At Costco Obama Touts His Plan to Boost Wages - ABC News
Another one of my favorite lines from his address, "...no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty."
A collection of ideas, letters, opinions, and inspiration. On freedom, on Generation X, modern society, the ethereal dance of the unconquered mind (ok, that's the name of a photo exhibit in San Jose, but it's nifty sounding), the Democratic Party, how much rock and roll and the web will fuel activism, things worth chronicling, things we can improve, and the future.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Give diplomacy a (last) chance: Obama
Give diplomacy a chance: Obama - Hindustan Times
Yes. One of my favorite lines from his State of the Union address last night. If John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the Soviet Union, why can't we with (Iran)?
Yes. One of my favorite lines from his State of the Union address last night. If John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the Soviet Union, why can't we with (Iran)?
Friday, January 24, 2014
Dimon pay raise mocks accountability - MarketWatch First Take - MarketWatch
Dimon pay raise mocks accountability - MarketWatch First Take - MarketWatch
This is infuriating. This guy should be punched in the face because of his negligence and malfeasance and resulting market-threatening 'leadership,' but he gets a raise? This another sign of the serious, diseased underbelly of American greed eating away at the core of a great nation.
"Dimon is slated to receive more than the $11.5 million
compensation package he received in 2012, a year his pay was cut
following the bank’s losses resulting from the “London whale” trading
fiasco.
That Dimon would be able to reap a reward for that sort of performance
underscores just how empty Wall Street’s promises about how pay would be
tied to performance after the financial crisis"
This is infuriating. This guy should be punched in the face because of his negligence and malfeasance and resulting market-threatening 'leadership,' but he gets a raise? This another sign of the serious, diseased underbelly of American greed eating away at the core of a great nation.
"Dimon is slated to receive more than the $11.5 million
compensation package he received in 2012, a year his pay was cut
following the bank’s losses resulting from the “London whale” trading
fiasco.
Last year was even worse for J.P. Morgan
JPM
-1.59%
and shareholders. The bank had to set aside more than $25 billion in
legal reserves and ended up spending it on settlements tied to the sale
of damaged mortgage securities, market manipulation and other alleged
wrongdoing. J.P. Morgan reported a third-quarter loss and a drop in
profit in the fourth quarter.
JPM
-1.59%
and shareholders. The bank had to set aside more than $25 billion in
legal reserves and ended up spending it on settlements tied to the sale
of damaged mortgage securities, market manipulation and other alleged
wrongdoing. J.P. Morgan reported a third-quarter loss and a drop in
profit in the fourth quarter.
That Dimon would be able to reap a reward for that sort of performance
underscores just how empty Wall Street’s promises about how pay would be
tied to performance after the financial crisis"
Thursday, January 23, 2014
U.S. privacy board says NSA phone program illegal, should end | Reuters
U.S. privacy board says NSA phone program illegal, should end | Reuters
Yes, this is appropriate and proper. Would be one good step back away from the trajectory towards George Orwell's 1984.
Yes, this is appropriate and proper. Would be one good step back away from the trajectory towards George Orwell's 1984.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Six Reasons We Won't Miss Bob McDonnell | ThinkProgress
Six Reasons We Won't Miss Bob McDonnell | ThinkProgress
What a guy!
"1. He and his family took tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts from a supporter — and helped his controversial business.
2. He consistently opposed LGBT equality.
3. He worked tirelessly to block women’s reproductive rights.
4. He dismissed climate science and pushed for more fossil-fuel use.
5. He rolled back voting rights.
6. He rolled back gun violence legislation, while working to slash mental health funding."
What a guy!
"1. He and his family took tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts from a supporter — and helped his controversial business.
2. He consistently opposed LGBT equality.
3. He worked tirelessly to block women’s reproductive rights.
4. He dismissed climate science and pushed for more fossil-fuel use.
5. He rolled back voting rights.
6. He rolled back gun violence legislation, while working to slash mental health funding."
Monday, January 20, 2014
World's rich threaten democracy says Oxfam in pre-Davos report
Here
Does not take a Nobel winning economist to know 85 people = 1/2 world's wealth is fucked.
Hello, does this version of Capitalism and "making a more perfect union" sound kosher to you?
1% have rigged the game, and they are rigging our government, legislation, and rules so they take even more. Game change needed: Americans must take back policy for the many, not allow for piracy policy that rewards the few. In trade agreements, tax codes, and elections, humans -- individual citizens -- must come first. Loans should be cheaper for those who can't afford them. Student loans must be cheaper than borrowing rates for banks. Corporations should not be able to bet on and buy out all air time to mislead people during elections. The rights of people are separate from and above the need for corporate profit.
These are basic things of which people have an acute awareness. We have to fight to restore balance away from the 1% in our, and the global, economy. Read Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Robert Reich now. And help support legislation that grows and supports the middle class. Not the 1%.
Does not take a Nobel winning economist to know 85 people = 1/2 world's wealth is fucked.
Hello, does this version of Capitalism and "making a more perfect union" sound kosher to you?
1% have rigged the game, and they are rigging our government, legislation, and rules so they take even more. Game change needed: Americans must take back policy for the many, not allow for piracy policy that rewards the few. In trade agreements, tax codes, and elections, humans -- individual citizens -- must come first. Loans should be cheaper for those who can't afford them. Student loans must be cheaper than borrowing rates for banks. Corporations should not be able to bet on and buy out all air time to mislead people during elections. The rights of people are separate from and above the need for corporate profit.
These are basic things of which people have an acute awareness. We have to fight to restore balance away from the 1% in our, and the global, economy. Read Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Robert Reich now. And help support legislation that grows and supports the middle class. Not the 1%.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Gov. Jerry Brown declares drought emergency in California - latimes.com
Gov. Jerry Brown declares drought emergency in California - latimes.com
Ok, how to reduce water use 20% -- and save 20% on your water bill? (1) Go *under* all the sinks in your house / apartment, and turn the angle stop valves at the wall until 'full blast' is 30-50% less. You don't need Rambo water pressure to wash your hands. Your kids will never know the difference. (2) Take a 20% shorter shower. (3) Tell your kids and wife and yourself to not let water run while you walk around the kitchen or shave or brush your teeth. EASY. Easy to do right now. Save money and water.
Ok, how to reduce water use 20% -- and save 20% on your water bill? (1) Go *under* all the sinks in your house / apartment, and turn the angle stop valves at the wall until 'full blast' is 30-50% less. You don't need Rambo water pressure to wash your hands. Your kids will never know the difference. (2) Take a 20% shorter shower. (3) Tell your kids and wife and yourself to not let water run while you walk around the kitchen or shave or brush your teeth. EASY. Easy to do right now. Save money and water.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
MoveOn Petitions - PUT CITIZENS UNITED IN THE DUMPSTER OF BAD IDEAS
MoveOn Petitions - PUT CITIZENS UNITED IN THE DUMPSTER OF BAD IDEAS
U.S. Senator Al Franken helped start a petition to the United States Congress and President Barack Obama, which says:
We, the undersigned, have had it. Corporations are not people. Elections should not be auctions. And we refuse to let our democracy be put up for sale.
We are standing together to call for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.
Stop Monsanto’s secret plan to Kill GMO labeling | Food Democracy Now
Stop Monsanto’s secret plan to Kill GMO labeling | Food Democracy Now
This plan is so devious that it radically speeds up the approval process for new GMO crops, limits the FDA and USDA’s ability to extend premarket safety reviews, declares GMO foods “safe” and redefines genetically engineered foods as “bioengineered” in order to sanitize this deeply flawed technology to the American public.
Even worse, the proposed bill only requires a federal GMO “label on any products” from GMO plants “if those ingredients present a health or safety risk” - something the U.S. government has refused to admit for more than 20 years! Think they’re going to start telling the truth about GMOs now?
This is a blatant power grab to deny Americans their basic right to mandatory GMO labeling and protect flawed GMO products - and we can’t allow them to get away with it. We need your help today. Every voice counts!"
"Stop Monsanto’s secret plan to Kill GMO labeling
Right now Monsanto and giant food companies are scheming behind the scenes to introduce a bill in Congress that would kill mandatory state GMO labeling efforts and replace it with a gutted version of a bill to preempt states' rights and give the illusion of serious regulation.This plan is so devious that it radically speeds up the approval process for new GMO crops, limits the FDA and USDA’s ability to extend premarket safety reviews, declares GMO foods “safe” and redefines genetically engineered foods as “bioengineered” in order to sanitize this deeply flawed technology to the American public.
Even worse, the proposed bill only requires a federal GMO “label on any products” from GMO plants “if those ingredients present a health or safety risk” - something the U.S. government has refused to admit for more than 20 years! Think they’re going to start telling the truth about GMOs now?
This is a blatant power grab to deny Americans their basic right to mandatory GMO labeling and protect flawed GMO products - and we can’t allow them to get away with it. We need your help today. Every voice counts!"
Thursday, January 2, 2014
2 newspapers calls for clemency for Edward Snowden
Here LONDON — "The New York Times and Guardian newspapers have called for clemency for Edward Snowden, saying that the espionage worker-turned-privacy advocate should be praised rather than punished for his disclosures."
Yes. He is clearly more Of the People, We the People than the government
and its federal judges trampling on our Constitutional rights.
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Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.
What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.
Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?
Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.
Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)
Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.
But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)
Still we are finite on this ride.
It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.
For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.
What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.
Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?
Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.
Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)
Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.
But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)
Still we are finite on this ride.
It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.
For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.