In this country there are not many who know why we celebrate this holiday but the story told below explains and we should all take pause now and then and remember those who came before us whether it's this or any number of other stories of people who sacrificed so our country could be a better place to live in.
I'm getting the hell out of here for the weekend as I am totally disgusted with what has been happening here and the people behind it so much so I have begun to despise many of them. This is fodder for a post but not able to put it together because I'm too pissed off. This place has a long tradition of celebrating this particular holiday but you can damn well bet none know about this and if they did it would not register. Have a safe and fun holiday all of you. One Fly.
Remembering the Haymarket Martyrs
By Charles Sullivan
05/16/06 "Information Clearing House' -- -- Every now and then events transpire that cut through the rhetoric, the carefully contrived images purveyed in the press and historical texts, and reveal a nation’s dark soul in ghastly detail. Such an event occurred in the streets of Chicago on May 4, 1886, and continued through November 11 of 1887. They were set in motion years before.
At noon on that day four of labor’s most courageous warriors: Albert Parsons, August Spies, Adolph Fischer and George Engel were hanged for a crime they did not commit. A fifth man, Louis Lingg, was slated to share the fate of his comrades but he cheated the hangman and the state of his innocent blood when he exploded a dynamite cap in his mouth from his jail cell just hours before the execution. The explosive had been smuggled in to him by an anarchist comrade. Another anarchist, Oscar Neebe, has sentenced to fifteen years of prison and hard labor. Three others had their death sentences commuted to life sentences.
In the U.S. only a relative few working class people know that Labor Day, originally May Day (May 1) originated with the hanging of these men. The rest of the world celebrates their heroism on May 1; however, the U.S. does not officially recognize their sacrifice by honoring them with a national holiday. Virtually every worker worldwide owes a tremendous debt to the Haymarket Martyrs, who provided the impetus and paid the ultimate price for many of the benefits that all workers, including the rank and file and upper management, now enjoy.
Those were tumultuous times not only in Chicago but all across America, when revolution was in the air and nationwide strikes crippled the burgeoning economy. In Chicago alone 400,000 were out on strike protesting not only reductions in wages but also demonstrating for the eight hour work day—one of the central organizing principles of the anarchist’s political philosophy. The Chicago anarchist movement that took root in 1884 was both strong and effective. Its leaders were skilled organizers and eloquent orators.
The Chicago police of the day were corrupt and routinely moved on the strikers at the behest of the business community, prodded by the daily newspapers. In those days companies had their own militias which were used to put down worker insurrections with coercion and violence. They also hired Pinkertons to intimidate and kill workers in order to prevent strikes and to maximize profits. But when the strikers began organizing militias for their own protection the state legislature outlawed them. The business militias, however, were allowed to continue their grim work, leaving the workers without protection and vulnerable. Strikers were routinely beaten, imprisoned and killed by their employers and the police.
On May 4, 1886, several unarmed strikers were shot dead by the Chicago police and hundreds were brutally beaten, including innocent bystanders at the McCormick Reapers Works. August Spies witnessed the affair with horror and righteous indignation. His comrades were being murdered in the streets and the killers did so with impunity. It seemed that all the forces of Chicago were arrayed against the working people.
An outraged August Spies organized a peaceful rally the following evening at the Haymarket Square. After beginning in clear moonlight, the weather suddenly turned cool and threatened rain, after a crowd of 3,000 gathered to hear the orators in the gathering gloom of the chilled night air. Standing upon a hay wagon near a lone street lamp the speakers berated the Chicago police for their indiscriminate killing of unarmed workers. Chicago Mayor Carter Harrison, a just and honest man, was in attendance. Satisfied that the gathering was peaceful and nearing conclusion, Mayor Harrison informed the chief of police, John Bonfield, who had sanctioned the shootings and mass beatings of the previous day, not to march on the group or disrupt their meeting.
It was getting late and the cold was penetrating when Albert Parsons and most of the speakers left the rally to warm themselves at Zephf’s Hall. Acting without legal authority, John Bonfield gathered a troop of 180 armed policemen and ordered them to disperse the dwindling crowd. After a mild verbal confrontation, Samuel Fieldon, who was speaking to the crowd when the police arrived, agreed to peacefully disperse. As Fieldon leaped down from the hay wagon, an unknown assailant hurled a stick of sizzling dynamite into the crowd of policemen. One officer was killed and six others died in the ensuing mayhem as the result of the panic stricken police firing indiscriminately into the fleeing crowd.
A reign of terror soon swept over Chicago in the aftermath of the Haymarket bombing. The press and the city’s business men, always hostile to the strikers, blamed the anarchists and the socialists and cried for their blood. The principal anarchists were quickly rounded up and put into jail, except for Parsons who, though far from the site of the incident, knew that Chicago’s business men demanded his head and skipped town.
Demonized in the press and the business community, the anarchists were immediately tried, convicted and executed in the Chicago Tribune and other daily newspapers even before any evidence was gathered. The judge presiding over the trial did nothing to conceal his prejudice and hostility toward the accused. Twelve impartial jurors could not be found, so those who openly proclaimed the guilt of the accused were paid to judge the case. During the early stages of the trial Albert Parsons dramatically walked into the courtroom and took his place at the side of his comrades to face his fate with them.
With the impossibility of a fair trial, and the irrational fear that Chicago’s ruling elite felt toward immigrant social agitators, the men were convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. Predictably, the trial was a farce, a media circus and a travesty of justice. The jury consisted of businessmen, their clerks and a relative of one of the dead policemen. Not a single working man or woman was selected for the jury.
No evidence was produced to link any of the accused with the bombing during the trial. None of them were at or near the scene of the crime. No evidence was brought forth to demonstrate that the anarchists had conspired to incite violence that evening. But they were anarchists and socialists, a threat to capital, and they were bound to hang for their political views.
State attorney Julius Grinnell openly declared that anarchism was on trial. By hanging the anarchists, Grinnell reasoned, the sacred institutions of society would be saved. In essence, free speech and the right of peaceful assembly were also on trial. Laws to protect the rights of suspects were suspended and new precedents established to hasten their conviction. The real agenda of Chicago’s business community, however, was to put an end to the successful drive for the eight hour work day and to permanently demonize organized labor. It would require another fifty-one years for the eight hour work day to become law as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Just a few hours prior to the execution Albert Parsons wrote a friend that “The guard has just awakened me. I have washed my face and drank a cup of coffee. The doctor asked me if I wanted stimulants. I said no. The dear boys, Engel, Fischer and Spies, saluted me with firm voices. Well, my dear old comrade, the hour draws near. Caesar kept me awake last night with the noise, the music of the hammer and saw erecting his throne—my scaffold.” Parsons remained awake most of the night singing one of his favorite songs, “Annie Laurie” in a soft, melancholy voice filled with emotion.
More than 200 reporters gathered to witness the execution, as did the citizenry. None of the friends or relatives of the anarchists were permitted to attend. Albert Parson’s wife, Lucy, and their children were not permitted to bid their beloved husband and father a final farewell. Lucy Parsons was arrested in the attempt and taken to jail in another part of the city.
A few minutes before noon the four men were paraded onto the gallows scaffold. A reporter described the scene, “With a steady, unfaltering step a white robed figure stepped out…and stood upon the drop. It was August Spies. It was evident that his hands were firmly bound behind him beneath his snowy shroud.” Another reporter wrote, “His face was very pale, his looks solemn, his expression melancholy, yet at the same time dignified.” Fischer, Engel and Parsons followed in orderly procession. Another reporter noted that Parsons “Turned his big gray eyes upon the crowd below with such a look of awful reproach and sadness as it would not fail to strike the innermost chord of the hardest-heart there. It was a look never to be forgotten.”
The nooses were placed around the men’s necks and muslin shrouds placed over their heads. The executioner took up the axe that would in a moment cut the rope and spring the trap doors upon which the four men stood, sending them into ancestry. There was apprehension in the air thick as soup. Four innocent men were about to be executed by the state. Just then a “mournful solemn voice sounded.” It was August Spies speaking his final words, “The time will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today.” Next, George Engel shouted in his native German tongue, “Hurrah for anarchy!” Adolph Fischer chimed, “This is the happiest day of my life.” Just as Albert Parsons began to utter his final words that began, “Harken to the voice of the people,” the executioner’s axe fell. The trap doors sprung open with a bang and the four men jerked violently on the end of their ropes and then dangled in the air.
None of them died quickly of broken necks, as was supposed to happen; they violently twisted and strangled to death over a period of several minutes, some of them kicking and writhing in agony. The captains of industry celebrated the death of the anarchists while the workers mourned for their fallen comrades. But the dream of the eight hour work day, while strangled, did not die with the Chicago anarchists. It lived on in the lives of Emma Goldman, Eugene Debs, Mother Jones and Big Bill Haywood, who were inspired by the Haymarket Martyrs and went on to organize.
Some 600,000 workers turned out for the anarchist’s funeral. Lucy Parsons was inconsolable in her grief and spent the remainder of her life continuing the work that she and Albert had begun years before in Texas and later Chicago. This was the event that precipitated the eight hour work day, the internationally celebrated May Day, and Labor Day in the U.S. It is tragic that so few working class people are aware of the tremendous price that the Haymarket Martyrs paid for the freedoms that so many of us take for granted today.
On June 26, 1893, newly elected Illinois Governor John Altgeld set the remaining anarchists free and cleared the names of the hanged. Altgeld, a fair minded man, after examining transcripts of the trial and reams of related documents declared that all of the anarchists were innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted. Altgeld concluded that the hanged men had been victims of “hysteria, packed juries and a biased judge.” Later, evidence came to light that the dynamite may have been thrown by a police agent working for police captain Bonfield, as part of a conspiracy hatched by local business men to discredit the entire labor movement.
The state sponsored murder of the Haymarket anarchists, while particularly poignant, is by no means an isolated incident in American labor history. In the spring of 1886 America was on the verge of becoming something other than what she was. A new dawn in which working class people were on a par with business elites was almost within grasp and the eight hour work day virtually assured. Had justice prevailed that year in a hot Chicago courtroom and the normal procedures of the law followed, America would have been a very different place; a more just and peaceful future than the one we have now would have been possible and likely.
The entire Haymarket affair betrays the violent nature of capital and reveals its modus operandi. Aside from all the rhetoric about free speech and democracy, it exposes who runs the country, who makes the laws and who enforces them. It is capital, not we the people that are running things. Time and again the ugly side of America has been revealed when the status quo was threatened with real democracy. And it will happen again until the class struggle is finally resolved with just outcomes. The judgment of History has exonerated the fallen victims of predatory capital and indicted the real perpetrators of crimes against humanity, but who go unrepentant and unpunished.
Until millions of ordinary working class people awaken to the kind of country America really is, the death of Albert Parsons, August Spies, Adolph Fischer and George Engel will have been in vain. Workers the world over owes a great debt to these courageous men, whose lives, strangely, are celebrated abroad but scarcely known here. Unless we remember these men and honor what they did for us their sacrifice will have been in vain. We owe them nothing less and much more.
Author’s note: I urge those who wish to know more about these events to read labor historian James Green’s recently published book “Death in the Haymarkett: A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement and the Bombing that Divided Gilded Age America.”
Charles Sullivan is a photographer, social activist and free lance writer residing in the hinterland of West Virgina. He welcomes your comments at earthdog@highstream.net
8/29/08
Rising Populations Strain A Warming Planet
As rising populations strain a warming planet, a British journal suggests having smaller families
No shit Cisco! But we don't talk about this you know because after all it's the Invisible Cloud Being's work and we wouldn't want to take the chance of pissing him off. If the Neo-Killers don't end up killing off many millions this situation will.
No shit Cisco! But we don't talk about this you know because after all it's the Invisible Cloud Being's work and we wouldn't want to take the chance of pissing him off. If the Neo-Killers don't end up killing off many millions this situation will.
Abramoff Lobbies For Early Release
Defense attorneys filed 95 letters in court Wednesday night as part of a bid to get Abramoff out of prison early. They describe him as a humbled, changed man whose family is suffering and nearly broke after his first 18 months in prison.
He's "changed" and is so so sorry about his crimes against society. Many of his butt buddies have written letters pleading for an early release. I don't think so keep the sonofabitch in there where he belongs. Crimes such as this deserve no leniency but he'll probably get what he wants because of the contacts he has with officials in high places the reason he was convicted. How screwed up is that? We can't win.
He's "changed" and is so so sorry about his crimes against society. Many of his butt buddies have written letters pleading for an early release. I don't think so keep the sonofabitch in there where he belongs. Crimes such as this deserve no leniency but he'll probably get what he wants because of the contacts he has with officials in high places the reason he was convicted. How screwed up is that? We can't win.
8/27/08
Nature's Camo
The flower girl came across this today and there's plenty of insect life around right now. This guy is missing an antenna. I get a kick outta shit like this.
Box Canyon Blues
UPDATE Check this out. They were all body builders in new black t-shirts wearing new bandanas and playing the role of agent-provocateurs trying to goad the crowd to follow them into a confrontation with the police on the West side of the park.
Remember how in old western movies the outlaws would make the mistake of going into a box canyon when the posse was chasing them. Nothing could be better for those with the badges. Since the DNC is being held in cow town/wannabea cowboy central you revisit those days of yesteryear and make one. How convenient . Herd them to where you want them and make the box canyon. Then make them pay for exercising their rights even though they don't deserve it. The old west lives on and it sucks for those who have the balls who speak for me.
Pretty much knew this was the way protesters were going to be handled during this event but it's very disturbing and it indicates what will happen anywhere if large numbers of people gather to protest the and I will use the term system. Dissent like this is not going to be tolerated ever. Not going to happen. Look the fuck out.
After trapping the crowd between two buildings, hundreds of officers used pepper spray, batons and unwarranted aggression.
Here is the link to the video.
Remember how in old western movies the outlaws would make the mistake of going into a box canyon when the posse was chasing them. Nothing could be better for those with the badges. Since the DNC is being held in cow town/wannabea cowboy central you revisit those days of yesteryear and make one. How convenient . Herd them to where you want them and make the box canyon. Then make them pay for exercising their rights even though they don't deserve it. The old west lives on and it sucks for those who have the balls who speak for me.
Pretty much knew this was the way protesters were going to be handled during this event but it's very disturbing and it indicates what will happen anywhere if large numbers of people gather to protest the and I will use the term system. Dissent like this is not going to be tolerated ever. Not going to happen. Look the fuck out.
After trapping the crowd between two buildings, hundreds of officers used pepper spray, batons and unwarranted aggression.
Here is the link to the video.
8/26/08
Players At The DNC
A reminder of the bloggers participating at the big shoe in Denver. I highly recommend Square State and the Colorado Independent because they are local,progressive and are already putting up some great stuff. These people will give you a perspective no one else can give.
Also have it on good authority Horses Ass from the state of Washington is a great site also.
Below is the list of selected bloggers from each state.
Also have it on good authority Horses Ass from the state of Washington is a great site also.
Below is the list of selected bloggers from each state.
ALASKA: Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis: divasblueoasis.blogspot.com
ALABAMA: Doc's Political Parlor: www.politicalparlor.net
ARKANSAS: Under The Dome.com: www.underthedome.com
ARIZONA: Ted Prezelski - Rum, Romanism and Rebellion: www.rumromanismrebellion.net
CALIFORNIA: Calitics: Calitics.com
COLORADO: SquareState.net: squarestate.net
CONNECTICUT: My Left Nutmeg: myleftnutmeg.com
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: DCist.com: dcist.com
DELAWARE: TommyWonk: tommywonk.blogspot.com/
DEMOCRATS Abroad: Democrats Abroad Argentina: www.yanquimike.com.ar
FLORIDA: Florida Progressive Coalition: flaprogressives.org
GEORGIA: Tondee's Tavern: www.tondeestavern.com
GUAM: No Rest for the Awake - Minagahet Chamorro: minagahet.blogspot.com
HAWAII: iLind.net: Ian Lind Online: www.ilind.net
IOWA: The Iowa Independent: iowaindependent.com
IDAHO: 43rdStateBlues.com: www.43rdstateblues.com
ILLINOIS: Prairie State Blue: www.PrairieStateBlue.com
INDIANA: Blue Indiana: www.blueindiana.net
KANSAS: EverydayCitizen.com: everydaycitizen.com
KENTUCKY: BlueGrassRoots: www.bluegrassroots.org
LOUISIANA: Daily Kingfish: www.dailykingfish.com
MASSACHUSETTS: Blue Mass. Group: www.bluemassgroup.com
MARYLAND: The Center for Emerging Media: www.centerforemergingmedia.com
MAINE: Turn Maine Blue: www.turnmaineblue.com
MICHIGAN: Blogging For Michigan: bloggingformichigan.com
MINNESOTA: Minnesota Monitor: minnesotamonitor.com
MISSISSIPPI: The Natchez Blog: natchezms.blogspot.com
MISSOURI: Fired Up! LLC: www.firedupmissouri.com
MONTANA: Left in the West: www.leftinthewest.com
NORTH CAROLINA: BlueNC.com: bluenc.com
NORTH DAKOTA: NorthDecoder.com: www.northdecoder.com
NEBRASKA: New Nebraska Network: www.NewNebraska.net
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Blue Hampshire: www.bluehampshire.com
NEW JERSEY: PolitickerNJ.com: www.politickernj.com
NEW MEXICO: Democracy for New Mexico: www.DemocracyForNewMexico.com
NEVADA: Las Vegas Gleaner: www.lasvegasgleaner.com
NEW YORK: Room 8: www.r8ny.com
OHIO: Ohio Daily Blog: www.ohiodailyblog.com
OKLAHOMA: DemoOkie: www.DemoOkie.com
OREGON: BlueOregon (blog): www.blueoregon.com
PENNSYLVANIA: Keystone Politics: www.keystonepolitics.com
PUERTO RICO: Jusiper: jusiper.blogspot.com
RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island's Future: www.rifuture.org
SOUTH CAROLINA: CracktheBell.com: www.crackthebell.com
SOUTH DAKOTA: Badlands Blue: www.badlandsblue.com
TENNESSEE: KnoxViews/TennViews: www.knoxviews.com
TEXAS: Burnt Orange Report: www.BurntOrangeReport.com
UTAH: The Utah Amicus: utahamicus.com
VIRGINIA: Raising Kaine: www.raisingkaine.com
VIRGIN ISLANDS: Democratic Party of the US Virgin Islands: groups.yahoo.com/group/democratvi
VERMONT: Green Mountain Daily: greenmountaindaily.com
WASHINGTON: HorsesAss.org: www.horsesass.org
WISCONSIN: Uppity Wisconsin: www.uppitywis.org
WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia Blue: www.wvablue.com
WYOMING: Hummingbirdminds blog: hummingbirdminds.blogspot.com
8/24/08
We Don't Want No Ragheads Here In Curs City
The city manager in Golden on Friday revoked an invitation he had made to the Al Jazeera English television network. The manager invited the network to interview people during a barbecue at his home the week of the Democratic National Convention. His intent was to show that neighbors can disagree politically while still working together. However, a growing backlash of criticism from Golden residents has forced the manager to take back that invitation. Many Golden residents have indicated it was inappropriate for the manager to invite the controversial network into his home.
Give me this over what the sheep get anytime. I think it important this view is heard and offered up some assistance if another place is found and expenses can't be met. If it is important to you too you can go here to find the e-mail address at the top of the page to do the same.
I could have blogged from the Big Tent as well as worked there this week but I'm not going down. A friend is driving Give Up Kerry around. He can jump out and let the damn thing slam into a wall for all I care.
Give me this over what the sheep get anytime. I think it important this view is heard and offered up some assistance if another place is found and expenses can't be met. If it is important to you too you can go here to find the e-mail address at the top of the page to do the same.
I could have blogged from the Big Tent as well as worked there this week but I'm not going down. A friend is driving Give Up Kerry around. He can jump out and let the damn thing slam into a wall for all I care.
Right Wing Media Going Boo Hoo
there are left-leaning bloggers who provide a knee-jerk dismissal of whatever's on Page A1 of the Times or making the rounds on Sunday chat shows.
Cry me a river you sorry sack of shit. It's the liberal bloggers who have called all the whores into account for the shit you put out the propagandizes the willing sheeple. Now that the tables have turned you don't like it. Could it be that we prefer reality and truth over the swill we see from the likes of you that does nothing other than further the agenda of a corrupt administration and the corporations that benefit from it. Do ya think monkey?
Example- Bush blames Democrats for high gas prices
Here you print what the chimp says which is fine but the proof you are whores is in the fact you do not call this imbecile out for a blatant lie. Kiss my sorry ass.
Cry me a river you sorry sack of shit. It's the liberal bloggers who have called all the whores into account for the shit you put out the propagandizes the willing sheeple. Now that the tables have turned you don't like it. Could it be that we prefer reality and truth over the swill we see from the likes of you that does nothing other than further the agenda of a corrupt administration and the corporations that benefit from it. Do ya think monkey?
Example- Bush blames Democrats for high gas prices
Here you print what the chimp says which is fine but the proof you are whores is in the fact you do not call this imbecile out for a blatant lie. Kiss my sorry ass.
8/22/08
Check This Shit Out
I had a conversation with a representative of the Obama campaign a few minutes ago which left me horrified.
"we don't believe in fighting."
Have no reason not to believe this man. What in the fuck don't the dims understand about this. Are they so fucking stupid to know you don't bring a butter knife to a gun fight. WTF no wonder we continue to lose. Dumb fuckers pass all I tell you.
"we don't believe in fighting."
Have no reason not to believe this man. What in the fuck don't the dims understand about this. Are they so fucking stupid to know you don't bring a butter knife to a gun fight. WTF no wonder we continue to lose. Dumb fuckers pass all I tell you.
Dead Man Standing
This fellow got his wish and was propped up in a corner of his mom's house during the three day wake. A bit different but I understand. Maybe there will be a new trend started. Looks like he's having a good time.
8/20/08
Colorado Tidbits
In their infinite wisdom the powers in charge have decided not to use razor wire at Gitmo on the Platte. Who the hell did they think they were going to put in there anyway. It's people like you and me and I know I don't deserve any goddamn slicer wire.
McNut just like so many dumb ass statements he's made said he wanted Colorado's water and believing his tortured mind he damn well meant it and pissed a bunch off for sure. Hell even Kenny boy Saladbar wants to kick his ass. This wretch is worse than the monkey in a lot of ways.
The Denver archdiocese is facing another sex abuse lawsuit imagine that. This shit is never going away and Benny the rat refuses to do anything about it so it will continue. How in the hell can those who practice this religion stand for this and do nothing ? I will never understand.
Sellout whore Pelosi was in Denver tonight touting her new book. I hope some of the protesters did some warming up for next week and lobbed a few dozen rotten eggs at this bitch.
Zogby has McFucknut up by five points. Zogby has an agenda and has shown that in the past. How fucking stupid are Amerikans going to be this time around. My guess is dumber than usual.
look the fuck out! LTFO
By the way 18 of ours killed so far this month in Irak.
8/19/08
Hummer Accident
Through the course of the summer a number of hummingbirds make there way into the shop and just can't get out even though there's a large overhead door that is wide open. They make their way in because there is a large array of windows on the other side. I've caught and released maybe 8-10 so far this year. This guy today I got without using a towel. They are no worse for wear after this.click on pictures for a huge view
Later I find this guy who didn't make it. Some fly like hell towards the windows slam into one and do not survive. I include this because I don't ever remember seeing a tongue. I like birds a lot most of them anyway and hate to see this happen but it just does.
Probably have one of the better views than most and quite a few interesting pictures are captured from my work area as this one was this morning.
This little rodent is a vole. Cute as hell but these little shits can cause a tremendous amount of damage over the winter. A bit unusual to see one out in the open like this for any period of time and he was lucky he didn't get snatched up by a crow or magpie. Tried to make him face the camera a bit better but when I tried to turn him a bit he scampered into the native area. I think he had an upset stomach or something.Two friends stopped by and wanted me to golf so I did and it was fun. Used to golf for years three or four times a week but it's not like that the last few years. It's important I do this because unless you play one does not get the same perspective as driving.
Struck the ball so well and missed four par puts and didn't even get a par. That's the way it is sometimes and that's okay. We played the back nine and it was in fantastic shape I was impressed and it made me feel good to see that. Noticed only two slight mowing errors and the greens are perfect. I do my job for the maybe 10% that notice and appreciate the effort and hard work it takes to achieve playing conditions we had today and we do this on a course that is difficult to maintain at this level with never enough help. There were nine of us today and when school starts there will be less. The crew gets a big thank you tomorrow before we start the day.
8/18/08
Closing the 'Collapse Gap': the USSR was better prepared for collapse than the US
Below is an excerpt from a talk given by Dmitry Orlov making comparisons between the collapse of Russia and the impending collapse here in our country. A few things were kinda off the wall but I found it to be very interesting. Done on 12/06 wonder what he has to say today. LINKHere is an article written by Mr. Orlov on how to survive a economic crash.
I anticipate that some people will react rather badly to having their country compared to the USSR. I would like to assure you that the Soviet people would have reacted similarly, had the United States collapsed first. Feelings aside, here are two 20th century superpowers, who wanted more or less the same things – things like technological progress, economic growth, full employment, and world domination – but they disagreed about the methods. And they obtained similar results – each had a good run, intimidated the whole planet, and kept the other scared. Each eventually went bankrupt.
Appraiser Whores
After the nation's last major banking disaster, Congress set up a system to catch rogue appraisers. Their game: inflating the value of homes at the direction of equally unscrupulous real estate agents and mortgage brokers, whose commissions are determined by the size of the deals.
This is one of the major reasons for the problems and later this afternoon I will have more on this as I find this practice totally disgusting!
It's even more than disgusting because in some cases it's unlawful but that's otay this is Amerika where there is no accountability.
I can speak to this directly because my brother is an appraiser and has been for years. In this state there is a code of ethics appraisers are to follow which is part of the licensing process. A major part of those ethics is that an appraiser follows certain guidelines that are extensive so that he or she can give a "competent" appraisal. That is the key word in all of this.
Simply my brother quit doing appraisals because of the extreme pressure put on him by real estate agents, lenders and the seller to artificially inflate values. Since he takes his job seriously he refused to do so and was basically blackballed. Later some calls were coming in but the same shit was going on. He still has his business but does not do any. Even with that for some time now every week he goes to the court house and documents recent sales. If he has not appraised it he makes the trip to the property so that he can update his files which consist of three filing cabinets and most of two hard drives so if and when the time comes he wishes to appraise a property he will be able to make that competent appraisal. I admire him for the stance he has taken by not whoring himself out like so many of the others but it has cost him for that without a doubt. I wish he would write about his experiences bit I know his answer would be no if asked.
In this market in the last several years there was a sky rocketing of real estate values that was not warranted. Shit box houses in this town that were selling for 40-50K have prices on them of 2-300K and that ain't no shit cisco. In the county seat it was even worse. A friend bought his maybe 17 years ago for 84K and houses of the same type in his neighborhood were selling for over 700K. Most of this increase happened in the last few years. Although it took a bit longer the market downturn has hit here with a vengeance. There are many who will never be able to get out as they paid so much more than it's worth. "Oh the market always come back" they say. My ass not this time if ever and certainly not anytime soon.
My point of this rant is that it is my belief that those involved in this process because of several reasons greed being at the top have made this situation what it is and I despise them for it. They are whores plain and simple and should be held accountable for their devious and unscrupulous actions but they won't. Sonsofbitches!!
This is one of the major reasons for the problems and later this afternoon I will have more on this as I find this practice totally disgusting!
It's even more than disgusting because in some cases it's unlawful but that's otay this is Amerika where there is no accountability.
I can speak to this directly because my brother is an appraiser and has been for years. In this state there is a code of ethics appraisers are to follow which is part of the licensing process. A major part of those ethics is that an appraiser follows certain guidelines that are extensive so that he or she can give a "competent" appraisal. That is the key word in all of this.
Simply my brother quit doing appraisals because of the extreme pressure put on him by real estate agents, lenders and the seller to artificially inflate values. Since he takes his job seriously he refused to do so and was basically blackballed. Later some calls were coming in but the same shit was going on. He still has his business but does not do any. Even with that for some time now every week he goes to the court house and documents recent sales. If he has not appraised it he makes the trip to the property so that he can update his files which consist of three filing cabinets and most of two hard drives so if and when the time comes he wishes to appraise a property he will be able to make that competent appraisal. I admire him for the stance he has taken by not whoring himself out like so many of the others but it has cost him for that without a doubt. I wish he would write about his experiences bit I know his answer would be no if asked.
In this market in the last several years there was a sky rocketing of real estate values that was not warranted. Shit box houses in this town that were selling for 40-50K have prices on them of 2-300K and that ain't no shit cisco. In the county seat it was even worse. A friend bought his maybe 17 years ago for 84K and houses of the same type in his neighborhood were selling for over 700K. Most of this increase happened in the last few years. Although it took a bit longer the market downturn has hit here with a vengeance. There are many who will never be able to get out as they paid so much more than it's worth. "Oh the market always come back" they say. My ass not this time if ever and certainly not anytime soon.
My point of this rant is that it is my belief that those involved in this process because of several reasons greed being at the top have made this situation what it is and I despise them for it. They are whores plain and simple and should be held accountable for their devious and unscrupulous actions but they won't. Sonsofbitches!!
8/17/08
So Much For The Carbon Footprint
If I were rolling in it which I am definitely not and if I were to own one Mopar this would be it. I love the smell of burning rubber and the sound of open headers from engines with mucho horse power. CRANK THE SOUND UP!
8/16/08
Pelosi The $20 Whore Or Less Cus It's So Easy To Strike A Deal
Democrats' stance against offshore drilling has shifted more, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaling on Saturday her willingness to consider opening up more coastal areas to oil and gas exploration.
Just weeks ago Pelosi seemed resolved to block any votes to allow offshore drilling
When you see something like this you can goddamn well bet these bastards are going to give the oil company's just about all that they want. They've given the drunk murdering chimp and his butt buddy's everything else so why should this be any different. Sonsofbitches all!!
Just weeks ago Pelosi seemed resolved to block any votes to allow offshore drilling
When you see something like this you can goddamn well bet these bastards are going to give the oil company's just about all that they want. They've given the drunk murdering chimp and his butt buddy's everything else so why should this be any different. Sonsofbitches all!!
8/14/08
84 Ft In St. Paul 733 In Cow Town
Bill Johnson for the Rocky Mountain News writes "The difference between the two cities is all about a willingness of municipal officials to stand up for constitutional rights." Who in their right mind is going to enter this 55,000 square foot pen with no way out so damn far away you may as well be barking at the fucking moon for what good it will do.
If you bastards would have done what you were sent to Congress to do in '06 this convention would not be much of an issue but no you screwed us instead. Fucking a right many wish to get up close and personal to explain just that to all of you instead of half a fucking mile down the road in a goddamn pig pen.
The City and the Federales have been sitting around planning for every contingency because a bunch of people wish to express their outrage and I'd bet a bunch 95% plus are non-violent and have been most of their lives. Gitmo is ready get so on your horseys and herd 'em down there. When the job is done wipe your brow drink some cold Curs, Curs Light he ha. It's cow town fucking central for sure!
If you bastards would have done what you were sent to Congress to do in '06 this convention would not be much of an issue but no you screwed us instead. Fucking a right many wish to get up close and personal to explain just that to all of you instead of half a fucking mile down the road in a goddamn pig pen.
The City and the Federales have been sitting around planning for every contingency because a bunch of people wish to express their outrage and I'd bet a bunch 95% plus are non-violent and have been most of their lives. Gitmo is ready get so on your horseys and herd 'em down there. When the job is done wipe your brow drink some cold Curs, Curs Light he ha. It's cow town fucking central for sure!
Fun Stuff
Went fishing after work with my bud Graham on a friends property not too far from here. Started out slow but ended up catching a bunch. It was a blast. It just doesn't get old seeing these fish get after a fly and the different ways they do it. For a small stream these fish are good size all vibrant and healthy They were all browns. Click on the picture and take a close look.
"Gitmo On The Platte"
Get arrested exercising your very limited right to free speech at the DNC and plan on being treated real special. How about 5 by 5 metal cages made out of chain link fence material and topped by rolls of barbed wire. Yikes! I can see it coming just as sure as shit. There will be some as expected who deserve to be arrested but there are going to many others caught up in this who will undoubtedly end up in this hell hole aptly named already without bathrooms or much of anything else. Take a look for yourself. Here is the video of the new Denver Gitmo.
Noticed this video did not play with Firefox but did with Explorer.
Noticed this video did not play with Firefox but did with Explorer.
8/13/08
The Wilson's Screwed Again
The court ruled Cheney and the others were acting within their official capacity when they revealed Plame's identity to reporters.
Maybe the greatest act of treason in the history of our country ordered up by the VP of the fucktard in charge and dismissed like batting a pesky fly away.
Maybe just maybe sometime in the future these lowlifes who have raped my country so long and hard will have to pay for what they have done but expect nothing because we have got nothing from our side for years. We are so screwed and don't even know it.
Maybe the greatest act of treason in the history of our country ordered up by the VP of the fucktard in charge and dismissed like batting a pesky fly away.
Maybe just maybe sometime in the future these lowlifes who have raped my country so long and hard will have to pay for what they have done but expect nothing because we have got nothing from our side for years. We are so screwed and don't even know it.
8/12/08
Sold Out For A Couple Bucks An Acre
This is an excellent video by High Country News about what will probably happen in two days with devastating results highly likely. Take a good look at the unique strain of cutthroat trout that may not be around much longer. Thanks monkey.
8/11/08
The Real Forces Behind Amendment 48 That Will Give Constitutional Rights to Fertilized Eggs
One man stands in the nexus between the mainstream factions that espouse the politically correct "love the sinner/hate the sin" mantra and the more virulent behavior inspired by strained Biblical justifications for killing said sinner.
The truth behind this effort now comes out thanks to Wendy Norris and the piece she did today part one of two. It's non other than James Patrick Johnston, D.O from Ohio who condones killing those who chose to help women with unwanted pregnancy's. I call what this man has said and done terrorism too. In any case these people involved are sick bastards indeed.
UPDATE 8/12 Part II
The truth behind this effort now comes out thanks to Wendy Norris and the piece she did today part one of two. It's non other than James Patrick Johnston, D.O from Ohio who condones killing those who chose to help women with unwanted pregnancy's. I call what this man has said and done terrorism too. In any case these people involved are sick bastards indeed.
UPDATE 8/12 Part II
8/10/08
More Chimp Hypocrisy
Russ at al Qaeda in Albuquerque catches these bastards bare handed in their hypocrisy about the situation in Iraq. My question is did big media catch it too and without looking my guess is hell no why would they! The whole post is below and thank you for that Russ.
US military blames al-Qaida in Iraq for bombing
I thought we'd wiped out AQI... or at least made 'em impotent.
Guess I was wrong (not a first...).
Stop the madness!
p.s. The story on the AQI bombing also has a fun lead paragraph:
BUT: note where the bombing occurred - Tal Afar. Ring a bell?
US military blames al-Qaida in Iraq for bombing
I thought we'd wiped out AQI... or at least made 'em impotent.
Guess I was wrong (not a first...).
Stop the madness!
p.s. The story on the AQI bombing also has a fun lead paragraph:
BAGHDAD - The U.S. military blamed al-Qaida in Iraq Saturday for a suicide car bombing in the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar, while an Iraqi official said the death toll in the attack had risen to 25.What's fun about 25 deaths? Well, nothing...
BUT: note where the bombing occurred - Tal Afar. Ring a bell?
"... today I'd like to share a concrete example of progress in Iraq that most Americans do not see every day in their newspapers and on their television screens. I'm going to tell you the story of a northern Iraqi city called Tal Afar, which was once a key base of operations for al Qaeda and is today a free city that gives reason for hope for a free Iraq."Yeah - I was SURE we'd driven AQI out of Taf Afar!
[President Discusses War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom, 20 March 2006]
Kangaroo Kabobs
Switching from beef to kangaroo burgers could significantly help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says an Australian scientist.Don't know about saving the planet with this idea but I'm tired of the same old shit. Haven't had breakfast and roobobs would hit the spot right now. Well there's veal and I'm curious what the one in the hopper would be called? I bet he tastes real good.
8/9/08
Plenty Of God Speak At The DNC
The Democratic National Convention Committee today announced the program for its first-ever interfaith gathering
I suppose the Dims want to show they can be just as religiously insane as the Repugs in a venue seen all over the world. Will they as a whole beg forgiveness from the invisible cloud being for the killing of innocents in their name something none of these hypocrites did but condoned by not speaking out over all the years this has been done. Of course not because they are just that- hypocrites!
And with Edwards-how damn stupid are you anyway then you sack of shit lied about it. Your message was one of the best but you screwed all of us yourself included. The whore media machine will convince the sheep all of us on the left are the same when the reality is the Right are the ones that are by far the most depraved and the facts support that but no you went and screwed all of us. Go fuck yourself!
I suppose the Dims want to show they can be just as religiously insane as the Repugs in a venue seen all over the world. Will they as a whole beg forgiveness from the invisible cloud being for the killing of innocents in their name something none of these hypocrites did but condoned by not speaking out over all the years this has been done. Of course not because they are just that- hypocrites!
And with Edwards-how damn stupid are you anyway then you sack of shit lied about it. Your message was one of the best but you screwed all of us yourself included. The whore media machine will convince the sheep all of us on the left are the same when the reality is the Right are the ones that are by far the most depraved and the facts support that but no you went and screwed all of us. Go fuck yourself!
8/7/08
Three Men In Black Threaten Information Clearing House
Here is an article about this incident by Mike Whitney. He goes into much greater detail about this here in the comments. It's about 35 comments down. The article linked to is by Cindy Sheehan a women I admire a great deal and I want to hear politicians call it for what it is as she does. If they did maybe we would stand a chance.
More importantly Whitney's comment in the thread somewhat reinforces what I've been saying and believe completely that many key players have been threatened and that is why those on our side have not fought for us and enabled those in power to rape our country and our rights afforded to us all by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Look the fuck out as this is nowhere close to being played out by these bastards.
More importantly Whitney's comment in the thread somewhat reinforces what I've been saying and believe completely that many key players have been threatened and that is why those on our side have not fought for us and enabled those in power to rape our country and our rights afforded to us all by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Look the fuck out as this is nowhere close to being played out by these bastards.
Stuff I Ran Across
More Polygamists close to home.
This sect is in a town I've driven through many times and it seems there is a bit of concern from the locals. This area has a close relationship with Texas as it's close so many come to play and buy land. This is just beginning. There are many Mormons in Colorado.
Check out who thinks they need to conserve. Pretty damn disgusting given the circumstances. You may not want to or think you need to but you will and there will be no choice as it's inevitable. How stupid are you people?
Iraqi army is willing, but not ready, to fight
They will never fight while we are there who can't understand that as it's pretty straight forward. We'll stand down when they stand up or whatever the fuck the phrase was. Nothing these killers said has ever had validity for the most part. Who is stupid enough to believe anything these bastards say. The dead man pulled the anthrax caper. Bullshit they fucking did it just as sure as shit.
This sect is in a town I've driven through many times and it seems there is a bit of concern from the locals. This area has a close relationship with Texas as it's close so many come to play and buy land. This is just beginning. There are many Mormons in Colorado.
Check out who thinks they need to conserve. Pretty damn disgusting given the circumstances. You may not want to or think you need to but you will and there will be no choice as it's inevitable. How stupid are you people?
Iraqi army is willing, but not ready, to fight
They will never fight while we are there who can't understand that as it's pretty straight forward. We'll stand down when they stand up or whatever the fuck the phrase was. Nothing these killers said has ever had validity for the most part. Who is stupid enough to believe anything these bastards say. The dead man pulled the anthrax caper. Bullshit they fucking did it just as sure as shit.
8/6/08
Fucktard Persuader Is On It's Way
I chose this particular heater because it is very accurate as years ago I had the identical gun. Many say the bigger the better and I will not argue that point. This is cheap to shoot and will stop any low life that intends to fuck with me. With 10 rounds in anything if that doesn't do it I'm toast anyway.
8/4/08
I Will Fucking Shoot Your Sorry Ass Next Time Fucktard!!!
Of the three weapons in this house none are loaded. From now on as soon as I can purchase a pistol it will be loaded and close by. Come by again asshole and pull the shit you are noted for again and be stupid enough to take one step inside and I will fucking shoot you probably more than once and with malice in my heart. And that's being nice because in some places the person doesn't have to be inside.
That is so mean to say and I am not like that but there are limits that cannot be crossed. Tonight I feared for my safety within my own residence and from now on there will be a means to protect myself close by. Why the hell should I have to be dealing with this kind of shit at this stage of the game. Sonsofbitches!
That is so mean to say and I am not like that but there are limits that cannot be crossed. Tonight I feared for my safety within my own residence and from now on there will be a means to protect myself close by. Why the hell should I have to be dealing with this kind of shit at this stage of the game. Sonsofbitches!
Obama Makes A Shit I Mean Shift
Yea no shit Cisco how many reversals does this make? You will be eaten alive for this and look what they did to you with the tire pressure statement. That is something all can do something I do on a regular basis that does make a difference in mileage as does preventative maintenance on your vehicle. The media as expected stroked that and each other laughing their simpleton asses off over a simple thing that actually does work. No matter what you say the response will be the same. If every time you open your mouth you're going to get slammed anyway how about a vision for energy independence using alternative sources? I want to hear that not that you will accept a certain amount of drilling along our coasts. Jesus christ anyway!
In the end when the whore media and the neo-killers are done there will not be a darky sitting proud in the big house. That is not going to be allowed if there is any way around it.
In the end when the whore media and the neo-killers are done there will not be a darky sitting proud in the big house. That is not going to be allowed if there is any way around it.
8/3/08
The Rich Folk Begin To Hurt
This makes me want to puke and then kick the writer in the ass for being an all around dumb fucker. We're supposed to feel sympathy for the elite because the economic slump is crimping the lifestyles of the wealthy.
It's so bad out there decisions have to be made on Do you keep the yacht, do you go to the classic car auction, do you take the private jet?
These people are the ones who benefited from the tax cuts. They are profiteers of war no more no less. I just have a major problem with this shit. I don't even know them and I don't like them.
Things aren't so good and will decline even more. The housing market always comes back they say. Probably not this time. Nobody is buying shit here except high end stuff. It took awhile but the real estate market downturn is hitting home here. You greedy bastards all of you in many places who rapidly and artificially inflated real estate values just go fuck yourselves.
What's so asinine about this is that the way out of our economic problems is to spend more and to consume even more. How dumb is that? 5% of the world's population and consume 30% of it's resources using an energy source that is finite with no plans for the future but more drilling.
Mired in debt as a country the likes never seen before and there is no effort to stop it. Combined with personal debt the outcome is unavoidable and we are seeing the beginnings of forced lifestyle changes in this country that aren't coming back at least with the use of fossil fuels. The empire is in decline!
We are watching history and this probably is the most important election ever. The weather is nice and people are busy with outside activities. I take nothing off the table because it's the lull before the storm.
After a non compromised or contested election and BO is sworn in and Iran has not been attacked and the troops are all leaving Iraq plus a hundred other issues I'll believe it cause till then we've got squat just like the last seven. LTFO!
It's so bad out there decisions have to be made on Do you keep the yacht, do you go to the classic car auction, do you take the private jet?
These people are the ones who benefited from the tax cuts. They are profiteers of war no more no less. I just have a major problem with this shit. I don't even know them and I don't like them.
Things aren't so good and will decline even more. The housing market always comes back they say. Probably not this time. Nobody is buying shit here except high end stuff. It took awhile but the real estate market downturn is hitting home here. You greedy bastards all of you in many places who rapidly and artificially inflated real estate values just go fuck yourselves.
What's so asinine about this is that the way out of our economic problems is to spend more and to consume even more. How dumb is that? 5% of the world's population and consume 30% of it's resources using an energy source that is finite with no plans for the future but more drilling.
Mired in debt as a country the likes never seen before and there is no effort to stop it. Combined with personal debt the outcome is unavoidable and we are seeing the beginnings of forced lifestyle changes in this country that aren't coming back at least with the use of fossil fuels. The empire is in decline!
We are watching history and this probably is the most important election ever. The weather is nice and people are busy with outside activities. I take nothing off the table because it's the lull before the storm.
After a non compromised or contested election and BO is sworn in and Iran has not been attacked and the troops are all leaving Iraq plus a hundred other issues I'll believe it cause till then we've got squat just like the last seven. LTFO!
8/1/08
No Worky
I Can't Work Today
I can't respond to any emails today, something has crashed on my computer. And the mouse is gone. 
Freedom Cage Special For DNC Protesters
A 50,000-square-foot demonstration zone that will have two layers of chain-link fences wrapped around it during the Democratic National Convention has been deemed the "freedom cage" by the leader of a group planning to march during the four-day event.
Those who want to exercise their rights to protest those who have enabled the screwing of our country and our rights will be fenced in like animals. That's so fucking special it makes me want to upchuck! They will hardly be in sight of this mega event. Might as well be penned up in a feed lot out in the damn cornfield!
Those who want to exercise their rights to protest those who have enabled the screwing of our country and our rights will be fenced in like animals. That's so fucking special it makes me want to upchuck! They will hardly be in sight of this mega event. Might as well be penned up in a feed lot out in the damn cornfield!
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