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".
Wall supporters and opponents protest in Texas ... Thanx to AP Archive
This posting will be a Part 33 of the "Taste of Texas" series of this journal/ blog, with an opening video above concerning this wall. This will look at the Rio Grande Valley and the border wall/ fencing controversy for the most part of links ... which I been following, and wanted to have something recorded on it in this journal/ blog. The "wall", is just to get votes for Trump, since he failed his following on just about everything else he promised, and to also put the "Trump" brand name on it, like he does on much else for business promotions. This Rio Grande Valley (known to Texans as "The Valley"), is also just a small area of the massive 1254 mile common border with Mexico and Texas, starting from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico up to the desert and mountains of west Texas, and even through national parks/ forests, and other areas of wildlife preserves, and many areas of tourism ... it's literally huge. The Texas- Mexico border goes through so many different terrains in Texas ... the Brownsville- Matamoros area is subtropical, and all towns connected for miles as part of the Rio Grande Valley with the McAllen- Reynosa metro area, going further west/ northwest you have Laredo- Nuevo Laredo, which is semi- arid bordering the Mexican desert, mostly flat with some hills, then you have El Paso- Juarez, which is mostly arid with many mountains and desert. In areas further west of The Valley and Laredo- Nuevo Laredo up the Rio Grande, such as Terrell County, the cliffs just to get to the river are 300'ft tall/ deep, you would need to be almost an expert mountain climber to even try to get to the river that separates Mexico/ U.S. All of the areas of these cities are fairly good size metropolitan areas, meaning that they are like all one city, half in Mexico and half in Texas ... they function and feed off each other, people in McAllen- Reynosa, population 1.5 million, cross the borders in the thousands daily, for work, entertainment, medical, shopping, etc ... just as folks move around town in any city in America ... as you can see in the Vice News video below, where the mayors of McAllen and Reynosa explain ... the only difference is, they are different countries. If you talk to folks in these towns, they don't even feel separated, they basically work, play and socialize together, latino, black and white, citizens of Mexico or U.S. ... been that way for over a hundred years even. These areas, which I have been to all of them, are some of the most friendliest places in the U.S., I've been all over this country (mainland U.S.), and you won't find more friendly laid back people anywhere, it's the kind of towns/ cities where even strangers will talk to you and greet you, neighbours and people look out for each other, etc.
What is also disgusting about this border wall controversy out of Washington DC, started through the President and some other politicians, is what they have turned these towns into, where people are at each others throats now, as you can see in the opening video above. These folks don't live in the daily rat race and environment like y'all up there do ... nor have your convoluted neoliberal mindset. It is difficult for especially wealthy folks and politicians like Trump, that live in these heavily class and race segregated big cities such as NYC, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philly, etc, to imagine folks living more or less in harmony, in a much more relaxed and slower paced areas nearly 2000 miles from there. Coming down here with your political games and garbage and contaminating the lives of these people is WRONG ... the President is WRONG. I don't understand this President or many of them up there, I don't even recall seeing him (Trump) ever smile or laugh, and he seems super paranoid too, as if he just wakes up in the morning with the red- ass. Most folks don't want this border wall, or especially folks like Nayda Alvarez (first video below with Nayda and Fred) ... can you imagine waking up in the morning, coming out of your home and having to look at 30'ft concrete and steel wall? ... that was built basically for a billionaire politician to get votes, and his business promotions. Then you have folks like Fred Cavazos, Fred's familia came here from Spain in the 1760's and got this land ... now they want to use eminent domain, if they can't buy out these peoples land for so called fair market value, tear up these people's property for political control reasons ... you know, like ... fuck your lowballed markets value. No, you fight this shit tooth and claw till the end, they would never give you enough of their paper currency to replace your home, lifestyle, and the serenity you enjoy, and you could hardly live on the amount in any U.S. city. I also linked below, the corruption, bribes, money laundering, etc, that contractors do in these deals ... and another piece concerning how easy a wall would be for claiming asylum even, legally, because of how deep it will go into the U.S. interior at some places. I myself a month ago, talked to a guy who was formerly a coyote (brings illegals in), he told me all these wayz, that others already have right now, to get around any concrete and steel barriers, if and when they put this up ... in other words, coyotes/ traffickers already have calculated plans on how they will get around it. Some links and video of interest below I compiled ... and a closing video at the bottom of local Valley folks this last Halloween 2018, celebrating in downtown McAllen.
Word Out ....
Border resident paints message to President Trump on roof ... Thanx to CNN
First up, Happy Valentine's Day to my wife, daughters, granddaughter and the ladies of America! This posting will be a Part 2 posting of the Toronto band Rush (Part 1 HERE). On this posting I added an interview from 2 weeks ago, when Geddy Lee stopped by the Q104.3 studio in NYC to share his family's Holocaust survival story with Shelli Sonstein, this is something I knew about for long anywayz. But there are still quite a few people that don't believe the Holocaust happened ... I myself had heard the stories as a kid, like Geddy, from those who were in the camps, I also ran my fingers across the prisoner number tattoo on the forearm as a kid, so I am firm in belief of the Holocaust ... but I'll let Geddy get into that with the opening video above. I been intending anywayz on adding a part 2 on Rush to this journal/ blog for awhile, because they are just an outstanding trio, and had put out so much music over the decades. I wanted to open the music part below with a drum solo from Neil Peart, because Neil is just an excellent drummer/ percussionist, and he alwayz does his solos in shows. Unfortunately it appears that Neil is really retired, suffering from chronic tendonitis and shoulder issues, I was hoping a couple years ago, that it was just a temporary thing, that maybe therapy would help or whatever, but it appears not, and Geddy and Alex last I read, seemed to confirm that Rush is retired, I assume because of Neil (I don't know), Neil was the primary lyricist for them also, with his background in literature/ writing. Rush is just a real treat being a 3 piece band, and especially in my view the structure of the pieces as far as composition ... all 3 members are a show in themselves, and I enjoy hearing them out individually, the final product is alwayz excellent! So besides Neil's opening solo, I chose some others that are old time favourites I wanted in here, and wanted to close out at the bottom with "Red Sector A" featuring "Clockwork Angels String Ensemble", the lyrics were done by Neil, music by Geddy and Alex, and this was done for Geddy's familia and other survivors ... Enjoy! ....
Neil Peart Drum Solo- Rush Live in Frankfurt ... Thanx to RushWire
This posting will be to highlight and hear- out U.S. Congresswoman Alex Cortez of New York, I guess most refer to her as Ocasio- Cortez or AOC, I just personally call her Alex Cortez. This will be Part 58 of the "Global War'n'ing" series, and will be a Part 2 of Alex Cortez, which I felt to kick off a new series for her in this journal/ blog that will be called "Troubleshooting with Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez", because she has been really on the ball and troubleshooting many of our problems, considering her short time as a member of the House, and I feel that she will have much to contribute to America, so I expect much more to come. I opened below with some views on this Green New Deal and more, with Danielle Kurtzleben for NPR ... there is also the Resolution/ PDF linked in the NPR piece, which is straight, short, and to the point for your convenience. Below that some video, first on the deal accompanied by co- sponsor Sen. Markey of Massachusetts ... the 2nd video she will answer many questions by Chuck Todd of MSNBC. Alex already has a clear vision, and frankly we need a revision and update for our vision as Americans and our politics and policies ... and the Democratic Party could even use some reform to their platform, vision and mission for 2020. Also, as you can see below, there is nothing radical about what Alex talks about here or her approach to change and find solutions to many of our problems ... there is an old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (similar wording) ... the problem is ... much has been broke for years, and there has been a reluctance to fix much of anything. Some just say that anything is radical that questions the status quo ... questioning is NOT radical, it is importante for a healthy society and for democracy. Some criticize that the resolution is too overboard, asking too much or whatever ... due to the current times and condition, extreme weather events, economics, lobbies and so forth ... you MUST put a full plate on the table, because you know that whatever you get, will only be a fraction of what is truly needed. Whether you agree or not with Alex and colleagues, it is alwayz healthy to give it all a fair listen and consideration, I myself don't totally agree with Alex, but I think that things can be reasonably ironed out and negotiated for much, while even being considerate and fair to corporate players ... all should be importante to democracy and business. At the bottom of the posting, I will add some of my own views and on parts of what Alex discusses.
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Thomas Hudson Pickering/ Ranch Chimp with wife, Rosalie
First up, I'll show you how radical Alex's views and proposals are ... read what scientists from all over the globe have warned and what they propose here ... calling her ideas radical, is like telling your doctor when they detect and inform you of a serious health problem in you, that they're radical extremists. Of course you're going to believe the scientific evidence, not some fly- by- night hustler who's only vision is how to peddle some inferior product to you at an inflated price ... after all, it has already been proven, that renewable energy is not only cleaner, more sustainable and abundant, but a significant savings on costs ... so who is really radical or nutz? This is why you need to have such a strong resolution, because you know that you will only get a fraction of it, the scientists are telling us what is needed, and they try to be as conservative as possible in their assessments, constantly trying to prove their findings wrong ... so you know this is serious. As far as Speaker Pelosi being such a champion of tackling climate change ... "show me" ... I haven't seen anything out of her that would even make me remotely think that, but it is great that she is willing and trying to deal with it, which is more than I can say for many, and great that Alex is giving her the benefit of doubt and willing to work with her. You may say "Pelosi was strong in fighting Trump on the border wall", which she was ... but the border wall has nothing to do with the biggest money or the fossil fuel industries, not many of financial importance gives a shit about a border wall, mostly only folks wearing red MAGA ball caps ... but there are some that will make money on it too. Some of the House or Senate members even that are jumping on board, are doing it only for political reasons ... their votes, proposals and actions to come, will show you the level of sincerity. It is a big plus, that mainstream media is showcasing Alex and this, even if it is just to laugh at her, such as FOX News is doing, or this scientifically illiterate President we have ... I'd be scared to allow Trump to even change the goddamn oil on my car, without fucking that up, let alone giving me a scientific assessment! But yes, they have been twisting what she is saying/ proposing in this resolution, saying things like "she wants to shut down all air traffic and have people take boats or rail to cross the ocean" and "she is wanting to turn the US into a communist country with no borders, take all the wealthy peoples money, and pay everyone money to not work or do anything" ... this is the level of fanaticism and stupidity this has turned into with folks like FOX News, and sadly, there are many who will believe it ... NO, she is not proposing any of such, and if a country had no borders, it could NOT be communist.
No, as Alex points out to Chuck above, she did not start a movement, this movement has been in the worx for years already. In fact, much of the proposals as far as going to renewables, has been in progress and being built and implemented for years as well, as you can see throughout this "Global War'n'ing" series. The call to do so much in a 10 year time frame is steep, but scientists are already telling us we need way drastic change in the next 12 years too. Pushing for 10 years or the 2030 mark is what is needed, because we're more likely to achieve needed goals in 2050 at the current rate we're going, and we may regret that later. For example, I would go into the job (printing/ graphic arts business) out of habit every day, and work my ass off the minute I hit the door, while some employees would drink coffee and read the sports page for an hour or more before they lift a finger, some would get the red- ass (angry) when I would assign jobs to their presses at 8am sharp, they would ask why I'm so hyped up or whatever? ... I'd tell them, doing this early and getting it out of the way, makes our afternoon laid back, so we can coast, because we got the bulk already done ... same thing here, procrastinating and slacking puts more strain on you later. The business approach to this plan is also a big plus ... business/ economics is the biggest factor in ANY negotiations, again, you must be able to communicate well, reach out to those who disagree, and be able to "sell" them ... and again, you have a product that will help you, because it is frankly doing well at selling itself, looking at the economic and environmental advantages record/ stats. Making sure also that there is the jobs and training plan approach and design to improve the economy with this model, while improving the inequality issue, and expand investment opportunities and new entrepreneurialism is also a big plus in this. We need to use our legislative branch and bills to make it all business friendly, meaning to incentivize folks to want a piece of the action ... and make it more attractive for existing fossil fuel industries to invest much more, focusing more incentives and perks for those looking to diversify their investments more ... you got a great product, a clean and profitable product, showcase how it's economically smart and viable. All your importante players and markets/ investors around the globe are concerned to some extent with the global warming issue, regardless of how they pretend they're not, you can tell in their meetings, discussions, and actions as far as looking out for their own properties/ assets ... they are eager to find solutions too, that way they can highside and take credit later, kind of a public relations thing, because of growing criticism. Much of the action is going to have to come from public majority/ populism pressure too, on them and politicians, they all have to feel the pressure for extra motivation.
Yes, the Green New Deal is probably the most intense of it's kind that I have seen, and the chance of it being passed as is, is zero, I agree. But this is just a model, template, idea, and proposal of strong progressive ideas for change, you look at it and work from it. Moderate Democrats are worried this will cost them in elections? This is just a resolution, and it helps to create a platform, you can pick and choose what is most importante for a platform, and there will be a new support of voters to come from any of it. Bernie Sanders showed how strong his message was, he got more unexpected votes and small donations support than anyone in 2016, and had won in places that were said he couldn't, there is strong desire from many for significant change. Candidate Trump then was even agreeing on things like single payer and getting Republican support, praising Bernie Sanders and using Bernie's talking points, as well as saying he thought that taxes should be raised on the rich, including himself, there is film on candidate Trump saying all this, and look at how much of this was supported by various political backgrounds across the country ... of course, Trump didn't mean it, he's just a good orator when selling himself. Alex was also a hot topic on the lips of the wealthy in Davos at the economic forum, billionaires are downright worried about what she is proposing (CNBC). This is where I look at a different approach too, as far as taxation. I don't think, and never did, that taxing the shit out of the wealthiest will solve our problems by a longshot. Neoliberalism and the new global model in markets/ economics is already deeply entrenched, we have been reluctant to challenge this for the last few decades, the money is already where it is. I would not tax the shit out of the wealthiest, and taxes are very complicated, who gets taxed what, and on what, with more loopholes than you can shake a stick at. I would NOT, in our current condition, try to take back the tax break that the President already gave out, this will cause market/ investment panic ... in other words, we already gave it to you, Merry Christmas, invest and enjoy! (I don't cry over spilt milk). We talk about how great America was during 70% to 90% taxation rates from the 1930's through 1960's, great business, infrastructure investments, jobs, etc ... but the global market, trade, techs/ manufacturing/ production and jobs arena is much more diversified and globally interconnected today than then. Where I see we can get much more money than taxing the wealthiest to death, is restructuring our own spending priorities and GDP, and making corporations pay for more of their fuck- ups and less extravagant welfare handouts, cutting subsidies where able and feasible and other related things ... our own government spending is out of whack big time. I'll give you your big tax incentives and investment incentives, but when you fuck up, you will need to be more responsible and accountable, like anyone is expected in a free market. We have to focus on taking care of our communities, infrastructure needs and people, as corporations have to focus on taking care of their business.
The other challenge that this generational planned neoliberal agenda has got us entangled with, is this economic power battle with the east, the Russia- China front, both of which are challenging us to be the new world leader in all. Even though I enjoy Russian and Chinese media, I also would not trust either country any further than I can throw them, and this is not against the people, but their governments. I personally don't care about being the No#1 world power, but many do ... I feel we have adequate defense to protect ourselves efficiently, and we have strong assets and incentives, with a unique financial environment for investment, manufacturing, and industries/ techs development to be economically healthy going forward, and especially for renewable energies and massive infrastructure planning and development. So I don't like or feel we need to act so strongly on the economic rat race we are in with the east ... and feel we can take different approaches to aligning ourselves with existing and new trade partnerships globally, without going crazy at every move that China and Russia make ... also, the tariffs we put forth with Trump, although with good intentions by Trump, is backfiring on us, we need a more careful approach. I would also like to reduce our intervention and conflicts in some lands for oil or other resources, of course, if we don't, China or Russia will (or Russia at China's bidding) ... but that's fine, let them take the heat and negative publicity from the global councils, it will save us a few bucks and improve our image, let someone else be global asshole for a change ... bottom line, let them dig their own graves. We also depend on selling defense equipment to others around the globe, we can make changes to how and who we sell to as well, and restrict it more, but still have defense sales, and even expand non- lethal defense technologies and security. So we don't have to shut down the defense business either, but transform it, and make it more efficient and more well regulated. We are spending way too much on defense, and the budget keeps getting bigger every year, and of course we spend and waste, to make sure the next budget gets as much or more than the last, it's a fool's game you can't win. When big countries like China and Russia either violate rules or treaties, we handle it with a global alliance, not just wake up with the red- ass one morning over a tweet, and decide to spend billions more to make bigger weapons, the chances of a intercontinental ballistic missile attack on continental US is slim, that would crash markets and economies worldwide, most of this is to sell woof tickets (like a verbal threat). We are alwayz told that we need austerity, to cut all kinds of spending on basic essentials and programmes for our country, or having to sell our land and assets ... yet many corporations are getting welfare out the ass and subsidized beyond reason, because they're also drafting the legislation for it. If we need spending cuts, they need to get cut more than anyone else, they've been getting a free ride across the board.
Which brings me to the "Medicare For All" part of this posting ... how? ... because what I talk about above as far as our spending in this rat race, is the reason why all the folks say nothing can be done, they ask where all the money for this or that will come from? We are spending too much on shit that won't make us or break us, and years later, we alwayz acknowledge our past mistakes, and of course, each political party blaming the last administration as usual. I like a "Medicare For All" plan, as you can see in my "Healthcare Reform" series, however, I feel a better approach to it, would be a simple free market approach (which those who espouse free market talk, don't even want). President Obama back in 2008/ 2009, talked about an idea he proposed for a "20% public option", this is more of a business friendly approach, and it can test its strength and workability at the same time. Insurance companies, pharma, or medical providers can't whine that they're being shut down either. We make a plan to where people can voluntarily buy into a public/ government health plan, they pay through payroll tax and other small taxes, millions are ready ... and we give a few other incentives, employers will save, and be able to use those savings for employees, equipment, expansion of business and new hires. People can choose their plan ... for many like myself, it would work fine too ... I would rather pay a plan like that for my basic needs, than the thousands a year that I may have to pay now with all the parts, supplements, deductibles and out of pockets/ co- pays that I do now. Insurance, med services and pharma will actually have to compete, this will bring down costs ... there are many models out there showing how to bring down costs, we have a whole army of experts who have a ton of ideas on how to make this work. I'm like Alex on this, don't tell me it can't be done, when I know goddamn well that it can, WITHOUT suddenly tearing down all the related businesses ... people like us, and most people with half a brain, can see this is not a free market health care system, but a monopoly designed, drafted, and directed by "corporate communism". Taking a different kind of approach to achieving a true health care system that will reach all, can be done more fair and easier, since the excuse year after year, is that we will shut down the existing industries suddenly, which would cause an economic disaster. "IF" the existing health care industry is all what they say it is ... it will have a fair chance to prove itself in a competitive market, and the consumer who buys it, will choose what worx best for them, the stats will show what is more cost efficient as well, free market will take it's course, and the most efficient and best will come out and expand according to consumer demand, as they all hypocritically preach in these industries ... you cannot do this without taking some kind of action. And we need more politicians with some goddamn fresh vision and backbone like Alex. We have done NOTHING for years now as far as fixing the health care system in this country, it has gotten worse by the year, and the costs are beyond anything reasonable, it has to be right now, the most screwed up health care system in the world, with companies just ripping each other and consumers off. Pharma the same thing, we need to reduce costs, and have more options as consumers. If existing providers and insurers can't compete, they will be the cause of their own failure, and can only blame themselves.
This posting will serve as Part 15 of the "Black History | Harmon Loft" series of this journal/ blog for Black History Month, and Part 21 of the "Above & Below" series ... to highlight NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson (wikipedia). All credit for this "Black History" series should go to Harmon (aka "Red"), who was a mentor and friend of mine in my youth, this series is totally inspired by him, I owe it to him, and because I'm sure if he were alive in the 21st century of internet communications/ media, he would certainly have a website/ blog on this subject. I myself, find the African American history and experience to be very unique, and I'm a white male of euro descent ... as a kid, when Harmon would tell me all these stories in small chat, it was interesting, being I never heard a thing about this in school. I was with some guys that were Arabic immigrants from Morocco once (Morocco being also in northwest Africa), a couple of them spoke negative about black Americans, and blacks just complaining or whatever, and that they or their history shouldn't be special, because they were immigrants themselves and are not special or whatever. I explained to them about the history of blacks in America ... unlike these Moroccan guys, blacks were brought here by force, to make money and serve whites as slaves ... sure, many immigrants are exploited, black, white, brown, yellow, for capitalism here ... but none are treated as the black African slaves were, or tortured, killed, branded, and labeled as property. This type of mentality towards blacks in America in recent modern times comparison, is basically the same mentality that Nazis had for Jews. Unlike these guys from Morocco or my ancestors from Europe, my wife's familia from the Philippines, we all brought our culture and languages here, made our families by our choices, etc. Black Africans that were bought, brought and enslaved in America by force back in the 17th/ 18th centuries, and continuing into the 19th century, they were not allowed to get educated, read, advance, choose their families, have any say-so over their children ... their children even being traded as property like a commodity, as well as legally sexually assaulted (raped) ... or no say-so on their values, their religious beliefs, culture, etc ... yet, they built this country and contributed so much to it, without being recognized or given credit for years, while still being persecuted ... they even built our so called sacred White House, fought our wars, raised our children, invented things that we all use and take credit for, etc ... this is "why" their history is special and unique to America.
To Katherine, what she done was no big deal, she simply wanted to do what she loved and was good at ... and just done it, despite obstacles or stereotype thinking. But what was big about this, was getting in a position like this back in the 1950's America, being black and a woman ... she is not only a mathematician and teacher, but an inspiration to kids, and a great American. Opportunity came when NACA (ended 1958, replaced with NASA), was looking for women to join their team, doing the legwork, acting as human computers, or what folks may call "computers in skirts". Imagine going to work, and your office sign is labeled "coloured computers", having to work extra hard for less and having to prove your abilities beyond reason. She co- authored one of the first textbooks on space at Langley, and yes, it was "rocket science", according to NASA. When opportunity knocked, she was on it like a cheap suit on sunday, she was passionate ... when she first applied, there were no positions left, the 2nd time, she nailed it. Instead of breaking the sound barrier, she had to break the bound barrier, freeing her mind and will from the psychological bondage of society. Katherine set aside all the things that mainstream society institutionally programmed into her ... she loved her work, she was tops in math, she loved associating with people who were smart, and questioned everything, and not just for her benefit, but to question others and analytics, whether from a computer or a human ... she thought assertive, and didn't let things stand in her way. So she was able to experience, contribute, and be involved with a major breakthrough for humanity ... taking humans into space and beyond, choreographing their missions, while these astronauts lives were in the hands of folks like Katherine. Today Katherine is considered as one of the pioneers of the space age because of her contributions, of what she done below for our missions above. Since Katherine is still around to tell the story and answer questions too, I chose a one on one interview with her below to highlight ... and Thank You to Katherine Johnson for her contributions to America.
Word Out ....
WURD Exclusive: Interview with Hidden Figures Katherine Johnson ... Thanx to onWURD
