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 posting will be for 2 series of this journal/ blog ... "LADIES a Lil on the HOT & SPICY side" and "Don't Be Alarmed" ... I had no idea what a "Karen" was, or what "QAnon" meant, I had to look it up. Just a little humour here, because I kept laughing when I seen this video the other day of Melissa Rein in front of a Target store in Arizona saying "Baaaaaaa ... Baaaaaaa" to customers coming out of the store wearing masks, referring to them as sheep! {:-) She also went into Target and started taking all of the face masks off the racks and throwing them around, angry as Hell over masks. Then she gets questioned by police at her hotel later, that was unrelated to the Target incident ... who her husband (ex), Jared Lively, called on her, to do a wellness check, she ends up getting busted for something or another, etc. She said Target was only harassing her, because she is a blonde white woman wearing a $40,000 Rolex watch ... and told the cops at her hotel that she was a spokesperson for the White House and Trump, and that the cops were some Nazi gestapo deep state shit, harassing her because she is Jewish ... heh, heh, heh, heh, heh {:-) The first link below is a article she wrote in the Scottsdale Independent, she was very concerned with the coronavirus, and not enough being done about it ... which is interesting, because it's like a complete opposite view. The 2nd link is how this all led to her getting dumped by hubby Jared ... who is so in love with her and worried about her mental health, that he gave her the boot ... a "very american" trait ... kind of like apartment complexes, telling you they are concerned about you not being able to pay your rent on time, because of lay off or hours cut, etc, so they tell you, you have 72 hours to get out, call the cops on you, and throw you in the fucken street. The 3rd link, is a look at some trouble she been having with a PR firm before all this.
Melissa has been really a go getter, she had her own PR firm, she was CEO and founder of, a fairly successful husband, hung out at all the right places and social circles, knew the right people to make good business, etc, etc ... she does pretty well, in my view. So what in Hell happened? I think it was just all the shit she been going through, and with the restraining orders against her, hubby, etc ... like the perfect storm ... and then getting pumped on Trump, which you shouldn't listen to much of anything he sayz, because it's all just garbage, and can make you miserable, if you don't let it go in one ear and out the other ... face it, he's (Trump) just a miserable guy. I included the videos below that had me laughing ... and included a video I want to dedicate to Melissa below, called "Dust Devil" ... concerning "BAAAAAAA ... BAAAAAAA" {:-) Hope she gets well, and gets past this, and has some fun for a change. And for you guyz out there like me, that likes them galz a little on the edge and the hot and spicy side ... Melissa is now single, she's beautiful, full of fire, and ready to go ... you go grrrrlll !!
Butthole Surfers Dust Devil ... Thanx to hutrputr **** I wanted to dedicate this ol' favourite song of mine to Melissa, with love from the Ranch, from the Butthole Surfers out of San Antonio (TX) ... the LYRICS HERE are fitting to help understand and ease your frustration, Dear .... BAAAAAAA .... BAAAAAAA {:-) ..... XOXO Ranchy
This posting will be for the "American Jobs" and "Public Patriots" series of this journal/ blog ... and it's some good news in our trying times. It will focus on "solidarity unionism" and a group of workers that are making it happen ... a more aggressive and different approach to unionizing workers, led by workers themselves, instead of the complex channels and system we currently do as far as how, when, and where to organize and negotiate. I myself have never belonged to a union ... but due to the circumstances workers are now facing, I think it's importante for workers to stand stronger, than any other time in my life that I seen. This posting will focus on the recently formed union for Voodoo Doughnut Workers in Portland (OR), who I also view as public type patriots, for their strength in these trying times, because of the coronavirus, and this neoliberal corporatized culture in the workplace that has been growing. Voodoo Doughnut (wikipedia) is a unique and very popular business that started as one location in Portland/ PDX years back, and has now been expanding with new locations in Oregon, California, Colorado, Texas, and Florida. Even though their requests/ demands had not been met at this time, some of that has to do with the pandemic, and the decrease in business ... but these workers are on the right track, and are providing inspiration, channels, and tools, for so many other across the country. Sticking to their needs and making their voices heard through action, can only make progress, which otherwise, doing nothing, is no progress.
Some newsread for a briefing on what has been going on and why below in the Al Jazeera News piece. Then a video where Jimmy Dore sits down with Voodoo Doughnut Union organizer and activist, Samantha Bryce (also a local LGBT activist/ organizer), affiliated with Portland IWW (Industrial Workers of the World), to explain some of the recent actions, reason for action, plans, and strategies. And credit to Samantha on organizing these folks, and the IWW for their backing, since too many folks in these type jobs, can't get support from your big unions. The reason why there has been so many more benefits for workers in places like western European countries, is because after WWII, the people started to make demands, and they managed to diversify their politics more than here ... and they stayed hammering it ... again, it was the workers/ consumers/ people, that made it happen. The same applies thoughout history ... take a look at what actually brings change, instead of what you are told by the ruling establishment, of their guidelines to bring change, eh? At the bottom I'll add a few of my thoughts, and to close out with a video and letter to the upper management of Voodoo Doughnut from Apollo Fernweh, who was laid off from Voodoo Doughnut ... Apollo sums it up well, and straight to the point. I doubt that Apollo will get brought back onboard after a letter like such ... but it inspires others to think and act. I also agree with these workers and their affiliates 110% ... which is why they are in these series and journal/ blog.
If this was a small mom/ pop type doughnut business, I could understand the strain on the business, even without the pandemic, as far as being able to give employees some benefits. I have never been to Voodoo Doughnut, but have heard and read about them ... they are very popular, even considered a tourist attraction, and I can see why. This is not the late night/ after hours corner shop it once was, that caters to the underground/ alternative music crowd and related ... and credit to the owners on the concept and work they done developing this. What I see is a winner, with much potential from a marketing perspective ... and it shows, looking how booming this business is, wherever they set up ... I mean, this is the kind of place that can become a giant like Starbucks. They are now moving into pop- corporatized hipster places like Hollywood's Universal CityWalk, and trying to cater to these Santa Monica type fashionistas, and places like Universal Orlando Resort/ CityWalk, it's now focused on tourists, wannabe hipsters with money, and family hot spots with folks that spend out the ass. When you hire employees for a business like this, it takes a certain personality and spirit to try to keep some of its authenticity ... you're not looking for someone with a cap and bowtie who served coffee and donuts at some mega corporate donut chain. Many of Voodoo's employees put their heart and creativity into things like decorating these doughnuts, it's like an art to some, and the comfortable and friendly unique atmosphere that they give off to customers ... they too, are a part of what Voodoo calls their "magic". This business is a specialty type artsy service, from the personalized packages they sell, to the weddings, to the unique decorations of the doughnuts, and atmosphere ... which is also making good sales just off mechandising itself, with all the novelties/ memorablilia they sell. These employees are part of what makes that happen ... and if you want to keep that raw authenticity, you must listen to the employees too, or else you just become another corporate behemoth. The owners, of all people should realize this, considering their backgrounds, and dealing with music/ arts and that alternative scene.
What employees like Samantha, Apollo, and others are asking for, is very basic ... and giving your crew a sense of security, is giving your business security, and paving the future for its longevity. These simple requests are a small price to pay for a bigger reward that you will get from it ... and to make sure it stays as unique as it started ... unless you plan to just make it huge, and then have the usual giants like Disney/ Fox buy it out, then it goes in the shitter and loses much of what it once had, and the giants will destroy a large part of what it was ... turning it into something that gets bought out again, by someone like the Communist Government of China, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh {:-) Whether it's Voodoo doughnuts or other places, like mentioned in the Al Jazeera article ... employees taking action is needed and past due ... and I even am excited to see things like wildcat strikes ... I mean, this is for the employees and consumers, all of which allows business and free markets to flow and grow. Acting on this, and consumers and workers taking action out of line with the chain of command in Washington, is what will bring change ... waiting for bureaucrats/ politicians to change anything, with their incremental shit ... you'll spend a lifetime waiting, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh {:-) This includes a mass response as far as protests, picketing, boycotts, etc ... and continuous. For example ... take the recent George Floyd protests, this brought out millions of people nationwide (and even worldwide) to vent their frustrations with this system on various levels of issues we have faced for decades. Look at how much progress has been made in just this short time ... they not only been getting symbols and statues of racism removed ... they actually got corporations concerned to the point, to where giants such as multibillion dollar PepsiCo/ Quaker Oats had to take ol' Aunt Jemima off the pancake box ... to the multibillion dollar NFL to recognize racism, and asking talented folks to play again like Colin Kaepernick ... police departments wanting to compromise, etc. This is because the people of this country made the change, which is what democracy is supposed to be about ... I'm 64 yrs old, and can say that there has never been a political party or politician that has brought this kind of change in this short of time frame in my entire life.
Word Out ....
STAND WITH THE VOODOO DOUGHNUT WORKERS UNION ... Thanx to Apollo Fernweh
Part 36 of the "Taste of Texas" series of this journal/ blog will be to have a glance of "Possum Kingdom Lake" (wikipedia) ... Texas has about 7000 lakes. This area locally is known as Possum Kingdom, Devil's Island, Hell's Gate, it's on the Brazos River where it cut through the large limestone cliffs over in Palo Pinto County ... but another nice area to visit, close to Dallas, and inexpensive recreation ... it's common to run into wild deer all over the place, too. What partly inspires the posting is a young couple I know that moved here over a year ago from West LA, they were absolutely lost about Texas, seeing and living in Dallas only. One day asked me about the state, where to go or whatever, since I told them I covered the entire state, and they just wanted to get out of town and visit some countryside close by for the weekend. So I turned them on to Possum Kingdom, which I thought would be fun, beautiful, laid back, and a romantic place to get away from town ... and they loved it, they told me. This is only an hour drive west of the Metroplex, over by Mineral Wells (still part of the Dallas- Fort Worth combined statistical area) ... of course it's not the ocean and Santa Monica Pier, but it's relaxing, clear waters, not crowded, and very inexpensive for a weekend, friendly folks, and fun for outdoors, camping, fishing, or whatever, with many acres of public land, and places to set up a tent or cookout, or you can rent a small boat. One of the most popular recreations here is cliff diving off these tall cliffs, so if you're into that, this place is one of the best for it. I chose some video below for a glance, and closed out with some fitting music from The Toadies out of Fort Worth, doing their hit single "Possum Kingdom", live on the shores of Possum Kingdom Lake.
Sunday at Hell's Gate on Possum Kingdom Lake ... Thanx to Scott Elkins
Cliff Diving is Bigger in Texas- Red Bull Cliff Diving Worlds Series 2015 ... Red Bull Cliff Diving
Toadies "Possum Kingdom" Live ... Thanx to KirtlandRecords **** over the years there has been so much debate and talk over the lyrics meaning of this song, alot of folklore, I heard everything from vampires, stalkers, to serial killer theories ... for me, it's one of them songs with a theme like "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult ... both are great pieces of work!
This posting for the music/ arts honour roll society of this journal/ blog will feature "One-Eyed Doll"(wikipedia), out of Austin (TX) ... an interview with them linked above. This is basically a 2 member crew, of Kimberly Freeman and Jason Rufuss Sewell (aka Junior), and really can put out a powerful sound between just the 2 of them ... OED started around 2006/ 2007. In 2009/ 2010/ 2011 @ Austin Music Awards/ SXSW, they were voted as best punk band, as well as recognition in other categories/ genres. I myself, never considered OED as a punk group though, they are a mixed type genre to me, and I see and hear so many different influences, some punk, and much else ... great raw sound, but also stuff that is very polished, and focused on theatrics as well. Junior is also a producer, and been since his teen years, and damn good at it, producing for several others as well, plus for 4 solo albums of Kimberly, and packs a real punch as a drummer, too ... as a team, they have put out 11 full albums. They also make music for video games, movies, and commercials. As well as Kimberly's store of items she personally makes, even jewelry to perfumes, and much she gives away to fans ... and they have a solid fan base. Kimberly is really a flashy guitarist, and good vocalist, and if you can take your eyes off of her or her theatrics for a moment and watch her fingers on the guitar neck, check some of her powerful guitar riffs she is known for.
Kimberly was named as one of the 20 Most Extraordinary Female Guitarists, back in a 2011 issue of Guitar Player magazine ... and for good reason. Kimberly started out buying pawn shop guitars, and making modifications to them, and buying hardware store magnets to put behind the pickups on the guitar to change the sound feedback ... in time she got the opportunity to design her own signature guitar Limited Edition SyrenXT with Tregan Guitars. She also formed a partnership with Blackstar Amplification, she likes the power and sound of them while on tour, and said it gives her everything she needs without having to use foot pedals/ stomp boxes. I selected some stuff to sample, and the first 4 I wanted to have their video worx, and good job as well by director Patrick Kendall. The videos are a short and clever mix of, lets say horror and humour. "Be My Friend" inspired by serial killers and slasher type flix ... "Committed" by the insane asylum ... "Afficted" goes back to the late 17th century Salem Witch Trials ... and "Nudie Bar", which I think is a good punk piece, is inspired by a girls revenge on the nudie bar that stole her boyfriend. The last 2 videos I wanted to add some live performance, "Plumes of Death" is a favourite, that I just love the way it's structured ... and "Black Forest" is last. Great work from these guyz, and looking forward to future worx from this duet, too .... Enjoy!
Nudie Bar by One-Eyed Doll OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ... Thanx to Kimberly Freeman
One-Eyed Doll - Plumes of Death (Live!) @ Dirty Dog Bar/ Austin ... Thanx to Plinian Films
ONE-EYED DOLL- "Black Forest" live music video ... Thanx to roio420
*****************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************
***** RANCH CHIMP JOURNAL "WELCOME" POST
***** "THE RESISTANCE | PERILS OF THE POWER POSSE" ... ( a 2 part futuristic Ranch Chimp Journal dream to dream on )
*****************************************************************************
This posting will serve as Part 18 of the "American Exceptionalism" series of this journal/ blog ... this one is just some morning humour. I had no intention of doing a posting this morning, as a matter of fact, I get so scatterbrained from time to time, I never know what I'll be thinking from one minute to the next, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh {:-) But these folks done it for me, so I would have something to post. Just woke up this morning, laying in bed, grabbed the remote to turn on the tele to get a quick news briefing. This is what I get for part of the news ... I see Speaker Pelosi reading from the Bible, and President Trump just showcasing it, not even sure if he actually reads it, or anything besides Twitter ... but Nancy did, and threw a couple extra pages in it, from fellow political allies, and bless her little heart {:-) These dayz, when I see wealthy/ rich politicians reading from Bibles in public on camera, I figure they're either worried that the people are on to them and their scams, in trouble, or going to fuck us out of something (like entitlements, services, etc ... to give our taxes to their rich friends {:-) . Now ... here's the kicker, that even started making me laugh harder ... in between news clips, I got hammered 3 times this morning with this AAA auto insurance commercial ... with testimony from this young couple, on how much money they saved with their insurance, and all they would be able to do that year with their big savings ... I believe they saved over $450, but YOU can save up to $537!! (but you can bet, they'll fuck you on something else throughout the year {:-) I'm not even sure if $537 would pay for lunch of Pelosi or Trump ... but they should look into it, if they actually drive, and maybe they can hustle up a few bucks too! {:-) But I'm sure, between the Bible Study, Barbeque, Beans & Bullshit, and a chance to save money and get rich ... this at least will be a sappy happy pitch to Americans, to make their day better ... where else in the world can you get this? ... Enjoy!
Donald Trump bible: Tear gas used to clear protestors for photo op ... Thanx to The Telegraph
AAA TV Commercial, 'When We Switched' ... Thanx to iSpot.tv
JUST IN: Pelosi reads from Bible, slams Trump ... Thanx to The Hill
This posting will be for the "Police Brutality" and "Neoliberalism" series of this journal/ blog. It may seem odd that I would put this in a "neoliberalism" series/ posting ... but I'll explain that below, because this is also a result of neoliberalism. This posting is to focus on the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis by police. George is also a Texan, he moved to Minneapolis several years back, for a fresh start in life ... he grew up in the Third Ward of South Central Houston. Again, these cases are becoming common, and so much of this, I can't even keep up with the amount of police brutality that goes on in U.S.. I mean, we just got done not long ago with Breonna Taylor of Louisville (KY) (NBC News), an EMT worker, who's home was invaded by police, and murdered during a botched search warrant, that killed Breonna in her own home, who done nothing, I haven't even covered that yet. The last PT.34 I done for the Police Brutality series, was yet another model citizen, Atatiana Jefferson of Fort Worth (TX), murdered in her own home ... these injustices and murders are being committed more frequently. Now we have George, another man killed for no reason by police, and all filmed, the witnesses in public told police that they/ he were killing this man, even George begged police and for folks to help him, because he was dying. They killed George anyway, even on camera and with witnesses, because it got to the point, where some feel confident that they can get away today with abusive and excessive force in policing, that even leads to murder in some cases, because some have. I linked some read and video below, and importantly, to hear out George's brother Philonise first. The last video below, is a black/ hispanic CNN reporter and his crew being arrested for nothing but covering the protests aftermath, by State Police ... there was also a white reporter nearby with his crew, that was not arrested. This clearly shows the depth of America's disguised institutional racism. Resistance, from especially our younger people, whether Baltimore 2015, and/ or today in U.S., with big THANX to international solidarity and support (CNN) ... all is in order, justified, and true liberty ... considering how people are increasingly treated. At the bottom, I'll add some of my views on this murder/ manslaughter case.
George Floyd's brother: I'm tired of seeing black men die ... Thanx to CNN
The reason Hennepin County Attorney's Office seemed slow to getting Chauvin charged, is because, they felt if they acted too fast without careful review, they would do something wrong, an example they were looking at, is how Baltimore's Freddie Gray in police custody death, ended up as a legal justice failure (Baltimore Sun). It's the truth, too, because when you are charging cops from wrongful death to murder, you better have your top prosecution crew to go over it again and again with a fine tooth comb ... the cop's defense can hit and miss in court, the prosecution making a case cannot. Before Chauvin was charged or taken into custody, as difficult as it is to watch Mr. Floyd being slowly killed and Chauvin being protected by fellow officers allowing him to do so, while citizen/ witnesses pleaded for mercy, as well as Floyd ... I had to force myself to watch all videos over and over closely, and block my emotions out. I was watching as though I am a juror, and already went through the trial phase and all closing arguments of both defendant and prosecution ... and what I was looking at, was a weak murder case, some looking like an involuntary manslaughter case, based on all evidence that I reviewed in the news ... because I know damn well, how Chauvin's defense is going to present their case on what we have at this point. I had to watch it over and over, because the biggest problem I kept coming up with while watching the nearly 9 minute video of Chauvin's knee to neck of Floyd, from the perspective of a juror or member of a prosecution team, was trying to establish "intent" ... which is crucial for a solid airtight murder conviction. The importance is because, even with a conviction, if there is any weak spots, you can bet that it can likely be overturned in an appeal court, cops have one step up on citizens when it comes to being defended, I know it's not equal, especially under law, but it's an unwritten benefit that comes with being a cop. And Yes, even a cop like Chauvin, who has enough write-ups/ complaints in his career, comparable in length, to a career criminal rap sheet. Cops alwayz say "stop resisting" when they are escalating force, to have it recorded on record or in front of witnesses, even if the suspect is not resisting, for a case like this ... Floyd was not posing any threat or resisting, besides not complying to go on the ground. I give details in the last paragraph here, on what to do when being detained and handcuffed, and what can/ may qualify as resistance to an officer.
The knee to neck usage is another problem I seen, because I been viewing various wording and opinions on this, from state to state ... from, it's no way to be used, to being used with high caution, with policy wording to that being very vague, which I feel is purposely wrote vaguely, for reason such as a case like this coming against an officer. I have seen the knee to neck used several times on the street (but mostly knee to legs, arms, shoulder, or back) and I even had concern watching it at times, because of the pressure to the neck. Bottom line is, in a situation like this, where a cop's adrenaline is in high gear, it's too difficult to go by all the rules/ wording on how and what to apply when and where ... meaning, that any type of knee, arm, baton/ nightstick, or whatever to the neck, or even head, should be outlawed, period. I mean, you usually like in Floyd's death, have 2,3,4,5, officers restraining while detaining a suspect, while having everything from spit hoods, to zip ties, cuffs, mace to pepper sprays, to tasers ... meaning these methods of excessive force we see, are no way needed. "IF" they felt Floyd was out of control even, which he was clearly NOT, one quick zip tie to the wrists, and another to the ankles, with only 2 officers needed to simultaneously apply them, would have Floyd restrained in 30 seconds, and you can bet he would go nowhere, and you wouldn't even have to have a hand or foot to hold him down, or even break a sweat ... simple as that. They need to investigate any previous job contact between Chauvin and Floyd, they both had shifts overlapped doing security work at the same nightclub in South Minneapolis, and Floyd is a convicted Texas felon, Chauvin may have not liked Floyd before this incident. Yes, there are convicted felons doing security, and some get hired because of their street experience, and it's common for cops to moonlight at clubs/ venues after hours. When I worked security back when I was about 50 years old in Uptown Dallas' nightclub district, on busy nights, special events, a DPD cop would come and help me, he was moonlighting, he worked DPD as regular job, working East Dallas Gang Unit (since he grew up in that barrio), and also Crime Scene, securing like homicide scenes, he taped off and guard over so no one contaminate area/ evidence, until detectives and forensics done their thing. But we got along good, and I learned alot from him. Chauvin may have had a grudge with Floyd.
The media yesterday was quick to broadcast that Chauvin is in custody charged with murder and manslaughter ... many are relieved, and feel a little better, from which seemed to many as too long a wait. And this is great, but remember, it is more great to make sure you actually get somewhere with a conviction. Media made sure to announce the words "charged with murder" over anything else, but it's much deeper than that, or words. They say what the maximum sentences are ... and that's about it. The max sentence if found guilty on both charges is about 35 years combined, which is a 3rd degree murder and 2nd degree manslaughter (different way of charging and degrees than Texas). This is why it is so importante to take your time putting this case together ... because it would be so easy from evidence so far, for Chauvin's defense to work this down to a probation deal, or drop a certain charge to focus on another, or for a jury to decline one over another. This is why it's also importante for federal law to get involved investigating for a case of civil rights violations/ charges. Also in Floyd's defense, the counterfeit $20 that Floyd allegedly tried to pass at the store which caused the police call, you have to prove that Floyd knew it was counterfeit, remember that. I mention this, because a couple years ago, a store clerk here in Dallas gave me my change from a purchase, and gave me a counterfeit $5 bill ... I told the clerk the $5 is counterfeit, and showed her why, and told her to give me another $5, and to tell authorities. If Floyd had a couple drinx in him as they say, it is very possible, he had no idea that it was a phony $20, and why would he try to pass it, having started a new life and having a security job, with a past record, knowing that's a federal offense? He would have passed it more likely in a street transaction, than a store. You also have to bring some kind of charges on the other officers involved, so that cases interact, it makes it more secure on the murder/ manslaughter case. The other officers had an obligation when they see something like this to intervene, and to tell Chauvin he needs to chill/ back off a sec, etc ... they allowed this to happen, even with nearly 3 minutes of no movement, breathing, or response from Floyd. All these charges of other officers for their participation, civil rights violations, etc, can be used to help conviction in this case ... or else ... there is more of a chance that Chauvin a year or so later, will walk away with a probation, suspended sentence, plea bargain, mistrial/ hung jury, etc.
_______________________________________________________________________
On a final note ... the reason I put this in the "Neoliberalism" series, is because this disease of abusing citizens has been growing fast and dangerously over the last 4 decades, it has contaminated our entire society like a cancer. You can clearly see this as well on how our government responded to the coronavirus, the rush to do everything they can to make folks work, even in hazardous conditions, to asking people to be willing to die for the economy/ Wall Street. I mean, 2020 is a year, from the handling of the pandemic, to the mistreatment of citizens, to gunning down our children in the streets and so on ... that should definitely be a wake up call beyond any of past, as to the outright tyrannical rule that we are being challenged with. Politicians have for years refused to do anything about this of any value to society/ people ... the ruling establishments of both political parties, whether the fascist wing of the republican party, or the aristocracy wing of the democratic party have both collectively failed this country. This is also why we have mass incarceration, systemic racism, debt slavery, privatized prison systems for profit, and a failed healthcare system, and reluctance to deal with environmental hazards to climate change, and on and on ... all part of the neoliberal economics model and culture. This should be a new phase for Americans to act to get some kind of actual justice rolling, and you can't do that simply by voting alone, or holding up signs and walking in circles singing "We Shall Overcome". The outrage from people should be continuous and vigorous, over and over and over, not just this last week, or until another tragedy happens ... because our government's ruling class, are under the authority and payroll of oligarchs, and they are what designs what been happening in our society with injustices. We are dealing with tyrants ... never become complacent with this new normal they push on you, or it will only get worse. As far as the President and his tweets (which is all he's good for, hiding and talking shit on a phone device, or behind a podium surrounded by an entourage of high security), about thugs, looting, and shooting ... which he sayz he didn't mean to sound like that (which is another lie). Mr. President, if you were so concerned about "thugs and looting", you certainly wouldn't sign bills left and right, that give 90%+ of everything to the wealthiest people, even foreign entities, that are drafted by corporate lobbyists and the thugs they represent, that clearly loot not only our taxes, but the entire federal government, and all our public assets and society, while weakening our Constitutional Rights.
This posting will be a Part 64 for the "Global War'n'ing" series of this journal/ blog. I mentioned in this series in previous postings, such as Part 63, about another threat from global warming, but never really devoted a posting to this threat, so this will take a look at it. Being that, most of the focus has been on the destructive parts to/of the air, land, water, infrastructure, etc, that results from the climate change and severe weather events. Then other postings that show how we can change this, and the wayz to do it, while building a new robust and sustainable future energy transition, economy, etc. So this will focus a bit more on the things like a virus, that can cause more harm to humans/ animals directly ... and the timing I figure is appropriate, since we are smack dab in this COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, we are still deep in this pandemic, don't fool yourself, even though you will hear folks saying that we defeated it, or we're stronger than it, time to go back to normal, or related thought and talk. Some may ask "what does the Arctic or Antarctic have to do with us? ... who the fuck lives there?", and that the north and south poles are on complete opposite sides of the globe. These poles have been critical to our ecosystem and our evolution, is why ... you may wonder what is the difference between a couple degrees increase in temps? ... after all, we live through heat waves. What seems like a couple degrees not meaning much, is as critical as if your body temperature rises a few degrees ... if you're okay at 98 degrees "body" temp, if you just go a few degrees over that, you're not going to be well, and likely sick ... that's how critical temps are to "life" as we know it. You may say that thawing and refreezing are just the normal cycles, it alwayz happens year after year, what's the big deal? The problem is, that it's losing its "balance", because not only the slight temp increases, but the length of that warming ... look at it like when your car engine starts showing gradual increases overheating, you know something ain't right, and you do something about it ... we depend on our environment, just as you may depend on your vehicle for a "living". These are the kind of questions, though ... that I heard folks ask, is why I mention this.
Listening to these scientists over the years, and their findings, had really caught my interest in this. Seeing that now, we have went so far into this warming as a result of our actions and industries, that we have some real problems ... just as if you neglect your car, you're going to have problems. This thawing is causing waters to flow into others, with all kinds of crud in it, including ancient bacteria, that been frozen solid for thousands of years ... they are now running into streams, lakes, seas. This means that we have increased amounts, and even more dangerous amounts of things like mercury feeding the fish populations, that we feed from, which also feeds our fishing industries. We now have new formed lakes/ ponds all over this arctic region, that are bubbling with methane ... we are looking at increases in carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere, at levels higher than our carbon output, at that. On top of all that, what infrastucture we have in these regions, even for industry, as well as forests are falling apart from the ground movement, even in Canada, massive sinkholes, etc ... which also is damaging to industry of any kind, including oil/ gas, not only the environment ... we are fucking ourselves and everything else, by our actions. We are also seeing an explosion of mosquito populations, and chances of them carrying infectious diseases ... and this is no longer limited to the usual known mosquito regions ... they been having a growing problem in areas like the Toronto/ Buffalo region for example, so many new areas, that are not hot and humid hotbeds like the U.S. gulf coast. And these areas that are hot humid areas, will probably see increases in infections from things like ticks and mosquitoes, and then they transmit to the human/ animals/ pets, and that travels to the cities. Example, for those who fish or hunt in a place like southeast Texas, Lousiana ... such as I did quite a bit, if when you get something, you bring it home. I would hunt in southeast Texas, which I know first hand how full it was with mosquitoes, ticks and snakes at certain times of the year ... and go home after, into central Houston where I lived, mosquito bites and all. So the idea that what happens in these remote areas, whether in the woods, or at the pole areas, are far from us, is wrong ... things spread, and quickly, by us, and through us.
And it's NOT too late to do anything about this, we've just been too damn slow at addressing this, we already have all the tools we need to change this, and stay on top of anything that comes, and need to, because things are moving quicker and more than we've had to deal with in the past. We wouldn't even be here, if we just listened before, years back. We already have the ability and technology to even carbon capture, it's been done all over, and proven ... just a simple thing like that in industry could have already made a difference. Even without shutting down industries, we could have softened the blow ... but we have been so consumed with being so cheap and thinking "market" only ... even environmental disasters from accidents could have been prevented, time and again, just a matter of spending a few more bucks! They're still gonna drill, because of the global petrodollar dominance, which gives a sense of confidence to the financial and national security sector (U.S.) ... but we don't have to be as reckless as we've been, nor do we need to use more and more fossil fuels, especially when we are globally spending $5 to $6 trillion a year to subsidize that, that isn't even renewable, we may use oil for much, but it's not needed for energy, or even to run cars, we are way past that. It's sickening having to hear some of these folks who have more money/ capital than they literally know what to do with, moan and whine about spending a dime extra ... and it's stupid, even from a business perspective. Even if you're a working class person from the economically challenged rural area, to folks that make their living on fishing on the U.S. gulf coast, or the person with a small business who depends on such ... you should be supporting these folks that are environmentalists, not criticizing them, what they are doing is in everyones interest, especially yours and your families. And this is global, and even those with the most wealth are very concerned about this, or else this and all related wouldn't be the hottest topics of concern at places like the World Economic Forum, year after year. The ripple effect of this and our actions, and inaction of addressing this more, has an impact on every single thing that is part of our lives, from social order to industry, to survival. Some read and video below to browse through, first part looks at the arctic region, the 2nd part below that on things like mosquitoes and ticks transmission. Try to have a fun Memorial Day weekend, and stay safe.
Could thawing permafrost unleash long-gone dedaly viruses? ... Thanx to FRANCE 24 English
*****************************************************************************
Thawing permafrost and the prehistoric mud
*****************************************************************************
Beautiful clear view of Downtown Los Angeles, post coronavirus shutdown ... LA's longest stretch of clean air on record
This posting will serve the "Global War'n'ing" and "The Awakening" series of this journal/ blog, in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, and to salute all those folks that busted ass over the years to push environmental protections. I also wanted to have this event we are experiencing recorded in this journal, because it is such a rare event ... I mean, we have millennials these dayz, that live in large cities, that never had the opportunity to even witness skies this clear ... imagine that ... it's the truth. Even LA's mountains can be clearly seen all around town, amateur astronomers that can see moon crater details from their home, parts of India, folks can see the Himalayas from up to 125 miles away, not seen in 30 years, and folks noticing they can breathe better. Sadly it took a global lockdown due to a pandemic to awaken us and put our eye to the sky ... to see what we been missing. It's remarkable how in only a couple months we see such drastic improvement environmentally, with air and waters cleaning up so quickly ... can you imagine what it would be like after a couple years of not trashing the earth? The speedy cleansing and recovery from this illness of nature getting over this sickness that we imposed on it, shows us just how destructive we are, not just to the planet, but to ourselves. Just imagine, if we acted as quick as nature, we'd be in paradise right now, instead of this cesspool of misery. And right now, we are in such a hurry to get back to killing ourselves and environment ASAP, which is a solution of lunacy, even to the economies, that political mouthpieces say they want to preserve for our children's future ... which makes you wonder, what kind of future are they talking about at the rate we been going? ... a continuation of what we been doing?
We are and have been at a point, to where we have all the resources to go entirely green energy, right now. As a matter of fact, by doing so, it would not just be a major boost to the environment and health, it would be a such a huge project, that it would feed the economies across the board for years to come, because of the magnitude of transition. Over the last decade, I have posted and compiled in this "global war'n'ing" series many projects from engineers, to scientists, to entrepreneurs and investors ... from converting our vehicles, electric power, heating/ cooling, and replacing all we have, which is past due ... because we have everything that we need right now, and much already in motion. The only reason we are where we are, is because of a handful of industries who don't want anything to change, trying to squeeze every last breath and nickel they can out of the earth and people. 50 years ago, we didn't have yet what it takes to make such a transition, today we have it all and more ... but, we are starting to go backwards by increasingly funding these fossil fuels giants ... we (our Congress) are actually now, not just subsidizing these industries, but bailing them out during this pandemic, that are already swimming in profits, because they took a slight dip in profits. Frankly, they (big oil) don't need a bailout, they're already subsidized, gains and losses, here and there, are part of business and markets. If they want to stay in the energies/ fuels business, they need to learn to keep up with technologies and the times, be competitive, or else go out of business ... you know, like business meets consumer demand? We should be making policies for these mega industries to invest in a more sustainable energy model, that serves the times, environment, needs, and consumers ... while creating a robust future economy much improved from what we have ... you know ... for our children (as they say).
Some read and views below ... and I wanted to close out with a Bill McKibben interview with Democracy Now.
Word Out ....
Blue skies and clean air in Los Angeles after coronavirus lockdown ... Thanx to CBS This Morning
George W. Bush Urged Us to Prepare for Future Pandemics in 2005 | NowThis ... Thanx to NowThis News
This posting will be for the "Political Corruption & Ethics", and "Covid-19 2020" series of this journal/ blog ... a quick opening video above of what President George W. Bush warned Americans of in 2005, as far as preparing for the next pandemic, which was importante. The first video below, is 15 years after President Bush was pointing this out ... of President Trump, and his response to the pandemic, as it is infecting his city of New York, with hundreds dying daily. This posting is to have a quick update on some of the events, and particularly looking at the corruption that is increasingly clearer, not an "invisible enemy", as President Trump would put it ... but the "visible enemy" that we're at war with ... which is him and his administration. You have people with much wealth, like our President, some in politics, even the corporate/ banking world, that make decisions that kill many, and killed millions over the years ... they're your enemy. They chose to be our/ your enemy, and they started it all, they attacked us, we didn't attack them ... we should defend ourselves, as if they're a virus, because they are. They should be tried, imprisoned, and/ or executed by the majority, and replaced ... the last paragraph here explains this clearly. Some media folks on the left or even late night mainstream tele shows, make jokes about Trump and his moves, I don't find anything funny, cute, or entertaining about his handling of this crisis, or ripping us off ... he has took our country further into a hole, than what it already has been. While browsing through some newsread and videos, I selected a few below that inspired this update posting. At the bottom, I will add to it.
Donald Trump's coronavirus timeline: how the President's message has changed ... Thanx to Channel 4 News
*****************************************************************************
Voters stand in long line in the pouring rain outside Marshall High School in Milwaukee on Tuesday. The city cut its polling places from 180 to five citing lack of workers willing to staff the polls during the coronavirus pandemic. (Coburn Dukehart photo for Wisconsin Watch)
*****************************************************************************
Thomas Hudson Pickering/ Ranch Chimp
Some may say that this is not the President's fault, some actually think he's doing a great job ... but the way he chose to deal with this, is entirely his fault. He knew much more about this than what he claims, but chose to focus more on his political ratings and the stock markets, over doing everything in his power to defend his country and citizens, he contributed to thousands of deaths because of his inaction, as well. President Trump lacks integrity, or even any type loyalty to the people and country that he took an oath to serve, yet expects loyalty from everyone else. He's doing more damage because of his neglect, to the economy and stock market, that will likely stall recovery, and bring more misery and suffering. Frankly, the reason we have people in charge like Trump, and they get away with everything they do, including all kinds of crimes, is because we have a system that allows it, controlled by markets only, and insanity, saturated in pipe dreams, corporatocracy and theocracy, with legalized corruption. Any other people that are not part of this cesspool of aristocracy, would be criminally charged and tried for the crimes that people like Trump commit. In a country like communist China, he and even many of those in the corporate world that rob our country blind, would be imprisoned at least, and probably in Trump's case, be executed swiftly ... even in the underworld of organized crime, he would have been executed quickly ... and of course, it would be justified and in order, not because of incompetence, but his intentional disregard and reckless endangerment of everyone, and everything that we depend on to survive. I feel he's done a terrible job, and I'm going on performance and record, not on politics. Trump took a position and failed this country terribly in the worst crisis in my lifetime (I'm 64). He has the power and has all the top people and advisors whether science or finance to utilize, he has executive powers that can change things in a heartbeat. I hear all the time out of him, only about business and his fantastic handling of this and his approval ratings ... he is not of any value to this country, or even the wartime leader or whatever kind of leader he claims to be ... he's nothing but a two bit charlatan. We should learn from this, and do everything possible to make sure no one like this guy ever gets the Presidency again. He is probably the most unethical person in a top position of government that I have seen, and compulsive liar.
The longer this President is in power, the worse he will get, unless he miraculously changes overnight, which is not likely ... and he is willing to put millions more in harms way, just to keep power. He is really not much different, than most of the worst well known dictators of the world over the last couple hundred years. And he has not done a thing for all his supporters in states that so strongly support him ... they are no better off with him as President, nor did they get any of what he promised of any worth and substance that could be beneficial to their lives. His boldness and irresponsibility is unprecedented in U.S. presidents of past. He has publicly stated that he don't take responsibility for anything in this crisis, and instead of admitting any fault on anything, he blames the previous Obama Administration, the Democrats, and everyone from the World Health Organization, down to his own intell network and people he appointed in his own administration, if needed ... all the qualities of any fascist dictator. He'll hire you and love you, and just as quickly fire you and hate you, in short time ... he has so many afraid to even tell him things that need to be done, out of fear of being fired. He runs his office like a business selling fast food franchises, with a day trader mentality as far as strategies to invest ... and when you put someone like that in charge, especially as disorganized as he is, and giving him anything close to a blank check on spending ... you're asking for trouble. The reason the Republicans support him, is because they feel they're losing favour, not because they like him, they like that he is good at conning people. This is also why Republicans needed to do so much as far as gerrymandering, they will support and do whatever, including destroying whatever democracy we still have, to maintain power. They're also trying to rush through another stimulus, without adequate consideration and help to those millions who can't work, while wanting very minimal oversight of any stimulus money distribution to small businesses through banks or anyone they enrich ... cloaking it in "free market" or related nonsense. They are also responsible for voter suppression, and encouraging folks to go out and vote even in a pandemic, instead of delaying the vote or supporting alternative methods ... or telling folks to go to church gatherings, knowing of the danger they are putting people in, or to work before it is safe, all in the name of freedom, or sacrificing their lives for the stock market/ Wall Street. A closing video below of pandemics history.
Word Out ....
Spanish Flu: a warning from history ... Thanx to Cambridge University **** this video is from 30 november 2018
This entry into the music/ arts honour roll society of this journal/ blog, will be to feature some of the cuts from The Punkles out of Hamburg, Germany. Although I followed much punk for years, I never heard of this band until on YouTube, back about 8 years ago ... and don't recall anyone off hand in those circles of punk ever mentioning them. But I sure would have loved to see this crew live somewhere. When I first heard this crew, if I wasn't looking at a video or reading anything about them, only listening to audio, I probably would have thought, they were the Ramones covering a couple Beatles songs. This crew started up in 1998 and disbanded 2006 ... but those years they were around, I read, they were really doing well in Europe and Japan ... then just disappeared ... but they could probably sell out shows all over if they done a reunion tour. Nothing stands out special of this crew either, they do have some good harmonizing and guitar work though ... they simply do the same lyrics and music on these tunes as they were originally wrote/ recorded, they just add that punk style twist to them. But if you liked some of the classic stuff from The Beatles, and liked the Ramones punk style, you will probably like this crew and these cuts ... they just plain kick ass, too ... they really put out a good sound on these. Thanx to these guys for the music they left us with. Enjoy! ....
The Punkles- Magical Mystery Tour ... Thanx to jamesosterberg
*****************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************
***** RANCH CHIMP JOURNAL "WELCOME" POST
***** "THE RESISTANCE | PERILS OF THE POWER POSSE" ... ( a 2 part futuristic Ranch Chimp Journal dream to dream on )
*****************************************************************************
/media/img/posts/2020/03/TrumpTweet/original.png)
