Forging Ahead 
In case you missed it, fellow Vermonter Marc Estrin wrote an article on Obama's new "Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs," one Cass Sunstein by name. Sunstein recently penned a most interesting paper concerning "Conspiracy Theories: Causes and Cures." In an ongoing effort to enlighten what I personally see as the "epistemologically crippled," I'd like to offer some "cognitive diversity," of my own...
The only real cure for "conspiracy theories," would be an end to conspiring on the part of the bankers, the corporations, the American federal government and additionally, several notable foreign entities. It's entirely laughable that the events of 9-11 should be front and center to Sunstein's...
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As I said, well over a year ago, "Obama isn't going to amount to anything other than a couple years of hope followed by another couple years of dismay." I guess I was wrong- as it seems to have taken rather less time for this prediction to manifest. The "left," is starting to realize that something's amiss, though the dominant responses yet seem to come in the form of denial and confusion. When Obama was selected to run for the Democrats, it was obvious to me that the reigning duopolists understood that they needed to mollify the angry "left". The next president will be selected to mollify the angry "right," whether by four years of abuse or eight, and some people who should know better keep falling for it, time and time again.
I've...
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Still think Obama's really going to withdraw from illegal wars in Iraq or Afghanistan? Still think America isn't dying to provoke war with Iran? Still think we don't have an Orwellian "War Against Terror," or a torturer-in-chief? Still think the Neo-Libatives / Conservibals aren't just following the plans laid out in Rebuilding America's Defenses? Still think racist, apartheid Israel doesn't dictate American foreign policy? Still think that the economy's got green shoots and the "recession," is almost over? Still think the "health care bill," isn't just another hold-up robbery by the corporate feudalists? Still think Wall Street hasn't presided over the largest economic rape in history? Still think you're anything but a peasant...
Posted: Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 17:32
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Unaffiliated
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America's president Obama continues the tune that Bush the Younger started fiddling... and Rome continues her fall. I recall all the Hope for Change and I'll even refrain from saying that I told you so. Sort of.
We've still got two war fronts and no sign of withdrawal. "Sure baby," says the President, "I'll pull out." Afghanistan, the Graveyard of Empires, conquered only by the likes of Alexander the Great, remains completely and surprisingly unconquered. History, shmistory; we'll just need another 500,000 troops. How's the family these days? Little Johnny's just about to graduate, isn't he? Such a promising boy.
The propaganda's really hitting the fan- more war is certainly coming. Perhaps after another false flag operation...
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As I've been endlessly repeating here for four or five years now, the American government is owned by bankers, corporations and foreign influences. The notion that there's any real difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is carefully crafted public relations and little else.
Larry Flynt has written a nice essay at The Huffington Post of relevance. While it's a nice summary of the issues at hand, sadly, any efforts such as his suggested strike will easily and simply be diffused by public relations divide and conquer, as exemplified by the impressive destruction of any real health care reform.
The real war is not between the left and the right. It is between the average American and the ruling class. If we come together on...
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Among many interests, I have also been homebrewing for well over ten years. This craft goes hand in hand with smithing, as the ancient Celts attested with the deity Goibhniu, the Finns with Ilmarinen and the Norse with the Dwarves. I have certainly made my share of quaffable beer, but have enjoyed the honeyed meads as a general focus. I do believe it a sacred duty to support my local apiaries, and consider drinking mead well nigh a patriotic pastime for my beloved Vermont and her farmers! I would like to keep my own bees in the next few years. There are several Vermont companies now making drinkable mead, which until recently was difficult to find. I recommend Honey Gardens in Ferrisburg.
I have been expanding into seasonally...
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But then I suspect that the boy in this case isn't actually interested in the flock, or the wolf for that matter, and cares not if even the wolf should eat the whole flock. He's much more interested in the villagers. That some should believe the boy time and time again is unfortunate. Charitably considered, he's simply unaware of the consequences of crying wolf; he may in fact suffer some affliction, and thus honestly think to see wolves lurking behind every tree.
I am somewhat inclined to consider less charitably.
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There once was a shepherd boy who was bored as he sat on the hillside watching the village sheep. To amuse himself he took a great breath and sang out, "Wolf! Wolf! The Wolf is chasing the sheep!"
The villagers came...
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Now is the time to be thankful. In the midst of mayhem, Vermont still blooms; the garden grows, the farmer's market begins to show its bounty and the Summer dresses finally make their welcome appearance. Of course the American, indeed world economy's still in complete meltdown, despite laughable assurances to the contrary. The Project for a New American Century's drums of war still beat for Iran. War seems inevitable as the CIA & Mossad's textbook coup attempt fails to oust Ahmadinejad. The Americans will be bombing some more innocent folks in order to give them Democracy, mark my words. Obama's electioneering lies and backroom dealings begin to seethe to the surface: gay rights, health care, executive transparency, corporate...
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What a real Winter. Mud Season's finally past, at least on my road. Except for one stubborn mystery spot. I've gotten the motorbike out, starting with a seven o'clock in the morning ride at 25 degrees. Two words: snowmobile gear. The chickens made it through the Winter in their Fortress of Chickentude. We only went through half of the wood, though we did go through a lot more propane than usual during the negative temperatures of January. Or February. Whenever it was that we had a real Vermont cold-snap. There's seedlings growing in the window. These are the important things in life right now.
On the scale of less than important, I'd like to thank Obama for continuing with White House secrecy, more bailouts, more taxes, more...
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I't been a pleasure to watch the events of the past week, culminating in the sensible assertion that the state has no business refusing to issue marriages on the basis of gender. It's a first, coming from a state legislature and certainly in the tradition of Vermont, whose founders often held nature and reason above religious dogma.
It's that history which places Vermont in a unique position to do even better, and I wonder what we could achieve without the shackles of the federal American government and the collective decisions made by states so culturally disparate that we ought to, in practical terms, simply be different countries.
I've no wish to impose my values on other people and I expect the same. Isn't that the crux of the...