Why the name Ranch Chimp? it was in humour because, science says that humans have similar DNA to a chimpanzee,so I felt some way related biologically to a chimpanzee. 2nd, everytime I was out of Texas on a vacation or for whatever reason I’m always asked things like, do I live on a ranch?,or have cattle? so I commonly call Dallas the Ranch. "Politically Depressed" was also humour inspired by the 1993- 2002 Bill Maher TV/ tele show "Politically Incorrect".
This is How Solar Power is Actually Creating Jobs ... Thanx to FUSION
This posting will serve the "Global War'n'ing" and "American Jobs" series of this journal/ blog. I been wanting to post something up to date on the positive side for these 2 series, and since I started this "Global War'n'ing" series years back ... I been constantly discussing the future of this development, as far as investments, employment, and all around business opportunities. I thought it be good, to open above with a short video from Ronald Toledo, he is the owner of "System Innovation" in Richmond, CA ... Ron started his business over a year ago with $1000, and business is booming! This thing is really on a roll right now, and in my view, the future of this really is beginning to look bright. This is why I also feel that renewable energy public investment, not just private, is a good sure winner too ... especially on the infrastructure end for transport and storage. Even though one may think, that once it's built, there will be no more jobs ... this is not so, there will still be need for maintenance and operations management, installation, parts, service, etc ... I'm telling you ... I feel this is going to be the biggest thing of energy change and growth as far as the development and infrastructure part, and transition, that we seen over the last couple centuries for our country ... and big business too. The mindset is already changing, even the global warming deniers are seeing evidence first hand of what is happening to the air, waters, land, and extreme weather. Even big oil knows this is the future of energy, and before long, all those who were whining that clean coal or whatever is the future (as long as they're making a buck, that is), and how impractical renewable is, they will be head over heels in time, to get a piece of this action. Doesnt mean they'll quit drilling, mining or whatever ... for them it's like buried treasures, it makes money, eh? ... but, there will really be change as far as energy use, and cleaning things up. And the big investment thinking will change, not just the majority of people. Look at the advantage of "renewable" ... you generate energy, as well as money, and dont need to keep digging up the lands, while trashing it, and the air and waters, with tons of waste to produce more ... the prices come down, demand goes up, technologies improve ... and that's a WINNER! This is not just America though, this is the entire globe, and the entire globe wins! Some video and reads below.
This posting will serve the "American Exceptionalism" and "Human Morality" series of this journal/ blog. This is to take a look at the current condition of America, you can say ... a look at the chipping away of our liberties too ... and it's so deep, at that. I know to some, I may sound a little extreme, when I call America a "semi puritanical society" ... which to me it is. I have looked at America this way for my entire adult life though, I mean, it's obvious ... you dont need an extreme, conspiracy, or left/ right mind to see it, just look at the restrictions in place, the correctness factors, and more liberated countries, etc. Today, from what I see happening, it's going backwards even more ... you dont even need a liberal viewpoint or media source to see this ... those on the right are being very clear, honest and open on their intentions. This posting was inspired mostly by Kali Holloway's piece in Alternet, and partly inspiring the title of this posting too ... Kali sum's it up fairly well. Also inspiring this posting, was Kalpana Jain's piece in The Conversation. I also included a few extras, with what is happening in a North Bend, OR school, to students that are LGBT ... and mind you ... Oregon is one of the most liberated states, if not the most, in the country ... this is how deep this virus of thought has spread. I also added a Vox link on what is happening all over the country right now, as far as a woman's right to choose, and what she will have to go through, as well as having control over their health needs. And below all that, a 20 minute video from John Oliver, Thanx to Kali Holloway ... it is comedy, and folks are laughing up a storm, however, what Oliver is talking about is true, and in reality, NOT VERY funny, if you are the victim of these con artist religious snake oil peddlers. To me it's disgraceful, what we legally allow these thieves in the name of "religion" to do, as well as giving them the tax exempt status ... and shameful that so many people in our country are buying their rubbish. Think of the thousands of people of faith, that have been basically milked and robbed blind by some of them.
I agree with Kali as well on abstinence programmes, even though the amounts spent on this may seem little (Washington Post), compared to the billions that are redirected to corporate interests, and basically done to push through other crap in some bill that will gain possibly billions for corporations and the wealthy. As far as abstinence though, sex education, responsible sex, or whatever title ... obviously the President himself could use some classes ... do we see him attending classes/ programmes? Simply sex education and contraceptives access, statistically serves better than abstinence programmes. Yes, it is sad also ... that we are willing in this country, to spend so much money on stupid things that have proven to not work, and simply basing it on an ancient culture, societies, and doctrine, that does not address the issues that we face in the 21st century. It's like spending money on conversion therapy to try to make gays turn straight, then of course, even after they try to be straight, may relapse later down the road, and need more therapy, which = $$$$, or end up in a disappointing marriage and divorce (more $$$$) with someone they never had much sexually in common with to begin ... there is no goddamn sense in that. Although, the "sense" part, comes only to those making the money off this, and knowing that whatever they make you do, you will sin/ relapse, and come back for more therapy, etc. Very similar to how a mega church institution sets up their sin network ... some of these sins can be as simple as using caffeine, or even eating a specific food, clothing/ attire, or whatever. They know and admit that you are going to sin, or go against the rules, because you're human, they set themselves up as the only institution and negotiator between you and "their" concept of God, that can save you from all this (think of them like an insurance company), and keep you in their grasp for business. Like any corporate business, they need you, your weaknesses, habits, indulgences or anything, to "prey" for business (their food) ... while you "pray" to them for their help or guidance. You are creating a society to also be governed in thought by this increased quest for unachievable righteousness, while chipping away so many of the rights of folks ... that we have fought and died for over years to achieve in this country, throwing so much progress down the drain. At the same time, we are pigeonholing, whether teens, gays or women, which will increase inequality and discrimination, making them feel more segregated from society, than integrated in our society ... again ... going backwards.
As far as opportunity under this new wave of neoliberalism ... choice, freedom of market access or the rest, that too is obviously decreasing as we let these delusions control us. We also have to look at all the mergers that been allowed, and how our choices have been decreasing, as we are told that this is for our good. Our media access and free speech is under attack as well, this is also attacked by a President who prides himself on securing our rights and liberties ... while he on the other hand, is first in line to weaken and restrict our rights. Our local and state budgets are being drained by this same vermin, and telling us the patriotic thing to do is "shut up, and do what were told". Many of our environment and even public and consumer safeguards are being eradicated too, and much of our assets being sold off the the highest bidder. The whole purpose is for the big wealth holders to revive and enhance the master/ slave mentality, and why I call these powers in this journal/ blog the "3- entities" of control ... the religion is incorporated into capitalism and government/ military, the 3 work as one, for the sustained power of the few ... if you're religious ... look at them as "the evil trio". This certainly is a land of opportunity, and I myself know of folks over the years that have made their million, that started from nothing. However, the opportunity is far more hard to grasp than before ... the old saying that "opportunity knocks", is more and more unlikely due to various factors, today it does not knock, or even honk the horn as it drives by. Between the austerity, milking our taxes, driving down wages, removing overtime, the cost of living and bang for your buck ... we have been in a constant decline as a majority, in certain areas ... a small percentage are who made substantial gains, and much off the backs and misery of the majority. We need a complete overhaul to fit with the times we are in ... just like in the previous paragraph, explaining how ancient doctrines dont serve the needs we face today, the economy and markets of today are outdated as well ... and we are going backwards in those areas too. At the same time we are being programmed to think that we should do nothing but work till we drop, and that retirement and leisure should be taboo ... Congressman Greg Gianforte advocated to work like the biblical Noah character, who was building an ark at 600 years old (?) ... this kind of thinking advocates one to embrace an ancient slave mentality. Although past due, there is no better time than now to fight back against this vile intrusion on our society and minds ... organize, educate and resist ... we have nothing to lose, only can gain.
We are also a country, with so many veterans living on the streets homeless, and a President and Congress, that's even wanting to cut their entitlements, that they earned by putting their lives on the line for others, and their country's interests. Our current President Trump, a celebrity show hustler out of New York City, cutting and squeezing even the working people in the midwest and southern states that supported him most. A President that is a draft dodger, just like former President's Bill Clinton and George W. Bush (not technically "draft dodgers" by law, but pretty clear, they manipulated to avoid service in Vietnam) ... and as far as I'm concerned, I have a hard enough time even viewing President Trump as a "man", and Yes, I have been fair and gave him some benefit of doubt, since he was so targeted in media. They are quick to send others into war, but back down themselves ... when all they had to do, is do their service and claim themselves as a "conscientious objector" and be assigned something noncombative, you can do this, and still serve your country and military ... I mean, you cant even do "that much" for your country and these soldiers that display strength and commitment? A President, that is quick to discriminate against having gays in the military ... who couldnt even get up the heart to serve one day himself. What we are advocating by praising and kissing the asses of such ilk ... is that it is fashionable, I guess, to have the weak lead the strong? ... if so, that is our mistake. You (Trump) insult Senator John McCain (of his own party), for being captured by the enemy? ... does he NOT realize the amount of physical and mental strength McCain had to have to last through 5 years of this? ... how long would have Trump lasted? A President mind you, that has had more women than you can shake a stick at (not meant to criticize him for many intimate partners), various ladies have spoken out. But I would confidently assume, that even he, would use and encourage abortion (whether legal or not), through one of his private doctors, and probably have before, to any of the ladies that he got pregnant other than his wives ... then paying his lawyers to give them hush money too. So dont come off presenting yourself, with this bloody damn righteous piety image to the people of this country, because it makes you look more stupid than the masses that you think are stupid. Education, awareness, and publicly discussing these things, that are even clearly against what most value, are tools we can use to break the shackles of this delusional disorder, intentionally caused by this intrusion on our thinking.
This entry into the music/ arts honour society of this journal will be to sample some of the worx of Von Magnet (wikipedia) out of Paris, France. Much credit to Phil Von as well for the unique experience of this crew, as far as music composition and the theatrics coordination and direction of this crew over the years ... and all the contributing talent that were drawn and pulled into this ensemble ... like a magnet! This crew is certainly cut out for the "live" experience ... because the crew comes from not just musicians, but visual arts, theatre and dance backgrounds ... combining theatre, music, video art and more, they do the vocal worx in 7 languages. It may transform thoughout the presentation from a flamenco sound, to arabic, to mediterranean, folk, electronica, to industrial, poetry and various drama pieces. They are an array of versatility for sure, including instrumentally ... and not only playing the music, but acting out their individual emotions. Although they are categorized in so many genres ... I look at Von Magnet as a breed of its own. The roots is a avant- garde post modern industrial crew, starting in 1985 London ... and the late 80's were a very popular crew in the London underground music/ arts scene ... and are still popular in related circles to this day. I also love the feet percussions of Phil Von, which adds to that electroflamenco flavour too. Phil also worx with other projects in street and dance theatre ... and Phil to me is a genius! I selected some work below from both studio for sound, and "live" work for a feel of their presentations ... and Thank You to these folks ... Enjoy!
This posting will serve as Part 8 of the "Pharmaceutical Cash Cows" and Part 13 of the "Health Care Reform" series of this journal/ blog. I wanted to have this piece that 'CBS 60 Minutes' aired last night (sun. 05/ 06/ 18) in this journal, because it was such an open and straight piece concerning Mallinckrodt and Questcor pharmaceuticals and their sidekick pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), Express Scripts, in particular concerning the drug "Acthar", which has been around since the 1950's ... and the lawsuit on them from The City of Rockford, IL. The 14 minute video and transcript below from CBS. I also included a newsread link that first reported on this from Business Insider below that, to get a little more background on this case. And another link from CNBC on the stock market response the day after CBS aired this. At the bottom, I will add a little opinion of my own ... and I wanted to open my part below with Senator Elizabeth Warren questioning "PhrMA" lobbyist, Lori Reilly. Lori talks about the millions in "rebates" to the consumer they give ... why even need rebates?, just open and free the market to the consumer, eh? ... my guess is that even the rebates they hand out, are taxpayer subsidized.
"TRY THIS STORY ON SOMEONE ELSE!!!" Elizabeth Warren GETS PISSED OFF & DESTROYS Big Pharma Lobbyist ... Thanx to Dose of Dissonance
Thomas Hudson Pickering/ Ranch Chimp
Credit in the above video to Senator Warren for speaking up on this stuff in Washington to her colleagues, grilling these crooks in the mainstream, and informing the people across America. And a bit of credit to Lori Reilly, for a good job displaying just how full of shit she and her lobby is, showing that she is more full of shit than a sewage treatment plant. And since no one can come out in the above pieces and call this for what it truly is, let me ... "organized crime". This is why I called Martin Shkreli's operation "small potatoes" in PT.5 of Pharma Cash Cows with his 5000% hike ... just because of how large this is ... I mean, Shkreli is just nickel and diming compared to Mallinckrodt and Questcor. And in all fairness to Mallinckrodt ... according to their claim and other evidence ... Questcor done the majority of the increase, before Mallinckrodt made their so called modest price increase (which was $8000 a vial) after buying Questcor. You cant look at a 100,000% increase, or a $8000 a vial increase by Mallinckrodt, justified simply because of inflation and research costs, eh? But in fairness as well ... Mallinckrodt knew how much the price increased since 2001 till their purchase ... since Mallinckrodt or anyone else would not spend billions buying a company without knowing their profits, losses, and potential value ... so there was not even good reason, as folks may ask, for minor increases to Acthar after they purchased Questcor. The "good reason" for Mallinckrodt though, is because they seen that increase and profit assessment as a huge money maker, and showing the clear "intent" of Mallinckrodt, and even expanding and marketing this drug for a variety of other uses and milking Medicare on seniors as well for every dollar it can make off it.
I mean, let's face it ... like some medical providers, pharma companies, and specialist doctors, things like Medicare/ Medicaid and even insurance companies are looked at like a 24/7 ATM machine for many of these folks, eh? And regardless of how confusing this can seem, the bottom line between these entities, like Questcor, Mallinckrodt ... and even pharma benefit managers like Express Scripts ... there is clear as day collusion. And buying out their only competition company and closing them down is organized crime, and anti- free market as well. Mallinckrodt got caught violating antitrust laws, when this first came to light, even though they denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to pay the fine they claim, just to get it past them. It's too bad the "3 strikes and you're out" law for average low level criminals dont apply to these kind of criminals as well, because low level habitual criminals are charged as such in America, even for minor controlled substance drug possession. And I feel that many of these type cases, top executives should be charged with "criminal" offenses, and tried as such ... whether it's Mallinckrodt/ Pharma, British Petroleum (BP), Wells Fargo, JPMorgan/ Chase, or any others. And no, charging or convicting executives with crimes, will not shut down the company, that person convicted will be replaced, and they will learn hopefully from it, and not do it again.
As far as negotiating drug prices, whether it's by government for Medicare Part D (PolitiFact), or any negotiating from the consumer/ patient, or tax payers ... we should be allowed to negotiate, this legislation to ban price negotiating or even buying drugs from wherever we want, is clear pharma and legislative branch collusion. Folks like Senator John Cornyn, a Texas republican in the U.S. Senate ... claims that allowing the government, consumers, taxpayers, patients to negotiate drug prices, and to have true choice, will lead to a slippery slope of socialized medicine, etc. I dont think folks like Senator Cornyn got the picture, perhaps we could make it in writing and shove it in his face ... the consumer and demand of those, is what should drive markets, it forces them to compete, plain and simple, and he knows it ... after all, he calls himself a free market conservative. It dont matter if it's just moderate or far right republicans, or centrist right leaning democrats, they all speak out of both sides of their goddamn mouths when they reject legislation to give the consumer free choice and fair market ... which is not democracy, but corporate communism. Not only the Rockford lawsuit is past due, common sense, and justified ... but the rise in these lawsuits is justified.
We all hear out of these Washington establishment corporate mouthpieces, especially from the republicans, that our Medicare is going broke ... it's because they legislatively let these corporate criminals dictate everything and every piece of legislation. And republicans in particular along with these corporations and mega investors, hit two birds with one stone on these moves ... by robbing and driving our Medicare into bankruptcy simultaneously, so they can privatize all that too. The corporations get to negotiate on their terms only? ... and shut out competition and the consumer demand? .... this is monopolization, and more racketeering. Of course these corporations dont mind paying a little fine, it's just the price of doing business to them ... you rip off a billion, and if you get caught, you pay a $100 million fine, you just made $900 million, and there is legislation as well to get tax payers to pick up much of the fine they did pay on top. Hammering these politicians, and lawsuits against these crooks, along with demanding prison sentences, and legislative changes, should be our priority. You cant blame these corporations fully for this, much blame should go to Senators like Cornyn and folks in the House of Representatives too ... they encourage these folks to rob us and abuse our system, government, consumers, and tax dollars.
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