The Limited Government Shut-down Is Upon Us

This is five o clock and the government shutdown is scheduled to ooccur just four hours from now.  They have phone banks at Eye Witness news to answer viewers’ questions about it.  David Cruise advises you all to E mail your congressmen.  That goes without saying.  They are saying now that given an up or down vote on the “Clean” Senate bill that the whole House would pass it.  But John Boehner is apparently afraid of losing his chairmanship and therefore won’t allow any bill to come to the floor without a majority of republican party support.  So Boehner won’t even submit this clean Senate bill to the whole House and end this crisis today.   But I’ve heard Boehner will be stepping down from the chairmanship at the end of this session anyhow because he wants to become a lobbyist where the real money is.  These thirty or forty hard line House members, obviously a numeric minority even within their own party- - have Boehner wrapped around their little finger and Boehner does whatever they tell him to, and the majority be damned.   Of course the news is that the whole shutdown is kind of a joke as pointed out by Bill Press this morning on his show.  They will shut down the national parks but continue police patrols to insure that there are no tresspassers.  Air traffic will not be impacted at all.  And of course, thankfully, all the relevant checks such as SSI will be going out as normal.  Meat and poultry inspecters will still be on the job, and there is a question whether people in the military will get paid.  I didn’t know that the shut-down of late 1995 – 96 lasted twenty one days.  I didn’t think it was any near that long.  Of course people blamed Gingrich and the Republicans for that one, and not President Clinton.  The administrative costs of shutting down and reopening the government will cost more than if the government had never shut down.  As such there will be no savings of money and therefore the debt limit date will not be delayed.   Stephanie Miller likened it to be “Yes, I’ll give you a ride to the doctors- - if you punch yourself in the balls so hard that you vomit from the pain”.  And the joke goes “You indicated you didn’t really want me to give you a ride, because you didn’t punch yourself in the balls” as if there were the slightest logical connection between the two.   Someone pointed out that if there is a one year delay that the insurance companies will be so tired of being ying-yanged around that they’ll pull out of the whole thing.  But insurance companies WANT to qualify for the exchanges because they know they’ll get a lot new cost efficient customers.  Also it seems that Wall Mart will be hiring back a bunch of people so that they WILL qualify for health insurance.  Cosco pays their workers substantially more than does Wall Mart.

As to the weather, I misspoke when I said that “summer is over” because the high temperatures are still hanging in the eighties, in fact the average temperatures these days is higher now by quite a bit- - than temperatures were ranging two months ago, despite the fact that the days are a lot shorter.  They are predicting another move into the nineties for high temperatures this weekend.   Last night Donnie had cheese sandwiches for us and there was no line.  We watched “On the Red Carpet” and they have slipped in another commercial break right at the end of the program that they didn’t used to have.  Then it was, what I think was a rerun summary of “Once Upon a Time” involving Snow White, and Rumple Stillskin, and Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.  Of course in the scene where Snow White is rebuked by her mother in front of the servant - - was totally out of line on the part of the mother.  She was doing a real “Joan Crawford’ number on the daughter- - for seemingly no other motive than some power trip, just like with Joan, because somehow she’s afraid Snow White will grow up to be prettier than she is, and she has to put her in her place.  Snow White was perfectly correct in rebuking a servant for messing with royal possessions.  The rebuke in front of the servant sends a real bad message for future discipline of said servant, if you catch my drift.  And I’m not buying this crap about “goodness’ one bit.  I’ve heard too much of that shit from Christian pastors.  And personally I’m not at all convinced Snow White grew up to be universally “good”.  Then they showed the two hour episode but I grew drowsy because I hadn’t had my evening coffee- - and drifted in and out of wakefulness, and by about nine thirty I’d had enough and went to bed- - kind of looking over at Bill.  I slept pretty well but once again woke early- - and had plenty of time to listen to Bill Press.

Meet the Press was apparently live.  Because they announced that last night the US Senate announced they were going on vacation – indefinitely.  (?)   So they wouldn’t be around to respond to any House votes.  The house, as I didn’t quite say,  voted last night to “fund the government” (for a whole two & a half months) as if that is some kind of major favor they are doing us all.  But of course they want the Insurance Exchanges delayed even though they are opening the day after tomorrow.  Just think how completely ludicris that is.  The web site is up and people are going to it and shopping, and they are looking forward to Tuesday when they can make it official.  It’s positively daffy to think that somehow - - as Ted Cruise “There is this additional barrier any law must pass once it has been signed into law and upheld by the supreme court and where 56% of the American people believe in upholding the law”.   I’m disappointed that 56% is not higher.  But clearly the American people aren’t “protesting in the streets” against Obama Care.

Breakfast with the Beatles was at nine and the guest was Peter Asher, of Peter and Gordon, and they played “I Don’t Want to See You Again”.   Apparently John Lennon invited Peter Asher along with them to a recording session because “John Lennon was interested in alpha waves” that Peter was into.  It was the end of September of 1967 and they were working on I’m the Walrus, and Ringo was in charge of searching for a good ratio station on the dial, till they came to King Lear, and John said “Use that”.   They played the stark, rocky  version of Rock Show that kind of turns into a jam session.  They played the longer version of Revolution I that they have on You Tube- - but whacked it short today.   It dawned on me how little piano you hear on “Honey Pie” when on my version it’s almost all piano and drums.   Also the Revolver guitars on the music bridge of “Martha My Dear” on my version - - are almost entirely absent on the record.  [However on the oddball version of this recording - the trumpets are completely missing]

 In Leo Le Port news FAT 32 is the file system that’s compatible on almost any operating system, even Apple.  Unix is cool with it.  But Windows XP is the last system to use FAT 32.   FTFS is the operating system used in Vista and Windows 7 and Windows 8.   But it isn’t universally compatable.  But FAT 32 doesn’t allow for files bigger than two gigs.   Leo talked about thirteen mass computer address directories ruling the whole world.  (?)  First the computer asks the operating system if it knows the address, and then it asks the browser, and then it goes up and up the chain of command.    The final horrendous loss was USC’s defeat at the hands of Arizona State, prompting the firing of the coach for “too many mistakes”.

We had a fairly protein intensive day today.  Because we had hot chicken sandwiches and beets- - and kind of a beef noodle soup.  We had baked apple halves for desert.  Roxanne was at lunch but she wasn’t at dinner.  For dinner we had meatloaf and I and John used the catsup- - because Joanie had gotten up.  So I told Glen he could use up the rest of the catsup.  [Joanie returned but didn't get catsup.]  But some remained and then Paul Evans got his turn, and gave me back to me.  It still wasn’t used up and I used it for my second helping of meatloaf and green beans.  We had potatoes- - but on seconds these ran out first.  We had sort of pina collata yogurt for desert.  I poured half of Roxanne’s tea into my glass and was drinking that for some kind of lift- - when Marsha came over and out of the blue gave me three good white cigarettes.  As you know the previous whole cigarette I’d had was just after nine of clock yesterday morning.  That’s over thirty one & a half hours and that record should stand for a long time.  I informed Bill I had two cigarettes left and said I would share them with him if he came out to smoke with me later.   In soap land- - now all of a sudden Gabriel has done a complete reversal again.  Now she apologises all over the place to Will and Sonny, whom she couldn’t stand the sight of a few hours earlier- - and promised them that she would never move out and take the baby.  The position is strange because she’s miserable and will continue to be miserable as long as she lives with two queers - - with no love life at all.   I’m not sure why this grudge against Raphael that Elvis seems to have.  Once again - - how did he get into the hospital room, because I assure you he’s not on the visitors list.   It was kind of a “Stephano light” intimidation session.

We are now officially on page six, and the next file will be either “lavender” or “raindow”, but in which order I haven’t decided.  They’ve been using an off brand of sausage that doesn’t taste that good.  This morning we had French toast- - one and a half pieces.  We had oatmeal and I got seconds on oatmeal from Hilda.  That Ebony K lady was on but once again drowsiness got the better of me- - and I was kind of dazed being short on both caffeine and nicotine in my system.  I went out for ten o clock coffee, which was right on the dot.  I was trying to chirp in “bird language”.  You never know.  [note to blog readers: one of the white birds reappeared]  I had two cups of coffee then.  I also had two cups of coffee in the afternoon.   In terms of Randy Rhodes she said a lot of good stuff today and I advise anybody to check out her podcast.  I could not possibly repeat here everything she said.  It’s mostly a question if filtering through all the lies that the right wing has told about the Affordable Care Act, many of which I have fallen for in the past.   David Cruise came out against perks by county supervisors in these tough times and urges these Supervissors to think of their standing as more like you would a family, where if one suffers they all suffer, and if one prospers, they share the wealth.  The trouble is the Catholic Church never did this.  They were like the one pig who always has his way at the troff, and nobody else dare eat till he has had his fill.  I have a real solution to that one.  Since he is the one piggy who had been “fattened up” then he shall have the “honored” of being the first hog to be slaughtered.  That way the family will eat well, and the problem in pig land will be solved.

"We're Going to Break Obama"

This phrase of "We're going to break Obama" was said by tea party Republicans in connection with stopping the Affordable Care Health Care bill from ever getting ratified in congress.  It's a term more commonly used in terms of an animal- - like breaking a horse - - or - in the Old South - of breaking a Slave.   This goal of the Republicans is something the House Republicans have never departed from, even at this late date with the Exchanges opening up for business, rain or shine, on Tuesday.  What made this clear to me that their goal was to "break" this President - as one would a wile animal - - or a Nigger - - is the response I heard on Chris Matthews this afternoon.  This Texas congressman was asked, "Be honest.  You know the left and many in the center would feel an outrageous sense of betrayal should the President cave in to you guys and destroy at the last minute the one legacy of this President he's hoping to get into the History books with.  Chris asked him point blank, "I bet you yourself would lose all respect for this President if he betrayed his core beliefs like that, wouldn't you?"  The man refused to answer the question despite repeated prodding.  I've been in situations like that- in trying to cut a quitting smoking deal with my family, when they made it clear that there was Nothing I could do that would make them "Satisfied" with me.  One would think the President would have much to lose and surely nothing to gain by caving into these Tea Baggers.  And yet this is exactly what I think he'll do.  Who would have guessed that the first term of this President would be dominated by such things as two simotanious wars and drone strikes, and a new assasenation policy that says American citizens are fair game now once they leave our borders.  The only thing worse than the President signing his own political death warrent would be- - physical death.  And my guess is that the President has been informed in no uncertain terms- - that he will not survive the month of October if he continues in this way he is poking and prodding and making fun of the Republican opposition.  They don't like that.  And like Zimmerman they have a whole lot of people who feel exactly the same way they do.  I wouldn't be surprised to see the assasin of this President - - making media statements along with his Attorney - - just like Zimmerman did.  And Rush would of course get on his golden EIB microphone and say "There are some weak people who would say this is another example of too much gun violence in America and they want gun legislation now" and then he would probably make some joke.  Chris Matthews said "There is no way out".  This whole stand-off thing isn't going to end well, and I strongly suspect there will be blood on the floor before it's all over.

A little over an hour ago [name withheld] came in here because the room to the north had blown out an outlet to the smoke alarm, and he was doing something with ours.  Then just now I noticed there was no power and I went down to the office and told Federico and he immediately paged [name withheld] to this room to check it out.  Before he was even here, the power came back on as I was looking at the surge protector.  Maybe I’m just batty but I couldn’t find a power switch on that whole thing.  I guess all plugs are on all the time.  Boston College was beating Florida State 14 to 3 but then Florida State narrowed it to 17 to 14.  I went down for afternoon coffee in the courtyard. I also had Leo Le Port on and was vaguely annoyed by something he said.  He said it was a good thing we would not be relying on free over the air television so much in the future and the question is – why not?  Leo reminded us that you may soon have to pay for virtually Everything Else you get- - even from the Internet, if I read him right.   Leo also says that this IOS seven program for the I phones- - completely revamps the icons.  Leo says that “user friendly software is on its way out” because ‘people are more experienced now” so maybe we’’ll be, what?  Returning to DOS 6.2?   He said Steve Jobs loved icons with a connection to the real world such as “rounded corners and fake shadows”.  But Leo says we are being weaned from the real world therefore it’s no longer necessary to, for example, show folders as actual manila folders.  And he says they are moving to harder to read, thinner font and lower contrasts and more pastels.  Call me puzzled.  It was my understanding that these “drive by themselves” cars were already legal in California, but apparently only for research.  But these cars that don’t need a driver will be on the market by 2017.  But the public is being introduced to the concept incrementally by cars that vibrate when you stray out of your lanes, and automatically brake when you’re too close to the car in front of you, or when little kids are playing in your blind spot as you back out.  With these changes- - incidence of accident should go way down.  And then there’s the whole idea we discussed of “summon an auto car, like a taxi, that picks you up to go to a specific location, and then like a Taxi with a driver, leaves to service someone else.  And then there is the Guiz Whiz - - who has the “ear wax vacuum” out, that doesn’t get any caked ear wax out- - but I imagine it would blow our your ear drums.  And if this were to be the case could you sue- - or would you get demerited by the Judge for sheer stupidity.   Bill Handel does not take kindly at all to the whole idea of Kathryn Jackson suing AEG.   In this Bill is diametrically opposed to the position the Federation has taken, that the Jackson family ought to get everything they are suing for.  California law is such that even if it’s 50 / 50 neglence- - then the Jackson party is still entitled to six hundred million.  The incentive here is to sue for a whole lot.

Just Another Day

Last night it was the usual ABC game shows.  Yesterday was when I think I had KLOS music on in the minutes just before and just after twelve noon- - because I was getting tired of the usual celebrity talk.   At eight it was kids on Chef Ramsey- - and all of them had really amazing, highly creative and well crafted desert, with very few critical remarks.  This morning the TV was on KCOP - - so I guess I had it on 13 for a while before going to bed pretty early, if memory serves.  I slept well.  A few nights ago I had a major, detailed dream about - - something but now the thing is completely gone from me.  I had the feeling it might be worth employing for posting, somehow.  I had KNX on in the morning with the usual “Rewind’ and the Presidential weekly address.  The Republican response, as expected, was pretty stupid.  Joanie showed up at breakfast this morning and the yellow stripes of her top were florescent  I could tell, by the way they floureced in UV light from the far windows- - but not from the closer artificial lighting.  I guess Roxanne used to be into those posters, too.  We had oatmeal and got two white sugars from [name withheld].  We had scrambled eggs I used catsup on - - plus toast and butter and jelly.  Perhaps I was just intuitive- - but I knew the red candy (that looked like a cough drop) was cinnamon and not cherry even before I opened it.  And it was.  There’s a whole backlog of cosmic stuff I’ve been holding off on- -  and I guess I won’t be posting it today either.

Dr Levy never showed.  The thing is, it’s the day you LEAST expect Dr Levy to not show, that he ditches out on.  He promised me coffee, of course.  But I don’t think he ever secured that book for Joe Drisco he promised.  He was going to pass out that multi page excerpt from his book on “Balanced living”.   I was going to complain to him about the problems I’ve had with his web site.  The thing is- - we know he’s starting another Saturday class in a couple of weeks, and that he’s going to Israel later this year.  So when you think of it- - if he doesn’t show now- - then when will he?  He managed three weeks in a row showing up.  They had that krill and fish oil combo from Purity at nine, and I watched the first twelve minutes of it- - before switching to TV football.  The krill oil has an Aztezanten molecule already attatched to it which is 62 times better an anti oxidant than - - something.  The other thing I saw from Purity was the Creatine thing I’ve mentioned- - that I can personally vouch for (that substance) and it also contains “Fruit XP” and “Coffee berry extract” for more anti oxidant protection.  Donald and Keith were out of coffee filters and so I gave them about twenty of my filters.

It was a little before ten when I took twelve shots around here with my camera, which I haven’t used in a while- - and seemingly the battery has increasing trouble holding a charge because the light was flashing.   It never seems like as many shots as the camera told you you took, until you go back and count them.  Then I went down to the courtyard for coffee break and got a cup of coffee- - and I also managed to get some of last night’s yellow cake before they ran out.  It’s a case of “And then there was one” in terms of the bird population.   It seems that just in the past couple of days another bird has died, the white one, which didn’t look to sick, but had been in the smaller cage.  Now the sole surviving dark gray bird is doing a lot of chirping.  I had Melinda Lee on - - who discussed meatballs.  We had vegetable soup for lunch that was too hot to eat- - and a grilled cheese sandwich, carrot salad, and mixed fresh fruit.  It was honeydew - - grapes - - and orange slices.   Paul Evans gave Roxanne a bowl piled really high- - and Roxanne shared it with me.  Now it’s five after three and I guess I’ll be checking Chris Matthews soon.

I may have been generous with Donald - - but he wouldn’t give me so much as butts just now.  I’ll make a mental note of that.  Nobody would give me anything.  So there are still two and a half days to go of - - whatever.   I’ll be back.  On second thought- - no I won’t.  I’m done with this file.  The weather people on TV said that today would be the last summery day.

Possible US and Iran Accords

President Obama received a phone call from President Ruhani of Iran this morning, and he got time on ABC coverage to talk about it, from the Press briefing room.  But Bill Handel has joined the chorus of saying that Assad and Putin have both been playing President Obama like a violin lately.  Bill noted that it was cleaver to use these chemical weapons as a distraction.  Today the UN ceased control of these dangerous chemicals, most of which had not even been activated.   Bill sees the overall message as one of affirmation that it’s OK for Assad to kill as many of his own citizens as he wants – just as long as he doesn’t use chemical weapons.  Bill noted that the last figure of 110,000 total dead- - has been the figure used for weeks- - and it’s as though coverage of further violence by Assad is pushed off the air waves in a classic case of “Out of sight, out of mind”.   Others think the President is masterful for averting war.  But basically the president has averted nothing.  He just allowed Putin to steal the spotlight from him on this issue getting a rare chance to play the good guy in the eyes of the world.

The democratic senate voted out a “clean continuing resolution” bill by the comfortable vote of 54 to 44.   Apparently the bill to cut off debate was 79 for it.  This along with attacks from his own party should go a long way tword making Speaker Boehner feel encircled.  I thought of the notion that if government does shut down, then we won’t be spending that much money.  This will have the effect of pushing back the mid October deadline date for the default on the national debt.  The President says that he’s perfectly willing to look into making improvements in the Affordable Care Act, but it must be done through the proper channels and not through blackmail.  You will remember that Republicans couldn’t keep from calling it the “Obama Sequester”.  Perhaps now this repeat performance will jog their memory as to who really is responsible for the Sequester.  But I don’t think it bothers these right wingers one bit being caught in a lie.  Of course now they have a whole elaborate list of demands that the President must meet to avoid a government shutdown.  Obviously they aren’t even attempting to rationalize it as a Deficet issue- - since the deficit has almost been cut in half over the past three years.  So now they have a whole new list of demands.  These include final approval of the Canadian pipeline, and the elimination of a lot of EPA regulations, and the opening up of federal lands to oil exploration and drilling.  In addition they want the usual tax breaks for the rich. And also a dismanteling of Banking regulations that was passed two congresses back.  The whole idea of negotiation under such circumstances - - is about as blatant as a daylight bank robbery.

The Lodi news reports that - - after a minor argument between the Dodger and Giant fans outside a bar- - one or more of the Dodger people pursued the Giants fans and jumped them, and a worse struggle insued.  And the guy who ended up using a knife was first hit over the head with a chair.  I’m not buying this bit about “This guy wouldn’t hurt anybody”.   But it should be no reflection at all on any Baseball Stadium since the altercation took place several blocks away.

Bill Handel is not at all happy about all these violent prisoners- - serial murderors and sex offenders - -being loosed upon our streets in compliance with the US Supreme Court mandate.  Bill says that “There should be a major epidemic of I Pad thefts if that happens”.  I don’t know if Bill knew that in fact there has been a major I Pad theft today.  Logic would dictate just as David Cruise says- - that the money should not have gone for I Pads that cost several hundred dollars each, apparently handed out to grammar school kids or something - - because as David says “A tool is only as valuable as the experience of the one using it”.   Clearly the money could have been better spent in countless ways.  Perhaps improved school busses - - or more teachers, or air conditioning for kids that don’t yet have it.  Maybe Judy is right.  If there is any money to spend, it won’t be saved for when you really need it, but it will be squandered on literally anything, just to use it up, so they can ask for more.  Speaking of crime- - David Cruise says that cops routinely stop and frisk kids gathered together in groups of more than three.  They pat them down and have them sit on the curb with their hands behind their heads, and pelt them with questions.  If this actually works, maybe it isn’t a bad idea.  Logic would dictate that it would “nip the gang influence in the bud”.  David is afraid this treatment by the police will get the kids used to early the idea that “they are criminals” and if you tell someone they are a criminal consistently- - he will begin to ACT like a criminal, and this would be counter-productive.

I have already posted and decided not to include any of my special type of “cosmic stuff” but I'm in edit again because people need to go with inspirations once they get them.  Even Father Eric, as dense as he is, can have a "sudden jarring enlightenment" with the right interactional stimulation of conversation in the room.  I will do a brief treaties now on the idea of “inside’ verses “outside”.   It’s kind of a distinction between knowing ABOUT somebody and KNOWING the person himself because you have lived right along with them and shared common struggles.  A dissertation on the distinction from looking at a hell hole from the inside, as opposed to looking at it from the outside- - when it no longer has power over you.  People give out of compulsion or because they feel “it’s the right thing” even though it’s basically the last thing they want to do- - in my book should receive more honor from God in the Afterlife- - than someone who does of it of their own unfettered free will.  Because they have a choice, and once you’ve ever been “On the Inside” you don’t know what a blessed luxury having a Choice about something really is.  The guy in the Arlo Guthrie skit in the Army psych interview who just wants to join up so he can kill people- - is not as virtuous as someone who is drafted- - when they had a lot of other plans for their life.  Since Jesus can never know what it’s like to be trapped in such a way, either by emotional or legal blackmail or some overt physical threat- - then it can never be said that he suffered the way a Man suffers.  (Selah)  It's absurd for Man to say "If you were really religious you'd see yourself the way God sees you".  In that case I'd be God.  The wonder is NOT why we don't see things the way "God' sees us, but how "God" himself can be so daft that - - he is incapable of AWARENESS of the fact that we mortals are affected by Time and cause and effect.  I see no virtue on God's apparent lack of empathy for Man on this issue.  Though Pastors find virtue in the idea that since God is a Monday morning quarterback (but only after the fact and never before when it counts) that somehow we ALL would be better if we adopted this "apathy" of God on this one issue of - - Time, - and also to the fact that we're limited and mortals and can't do everything.  We certainly can't get "IT" done all at once, and we cant go back and re-arrange the past to make it easier for us to do it.  You know scripture says of Jesus that 'Jesus always had the very nature of God, but never considered equality with God a thing to be grasped or sought after".  If that statement is really true - - then it doesn't matter whether or not whether we worship Jesus as Divinity because he doesn't Care.  (Selah) 

  

Some UN commission has issued a new report saying that it is “Extremely likely” that global warming is manmade.  But others will point to the claim that 1998 was the hottest year of all time on the planet.  If this is so how come they keep issuing reports that “Six of the past ten years have been the hottest years on the planet ever” or whatever.   Rush Limbaugh and all the rest of them, contend that the whole thing is a politically generated hoax designed to - - I don’t know boost Al Gore in the Presidential polls or something.  So many of the rationalizations of the far right are wearing really thin.  They used to say the United States had a weak foreign policy.  They used to say that the deficit was growing.  They used to claim that any day now we would have simotaniously runaway inflation and a collapsed economy.  They used to claim that their sexual morals were superior to the average liberal.  They used to claim that they wanted our military to be properly equipped.  They used to claim that what separated them from the left is that they had an inherently deeper love of country than the left.  But now they are stripped of the ability to make any of these claims.  They don’t have the senate behind them.  They have to face the fact that two Presidential elections and a U S Supreme Court ruling and the fact that the Affordable Care Act is standing law and has been for three and a half years already.   Now all they want to do is take food and government programs away from the poor and raid pension funds, and garnish government worker’s salaries so they can pay more in ‘Hedge fund” fees, as if somehow government’s sole reason for existence was to make a profit and not serve the people.