My yearning, uncontrolled, is for the truth
Which seeps through time until the end.
Yet n’er can I convey this sooth,
For thought, through words, God does not send.

The peacefulness of bliss,
For some a state unknown,
Is exit through remiss,
From deeds the winds have blown.

Yet I know deep, a knowledge from within,
Through encounter with the Blindness Light,
From out a place that holds no space for sin,
Through meditation in the dark of night.
The force which serves so tight to bind,
Methinks, whither we shall roam,
Is evermore within a sight of mind
Throughout a journey which just brings us home.

© 1993 Devin LaRue

The Beast Law

(Devin LaRue, this one’s for you)
Law, a governmental elemental, and a farce at best.
Law works for those weak in the mental,
and condemns all the rest.
Elemental: a force of nature concentrated into a being.
The Law Elemental is unnatural,
going against the Almighty, All Seeing.
By being governmental, It’s ruled out the bit about the Earth,
although the Earthly man gave this hellish beast birth.
Now, Law tramples across the nation,
trampling down the foundations of our Constitution
that was writ as a solution to the tyrannical ways of oppressors.
The successors of the Founders now flounder about
but continuously doubt.
.Damn the ways of our Leaders these days.
By now in the 90s we hold those truths to be irrelevant.
The Law Beast tramples across the countryside
toppling the Pillars of Justice
that we are told we must trust
to provide support to the roof of Liberty
and truth that is supposed to protect us
from the wrath of Hellfire
that will inevitably make it’s way through and cover our land
and cause the anarchy that can and must destroy Law.
Only when Law is dead
can we as a People rebuild and flourish
to provide the truths which can nourish the brains
of a starving people labeled insane.
If you had no food here,
would it be wrong to steal from the tables of those unwilling yet able to feed us?
And these tables of greed are surrounded by worshippers of Law, and their wealth is so vast that it is simply needless.
(7/2/99)

I wonder

I Wonder...
If I told you who God is, and it came from the deepest, most sincere depths of my heart; and if it felt good and proper; would I be a liar? If I forsake all established paths, meditated instead of prayed, and said "God Is", would I be sinning? If I just lived; studied instead of philosophized and was good to my Mother and just hoped for the best in the end; would your God punish me eternally?
Can I drop to my knees and raise my hands in pain, shout to the skies and command your God to cease hell’s reign? Can I let a tear fall for the sake of Allah? Can I love a kafr for their goodness, and be just to all? Is Hellfire meant for me and Paradise just for ya’ll? How can I look forward to the unseen after all the manifest destruction I just saw?
Would I be tripping if I called on a Christian for help? Or if I turned to a 5%er to better overstand Self? Is the wealth of wisdom reserved strictly for scholars? Should I ignore profound insight if it comes from a baller? All this makes me wanna holler! Why do I bother to care? While the stars and stripes snipe on babies and bombs burst in the air? How can you dare push your truths to me? All that bullshit costs me my Peace. Shouldn’t Reality be free?
4/02

Lockdown

Somedays, I feel on top of the world.
Other days, I feel like…
like I can’t get a break!
What’s it gonna take,
to shake off these shackles?
Somedays I fear my death is near,
surrounding me like jackals.
I can be my own worst enemy
when left to myself
to be alone and think.
My thoughts swirl like oil slicks
as I lean over inanities brink.
Echoes of my own silent hell
bouncing within my mind.
The sound is so loud it breaks me down;
the threads of sanity untying.
I go to my busted and rusted window,
in hopes of a moments peace.
All I hear are fallen soldiers screams from the Hole,
then silence…
from the Belly of the Beast.
6/01/02

The US Constitution binds no one and elections are shams!

Does voting equal complicity?

Is the constitution truly and justly legally binding on anyone?

Ever since I read Lysander Spooner's No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority some years ago, I've never looked at our government in the same light.

Growing up I revered the constitution and its historic nature, venturing with my family to D.C. many times and seeing it, the Declaration of Independence, and other historic documents in the National Archives. I remember during the Carter administration there was an exhibit of gifts given to President and Mrs. Carter and amongst them was a set of Ben Wa balls given to Mrs. Carter by the Japanese Prime Minister's wife. I knew what they were and told my sister, Kellie, and we both giggled. I suppose they had been given to Mrs. Carter for those lonely nights when her husband was away, because they are used for vaginal stimulation and pleasure! Anyway...this digression aside...

Lysander Spooner opened my eyes, as he tried to do for many when he wrote his pamphlet in the late 1880's. He did not like the federal government one bit. It had stolen his company, The American Mail Company. American Mail delivered mail more effectively and cheaper than the U.S. Post Office, and the politicians in Washington wanted it. So they took it, using the U.S. Constitution as their authority. Yes, the constitution does read that the federal government shall establish a post office, but it does not say that only that post office can deliver mail.

Lysander fought them to no avail, and lost everything. However, his legal points remain. By what right can a people bind their progeny to a contract? Can I sign a contract binding my great-grandchildren? Of course not. He argues the same about the U.S. Constitution (or any constitution for that matter).

Spooner further argues very well that the mere fact one votes can not be held against oneself. It does not indicate approval of the constitution itself, nor of the government created by it. Essentially people cannot be blamed for trying to choose the lesser of two evils. Just because they so choose, does not mean they would not rather have neither evil.

The University of Virginia has the pamphlet on line for reading. I suggest you read it.

http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/SpoTrea.html

EFF Launches Vote Monitoring Site

EFFector Vol. 21, No. 37 October 31, 2008 editor@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

In our 489th issue:

* EFF LAUNCHED OurVoteLive.org THIS WEEK TO MONITOR
ELECTION PROBLEMS NATIONWIDE AND IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY IN
THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. Published on behalf of the
nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, the website
collects and analyzes voter calls to the 866-OUR-VOTE
hotline, gathering important data about voters' questions,
registration and identification problems, difficulties with
voting machines, and polling place accessibility issues.

In addition to raw incident data, OurVoteLive.org also
features incident maps, nationwide trend information and an
active election issues blog that will highlight important
election incidents as they develop. As part of our defense
of digital rights, EFF is committed to protecting the
electoral process and producing tools that help educate and
inform the public.

For the Our Vote Live website:
http://www.ourvotelive.org/

For the EFF press release about OurVoteLive.org:
http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/10/26

Administrivia

EFFector is published by:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
http://www.eff.org/about

Editor:
Richard Esguerra, EFF Activist
richard@eff.org

Membership & donation queries:
membership@eff.org

General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries:
information@eff.org

Back issues of EFFector are available at:
http://www.eff.org/effector/

Programming in 3s

My poetical flow attacks with facts that lame cat's can't grasp
and self-proclaimed pros only theoretically know.
Men of religion envision me dipped in sin from without to within
shining with a heretical glow.
But I'm not the foe.
Even if I spoke slow and put on a show laced with lifeless rap and back to back tracks of impractical common jargon,
really, I'd STILL hit you with more than you bargained.
There's a thin margin, between life and lies.
All the smoke and mirrors held together by etherial ties, and when the countdown goes from 720 to zero, you will die.
You seek the answer to "Why?",
but when you hear it you defy.
And that's crazy, it's like the thing you fear is blue sky!
It's that simple,
so get your hard-heeled shoes tied while I run you through time
and try to get you to climb mountains of knowledge.
I mean lessons deeper than fools seek from Ivy League college.
First I'm gonna expose what the secret to it ALL is...
Simplicity.
You listening?
Simplicity!
I think you're missing me.
You get shook and run to your crew and bite my back and try dissing me.
Maybe it's time you stop sipping communion wine and look at his-story.
Back to back volumes of elitist mystery,
and each one holding down a Trinity.
Like, two satellites in orbit around a divinity.
Recently it was Bullwinkle, Natasha and Boris.
Or go back, way back,, to Osiris, Isis, and Horus.
All these rules of three laid out before us!
So blatently repetitive, how the hell can you ignore this?!
Come on, let's you and me explore this.
Let's try and see if we can score a few more hits.
Like Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
or jelly butter and breakfast toast!
You got houseguest, lunch, and an excellent Host.
Do you see what I'm saying, are you even coming close?
Let me hit you again quick and make you sick with the overdose.
You've got Muhammad, Jabri'el, and Allah azawajell.
In Catholocism, there's purgatory, heaven and hell.
And now there's a trinity we know so well;
Illuminati judge, his peers for jury, and the bestower of death.
In this trial of life I'm the defense.
It's so not right and I object!
Now that you had a chance to reflect, is your head heavy on your neck?
Are you ready to face the nation you take place in and pack your bags to defect?
Jesus wept too, maybe for the same reasons as you.
Maybe he looked into the abyss of indoctrination and saw right through!
But if you're still holding the hand-rails on the trolley of mental folley riding the fast line to hell - afraid to let go of the lies you know so well - I'ma tell you the secret,
THE TRUE FACTS OF REALITY WILL PREVAIL!
The reflected light of the star of the morning, once bright, grows pale.
It's about time to tell A-nu tale.
Time to paint a picture of fact that won't mislead the masses,
and won't have people believing in poisonous gasses.
See, I made a choice once and grasped this.
Now I can't rest 'til this Test is Mastered.
And all my goal is is to divert this Earth from imminent disaster.
'Cause right now this place is run by bastards
who know their moms but not their pops.
Shit, we're ALL gonna know when their horns are exposed
in the shadow of the flash of a thermonuclear blast if their baby-boy bomb drops. (father, son, holy ghost)
But the clock's arms won't stop,
spinning round 360 degrees back to the top twice making 720 degrees, right?
And only after the 6,000 years will it be revelaed the cream of the crop.
Now let me ask you this, has your fantasy stopped?

Blood on the Nile

I'm freely swinging through your mind sphere
there's people dying here.
Don't ever ask why
with the Wise Men of Zion here.
They try and make a way for their children of rebellion to stay
in the highest seats of Power,
while they themselves fear a defeat in the Hour.
When the sweet waters turn sour
and blood taints the banks of the Nile River
And the Moon collides with the Sun
and truth toxifies your mind like moonshine in your liver;
You quiver and twitch as the ownership of the Kingdoms switch
terrified by the thought that what you gave out you'll soon get!

Bibliomancy inspired by Matrix: Reloaded

The following is from my private journal. It’s time for the hidden to become known. While watching Matrix: Reloaded, I was inspired to do what I’m told is called "bibliomancy", or divining from a book. More like hollywoodmancy then, right? Anyway, at the end of the movie, Neo(phyte) was talking to T.S.A.O.T.U and was told that "Zion will be destroyed. Twenty-three will be chosen to rebuild; 16 females, 7 males", or something to that effect.

23+16+7= Wisdom and Power of God

This, for some reason brought to mind the words the first shall be last and the last shall be first, which I knew to be in the Bible some damn where. So, I opened it to the New Testament, and with my word as my bond it opened to the page! It is in Matthew 19:30 and says in the Shakes-spear’s version "But many who are first shall be last; and the last shall be first" Heh. I’ll take for granted that any who are twisted enough to have kept reading and stayed up to speed with anything I’ve ever written already knows that the Bible is plagiarized from older works, and that language games are a big part of it’s corruption. So, what’s good for the goose… Matthew reminded me of two words- Ma’aat You.

Ma’aat is the divine intelligence. She is Balance, Justice, and Cosmic Law that binds both mortal and god alike. She is the Supreme WISDOM (23).
Power (16) is Orion, the Kingdom of Heaven is in the Orion Skies, and also represents Osiris, consort to Isis who is also represented as Ma’aat in some dynasties.
The preceding formula brought out the rest of it from me, which is that "Zion" will be saved by the Wisdom (23)and Power (16) of god (7). Wisdom, the Woman, comes first before the Power, the Man, when the reconciliation is swung. Such is the teachings of Matthew ( I Ma’aat YOU!) "first shall be last and the last shall be first"

At this time men suppress women through the compassion of the woman which allowed man to assume roles of Power. Again only by the leave of Wisdom is Power ,only, allowed to rule, wielded seemingly unchecked. However, that which was written shall be, and Wisdom shall usher forth the Kingdom, with Power following and supporting Her.
The Woman always came first. Her genetics are superior. She is more cunning, wndures more pain, and is the chalice from which the whole of the human race pours forth (Mother Nature, from Ninti). Her chromosomes are XX, while the man’s are XY. Note that the y is an X minus a piece.

In time the Woman shall regain her Throne, thus bringing forth a True Zion, and the fake as well as all disorder shall be laid waste. So must it be. Amuwn

Sorry

I removed a few of my posts. They will be back in their entirety soon, but there is work to do on them. I have to fulfill responsibility when writing about certain topics is all. I'll get back soon. Peace

Drill Billionaire's Club

Drill Baby Drill - Exxon Rakes in Highest Profits

I have read that up to 75% of fed leases to oil companies aren't even being used! There's nothing stopping the oil companies from drilling on these.

Oil companies should be charged for lands they're NOT exploring and/or drilling rather than giving them new leases! (See link above where it says: "The Obama campaign says it calculated that 68 million acres of leased land remain untouched, compared with the 1.5 million acres that President Bush would like to see opened to exploration in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. The majority of these unexploited acres are currently inaccessible by pipeline and much of the land has dubious production value. Nationally, only about a quarter of federal leased lands are being tapped for crude or natural gas."

The bastards don’t need new leases on the shores where we enjoy the water and a day at the beach! They’ve got them and they’re not using them!

The "Mavericks" are just part of the Drill Billionaire's Club. Don't underestimate that ; ) Sarah Palin puts the wink in hoodwink.



************************

Exxon Mobil posts biggest US quarterly profit ever
October 30, 2008 8:31 AM EDT

HOUSTON - Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, says it shattered its own record for the biggest profit from operations by a U.S. corporation, earning $14.83 billion in the third quarter.

Bolstered by this summer's record crude prices, the Irving, Texas-based company said Thursday that net income jumped nearly 58 percent, or $2.86 a share in the July-September. That compares with $9.41 billion, or $1.70 a share, a year ago.

The previous record for U.S. corporate profit was set earlier this year, when Exxon Mobil earned $11.68 billion in the second quarter.

Revenue rose 35 percent to $137.7 billion.

On average, analysts expected the company to earn $2.39 per share in the latest quarter on revenue of $131.4 billion.

Shares fell 18 cents to $75 in premarket trading.

The Shadow Factory

The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America
by James Bamford

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780385521321.html

$27.95 - 416 pages
Doubleday (October 14, 2008)
ddaypub@ randomhouse.com
1745 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10019
(212) 782-9000
ISBN-10: 0385521324

James Bamford exposed the existence of the top-secret National Security Agency in the bestselling The Puzzle Palace and continued to probe into its workings in his follow-up bestseller, Body of Secrets. Now Bamford discloses inside, often shocking information about the transformation of the NSA in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 2001.

In THE SHADOW FACTORY, Bamford shows how the NSA’s failure to detect the presence of two of the 9/11 hijackers inside the United States led the NSA to abandon its long-held policy of spying only on enemies outside the country. Instead, after 9/11 it turned its almost limitless ability to listen in on friend and foe alike over to the Bush Administration to use as a weapon in the war on terror. With unrivaled access to sources and documents, Bamford details how the agency has conducted domestic surveillance without court approval, and he frames it in the context of the NSA’s ongoing hunt for information about today’s elusive enemies.

THE SHADOW FACTORY is a riveting read for anyone concerned about civil liberties and America’s security in the post-9/11 world.

JAMES BAMFORD is the author of Body of Secrets, The Puzzle Palace, and A Pretext for War, and has written on national security for The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine. His 2005 Rolling Stone article “The Man Who Sold the War” won a National Magazine Award for reporting. Formerly the Washington investigative producer for ABC’s World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and a distinguished visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Bamford lives in Washington, D.C.

October 14, 2008
Amy Goodman interviews James Bamford:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/14/james_bamford_the_shadow_factory_the

Chemical Halo

The Sun fades low with my eye-lids in tow...
I feel like a Fallen Angel with a chemical halo.
I know so much trouble,
it rests heavy on mind.
I try and find a quiet place to hide away,
to steel my face a find a way
to try and face another day.
I'd cry or pray
except there's only the Lords of the Numb here.
Best I can do is meditate on forsaking my hate
while the time for more Lithium comes near.
I'm told that my overseers fear me.
This is clearly a misoverstanding.
I'm not a bad man, I've just been dealt a bad hand.
I'm playing it out the best I can,
but sometimes the pressure is more than I can stand!
Gods Be Damned!!!!!!!

10/4/08 NTB, this is also on the Jane Crown Show, link in the poem below. Other Poems from the show are availible in a certain publication. just ask me where, and I'll let you know

The Scribe

The Scribe without a pen
is like my nights without bad dreams.
Rivers run dry and fade away
while the Scribe's inscriptions remain.
Words inspired by Unseen Things
guide the mind of the writer,
His hand just the tip of the Quill,
the tip of Tehuti's Pen.
When the ink dries,
and the pages become weathered and torn,
another One comes,
though not always better than the Ones before.
Each Scribe has purpose programmed,
coursing in vein.
Body and brain only a vessle for the Neteraat.
None dare to condemn
except in tones of their own Silence.
Their bitter hearts condone violence of might
and everything their hearts burn with
their own hands ignite.
Some say "violence begets violence". Not in the Scribe,
He only records as his pen is inspired.
Tehuti owns His Mind.

10/4/08 Nuwbunun The Black Lotus this poem can be heard live from the ward on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Jane-Crown-Show/2008/10/12/Jane-hosts-Joan-dArcCori-BrackettBL-Kennedy-for-HG2 Check out the whole thing, and find me at about the 1 hour mark. Thanks!

Argentina: Experts to Analyze Strange Chicoana Prints

Source: El Tribuno de Salta
Date: October 29, 2008

Argentina: Experts To Analyze the Strange Geometrical Prints in Chicoana

Signs appeared in three wheat fields after a series of UFO sightings over the area on October 23, 2008

The Municipality of Chicoana announced that specialists will be asked to analyze the strange marks that appeared last Thursday in three local wheat fields and which are popularly attributed to the landing of a fleet of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) during the early hours of that day.
Dozens of witnesses say that the night before the discovery of the circular and rectangular markings, over a meter deep, they were able to see spectacular flashed of light described as a wonderful light show.
“For the time being, we have asked the Salta Volunteer Fire Deaprtment to bring a ladder that will enable us to photograph the mysterious marks from above, since we are unable to make out their shape from the ground, due to a lack of perspective,” said Rafael Romano, secretary of state of the community, to El Tribuno. Romano is the brother of the local intendent.
The official remarked that “with such images, we will be able to aske advice to have experts study them and tell us what the figures that were stamped in three wheat fields are. We have no explanation at all about them.”

Moreover, there was an incessant traffic of curiosity-seekers to this community, located 35 kilometers south of the capital, interested in seeing the indentations, which are reminsicent of the theatrical potboiler “Signs” directed my M. N. Shyamalan, starring Mel Gibson, who plays a farmer who finds very strange geometric designs in his crops, which he later ascertains are the work of alien invaders.

The “Chicoana Signs” appared in three fields, 8 to 10 kilometers equidistant from the other. Local residents claim having seen flashes of colored light during the evening which could not be taped or photographed because cellphones and cameras did not operate while the phenomenon occured.

The number of visitors to one of the premises with strange markings (at the entrance to the town) was such that local radio journalist Fernanda Vega of FM Tradicion asked people over the air “not to trespass the fields, as they may damage the crops.”
Nothing else is being talked about in the area, and people are hopeful for an encore of last Thursday’s sightings.

(Translation (c) 2008, S. Corrales, IHU. Special thanks to Mercedes Casas)

Alien Races from some website

While I prepare for my next installment of "Anunnaqi and You", I thought some of you may find this web site interesting.... Entertaining if nothing else. Enjoy! http://www.burlingtonnews.net/secretsufo.html

TikiBunker

Uncle Tiki is coming! Does everyone have an umbrella and a swizzle stick?

Welcome to TikiBunker™
Armageddon Inhabitions of Soundscape Nostalgie

In 1962, a worldwide nuclear calamity all but decimated human life on Earth. Nobody knows which side pushed the button first, whether Kennedy or Kruschev.

The ocean floors rumbled and tidal waves tossed across the lands, smashing every manmade object to smithereens and turning deserts into beaches.

Birds on the wing fell to the ground as entropy sucked the wind out of tiny lungs. Animals of all sizes breached their enclosures and ran for the hills. A gurgling unspeakable wail rose from the depths of the sea. . .

And LO, over the horizon — nightmarish as stone come to life and more gigantic than the largest buildings ever built — came the seven Tiki Gods to reclaim their world.

Please click the link above, or go to Tikibunker.com

Sarah Palin fights oil monopolies

http://www.jzeifman.com/

Jerry Zeifman was former Democratic Chief Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee. He writes about Sarah Palin and her efforts to fight the oil monopolies in Alaska, about Hillary Rodham's pursuit of power and her self-serving and unethical acts while serving under him during the Nixon impeachment proceedings, as well as the reasons why Nixon could not risk being impeached and others high in government did not want it to happen either, due to links to JFK.

Hayden Panettiere... who knew?

See more Hayden Panettiere videos at Funny or Die

Greenspan Shrugs

Alan Greenspan, a huge fan of Ayn Rand, author of several books on free market capitalism (including “Atlas Shrugged”) has now admitted his years of pimping for total deregulation of Wall Street under George W. Bush were folly, and his ideology was “not right.” "I made a mistake in presuming that the self-interests of organizations, specifically banks and others, were such as that they were best capable of protecting their own shareholders and their equity in the firms," he admitted.


****************************

Ayn Rand called “Atlas Shrugged” a mystery, “not about the murder of man’s body, but about the murder — and rebirth — of man’s spirit.” It begins in a time of recession. To save the economy, the hero, John Galt, calls for a strike against government interference. Factories, farms and shops shut down. Riots break out as food becomes scarce.

Rand said she “set out to show how desperately the world needs prime movers and how viciously it treats them” and to portray “what happens to a world without them.”

The book was released to terrible reviews. Critics faulted its length, its philosophy and its literary ambitions. Both conservatives and liberals were unstinting in disparaging the book; the right saw promotion of godlessness, and the left saw a message of “greed is good.” Rand is said to have cried every day as the reviews came out.

************************************
Greenspan Concedes Error on Regulation

http://www.truthout.org/102308R

Facing a firing line of questions from Washington lawmakers, Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chairman once considered the infallible maestro of the financial system, admitted on Thursday that he "made a mistake" in trusting that free markets could regulate themselves without government oversight.

A fervent proponent of deregulation during his 18-year tenure at the Fed's helm, Mr. Greenspan has faced mounting criticism this year for having refused to consider cracking down on credit derivatives, an unchecked market whose excesses partly led to the current financial crisis.

Although he defended the use of derivatives in general, Mr. Greenspan, who left office in 2006, told members of the House Committee of Government Oversight and Reform that he was "partially" wrong in not having tried to regulate the market for credit-default swaps.

But in a tense exchange with Rep. Henry A. Waxman, the California Democrat who is chairman of the committee, Mr. Greenspan conceded a more serious flaw in his own philosophy that unfettered free markets sit at the root of a superior economy.

"I made a mistake in presuming that the self-interests of organizations, specifically banks and others, were such as that they were best capable of protecting their own shareholders and their equity in the firms," Mr. Greenspan said.

Referring to his free-market ideology, Mr. Greenspan added: "I have found a flaw. I don't know how significant or permanent it is. But I have been very distressed by that fact."

Mr. Waxman pressed the former Fed chair to clarify his words. "In other words, you found that your view of the world, your ideology, was not right, it was not working," Mr. Waxman said.

"Absolutely, precisely," Mr. Greenspan replied. "You know, that's precisely the reason I was shocked, because I have been going for 40 years or more with very considerable evidence that it was working exceptionally well."

The oversight committee is holding hearings to determine what gaps in the regulatory structure abetted the crisis that has roiled the world's financial markets.

Mr. Greenspan appeared alongside Christopher Cox, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and John W. Snow, who served as secretary of the Treasury early in the Bush administration.

In his prepared remarks, Mr. Greenspan said he was in "a state of shocked disbelief" about the breakdown in the ability of banks to regulate themselves. He also warned about the economic consequences of the crisis, saying that he "cannot see how we will avoid a significant rise in layoffs and unemployment." Consumer spending will decline, too, he said, adding that a stabilization of home prices would be necessary to bring the crisis to its end.

Saying that his thinking "has evolved" in the last year, Mr. Greenspan also defended his record. "In 2005, I raised concerns that the protracted period of underpricing of risk, if history was any guide, would have dire consequences," he said. "This crisis, however, has turned out to be much broader than anything I could have imagined."

2021

Radio Panspermia by Joan d’Arc

World to 'test the mettle' of Obama, says Biden

"Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking," Biden said. "Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."

I already told you what that generated crisis will be.

A landing ... on the white house lawn...

http://www.huntergatheress.com/pdfs/RadioPanspermia.pdf

Steal the election once, shame on me …

Steal the election once, shame on me, steal it twice … steal it thrice!

A Message from Congressman Robert Wexler

I saw it with my own eyes: The Bush and GOP machine stole the 2000 election and the presidency in Florida (not to mention Ohio in 2004) and the results have been catastrophic for our nation and the world.

Don't take my word for it - read the dissent of Supreme Court Justices Stevens, Breyer and Ginsberg in the absurd legal decision of Bush v. Gore: "Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law."

Back in 2000, in Florida, I witnessed the votes of World War II veterans thrown away and GOP thugs bully the Miami Dade elections office into stopping a recount. I swore to myself that never again would the votes of Americans be thrown away and replaced by the votes of appointed judges. Following the 2000 election, I spent 7 years fighting to remove the DIEBOLD electronic machines from Florida and to install a voter verified paper trail which we accomplished last year.

I have bad news: They are trying again to silence our votes.

Most people associate the 2000 election with paper "chads" and the Supreme Court's tragic decision. Yet the voter suppression in 2000 went way beyond not counting votes – from illegal roadblocks near minority precincts to the complete purging of legitimate voters from the rolls through what is called "voter caging "– the practice of using databases to improperly delete voters.

Now, we are seeing signs of voter caging again in both Michigan and Florida.

In Michigan, the state is using a list of foreclosures to purge voters (many of which are still legitimate voters in their districts).

In Florida, my home state, the Republican led Supervisor of Elections is aggressively applying a new law designed to limit voter fraud by summarily deleting voters who might have – as part of a clerical error – a different driver's license or social security number than was put in the database.

If legitimate, legal voters are denied access to the voting booth – we risk a repeat of 2000, in multiple states.

We must remain vigilant, not just in defense of our economy, but in defense of our rights as Americans.

I am working with my colleagues in Congress to call attention to this matter, but I encourage you to contact your state elections supervisor and demand that they allow every person who claims to be a legitimate voter to submit a provisional ballot.

There is a system in every state to deal with provisional ballots – to verify their legitimacy after the fact.

Voter caging is a threat to our (already challenged) democratic principals. Please join me and pass this email along to spread the word.

If you have not already signed up at www.wexlerforcongress.com,and would like to be on this list, please sign up today.

Fear and memes, a Native view

At the above link;)

Police Horses Trample Iraq Vets

That's the kind of thanks they get from the U.S. government. And that's what they get for trying to ask real questions outside of the allowed "town hall" "talking points" talking heads "debate". It's all bullshit people! We're through the "looking class".

Vote for real change: Vote Ron Paul. Or vote your conscience by staying in bed and rolling over and farting for change.

FART PROUDLY FOR CHANGE! GIVE PIECE OF MY ASS A CHANCE!

Next they won't use horses, they'll use beam weapons.

October 16, 2008

15 Arrested Outside Presidential Debate in Protest Led by Iraq Veterans Against the War

Outside the Obama-McCain debate, at least fifteen people were arrested at a protest organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War. IVAW member Nick Morgan was left bloodied and nearly unconscious after being trampled by a police officer on horseback.

As John McCain and Barack Obama prepared to face off in their third and final debate last night, outside the gates of Hofstra University, members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, backed by hundreds of demonstrators, protested at the campus gates.
At least fifteen people were arrested, including at least five members of IVAW, on charges of disorderly conduct. Nassau County Police on horseback trampled one member of IVAW, Nick Morgan, a veteran who served in Iraq for about a year. His condition is unknown.

The protest was organized by IVAW members Matthis Chiroux and Kris Goldsmith. Last week, Chiroux sent a letter to CBS debate moderator Bob Schieffer spelling out the demands of IVAW and demanding that at least two veterans be allowed entry into the debate to ask Senators Obama and McCain one question each. He did not receive a response.

Voices from the IVAW Debate, produced by Matt Hegedus and Richard Sackett.
AMY GOODMAN: We turn now to what happened in the streets last night outside, of the protest. This is Matthis Chiroux, speaking just as the protest outside the debate was to begin.

MATTHIS CHIROUX: Iraq Veterans Against the War is out here today at the final presidential debate to force the issue to these candidates that this government is not listening to or taking care of its veterans, as it promised to do when we all enlisted. As I told Detective Calver [sic.] yesterday during our meeting, “Sir, I hope the next time I see you you’ll be escorting me inside the debate and not putting a pair of handcuffs on me, because we’re both veterans, and you understand the importance of these issues.” And he seemed to concur.

Right now, five minutes to deadline, we are preparing to form it up and march to the main gate of Hofstra, where Kristofer Goldsmith and myself will be attempting to enter the debate and ask our question. The butterflies in my stomach are pretty big, but so is my determination and my resolve to have our voices heard. Our troops demand nothing less. What we do here mirrors the courage displayed on the battlefield. What we do here mirrors the courage displayed in every nonviolent protest in history.

IVAW MARCHERS: Left, left, left, right, right, left, the other left, left. It’s alright, it’s OK. It’s alright, it’s OK. Remember MLK. Remember MLK. He tried to lead the way. He tried to lead the way.

CROWD: Let them in! Let them in!

MATTHIS CHIROUX: One moment, one moment, so we can get clear. The two questions we wish to ask the candidates are: one, Barack Obama, you yourself have said that the war and occupation of Iraq is illegal. If, by your words, it is illegal, then it is not the right of servicemembers such as myself to refuse deployment and participation in Iraq; it is our responsibility. So, sir, as president, are you willing to go by your own words to back them up and support servicemembers refusing to participate in what you yourself have termed an illegal occupation? Kris Goldsmith.

KRISTOFER GOLDSMITH: My question is addressed to Senator John McCain. Senator, as a veteran who claims that he has been endorsed by every major veterans’ organization in America, you continually refused to fund the VA. In the years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, you have refused or voted against VA funding. We currently have 1,000 servicemembers, 1,000 veterans, attempting suicide each month in this country. We have an average of seventeen or eighteen succeeding in killing themselves each month in this country. Senator McCain, what are you doing? Are you prepared to fully fund the VA system? Are you prepared to fully staff the VA system? And what are you going to do about your poor voting record according to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Disabled American Veterans?

CROWD: Let them in! Let them in! Let them in! Let them in! Let them in!

MATTHIS CHIROUX: Freedom! Justice! Democracy!

CROWD: Let them in! Let them in! Let them in! Let them in!

PROTESTER: You just stepped on his head!

PROTESTER: The police arrested the members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. And we were standing in solidarity with them in the line of people in this rally, and the police continued to charge their horses at the protesters, at the activists, at the civilians, at the people who care about this country, resulting in the stepping on an Iraq veteran, or at least one Iraq veteran, by a horse. And I believe that that veteran is receiving medical attention right now.

IVAW MEMBER: They were arrested for trying to use their freedom of speech, arrested for trying to ask a question that did not come through—you know, through the filtered process in which we elect our presidents. They’re elected to actually bring a little bit of grassroots democracy to America. And you saw tonight how veterans of this country are treated. And that’s a shame.

At least one, we believe two, were trampled, because another one was knocked down. His name is also Geoff Millard. And another woman was trampled, as well. And I have not seen injuries like that since Iraq, seeing him laying on the ground like that. I don’t need to go through that here in the streets. I don’t need to go through that here in America. I don’t need to relive that. And this is what I got tonight trying to peacefully bring a message to these candidates and which we’re trying to elect. And both of them claim that they support veterans. And this is how we got supported tonight, by being pushed back, trampled and arrested.

AMY GOODMAN: Special thanks to Matt Hegedus, Richard Sackett and Emily Forman for that report.

The Great Game of Greed

As we wait for Obama and McCain to detail their plans to “fix” the economy, it would be a good time to turn off the propaganda feed into our brains via the media and do a macro-level review of the current economy as a whole.

That sounds daunting, but I don’t mean pulling out a textbook in economics from one of the standard perspectives, but rather taking a fresh look at the sordid show which passes for a financial system, but which is in reality a great gambling game based on usury, greed, exploitation and fraud. To get the proper perspective, imagine that you just landed on this planet and came from a place where benevolence and justice count, and a grounding in reality is considered important.

We are not supposed to think at that level, however, but instead take our thoughts from the headlines and talking media heads. We hear over and over that mortgages are at the bottom of the current crisis. We hear comparatively little of the role of derivatives--hedge funds, options, futures and the rest of it--which are pumped-up speculatives driving a fictitious gambling economy to expand to the greater glory of profit mega-margins: a sort of one-armed bandit that only initiated elites can pull and play with any hope of success. The derivatives game is set up to bounce out small-time players and the field remains open for the major hitters at higher levels—that is, for the feeders and front men for the economic wizards of the Cryptocracy itself.

Part of the roots of this illusory game are due to the surrender in the United States to banksters in 1913 with the creation of the Federal Reserve, which shifted power over money completely into the hands of a cabal of chortling millionaires. But the “creature of Jekyll Island” known as The Fed is not the originator of the exploitive basis of the economy, and we note that usury—loaning at interest—had been around a long time prior to that point. Usury is currently a given in the modern world, whereas several major civilizations of old had condemned and forbidden it as a form of injustice.

The economy in play is a gigantic bubble of fraud based on assigned numbers, not on real value tied to real goods and services. Prices are driven by speculators—gamblers—and the average hard-working man or woman has zero input into this monstrous and alien arena.

But gaming always has its risks. Insiders have long profited while most of the world plunges down the financial tubes of periodic “bad times,” and the attempt to pull off further profit and power is going on right now, including new twists of consolidation between The Fed, the U.S. government, and “United Europe.” Powerful gamblers are angling for greater control as they pose as the rescue crew; the masonic jest is worthy of a grand swindler like Horatio Bottomley.

But not to worry: Obama and McCain support the “bailout” (i.e, pending rape of the taxpayer) and even have other ideas! We can all relax, can’t we? After all, with a few tweaks, the economy might bounce back eventually, giving those on the lower tier a return to working themselves into the ground while the upper echelon runs its gambling and power plays, plundering and raping like the pirates in business suits that they are.

However, the risks inherent in the Great Game might spell blowback this time, and the entire fraudulent economy might tip the scales past the point of crypto control. Will it happen? Stay tuned—but not to the propaganda—and not to the “read my lips” statements of either would-be POTUS. Remember, it’s a magic show, and the rule is always simple: find the hand that is not moving. It's usually the one inside the bloody glove.

Army Orders Pain Ray Trucks

Army Orders Pain Ray Trucks; New Report Shows 'Potential for Death'
For $25 Million, Army Buys System That Drives Off Rioters With Microwave-Like Beam
By DAVID HAMBLING
Oct. 11, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=6007823&page=1

After years of testing, the Active Denial System -- the pain ray which drives off rioters with a microwave-like beam -- could finally have its day. The Army is buying five of the truck-mounted systems for $25 million. But the energy weapon may face new hurdles, before it's shipped off to the battlefield; a new report details how the supposedly non-lethal blaster could be turned into a flesh-frying killer.

The contract for the pain ray trucks is "expected to be awarded by year's end," Aviation Week notes. "A year after the contract is signed, the combination vehicle/weapons will start be fielded at the rate of one per month."

It's been a very long time coming. As we've previously reported, there have been calls to deploy the Active Denial System in Iraq going back to 2004. But it's always been delayed for legal, political, and public relations reasons. Anything that might be condemned as torture is political dynamite. Interestingly, the version being bought is not the full-size "Version 2," but a containerized system known as Silent Guardian, which Raytheon have been trying to sell for some time. They describe Silent Guardian as "roughly 1/3 the size and power of the other Active Denial Systems," and quote it's range as "greater than 250 meters." The larger system has a range somewhere in excess of 700 meters.

Silent Guardian weighs a shade over 10,000 pounds all up, and will be mounted on an "armored ruggedized HEMTT [Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck]."

The announcement arrives on the same day as a new report from less-lethal weapons expert Dr. Jürgen Altmann that analyzes the physics of several directed energy weapons, including Active Denial, the Advanced Tactical Laser (used as a non-lethal weapon), the Pulsed Energy Projectile (a.k.a. "Maximum Pain" laser) and the Long Range Acoustic Device (a.k.a. "Acoustic Blaster").

Dr. Altmann describes the Active Denial beam in some detail, noting that it will not be completely uniform; anyone unlucky enough to be caught in the center will experience more heating than someone at the edge. And perhaps more significant is his thorough analysis of the heating it produces -- and the cumulative effect if the target does not have the chance to cool down between exposures. In U.S. military tests, a fifteen-second delay between exposures was strictly observed; this may not happen when the ADS is used for real.

"As a consequence, the ADS provides the technical possibility to produce burns of second and third degree. Because the beam of diameter 2 m and above is wider than human size, such burns would occur over considerable parts of the body, up to 50% of its surface. Second- and third-degree burns covering more than 20% of the body surface are potentially life-threatening  due to toxic tissue-decay products and increased sensitivity to infection  and require intensive care in a specialized unit. Without a technical device that reliably prevents re-triggering on the same target subject, the ADS has a potential to produce permanent injury or death. "

This potential hazard need not be a show-stopper -- existing less-lethals, such as plastic bullets and tear gas, can also be fatal under some circumstances (and I'm not even going to get into the argument about Tasers).

Dr. Altmann notes that "the present analysis has not found convincing arguments that the ADS would be immoral or illegal in each foreseeable circumstance," and that acceptance will depend very much on how it is used. If the ADS prevents small boats from approaching a U.S. vessel without harming anyone, then it will be seen as a humane option. If it is used to clear protesters out of the way it may be seen differently.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Justice is still has a reported interest in a "hand-held, probably rifle-sized, short range weapon that could be effective at tens of feet for law enforcement officials." That's just one of the likely domestic applications of Active Denial technology which are likely to follow if the Army's experiment with ADS is successful. A lot of people will be watching this one very closely.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

Farrakhan Calls Obama the 'Messiah'

Hitting the Wrong Button John

Camp Pain Talking Points

1.
Cindy McCain says "I'm proud of my sons, but let me tell you, the day that Senator Obama cast a vote not to fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body. I would suggest that Senator Obama change shoes with me for just one day, and see what it means."

For The Record, Mrs. McCain...
The non-partisan group Disabled American Veterans gives John McCain a 20 percent rating for his voting record on veterans' issues. (It gives Barack Obama an 80 percent rating.)
The non-partisan group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gives McCain a "D" grade for his voting record on issues such as additional funding for combat body armor, and additional funding for post-traumatic stress disorder and other medical treatment. (Obama earned a B +.)

2.
John McCain has made the racist remark that he will “whip his you-know-what” – meaning Barack Obama’s ass – in the next and final debate this week. McCain won’t be whipping anyone, since he can’t even lift his hands above his waist.

3.
Speaking of waste, did you know Sarah Palin pals around with terrorists? You betcha: Todd Palin. . .

“But if McCarthy-era guilt-by-association is once again a valid political consideration, Palin, it would seem, has more to lose than Obama. Palin, it could be argued, following her own logic, thinks so little of America's perfection that she continues to "pal around" with a man--her husband, actually--who only recently terminated his seven-year membership in the Alaskan Independence Party. Putting plunder above patriotism, the members of this treasonous cabal aim to break our country into pieces and walk away with Alaska's rich federal oil fields and one-fifth of America's land base--an area three-fourths the size of the Civil War Confederacy.
AIP's charter commits the party "to the ultimate independence of Alaska," from the United States which it refers to as "the colonial bureaucracy in Washington." It proclaims Alaska's 1959 induction as a state "as illegal and in violation of the United Nations charter and international law."
AIP's creation was inspired by the rabidly violent anti-Americanism of its founding father Joe Vogler, "I'm an Alaskan, not an American," reads a favorite Vogler quote on AIP's current website, "I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." According to Vogler AIP's central purpose was to drive Alaska's secession from the United States. Alaska, says current Chairwoman Lynette Clark, "should be an independent nation."
Vogler was murdered in 1993 during an illegal sale of plastic explosives that went bad. The prior year, he had renounced his allegiance to the United States explaining that, "The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government." He cursed the stars and stripes, promising, "I won't be buried under their damned flag...when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home." Palin has never denounced Vogler or his detestable anti-Americanism.
Palin's husband Todd remained an AIP party member from 1995 to 2002. Sarah can be described in McCarthy-era palaver as a "fellow traveler." While retaining her Republican registration, she attended the AIP's 1994 convention where the party called for a draft constitution to secede from the United States and create an independent nation of Alaska. The McCain Campaign has reluctantly acknowledged that she also attended AIP's 2000 Convention. She apparently found the experience so inspiring that she agreed to give a keynote address at the AIP's 2006 convention and she recorded a video greeting for this year's 2008 convention. In other words, this is not something that happened when she was eight!”

4.
Conservatives are beginning to distance themselves from McCain, saying if he really was a maverick he should have gone to Washington to propose free market solutions, not throw money at the problem.


5.
We’ve all asked the question, do we want Sarah Palin in the White House, but has anyone considered whether we want Todd Palin in the White House?

“The role played by Todd in carrying out his wife's vendetta was highly unusual. He had no official duties in government. He acknowledged, however, that he made numerous calls to state officials to press his case against the governor's ex-brother-in-law.
It's been well reported that Todd Palin’s involvement in his wife’s official business unsettled some Alaskans. He has been known to sit in on the governor's meetings, use her office for his own meetings and intervene in state business using his status as "First Gentleman." Clearly, he's a man with a lot of time on his hands.
What if he assumed the same role in Washington? Imagine Todd in a town that has no use for snow machines (which he loves to ride) or work for commercial fishermen (of which he is one, during the summer months). What would he do? Would he follow the vice president to her White House office? Join her meetings in the Situation Room? Sit in on her daily national security briefings?
…

Troopergate shows the Palins to be small-bore people unable to distinguish selfish personal interests from official responsibilities. Imagine the power of the U.S. government at their disposal.”

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2008/10/palin_too_close_for_comfort.html

6.
Here's a new one: McCain pals around with ACORN! He spoke at their rally in 2006!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/13/153851/92/91/629442

Tee hee!

People who live in glass houses shouldn't use whips!

Obama Station

Obama Station
By Kirai

[Kirai is a Spanish blogger living in Japan. This information was relayed to us by Sauron, a Madrid-based blogger whose work can be seen at www.graymalkinmuti.blogspot.com]

"There is a Japanese train station called Obama ("Little Beach", in Japanese) located in a town that bears the same name, reached by a train line also called Obama.

"When they learned that Barack Obama was running for office, the residents of Obama decided to join the event in a variety of ways, celebrating the coincidence as they did so. For example, a local company began producing "obama-manju" (manju is a Japanese sweet) and is reporting great sales. This is what they look like (see photo). The text reads: "Courage Obama" followed by the obama-manju logo.

The township of Obama and its residents have caused such a stir that even Barack Obama has learned of the existence of his namesake Japanese community."

(Translation (c) 2008 Scott Corrales, IHU. Special thanks to "Kirai" and "Sauron")

Mexico: Another UFO Videotaped Over MCIA

Source: www.analuisacid.com
Date: 10.10.08

Mexico: Another UFO Videotaped over MCIA
By Ana Luisa Cid

On Monday October 6, Lic. Daniel Sanchez Rosales documented a sighting from the city's Moctezuma District close to Mexico City International Airport.

According to his story, it involved a very strange object that changed shape and even drained the batteries on his camcorder (a Sony DCR-TRV19).

Eyewitness account follows:

Ever since I taped the UFO at the parade I've kept an eye on the heavens with my camera at ready should anything come about. It turns out that that day I wasn't paying attention, rather, I was preparing a bucket of cement because

we're doing repairs on part of the house. Even though I didn't have my glasses on, a powerful brightness reached me from the sky -- an intense glow. Then I looked up and saw a sphere."

I honestly wasn't planning to record it. It was a classic white sphere and I already have many videos like this one. Furthermore, finishing the job was more important. But something gave me pause and I changed my mind."

I went to get my camcorder leisurely. In fact, I took photos first and then shot video. I never thought that it [the sphere] would do such strange things. Not only did it change shape and color, it also drained my battery charge. I had 45

minutes and shortly after, the low battery indicator appeared."

I'm convinced that UFOs occupy the air corridors, I don't know why. But it's easy to see them out where I live, which is near the airport. I've seen them come close to airliners. Many times the spheres become small or vanish as the plane goes by, and then resume their original shape."

I'll remain vigilant to any future events, and I'm certain that UFO manifestations will continue in this area."

Video fragment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loLL3SDDHxU

Remarks: On October 4 I was given another UFO recording near the airport. One can conclude that the phenomenon is recurring in the eastern part of the Mexican capital. Daniel Sanchez's recording reminds me of a personal experience,

when I saw a triangular object picking up a sphere from the hill. The final images in both videos have a certain similarity.

Sphere on the hill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njx5ewbkfIg

(Translation (c) 2008, Scott Corrales, IHU. Special thanks to Ana Luisa Cid and Daniel Sanchez)

16 US troops commit suicide in Iraq

Mon, 08 Sep 2008

Sixteen US troops from the a unit of the Airborne Division have committed suicide inside a military base in Iraq, security sources say.

Iraqi security sources have revealed that 21 US troops had committed suicide inside a former Iraqi air force base 27 days ago, Fars News Agency reported on Monday.

According to the sources, the 21 troops were treated in a hospital but only five soldiers have survived and they are in a critical condition.

Security officials said they used potent narcotics to kill themselves.

The troops' motivations for suicide are not known but according to Iraqi sources the servicemen belonged to a unit of the US Airborne Division that was behind the massacre of several Iraqi families-- mostly women and children-- in northern Baghdad, said Ali al-Baghdadi an Iraqi security official.

The suicides took place in the soldiers' dormitory after the dinner time.

"The bodies of the US troops became misshapen such a way that they looked like 5000-year mummies," said a witness.

According to Iraqi officials' estimates, some 600 US troops, including senior officers, have committed suicide in Iraq since the invasion of the country in 2003!!!!!!

Half of the suicide attempts have been successful.

SB/DA
http://www.presstv.ir:80/detail.aspx?id=68821&sectionid=351020201

America, The Proud!

yo boy!
(thanks to www.greengrownandsexy.com for the link)

Dreams with Aliens

Probably the most personal of the SW podcasts to date — for Cary that is, but also in a less obvious way for myself. For one thing, it was pretty gratifying to encounter another person’s dream life as weird as my own. Why do we assume that dreams have no actual bearing on reality? If “aliens” were trying to interact with us, what better place than while we are totally open, vulnerable, and in a state of consciousness that embraces, rather than flees from, strange and novel experiences? I’d wager that if any one of us could recall even a fraction of our dream lives, our ideas about who we are and what we are doing here would be so radically altered that we would barely even recognize ourselves or our lives. Does that sound like such a bad thing?

Somehow talking with Cary helped jog loose concepts in my own mind which I had barely begun to formulate, such as the idea that what we call consciousness is really unconsciousness, and vice versa. If, as I have long suspected, we actually block out the vast majority of our experiences of reality simply in order to maintain a solid, consistent sense of identity, then that means we are defined primarily by all the stuff we manage to remain unconscious of. So the more we become conscious of things outside this tightly sealed identity—other people’s thoughts and feelings, for example, the secret life of plants and animals, to say nothing of “the alien” — the less “we” as individuals will exist, clearly. “We” will slowly become awareness itself, rather than a loose jumble of personal memories, strung together and called a “self.” It is by clinging so tightly to this arbitrary identity that we manage to turn neutral experiences — such as alien energies — into malevolent and hostile forces. And it’s probably why we work so hard not to recall our dream life, too.

What’s most satisfying about these podcast chats for me is that they accelerate a process of personal discovery while simultaneously capturing it for others to listen in on. While trying to steer Cary into the more rewarding areas of his own psyche (not out of altruism, I hasten to add, but in the interests of a good show), I often find myself discovering previously unmapped areas of my own. And I may not even fully realize it until I listen in.

All for now. As ever, your feedback is fervently desired.

the World's Arms Dealers Are Doing Just Fine

There Might Be a Financial Crisis, But the World's Arms Dealers Are Doing Just Fine
By Frida Berrigan , Foreign Policy in Focus. Posted September 30, 2008.


This article goes on to state: "neither Barack Obama nor John McCain has adopted reducing military spending as part of his national security plan. In fact, as both of them talk about modernizing the military for the 21st century and expanding the size of the armed forces, the billions add up."

.
.
.

Lockheed Martin stands head-and-shoulders above its competitors as a professional tree-shaker. Between 2001 and 2008, the company saw its contracts from the Department of Defense jump nearly 130%, from $14 billion to $32 billion. In a stagflation economy, their profit margin is more than healthy. The Bethesda-based company reported a 13% increase in profitability for its second quarter -- from $778 million last year to $882 million this year.

The weapons industry's concern about belt-tightening notwithstanding, the military budget is likely to continue its dramatic growth. The Defense Department's base budget, which does not include funds for nuclear weapons or the $12-billion-a-month "global war on terror," has grown by nearly 70% -- from $316 billion in 2001 to a request for more than $515 billion for 2009's fiscal year (which begins in October). Despite the fact that these figures represent close to what the rest of the world combined devotes to the military, neither Barack Obama nor John McCain has adopted reducing military spending as part of his national security plan. In fact, as both of them talk about modernizing the military for the 21st century and expanding the size of the armed forces, the billions add up.

So the weapons industry's alarm bells are ringing prematurely and the future -- particularly in foreign weapons sales -- looks very bright. Take Lockheed Martin, for example: The company, which is springing for the floral arrangements at the Women in Defense conference next month, has more than $10 billion in proposed or recent weapons deals with foreign nations. The biggest deal could be worth $7 billion (that's a lot of gladiolas and irises for Women in Defense) to Lockheed Martin. The United Arab Emirates is interested in the company's THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system. The mobile truck-mounted system is designed to intercept incoming missiles targeted at sites such as airfields or populations centers.

Another potentially huge sale would be to Iraq, where the combination of regime change, occupation, and oil revenue has created loyal new customer. Even as U.S. fighter planes bomb Iraqi cities, the Maliki government has indicated it would like to order 36 of the company's advanced F-16s. Recent sales of these $100 million planes to countries like Morocco, Pakistan, and Romania have all contributed to a bumper year for the Bethesda-based company. But Lockheed Martin isn't the only company reaping rewards in the age of persistent conflict. War and instability are good for business across the board. Jeanne Farmer of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which processes requests for foreign military sales, noted at the ComDef meeting, "in the current environment, everybody needs everything right now. We do expect to continue to have large, large sales."

"Our program," she continued, "is growing by leaps and bounds," describing how her agency is dealing with more than 12,000 open cases (in some instances the weapons have been transferred, but not all options have been exercised or the licenses have not expired) totaling upwards of $270 billion.

U.S. weapons sales to foreign countries in 2008 are on track to be 45% higher than in 2007. This year, the United States will offer about $34 billion in weapons to Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other countries. In 2007 that figure was $23.3 billion, just a small bump from the $21 billion of 2006. So far in 2008, Farmer's agency has processed more than $12.5 billion in possible foreign military sales to Iraq -- not including the F-16 fighter plane request, which has not yet been formalized. On Baghdad's wish-list are systems like the Abrams tanks, attack helicopters, Hellfire missiles, heavy transport aircraft, and other weaponry. Proponents of billion-plus weapons sales argue that these sales will reduce Iraq's reliance on the United States military, but we need only look at Pakistan to see evidence that these policies create well-armed short fuses.

Since the beginning of the war on terror, the United States has transferred billions of dollars in weaponry and more in military aid to Pakistan. Recently, the U.S. military has mounted attacks in Pakistani territory aimed at Taliban and other restive elements without even informing Islamabad in advance. The response from the Pakistani parliament? A forcefully worded statement that the Pakistani military -- armed, trained, and outfitted by the United States -- be prepared to "repel such attacks in the future with full force." It wouldn't be the first time U.S. forces clashed with U.S. armed adversaries.

Read more at the link above.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich Rejects $700 Billion Bailout

Is This the United States Congress or the Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs?

read more and listen to video at link above.