Tidal Waves

A natural disaster,unprecedented, has happened and many thousands of people have died. Many more will die in the aftermath from sickness and hunger. It could not have been prevented. Our home, the earth, is not a stable safe place to live. It has always been a dangerous place and life has always had to fight to endure. We have progressed greatly as a species of animal. We have done what no other animal has, taken control of our fate, to a certain extent. We have built great societies and learned much of how things are, but we stand helpless at the whim of the earth's geology and weather. Florida got slapped around pretty good this year but it was nothing compared to what has happened now. But the worst is, we, America, greatest nation in the world, will not be able to help much because we are committed to a military disaster area we created that costs more than it would to provide disaster relief in Indonesia.
Adaven

Christmas

I am told that in New Zealand they celebrate Christmas by having a cookout on the beach. How does that sound Fargo.

It will not be a happy day for many, for many different reasons. So I ask that those of us who are warm and fed, and in a safe place with our loved ones near by, send from our hearts a wish or prayer to those who are cold or hungry or in danger, that there may be better times ahead. And I hope that we who are human beings, will in whatever big or small way we can, promote love and peace everywhere for everyone.
People are what is important. Not power or money or things. People.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Adaven

Taking Stock

It's time to take a look at where we are now. The Christmas season is in full swing here in the US. Christmas lights are up and we are buying presents. It is a good thing. (sorry Martha) Reality is forgotten and we repeat the ritual.
I (personally) am trying to have a good time buying gifts (less than years before) and seeing family. I'm finding less happiness. It's a general thing. More talk about illness. Nobody wants to talk about the war happenings.
I feel a general unrest in America, It is clear, now after all the slick political TV before elections, that real problems are being ignored. The news channels report the bombings, every day another one or three. In Iraq. In Israel. What's the difference. Well there is a difference. We are losing our men and money in the same hopeless quest. The battle (west vers Islam) (Hebrew vers Islam) (today vers Yesterday). Truth is neither system is good and pure. Corruption envelopes all governmental systems. It is the grease that keeps the machine going.
Democracy reached it's highest point here in America. I don't know when it was but I can see it's on the down slide now. Maybe it will continue in Europe but America is in a bad state.
I fear that in four years there will be nothing left of Iraq or America.
I didn't mean to get heavy with this post but the truth is out there.
Adaven

Thanks

There are many things to be thankful for.
There have been no new terroist attacks in the USA.
Our economy has not failed.
People still love more than they hate.

Today Millions of families have gotten together and shared a tradition.

If only the world could speak the same language, and understand that we look to the same God, and all the Greedy power hungry strip mining sub humans would DIE.
We could gather with mind and heart and create a world without poverty.
It is really simple.
If the resources devoted to war, preparation for war, defense against war, were devoted to education, renewable energy, medicine, and food production we could have a real world of free thinking people instead of what we have now.

what we have now is a world population living day to day not a lot different from preindustrilized Europe.

what could the world be with all that war money put to use in ?

mail me if you have a solution.
-Adaven

Jumping Ship

It is an exodus. We knew Powell was going. He blew his future by not cutting out long ago. If he had wanted to, and gotten a good polit manager, He had a shot of becoming the first black president. No dummy He must have known this but chose a different path. I think him to be a decent man caught up in conflict between duty and conscious.
As for the others, I don't know about their reasons but it can't look good to the rest of the world.
AND Can anyone possibly believe that Rice is in any way qualified to be secretary of state?
Adaven

The fat lady sang

The show is over and it had a sad ending. Hollywood was behind Kerry, by that I mean a lot of film and music stars supported him but it was the Hollywood fantasy style that got Bush elected.Contentless TV spots that portrayed him as a John Wane inspired individual. Self assured unwavering in his vision. There is a wide swath of nativity that sweeps through the middle of America. Wither it's Hee Haw or survivor, TV is their major source of information and news is an hour or so but the political adds were all day.

Bush just had the better production.

But  maybe it's just the Zappa principal at work.

Fw: [Living Las Vegas] Swinging State

 

----- Original Message -----

From: philip

To: adaven@adaven.net

Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 8:40 PM

Subject: [Living Las Vegas] Swinging State

reposted from living las vegas another of my blogs see www.adaven.net for more

I don't know if Nevada is regarded as a swing state in the presidential election but it must be important because both of those donkeys have been here a lot of times, and sent their relatives here too. The polls say it is real close here and I believe that's true.
Now it's a fact that Vegas has been growing like a weed for the last four years and a lot of the people coming here are rich and likely to be republicans but many are poor folk, working service or construction jobs and they are likely to be non-voters in the past. But things have changed. Awareness is a funny word but the media has hit us on the head so much that people are really starting to be aware of more than their own personal situations and taking interest in the big picture. Maybe because that picture is on TV all the time. The GET OUT AND VOTE people are having success like never before and this yeas it is expected that more people will vote than ever before.(per capita) This is a great thing, and maybe it will save us.
Although it is clear to me that the Bush administration has failed in every way important to the America way of life, many have been taken in by the Hollywood image he has managed to project. That of a strong leader with moral certainty and religious rightjustness spreading democracy throughout the world. Bullshit.
It is lucky that there is so much news available on TV. Competition makes them have to bring us new news and the best source is Iraq and the disaster there is clear to any but the most mind dead. So even if they don't read the press, people are getting the message that something smells bad. Anyone who reads the newspaper would have to have their (HSUTA) not to realize the economic and environmental abuse by this president.
This election is important in many ways. One is the possibility of fraud because, as you remember, the last one was not without doubt. If the results this year are not clear we may be in danger of losing the primary franchise of America. I have no doubt the money people behind the republican party would do anything, break any law, to insure a win. These people are strip miners and they do not care.
So to wrap up, I am pleased to find lines of people voting early. There is a LOT of this going on here and I hope everywhere else. It means that people really want to vote and it means they are caring about the most important democratic idea, THE RIGHT TO VOTE

--
Posted by philip to Living Las Vegas at 10/29/2004 07:23:04 PM

Bush off the wall

Well after reading all the news I have concluded that G Bush is insane.
There is no way make sense of it. Please read your newspaper and make a decision based on facts. Vote away the disaster.
Kerry in 04

Idiots in charge

It's no wonder that things don't run smoothly. The support for our leaders is lacking in compendence. You would think that the military would be smart enough to compensate for the incompetence of a government that is clueless as to the consequences of their dictates. You would think that even if they're too wimpy to say NO we can't really do this, that they would rise to the challenge and think about the important things, but no, it hasn't worked out this way. Instead we find that the armed forces of America invaded a country, concered it's army and then DUH!
Nobody it seems had any idea what to do next.
perhaps I'm being too harsh? NO It was an invasion of a foreign country. A BIG THING not like Panama or Somilia where we got in and out with little consiquense as to whether it was a success or failure. This is a big one, and it is a big time failure.
Iraq had a huge army but they were poorly equipped and so they ran and hid rather than fight and die. We could have requited them to build a new Iraq but failed to make this crucial choice. We had to be bullies so they decided to steal the resources they could find and use them against us. And there were a lot of weapons to take. We had nowhere near the forces needed to occupy an country as big as Iraq.
So now where are we. There two ways to go. It is clear that we can not hold and control Iraq with out a massive military presence which would make a draft necessary. Or a cut and run (with apologies to the world) and let civil war decide the fate of Iraq.
In no case will anything good come of it.

Last Debate

I promise to start writing something of real interest here soon. But for today my impression of the presidential debates.
I can't say that Kerry won this last debate but I think Bush lost it. Any fairly informed person would see that Bush was not able to truthfully defend his policies. The reality just can't stand up to the spin. It sounded good but has little relation to reality.
Kerry and the plan is not to be believed but his reality will be closer to reality than the "were fine" Bush line.
Now here is what I think: Kerry would have been more real if he started out with and continued with the view that Bush blundered in invading Iraq and said he would get us out of there as quickly as possible. He could have based his campaign on the reality we see in the news every day. I guess politics can't be that simple anymore. A candidate needs every vote so he (she) must cater to all sorts of idiots and carefully weight each statement to include the most and alienate the fewest. Reality is a luxury neither side can afford.
I don't know if John Kerry can save America but I do know that the Bush administration has failed to protect the viability of the USA and disrupted the safety of the world.
Please vote.
In adaven's opinion:
Kerry for president.
Any democrat over any republican for senate or congress.

Gizmo watching the VP debate

Today's rant

I will say this about the VP's debate. The older guy came off as a relaxed and confident pro. The young guy as a junior senator with flash and sparkle. Well that is just what these men are. Cheney is long use to power and his confidence comes from the fact that he is completely insane to the point that he believes his own lies. As far a relaxed, we know he is not a layed back fellow so points are awarded for ignoring Edwards attacks.
Edwards is a pro too, at public speaking, and he was well prepared. Too well prepared actually, he was repetitive. I felt he was locked into talking about the plan instead of finding new angles of response to the questions. But the energy was there and it plays well.
A tie. Both sides claim victory. Few will be swayed by this show.

I missed the first half because I took Gizmo to the doggy park. Tried to listen over a radio but the doggy park is also a people park so I gave that up and had fun.

The next debate will be critical for Bush. He must make a strong impression or he could lose some swing voters. Kerry will be throwing true facts at him and if he just falls back on the simple lines he has been using it is not going to stand up.
We can hope.

Kerry and Edwards have said we can't afford four more years of the Bush administration, and it is time voters get the message. A Duh! Look around people. Another term will lead to a military draft and something resembling a police state. Watch the news. Our freedom of speech is already being compromised. It is back to the 60's and it could get a lot worse. Trust me. 40 more months of Bush and I could be arrested for writing this.
I am Adaven and I approved this message and I sincerely hope that phrase will disappear soon.

The debate

It was so much fun watching the first presidential debate I'm not sure I will watch the others.
Yes they went at each other a bit, but it was repetitive and a lot reality was not addressed.
The race is so close, Kerry is afraid to dig into the real reasons Bush/Cheney went to war in Iraq. It is all so fake. It is all about getting votes and it doesn't matter how. That is the reality of our "democracy". Truth is a luxury not to be indulged in when spin can be more effective , and safer.
Kerry gave a fine performance. It should make a difference in the poles but many have tuned out the war as just news stories.
Bush was his likeable self but had nothing new to say, nothing about the current failing of the war effort.
And Kerry let him get away with it, but he's in a bad situation having voted for the use of force in Iraq.
I too am in a bad situation for I feel the American public should vote out of office any senator or representing who voted to allow the US to declare war against Iraq for displaying bad judgment.
So my mouth has a bad taste when I say I hope Kerry will win the election.

Adaven

Nothing makes me madder than

The world is mad at the USA. Even our network news reports thus. And if you check World news we are shit for having stirred a hornets nest of terroriest activity everywhere. The Bush Adminstration has damaged the entire world. The war in Iraq is a disaster and should be declared as such just like Florida.
It is a bit hard to belief.

Today's thoughts

It is unfortunate that 60 minutes opened up this issue about Bush's military service. It is not important. It is a fact that any children of rich well connected families were able to avoid the war in Vietnam. Kerry served there . I don't know the status of his family.
It is all not important compared to the real issues in this election.
It should be clear to anyone that reads the news or watches TV (even Fox) , that the decision to go to war in Iraq was ( to put it gently) NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT. Lots of people have DIED. The country of Iraq is a mess, with no hope of peace soon, and as it turns out Hussein was no threat to anyone but the people of Iraq . And NOTE! This situation exists in lots of countries where a Dictator is in power. Just look at Africa.
So there are only two issues in this election. The War, and the Economy. What can you do when you have made a 100 billion dollars 1000 lives mistake. Well George Bush smiles for thcamera and says the prospects are good good good give me 4 more years . Chaney lies about everything with vigor. Truthfully Chaney is the power behind the throne, and his agenda is about money for his circule and perhaps control of all government spending.

On the other hand, Kerry is a, better than the incumbent choice.
To be clear I would vote for Fidel Castro as president before I would want 4 more years of Bush.
At least Castro is an intelligent man

Kilokill

I read the news today oh boy. Actually I saw on some news TV that 999 American servicemen have died in Iraq. By tomorrow, most likely, 1000 deaths. Now what have we've gotten in exchange for these lives? Do you feel safer? Have there been any benefits to the American people or the world in general? Is the middle east more stable? Has terrorism beed reduced?
NO!
Terrorism is a growth industry. Israeli and Palestine are locked in a suacide pact. Iran is working on A-bombs, not to mention North Korea ( ignored by Bush and US media) who have built them.
The real dangers have not been addressed by Bush.
Actually He's not interested in them at all. His agenda ( in part) is to transfer great wealth from the American people to a select group of industries. Munitions providers at least build a product. The support industries only feed on the destruction. Worse, they steal. Even the media has reported the abuse. Remember the over charging by Halaburtion? The public hasn't. Where is the outrage that we should be feeling!
Well it is there. A lot of people have taken to the streets over it, but little media coverage from TV networks has made it to prime time. Why? (money?) A lot of words written in editorials support the view that the war makes no sense at all, but I don't find the unabashed outcry of insult that should evident in any analysis of the Bush administrations policies.
It seems that much better writers than me are hedging there bets in print and TV.
In the meantime blood is on the ground.
And 100 billion dollars (yes billion) of future American (middle class) wealth is sinking into the sand. But that is economics and that will be the next post.

RNC The bush speech

I'm watching George bush speak at the RNC. It is quite a show. There must be some professional TV production talent behind this as it views like an event rather than a speech.
Looks good , sounds good well structured and timed, a lot of effort has been put into this. A lot of money. It reminds me of the TV program "survivor" Well made fantasy. Clearly phony but structured to feign reality. Lies spoken with sincerity.
The time honored tradition of bad mouthing your political opponent has reached great heights at this convention but in this speech the references are so out ot context as to be lying via omission.
I listened to the entire thing and was a good performance. Exactly that, a performance of a script written professionally by media experts. Lofty promises early on so they will be forgotten.
The last part with a little self referenced humor and an emotional ending is brilliant TV. Followed by a showy party thing with conffettie and balloons and gospel music.
The tragedy is that many people may be swayed by this presentation despite it's lack of meaningful content and disregard of truth.

I can't express too strongly my wish that voters will see past the sham and save America from the disaster that will result if the Bush administration continues.

The times they are exploding

I'd really like to go on about the bombs going off in Baghdad but it's like an every day event. But the last round is a bit different, targeted at Christian churches. This is a religous war and we are going have start seeing it as such.
You can't argue religion, just a fact, and it's time to see this in context. No facts will sway a zealot who will die for his God if he can be convinced of his righteousness. It is a lost cause and must be abandoned.

A new beginning

The innocent need protection. It's up to US to guide where we can. With a gental hand and hope.