short notes:
will brady's ruminations
will brady's ruminations
2006-09-05
over at my livejournal site
I've written about a number of different things at the LiveJournal site
• middletown landmark marred; the fire at O'Rourke's Diner in Middletown, CT
• the thin line between entertainment and war: a mention of Rage Against the Machine's new music video "No Shelter"
• who caused the war in iraq? Chris Matthews goes Hardball together with Iraqi War Vet Paul Hackett [who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in Ohio] force a young Texan wannabe political hack Van Taylor to answer questions about the relationship between AlQaida and Iraq ["none" according to G W Bush] instead of mouthing empty sound-bites.
• a reminisce about Baz Luhrmann's advice ~ Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen)
• More on abandonded mental hospitals and about Bill Mello's adventures in unoccupied institutions.
• middletown landmark marred; the fire at O'Rourke's Diner in Middletown, CT
• the thin line between entertainment and war: a mention of Rage Against the Machine's new music video "No Shelter"
• who caused the war in iraq? Chris Matthews goes Hardball together with Iraqi War Vet Paul Hackett [who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in Ohio] force a young Texan wannabe political hack Van Taylor to answer questions about the relationship between AlQaida and Iraq ["none" according to G W Bush] instead of mouthing empty sound-bites.
• a reminisce about Baz Luhrmann's advice ~ Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen)
• More on abandonded mental hospitals and about Bill Mello's adventures in unoccupied institutions.
Labels: rondacker's livejournal site
¶ 02:51 0 comments
2006-09-04
iraq quagmire + oil profits
• Neville Chamberlain Redux?. It matters little that The Donald lies so glibly about others [claiming those who criticize the Bush Regime are "appeasers"] they fact of the matter is that Rumsfield was hob-nobbing with tyrants long before the generation now dying in Iraq on his behalf were born. History shall take note, no matter how much the Bushies try to re-write it.
• And why go to Iraq anyway? Why, for the oil. German/American vehicles need it. Andrew Uroskie reprints a piece by Ezra Dyer on the new Dodge Ram, a gas guzzler and proud of it!. Quote: "I know that thrifty fuel economy isn’t a priority here. I also know that your garden-variety 4x4 pickup will probably never see 20 m.p.g. But the Ram SRT10 rivals a torched oil well for sheer profligacy — and, oh yes, it demands premium."
• Even Keith Olbermann, still some-time apologist for corporate excess, evoked Edward R Murrow when blasting Rumsfield on his speech before veterans. All we need now is a courageous senator in Congress to ask the Bush Administration if they have no sense of decency.
• As if decency were not an issue at all, [and,
apparently, it isn't], more reports surface emphasizing the gaps between the Average Joe and Oil Company CEOS. QUOTE: "As gas prices soared, the salaries of the nation's largest oil company CEOs doubled. At least that's what two organizations, the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy, stated in the recently released report, "Executive Excess 2006." The annual salary of executives working for the top 15 American oil companies now average $32.7 million per year, compared to $11.6 million for the CEOs of other large, international companies." Get the 60 page non-nonsense pdf report before it becomes a classified document. At the Top Again: William Greehey, Valero Energy ~ 2005 Compensation: $95,157,943
• Neville Chamberlain Redux?. It matters little that The Donald lies so glibly about others [claiming those who criticize the Bush Regime are "appeasers"] they fact of the matter is that Rumsfield was hob-nobbing with tyrants long before the generation now dying in Iraq on his behalf were born. History shall take note, no matter how much the Bushies try to re-write it.• And why go to Iraq anyway? Why, for the oil. German/American vehicles need it. Andrew Uroskie reprints a piece by Ezra Dyer on the new Dodge Ram, a gas guzzler and proud of it!. Quote: "I know that thrifty fuel economy isn’t a priority here. I also know that your garden-variety 4x4 pickup will probably never see 20 m.p.g. But the Ram SRT10 rivals a torched oil well for sheer profligacy — and, oh yes, it demands premium."
• Even Keith Olbermann, still some-time apologist for corporate excess, evoked Edward R Murrow when blasting Rumsfield on his speech before veterans. All we need now is a courageous senator in Congress to ask the Bush Administration if they have no sense of decency.
• As if decency were not an issue at all, [and,
apparently, it isn't], more reports surface emphasizing the gaps between the Average Joe and Oil Company CEOS. QUOTE: "As gas prices soared, the salaries of the nation's largest oil company CEOs doubled. At least that's what two organizations, the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy, stated in the recently released report, "Executive Excess 2006." The annual salary of executives working for the top 15 American oil companies now average $32.7 million per year, compared to $11.6 million for the CEOs of other large, international companies." Get the 60 page non-nonsense pdf report before it becomes a classified document. At the Top Again: William Greehey, Valero Energy ~ 2005 Compensation: $95,157,943Labels: corporate CEOs, greed, iraq, war profiteers
¶ 16:28 1 comments
2006-09-03
websurfing
It's been quite a long time since I shared places that I've wandered to and found of interest. My interests, as those who have stopped by before can discern, are wont to go all over, so here are a few sites in no particular order.
environment
• The United Nations Food + Agriculture Ministry's Corporate Document Repository houses FAO documents and publications, as well as selected non-FAO publications, in electronic format. It enables users to easily access the accumulated knowledge and information produced by FAO directly on the Internet. You can get items such as Simple technologies for charcoal making. This may not seem important when out going to buy trinkets at the Mall, but it is more important when considering how those trinkets get produced.
• Vannatta Brothers Logging Links. Some fascinating logging history connections to Northwest North America.
trucks
• Cars.com. I'm in the market for a new pick-up truck and this is a good way to start the search. After reading the come-ons in the local newspaper [you know the ones. The dealer offers a fully loaded 2007 if (1) you qualify for their loan plan, (2) buy it before the end of the day and (3) if the one selected has not already been whisked off the lot before you arrived] I thought it better to get a range of prices online. Already saw one truck I was looking at on a lot for $4,000 less than what the salesman offered, and from the same dealership.
• Billy Joe Jim Bob's Truck and Tractor Links
• Brockway Truck Museum. The first time I'd ever been in a Brockway, it was an ancient beast, run by two bachelor farmers outside of Farmersville Station, NY. They had hired me on to stack hay in their barn. The gears of the truck were stripped and the ride was rough and bumpy but I enjoyed every minute of it.
history + culture
• Winston Churchill. "Democracy is the worstform of government except for all those other forms of governmentthat have been tried from time to time." A brilliant statesman. Dubya should read him.
• The United Nations' Food + Agriculture Ministry World Hunger Map. If you are one of those comfortable discontented sorts who thinks those with the most toys wins at death, here's a hint at what your social obligations are. Part of a larger food security systems link.
• Milford Plaines' African American Holocaust. Not for the faint of heart; important that we never forget that lynchings of mostly innocent black men were conducted as Sunday afternoon entertainments for white folk. With photographs. Found while perusing an exhaustive links list at African Americans.com
hunting
• Game + Fish Magazine getting ready for bow hunting season. No matter how much you practice, you are not completely ready to head afield until you change from practice mode to hunt mode.
• National Wild Turkey Federation. While chaniging from practice to hunt, remember the prey. The site is pleasing to the eye and offers practical tips. Worthy organization as well.
visual arts
• Contemporary Artists' Center, North Adams MA. Stumbled upon after a visit to Mass MoCA
• Real Art Ways. Some of what MASS MoCA offers but in Hartford, and on a much smaller scale.
personal sites
• Wood's Lot. This ever fascinating site crafted by a Canadian thinker and reader, continues to provide consolation for the mind.
• Mosaic Dreams. A "...Southern Catholic midlifer interested in expressing myself through art, music, and technology. I have a wonderfully large Southern family who have the usual problems". Alright, so she also gave a plug to this weblog, I find her perspective fresh and stimulating.
• John Strain's Online Journal. A year later, he provides his thoughts on Katrina's wake across New Orleans.
It's been quite a long time since I shared places that I've wandered to and found of interest. My interests, as those who have stopped by before can discern, are wont to go all over, so here are a few sites in no particular order. environment
• The United Nations Food + Agriculture Ministry's Corporate Document Repository houses FAO documents and publications, as well as selected non-FAO publications, in electronic format. It enables users to easily access the accumulated knowledge and information produced by FAO directly on the Internet. You can get items such as Simple technologies for charcoal making. This may not seem important when out going to buy trinkets at the Mall, but it is more important when considering how those trinkets get produced.
• Vannatta Brothers Logging Links. Some fascinating logging history connections to Northwest North America.
trucks
• Cars.com. I'm in the market for a new pick-up truck and this is a good way to start the search. After reading the come-ons in the local newspaper [you know the ones. The dealer offers a fully loaded 2007 if (1) you qualify for their loan plan, (2) buy it before the end of the day and (3) if the one selected has not already been whisked off the lot before you arrived] I thought it better to get a range of prices online. Already saw one truck I was looking at on a lot for $4,000 less than what the salesman offered, and from the same dealership.• Billy Joe Jim Bob's Truck and Tractor Links
• Brockway Truck Museum. The first time I'd ever been in a Brockway, it was an ancient beast, run by two bachelor farmers outside of Farmersville Station, NY. They had hired me on to stack hay in their barn. The gears of the truck were stripped and the ride was rough and bumpy but I enjoyed every minute of it. history + culture
• Winston Churchill. "Democracy is the worstform of government except for all those other forms of governmentthat have been tried from time to time." A brilliant statesman. Dubya should read him.• The United Nations' Food + Agriculture Ministry World Hunger Map. If you are one of those comfortable discontented sorts who thinks those with the most toys wins at death, here's a hint at what your social obligations are. Part of a larger food security systems link.
• Milford Plaines' African American Holocaust. Not for the faint of heart; important that we never forget that lynchings of mostly innocent black men were conducted as Sunday afternoon entertainments for white folk. With photographs. Found while perusing an exhaustive links list at African Americans.com
hunting
• Game + Fish Magazine getting ready for bow hunting season. No matter how much you practice, you are not completely ready to head afield until you change from practice mode to hunt mode.
• National Wild Turkey Federation. While chaniging from practice to hunt, remember the prey. The site is pleasing to the eye and offers practical tips. Worthy organization as well.
visual arts
• Contemporary Artists' Center, North Adams MA. Stumbled upon after a visit to Mass MoCA
• Real Art Ways. Some of what MASS MoCA offers but in Hartford, and on a much smaller scale.
personal sites
• Wood's Lot. This ever fascinating site crafted by a Canadian thinker and reader, continues to provide consolation for the mind.
• Mosaic Dreams. A "...Southern Catholic midlifer interested in expressing myself through art, music, and technology. I have a wonderfully large Southern family who have the usual problems". Alright, so she also gave a plug to this weblog, I find her perspective fresh and stimulating.
• John Strain's Online Journal. A year later, he provides his thoughts on Katrina's wake across New Orleans.
Labels: documents, forestry, United Nations, weblogs
¶ 15:28 0 comments
