Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Saturday, April 11, 2009
PBS Moyer's Journal w/ William Black
Artman sent me this today. I watched it. I'll watch it again. It is hand and glove with the Obama administration and the bankers, according to this interview. Interesting. Our boy McCain is mentioned too. If you are interviewing for a job and were asked to watch Zeitgeist Addendum, this interview might help too. I must admit I still haven't watched the addendum.
In Zeitgeist , it was religion's astrological roots, and the treachery of 9\11 that interested me most. Money , Avarice, and the deceit inherent in those that are addicted to the dollar, from my perspective, is no different than any other addiction. Individually, we all have different appetites for wealth, but at some reasonable point we should be satiated. Money is the drug to some, and they will do much worse harm for dollars, than an addict does for their fix. Take the time to watch the interview. We can believe it's the same old bullshit , same old Rock and Roll.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Empire
First,
On the edges of Empire there is always turmoil, a life and death struggle for profit and gain. As an Empire expands or contracts there is friction. People die where Empire's grind.. One side wants progress, the other tradition, or, maybe a religion. Profit wants natural resources, so do the natives. Profit wants a route through the neighborhood, Profit versus the Natives. One competitor versus another competitor, profit versus profit, Church versus church, has it not been this way since the beginning of time?
Isn't that what's happening in Mexico right now? Life and Death to snuggle up and feed the Empire? Drug Empires grinding at the border?
I bring this up because I don't like what I see in the rest of the world. ( Careful, I'm informed primarily through the sound-bites that I'm fed.) Valenzuela and Russia holding joint military exercises, North Korea launching a ballistic missile, China challenging US ships in international waters, Iran pursuing The Bomb, Brazil's president blaming the "blue eyed" leaders of the world for current economic woes, and protests in Europe denouncing American greed.
That's aside from two Imperialistic wars in the Middle East . Wars where oil profits and pipelines, and lies, have overshadowed any illusion of righteousness. Damning to our image, burying the country in debt, enpowering our enemies Bad, bad, bad. Fuel for anti-American sentiment world-wide. . Watching the news, it would seem the new cold war is the World vs the US, and it's preparing to heat up.
Now,
Say I'm crazy, but you know how you are about Your money. You want it. When people owe you money you want to be paid, with juice. Normally, you don't want to loan more money until you're paid what you're owed. And loaning money so you can be paid interest on money already owed, probably a bad investment. Insolvency can lead to unpleasantness. People want their money. It is the same in all languages, in all countries, in all cultures. Isn't money money?
We owe a lot of money world-wide. Worse yet for the people we owe, the Government keeps printing more money which makes the money worth less. We ran out of money to use because all the money left the country. It really is a great scam. We import everything we need for dollars, then print more dollars when we run out.. Something for nothing. Of course, someday, when the world realizes dollars are worthless, there will have to be a war to settle the debt because, People want their money.
The only way we'll be able to repay them is to have a war, and bill our opponents for reparations.
All war is for profit, this one will be no different; Everybody will expect to be paid, Nobody will have the money, Somebody will get angry, Anybody whom can make a profit will get involved. We'll call this next war "the honest war". No bullshit about the axis of evil, or Liberation , or God, just the plain old truth, " we owe you money and we can't pay it, oh, and we'll print more money so we can have some too, despite that making your money worth less. " .............. That's why I don't like what I see, the deal isn't fair, and you know how you are about Your money, The rest of the world is the same way.
On the edges of Empire there is always turmoil, a life and death struggle for profit and gain. As an Empire expands or contracts there is friction. People die where Empire's grind.. One side wants progress, the other tradition, or, maybe a religion. Profit wants natural resources, so do the natives. Profit wants a route through the neighborhood, Profit versus the Natives. One competitor versus another competitor, profit versus profit, Church versus church, has it not been this way since the beginning of time?
Isn't that what's happening in Mexico right now? Life and Death to snuggle up and feed the Empire? Drug Empires grinding at the border?
I bring this up because I don't like what I see in the rest of the world. ( Careful, I'm informed primarily through the sound-bites that I'm fed.) Valenzuela and Russia holding joint military exercises, North Korea launching a ballistic missile, China challenging US ships in international waters, Iran pursuing The Bomb, Brazil's president blaming the "blue eyed" leaders of the world for current economic woes, and protests in Europe denouncing American greed.
That's aside from two Imperialistic wars in the Middle East . Wars where oil profits and pipelines, and lies, have overshadowed any illusion of righteousness. Damning to our image, burying the country in debt, enpowering our enemies Bad, bad, bad. Fuel for anti-American sentiment world-wide. . Watching the news, it would seem the new cold war is the World vs the US, and it's preparing to heat up.
Now,
Say I'm crazy, but you know how you are about Your money. You want it. When people owe you money you want to be paid, with juice. Normally, you don't want to loan more money until you're paid what you're owed. And loaning money so you can be paid interest on money already owed, probably a bad investment. Insolvency can lead to unpleasantness. People want their money. It is the same in all languages, in all countries, in all cultures. Isn't money money?
We owe a lot of money world-wide. Worse yet for the people we owe, the Government keeps printing more money which makes the money worth less. We ran out of money to use because all the money left the country. It really is a great scam. We import everything we need for dollars, then print more dollars when we run out.. Something for nothing. Of course, someday, when the world realizes dollars are worthless, there will have to be a war to settle the debt because, People want their money.
The only way we'll be able to repay them is to have a war, and bill our opponents for reparations.
All war is for profit, this one will be no different; Everybody will expect to be paid, Nobody will have the money, Somebody will get angry, Anybody whom can make a profit will get involved. We'll call this next war "the honest war". No bullshit about the axis of evil, or Liberation , or God, just the plain old truth, " we owe you money and we can't pay it, oh, and we'll print more money so we can have some too, despite that making your money worth less. " .............. That's why I don't like what I see, the deal isn't fair, and you know how you are about Your money, The rest of the world is the same way.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
AIG
Anderson Cooper was asking people how they felt about AIG executives getting bonuses. People didn't like it. Which leads me to think:
Somewhere there is an AIG employee whom doesn't give a rats ass about what people think, they want "Their" bonus.! understand where the money went on inflated mortgages; sellers pocketed the money and mortgage holders took the losses, but is the rest of the meltdown all collateral damage? and if not, then where did the rest of the money go?
Somewhere the question was posed today, "should Mrs. Madoff be allowed to keep Millions in homes and jewlery etc.?" Really.
I think the question posed should be, " Should Madoff be waterboarded by his victims until he gives up the location of the money?"
"Is prison enough for Madoff ?" I mean, he's already had years of luxury and wealth, he's got billions stashed somewhere, and when you consider what his "pay" will be per year for each year in prison; about five billion plus per year if he lives another ten years in prison, he deserves more. Like torture.
Oh, another thing, now that the drought is over in Northern California, three big storms are converging on the west coast to flood the place later this week. I'm not kidding, better buy in Southern Oregon quick.
Is Madoff the Biggest thief in history ?
I mean other than George W. ............ See, we're back where we started. People getting bonuses when they should be in jail.
One last thing , "Too BIG to Fail" , is bullshit because they failed. How stupid are we?
Somewhere there is an AIG employee whom doesn't give a rats ass about what people think, they want "Their" bonus.! understand where the money went on inflated mortgages; sellers pocketed the money and mortgage holders took the losses, but is the rest of the meltdown all collateral damage? and if not, then where did the rest of the money go?
Somewhere the question was posed today, "should Mrs. Madoff be allowed to keep Millions in homes and jewlery etc.?" Really.
I think the question posed should be, " Should Madoff be waterboarded by his victims until he gives up the location of the money?"
"Is prison enough for Madoff ?" I mean, he's already had years of luxury and wealth, he's got billions stashed somewhere, and when you consider what his "pay" will be per year for each year in prison; about five billion plus per year if he lives another ten years in prison, he deserves more. Like torture.
Oh, another thing, now that the drought is over in Northern California, three big storms are converging on the west coast to flood the place later this week. I'm not kidding, better buy in Southern Oregon quick.
Is Madoff the Biggest thief in history ?
I mean other than George W. ............ See, we're back where we started. People getting bonuses when they should be in jail.
One last thing , "Too BIG to Fail" , is bullshit because they failed. How stupid are we?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tent Cities
A friend here in the mountains called me this morning and related a story he'd seen on television the other day. A story about tent cities in Sacramento. After explaining that he was channel surfing and just happened to catch the story (and normally does not watch Oprah), he then reiterated the story of the tent city emerging next to the river in Sacramento. A 'community' of the homeless, the jobless, and other victims of hard times, or themselves, or the predatory bankers, or the boogie man. Everybody has a story. The place is growing by 50 tents a day. With the publicity the story has gotten recently, I'm sure it's going to swell.
By coincidence I was watching Larry King last night hosted by Ali Velshi, the CNN money man who has been telling people to ride out the stock market throughout the 7,000 point downfall. He was interviewing Kevin Johnson about, you guessed it, the tent city. I think several of the residents were former clients of Ali, back when they had money... and the real loser is, yes, Sacramento.
I know it's said that any publicity is good publicity, but in this case I respectfully disagree. I could be wrong though; yesterday I watched a story on Detroit property prices, where houses, nice houses, are selling for $10,000 and less. Since then I've been thinking about Detroit real estate. Today, they interviewed a Detroit newsman about the story and, according to him, the nightmare started there about five years ago with automaker layoffs that continue to this day and the property prices that have fallen and now reflect just 10% of what they were. Can you imagine?
Listening to the newsman, I could feel his personal shock and disbelief as he described the residents waiting and waiting and waiting, and yet still no bottom is approaching to their deteriorating world.
And so back to the tent city... let's say, hypothetically, that the tent city grows by 50 tents a day for 5 years.....that's 91,250 tents. Other than the obvious, now would be a good time to invest in canvas, or maybe porta-potties.
I have read a little of the Great Depression and these tent cities were common back then. I remember reading stories about the Federal Government battling the residents over squatting in certain places. Sacramento might eventually have those type of problems; if one were going to squat in a tent, Sacramento would be a lot better climate-wise than other places. The place could be a magnet for the needy. What an opportunity, the whole hippy movement could re-emerge from the city in the valley where the two rivers meet. That probably sounds good to the people who have already met the boogie man and predatory banker, but those that are still in pocket probably aren't so enthusiastic about living in a loser magnet city.
I can't wait to return.
By coincidence I was watching Larry King last night hosted by Ali Velshi, the CNN money man who has been telling people to ride out the stock market throughout the 7,000 point downfall. He was interviewing Kevin Johnson about, you guessed it, the tent city. I think several of the residents were former clients of Ali, back when they had money... and the real loser is, yes, Sacramento.
I know it's said that any publicity is good publicity, but in this case I respectfully disagree. I could be wrong though; yesterday I watched a story on Detroit property prices, where houses, nice houses, are selling for $10,000 and less. Since then I've been thinking about Detroit real estate. Today, they interviewed a Detroit newsman about the story and, according to him, the nightmare started there about five years ago with automaker layoffs that continue to this day and the property prices that have fallen and now reflect just 10% of what they were. Can you imagine?
Listening to the newsman, I could feel his personal shock and disbelief as he described the residents waiting and waiting and waiting, and yet still no bottom is approaching to their deteriorating world.
And so back to the tent city... let's say, hypothetically, that the tent city grows by 50 tents a day for 5 years.....that's 91,250 tents. Other than the obvious, now would be a good time to invest in canvas, or maybe porta-potties.
I have read a little of the Great Depression and these tent cities were common back then. I remember reading stories about the Federal Government battling the residents over squatting in certain places. Sacramento might eventually have those type of problems; if one were going to squat in a tent, Sacramento would be a lot better climate-wise than other places. The place could be a magnet for the needy. What an opportunity, the whole hippy movement could re-emerge from the city in the valley where the two rivers meet. That probably sounds good to the people who have already met the boogie man and predatory banker, but those that are still in pocket probably aren't so enthusiastic about living in a loser magnet city.
I can't wait to return.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Nothing
The weather is changing here today. The warm sunshine and tease of spring is being replaced by a north wind, black clouds, cold rain and dropping temperatures. Winter is returning for the latter half of February. The driveway is returning to mud. Wood consumption is rising quickly.
Finally, California may get some rain. More importantly, the mountains on the California-Oregon border are getting snow. My property needs the water.
Watching CNN today, I see that citizens that have lost their homes are protesting in front of the homes of CEOs of various lending institutions guilty of predatory lending. The idea is to 'personalize' the victims to the culprit. Remember this desperate day; the victims are forecasting an attitude and frustration that is going to explode nationwide.
As one friend put it, "This $900 billion give away is the grease that will send this fine country into the big black shit hole. The poor will be in the streets looting. The folks with anything left will retreat." Predatory Bankers better hide now. It would appear when the guillotines are dragged out their heads will be the first to roll.
If this was China, their greed and crimes would have already brought death. Maybe we can learn something from our Pacific rim partners. Misuse of public trust and power should be punishable by death. We wouldn't have to kill many politicians before Washington straightened itself out. Think if we killed just a few and all of the lobbyists.
It's only the beginning, too. As the race downhill proceeds (like a snowball) people will get angrier, hungrier, more unsatisfied. Public unrest is coming. Tax-payer revolt is coming. The ball gets bigger and rolls faster every day.
Americans have lived fat and sassy, and will not be satisfied by a simple subsistence survival. For awhile everybody had money, and everyone got a taste of having a little wealth; watch how we revolt against being poor.
And why shouldn't we? It's the people's money keeping the whole system afloat. Why don't the people now own the system? The banks, the automakers, insurance, housing, They should all be the people's now, and so should their profits! The privatization of profits and socialization of losses is plain robbery. These bailouts are just continuations of the robbery. A few heads should roll, literally. No, a lot of heads should roll.
As the house of cards falls the terror from within will begin. Eventually there will be no good or bad guys; people will fear both the government and the enemies of the state. I guess the retreat part comes into play about then.
The world is changing. America can no longer afford to support the rest of the world with her unbridled consumption, just as America cannot afford to police the rest of the world. Maybe it's time we focused on saving ourselves.
The sky is black now. Snow is starting to fall, swirling in the winds, carrying the latest storm into southern Oregon. It's late in the afternoon. The sky will only darken, the day become night, and the cold deepen before the storm passes.
Finally, California may get some rain. More importantly, the mountains on the California-Oregon border are getting snow. My property needs the water.
Watching CNN today, I see that citizens that have lost their homes are protesting in front of the homes of CEOs of various lending institutions guilty of predatory lending. The idea is to 'personalize' the victims to the culprit. Remember this desperate day; the victims are forecasting an attitude and frustration that is going to explode nationwide.
As one friend put it, "This $900 billion give away is the grease that will send this fine country into the big black shit hole. The poor will be in the streets looting. The folks with anything left will retreat." Predatory Bankers better hide now. It would appear when the guillotines are dragged out their heads will be the first to roll.
If this was China, their greed and crimes would have already brought death. Maybe we can learn something from our Pacific rim partners. Misuse of public trust and power should be punishable by death. We wouldn't have to kill many politicians before Washington straightened itself out. Think if we killed just a few and all of the lobbyists.
It's only the beginning, too. As the race downhill proceeds (like a snowball) people will get angrier, hungrier, more unsatisfied. Public unrest is coming. Tax-payer revolt is coming. The ball gets bigger and rolls faster every day.
Americans have lived fat and sassy, and will not be satisfied by a simple subsistence survival. For awhile everybody had money, and everyone got a taste of having a little wealth; watch how we revolt against being poor.
And why shouldn't we? It's the people's money keeping the whole system afloat. Why don't the people now own the system? The banks, the automakers, insurance, housing, They should all be the people's now, and so should their profits! The privatization of profits and socialization of losses is plain robbery. These bailouts are just continuations of the robbery. A few heads should roll, literally. No, a lot of heads should roll.
As the house of cards falls the terror from within will begin. Eventually there will be no good or bad guys; people will fear both the government and the enemies of the state. I guess the retreat part comes into play about then.
The world is changing. America can no longer afford to support the rest of the world with her unbridled consumption, just as America cannot afford to police the rest of the world. Maybe it's time we focused on saving ourselves.
The sky is black now. Snow is starting to fall, swirling in the winds, carrying the latest storm into southern Oregon. It's late in the afternoon. The sky will only darken, the day become night, and the cold deepen before the storm passes.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Buy American
How does an economy grow?
By passing dollars around. Not by sending them overseas. Exports go overseas. Buy American. Boycott businesses that are building foreign economies. Buy American.
Don't worry about American goods being more expensive; with the declining value of the dollar, with the American standard of living declining (ie. the elimination of the middle class), with the third world wages our manufacturers will be paying us, American goods will be cheap. So will American services. Remember, the more desperate people are for the basic necessities of life, the more willing they are to do more for less. 'Money' would like to see everybody desperate.
When you buy American, you contribute to your country, your fellow American citizen, the future of human rights, and the continuing fight for freedom from the 1% of the worlds population who control 80% of the worlds wealth.
So, why hasn't your new President, ObamaMan, once dictated to the American people to buy American? If Americans had spent the half a trillion in America that we owe China, well, where would we be? But ObamaMan can't do that because Americans have been sold out: Americans were sold the idea of "world markets" for American products, they weren't told that the products would be manufactured wherever labor was cheapest, and American labor would have to compete on that 'desperate' world level. Good for money. Good for poor, desperate people. Bad for America as a nation. It's like volunteering to lower our standard of living to that of the rest of the world.
ObamaMan would like you to believe a stimulus package can change this. I say, "nothing is going to save us." Especially repeating the same polices (overspending and borrowing) that created the problem.
Bring home the Troops.
Develop new energy sources.
Buy American.
Boycott contributing to overseas economies by boycotting companies that outsource American jobs.
Bite the Bullet. We don't need a special commission to figure this out, but we may need a REVOLUTION.
By passing dollars around. Not by sending them overseas. Exports go overseas. Buy American. Boycott businesses that are building foreign economies. Buy American.
Don't worry about American goods being more expensive; with the declining value of the dollar, with the American standard of living declining (ie. the elimination of the middle class), with the third world wages our manufacturers will be paying us, American goods will be cheap. So will American services. Remember, the more desperate people are for the basic necessities of life, the more willing they are to do more for less. 'Money' would like to see everybody desperate.
When you buy American, you contribute to your country, your fellow American citizen, the future of human rights, and the continuing fight for freedom from the 1% of the worlds population who control 80% of the worlds wealth.
So, why hasn't your new President, ObamaMan, once dictated to the American people to buy American? If Americans had spent the half a trillion in America that we owe China, well, where would we be? But ObamaMan can't do that because Americans have been sold out: Americans were sold the idea of "world markets" for American products, they weren't told that the products would be manufactured wherever labor was cheapest, and American labor would have to compete on that 'desperate' world level. Good for money. Good for poor, desperate people. Bad for America as a nation. It's like volunteering to lower our standard of living to that of the rest of the world.
ObamaMan would like you to believe a stimulus package can change this. I say, "nothing is going to save us." Especially repeating the same polices (overspending and borrowing) that created the problem.
Bring home the Troops.
Develop new energy sources.
Buy American.
Boycott contributing to overseas economies by boycotting companies that outsource American jobs.
Bite the Bullet. We don't need a special commission to figure this out, but we may need a REVOLUTION.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Drugs in Baseball
Can you imagine? Now imagine what can be done about it...
First and foremost, all season ticket holders, from the moment they had a documented junkie playing on their team till the present, should be refunded all monies paid to watch ATHLETES ON DRUGS. Why?
Without those stars (those supermen on drugs slapping homeruns, those stoppers, the young award winners, the MVPs, etc) baseball would not have drawn the crowds it did. The fans bought a false product; the supermen were ATHLETES ON DRUGS! Not that we can tell the difference between the two except every once in a while superman forgets he's a role model and murders a few people, usually culminating in a suicide. But the point is: we'll pay to see the best an individual can give naturally, but we want to believe in fairness. Nobody is going to pay to see an unfair contest (unless it's big time wrestling), therefore season ticket holders should be refunded their money. They were sold an fraudulent product.
Secondly, all steroid users should be put in the witness protection program. Barry, Roger, the runner, the bicyclist... make them all disappear. Then wipe the record books clean. Only fair records! We shouldn't be reminded, as we go through our more and more demanding days (cheating on taxes, speeding, overcharging, lying, and hustling to make ends meet) that the world isn't fair. It's not like any of us would do whatever we could to win. Those cheating bastards giving us what we wanted and then lying about how they delivered. And the money they were paid! I wouldn't do a few drugs for tens of millions.
Third, and most important, let's establish the steroids league. Players can do any drugs, steroids, hype they want. Fans can be sure they are getting the max in the athletes that they support. Everybody will be superman, or get on the shit, and since everybody will be involved, it's fair.
If your team is a loser you can change pharmacist. The athletes can be housed in special, luxury living 'areas' so that when they occasionally lose track of what is really important (winning) and start killing, we can confine the damage.
Additionally, it will be easier to study the long term affects of steroid use and see if the money is worth the damage?
Do they prolong careers? Do they grow hair? Can I be nineteen again? Huh? Pony up!
First and foremost, all season ticket holders, from the moment they had a documented junkie playing on their team till the present, should be refunded all monies paid to watch ATHLETES ON DRUGS. Why?
Without those stars (those supermen on drugs slapping homeruns, those stoppers, the young award winners, the MVPs, etc) baseball would not have drawn the crowds it did. The fans bought a false product; the supermen were ATHLETES ON DRUGS! Not that we can tell the difference between the two except every once in a while superman forgets he's a role model and murders a few people, usually culminating in a suicide. But the point is: we'll pay to see the best an individual can give naturally, but we want to believe in fairness. Nobody is going to pay to see an unfair contest (unless it's big time wrestling), therefore season ticket holders should be refunded their money. They were sold an fraudulent product.
Secondly, all steroid users should be put in the witness protection program. Barry, Roger, the runner, the bicyclist... make them all disappear. Then wipe the record books clean. Only fair records! We shouldn't be reminded, as we go through our more and more demanding days (cheating on taxes, speeding, overcharging, lying, and hustling to make ends meet) that the world isn't fair. It's not like any of us would do whatever we could to win. Those cheating bastards giving us what we wanted and then lying about how they delivered. And the money they were paid! I wouldn't do a few drugs for tens of millions.
Third, and most important, let's establish the steroids league. Players can do any drugs, steroids, hype they want. Fans can be sure they are getting the max in the athletes that they support. Everybody will be superman, or get on the shit, and since everybody will be involved, it's fair.
If your team is a loser you can change pharmacist. The athletes can be housed in special, luxury living 'areas' so that when they occasionally lose track of what is really important (winning) and start killing, we can confine the damage.
Additionally, it will be easier to study the long term affects of steroid use and see if the money is worth the damage?
Do they prolong careers? Do they grow hair? Can I be nineteen again? Huh? Pony up!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Getting Older
I don't mind aging. That's why I live out here in southern Oregon. I don't miss the glamor of the city. At one point in life I was good looking enough to disguise my hillbilly true self, but paint wears to the metal and the framework is evident. I didn't want to play the game all the time.
Underneath my handsome face and cool demeanor, after you dug through layers of hardened, tough, sculpted muscle, and compassionate gentle understanding, The roots were North Carolina Blueridge mountain. I am Grandpa's white, underachieving, little red-headed stepchild, who was just happy to be there.
I was innocent. I was the only kid in school whom looked like Opie on Andy of Mayberry, And my Grandpappy was from North Carolina! I walked around the halls of Joseph Bonnheim elementary singing Beach Boy songs. I had a Beatles haircut. My complexion was peaches and cream. I really don't know how I missed the movies with such a strong foundation.
If one grows up without 'fashion', any old clothes is enough. My understanding of clothes was simply what I learned from my small environment. And, of course seeing photos of 'tribe-women' from cultures that did not cover the upper half of the woman's body seemed strange to me just as it does children today. They realize there is a social taboo, and giggle. The 'tribe-woman' doesn't realize the taboo, obviously her attitude on covering the upper half of her torso is different. She probably thinks 'why bother'? Just like I did toward more sophisticated western fashion. Practicality was more important to her (I would guess) just like it was to me.
Covered properly, ready to go! I wasn't aware that plaid pants and checkered shirts didn't go together. When the latest haircut style was a crew-cut with an inch or two of hair left in front, greased back for the little greasy puff look, I let my puff hang. Ironically, it's the style today. Shaved head with bangs hanging in your eyes, or the cut right after the Mohawk with the different colored spikes. I wish that I could say that I was way ahead of my time.Keeping up with the style was difficult for me.
Growing old has no style; you're just old. I remember at seventeen, in pursuit of the perfect look, after an imperfect haircut, I shaved my head. It was1973 and 'shoulder length or longer' was the tune of the day. It didn't catch on then, but fifteen years later everybody was shaving their heads; about the time I got out of the army, but by then I wanted to grow my hair long.
At about thirty, with a naturally occurring bald head, two toddlers and an estranged wife, released by the green machine and allowed to wear whatever I wanted, I desired the glamorous life. But I just couldn't afford it. I wanted to stay young and handsome forever. I wanted enough money to attract the really fine babes, stir the best Gumbo, own the best props, but I didn't hit the lotto. And I sure as hell wasn't going to kill myself to stylishly keep up with the 'seduction of being cool' (although I had a running try for a while).
In my forties I became associated with people who truly 'worry' about the right car, clothes, haircut. They have money and pursue the 'better life'. They won't watch themselves grow old in the mirror. And see the surgeon, the cosmetics counter, the lip-o-suction machine. They'll add lip and lose hip, build breasts and bleach the rest.
At 50 something, I know now that the money is better spent up in these southern Oregon mountains finding true value for time and money... in a functioning toilet, or shower plumbing.
Getting old is fine with me. The alternative is impossible. I will never be "young" again, if youth is defined by years. That which is truly important will be all the sweeter to enjoy as an old man, when I have a better idea of what the qualifications.
Now, at my young age, I feel like the Tribes-woman: I ain't gonna worry about what doesn't occur to me. I'm naturally cool. Next time I see you I'll show you my tits and we can really relax!
Happy Thanksgiving to One and All.
Underneath my handsome face and cool demeanor, after you dug through layers of hardened, tough, sculpted muscle, and compassionate gentle understanding, The roots were North Carolina Blueridge mountain. I am Grandpa's white, underachieving, little red-headed stepchild, who was just happy to be there.
I was innocent. I was the only kid in school whom looked like Opie on Andy of Mayberry, And my Grandpappy was from North Carolina! I walked around the halls of Joseph Bonnheim elementary singing Beach Boy songs. I had a Beatles haircut. My complexion was peaches and cream. I really don't know how I missed the movies with such a strong foundation.
If one grows up without 'fashion', any old clothes is enough. My understanding of clothes was simply what I learned from my small environment. And, of course seeing photos of 'tribe-women' from cultures that did not cover the upper half of the woman's body seemed strange to me just as it does children today. They realize there is a social taboo, and giggle. The 'tribe-woman' doesn't realize the taboo, obviously her attitude on covering the upper half of her torso is different. She probably thinks 'why bother'? Just like I did toward more sophisticated western fashion. Practicality was more important to her (I would guess) just like it was to me.
Covered properly, ready to go! I wasn't aware that plaid pants and checkered shirts didn't go together. When the latest haircut style was a crew-cut with an inch or two of hair left in front, greased back for the little greasy puff look, I let my puff hang. Ironically, it's the style today. Shaved head with bangs hanging in your eyes, or the cut right after the Mohawk with the different colored spikes. I wish that I could say that I was way ahead of my time.Keeping up with the style was difficult for me.
Growing old has no style; you're just old. I remember at seventeen, in pursuit of the perfect look, after an imperfect haircut, I shaved my head. It was1973 and 'shoulder length or longer' was the tune of the day. It didn't catch on then, but fifteen years later everybody was shaving their heads; about the time I got out of the army, but by then I wanted to grow my hair long.
At about thirty, with a naturally occurring bald head, two toddlers and an estranged wife, released by the green machine and allowed to wear whatever I wanted, I desired the glamorous life. But I just couldn't afford it. I wanted to stay young and handsome forever. I wanted enough money to attract the really fine babes, stir the best Gumbo, own the best props, but I didn't hit the lotto. And I sure as hell wasn't going to kill myself to stylishly keep up with the 'seduction of being cool' (although I had a running try for a while).
In my forties I became associated with people who truly 'worry' about the right car, clothes, haircut. They have money and pursue the 'better life'. They won't watch themselves grow old in the mirror. And see the surgeon, the cosmetics counter, the lip-o-suction machine. They'll add lip and lose hip, build breasts and bleach the rest.
At 50 something, I know now that the money is better spent up in these southern Oregon mountains finding true value for time and money... in a functioning toilet, or shower plumbing.
Getting old is fine with me. The alternative is impossible. I will never be "young" again, if youth is defined by years. That which is truly important will be all the sweeter to enjoy as an old man, when I have a better idea of what the qualifications.
Now, at my young age, I feel like the Tribes-woman: I ain't gonna worry about what doesn't occur to me. I'm naturally cool. Next time I see you I'll show you my tits and we can really relax!
Happy Thanksgiving to One and All.
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