Tuesday, December 28, 2010
*scrape*scrape*scrape*
it’s spreading
ToDaZeD Must Read at Michelle’s Mirror. It’s a feel-good!
Here’s a taste:
From the NY Post, exhibit 1:
By contrast, Obama is a displaced person adopted by the far cruder Chicago machine, which turned his superficial charm and his palpable animus against the American ideal into a winning combination in the perfect storm 2008 election.
With optics as only MOTUS can do!
*the sound of Obama bumper stickers being removed
Monday, December 27, 2010
Feeeeeel Goodz
Indigenous Indulgences
Check out the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
Affirming further that all doctrines, policies and practices based on or advocating superiority of peoples or individuals on the basis of national origin or racial, religious, ethnic or cultural differences are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust,
IOW if anyone says that their culture is better, that’s not only raaaacist but illegal, icky and “socially unjust”—whatever that is…
Like this? Prosecutable?
Recognizing the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of indigenous peoples which derive from their political, economic and social structures and from their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories and philosophies, especially their rights to their lands, territories and resources, ...
As in the Vikings in Greenland?
The Pelasgians in Greece? Franks? Visigoths? Celts?
The Roman Empire is right out. Greeks, Phoenicians, Uighurs?
Which tribe in the Americas? And what about that “right” to human sacrifice, eh?
Emphasizing the contribution of the demilitarization of the lands and territories of indigenous peoples to peace, economic and social progress and development, understanding and friendly relations among nations and peoples of the world, ...
Yeah—you take that “militarization” away from the Huns.
Recognizing in particular the right of indigenous families and communities to retain shared responsibility for the upbringing, training, education and well-being of their children, consistent with the rights of the child, ...
oooooo - sorry. That “rights of the child” thing is an artifact of a conquering, imperialistic culture, not an Indigenous Personnel Cultural Identity.
Acknowledging that the Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,2 as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,(3) affirm the fundamental importance of the right to self-determination of all peoples, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,
...Unless, of course, it transgresses the delicate sensibilities of the UN?
Bearing in mind that nothing in this Declaration may be used to deny any peoples their right to self-determination, exercised in conformity with international law,
Wait. You vaaaalue “my” Indigenous Culture only insofar as it conforms with your “International Law”? But you’re the “Civilized” Imperialists! I’m the Noble Savage! That trumps “Civilized”, right?
Oh… Unless you have guns *and* blue helmets.
Ok—This part might come in handy someday:
Article 8
1. Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture...
So, no tablecloth tossed over my head! Ha!
This ...thing is the biggest mess of self-contradictory bullshiite imaginable. IOW, “you little savages Noble Savages can do whatever colorful native dance you like, so long as you do what we tell you.”
Why do I mention it?
President Obama announced [12/16/10] that the U.S. would reverse the position of the Bush administration and become the last nation to drop its opposition to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Swell.
John R. Bolton, a U.N. ambassador under President George W. Bush, called the announcement “exactly the kind of mushy, feel-good multilateralist gesture one would expect from President Obama."
Bingo.
Even Canada [America’s hat] put some spine into it:
Before signing, Canada hedged its support by adding that the declaration would be endorsed “in a manner fully consistent with Canada’s Constitution and laws,” a caveat that was included over the objections of that country’s tribal leaders.
..."We’re holding our breath to see what the [US] State Department releases,” said Kenneth Deer, secretary of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawke in Canada. WTH do you care?!? “We’re hoping it’s not as mean-spirited as Canada’s. That [document] was couched in very restrictive terms, and I don’t know how many times it said ‘nonbinding.’ “
Ok—“non-binding.” So the potentially useful bits aren’t. And the restrictive bits will be exploited to the max. Swell.
Thanks, iLoozah!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
This Year's Experiment
Mmm.... fluffy
Marshmallows!
They are currently pining for the fjords resting. In several hours, I will [attempt] to cut ‘em up and dip ‘em in chocolate!
Mmm........
[I hope]
Turns out the easiest way to cut these is with a pizza cutter! And the texture - Mmmmmmmmmsmmmooooth!
The cornstarch/confectioners sugar is a good dredge. Not too sweet as these little beasties are quite sweet on their own. Gotta dust ‘em off real well, too, and then they look soooo smoooooooth.
They’re EZ! Later—chocolate dipping!
[that recipe said “makes 12” —If you’re interested in 12 godzirra-size. I already have three times that many and at about an inch square and half-inch deep, I think they’ll be better. I like little bites.]
I may put some in some rocky road with pecans and dried cherry pieces, too. Mmmmmmm*crunch*
----------
3 envelopes of unflavored Knox gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Confectioners’ sugar for dredging
1/4 C Confectioners’ sugar
1/4 C cornstarch
[sifted together for lining the bottom of the pan, dusting top of mass and dredging cut-up pieces]
In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Soak for 10 minutes. [marshmallow mixture tends to “walk” up the beaters to the motor. Scrape down frequently.] [mixture also becomes heaaavy and slows mixer. Be sure it’s not overheating.]
Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute. Pour boiling syrup into gelatin and mix at high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. Add vanilla and incorporate into mixture. Scrape into a 9 x 9-inch pan [9 x 13 pan] lined with oiled parchment and spread evenly.
(Note: Lightly oil hands and spatula or bowl scraper). After pouring marshmallow mixture into the pan, dust with cornstarch/powdered sugar mix, take another piece of plastic wrap and press mixture into the pan.
Let mixture sit for a few hours [overnight].
Remove from pan, dredge the marshmallow slab with confectioners’ sugar/cornstarch mix and cut into 12 equal pieces with scissors (the best tool for the job) or a chef’s knife [or pizza cutter]. Dredge each piece of marshmallow in confectioners’ sugar/cornstrch.
Yield: 12 large marshmallows or more if cut smaller....
Lasts about a week.
If It Ain't Broke -- Don't "Fix" It
all depends on your definition of “broke."
“Broke” apparently being defined as “growing rapidly, evolving freely and creating wealth.”
OR *clicky*clicky* to Reason.tv
More here:
Al Gore says that legislation ensuring “net neutrality” is “needed for the revitalization of American democracy.”
[*clicky* for more vid]
That statement’s a definitional rat’s nest. Kinda smells funny, too.
When was the last time your ISP “blocked access” to a site?
Yeah. Me neither.
ToDaZeD Random Stuff
Just Me™?
Even tho I was struck down [struck down, I tells ya!] by Jihaddi-Virus early this month *hack*sniffle*cuss* I did make it out to shop a coupla few times. how ya think I caught this thing? eh?!? Oh yeah - Little Miss Outsmarted Herself—thought she’d get ahead of the curve. Get started early... *hack*sniffle*cuss*groan*
I managed to hit most of my favorite little “oh, you can always find something cute here” spots. Most of my shopping is for cute little stocking stuffers and girlie type gifts, so the local giftie store, stationery shop, accessory departments at big department stores and a couple of ‘drug stores’ are my faves. Yanno what I found?
Nuttin. Scarves—dull ones. Gloves—cheap ones. Wallets—expensive and ugly ones.
No cute little off-the-wall, funny, unusual things. No “never seen that before” stuff. No “what a great idea” items. No “that made me laugh - it’s great” frippery. Srsly—the most ‘interesting’ thing I found was hair elastics stretched around a circle on a stick to look like a lollypop. Funny, yes. But rly?!? That’s it?!?
Nuttin’. WTH?!?
Then, yesterday [being male] The Mister started his shopping, looking in his fave spots for guy-type stocking stuffers, and guy-type gifts. [Division of labor is big around here.] Yanno what he found?
Flashlights and hammers. Srsly. Even at Harbor Freight, where they usually have silly, cheap-but-interesting toys and unusual gadgets, they had flashlights and hammers. WTH?!?
Is it that the buyers 8 months ago were so timid that they didn’t dare risk any capital investing in any items that weren’t already guaranteed movers?
Not. A. Good. Sign.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
More Social Engineering
of roads, Hell and Good Intentions
At least I am assuming, for now, that there are Good Intentions on the part of glam-rock morons.
On Tuesday, President Obama announced his intent to appoint Mr. Bon Jovi, along with 24 others, to the newly established Council for Community Solutions, a group that, according to the administration’s press release, “will prove advice to the President on the best ways to mobilize citizens, nonprofits, businesses and government to work more effectively together to solve specific community needs.”
What the hell is a “commuuuunity need”?!? I know what a “individual need” is; a sammich, a JOB… But if you *give* “my commuuuunity 150 JOBs, and I don’t get one, whatinhell use is that?
The White House press release highlighted Mr. Bon Jovi’s work with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps those in need and is dedicated to breaking “the cycle of poverty and homelessness in the United States,” before also noting his “more than 120 million albums” and “2,600 concerts for more than 34 million fans.”
Pushing the Open Society/OWG actuality another step closer to the Edge. ...while affording Teh iWon with a little star-f*cker leg-thrill. Charming.
You wanna “break the cycle of poverty?” Stop handing out generational welfare payments. Allow folks to experience the natural and logical consequences of their individual choices.
This is yet another* step down the road in re-defining Americans from individuals, with individual Liberties, to the Collective Masses. Not only is it sick and twisted—it’s incredibly dangerous as the Federal Gubbmint turns from protecting Individual, Natural Order Rights to heeeelping the colleeeective.
That leaves no one to defend Individual Liberties but Individuals; who will be adjudged to be “anti-social.” ...and heeeelped to readjust to the colleeeective by New Jersey hair metal garage band “stars.”
wee.
[as in: WeeASoF]
HALP ME JON! I R STUK HERE IN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS LAND!!!
Friday, December 17, 2010
A Phrase to Chill Your Blood
there’s a Little Ice Age in my ventricles
When Janet Competence Napolitano says,
“(H)ow can we focus on how climate change is going to affect our rural citizenry including those who live along our boarders both northern and southern?”
Yeah. Tingly, eh?
Napolitano explained that the ["Climate Change and Adaptation Task Force"] task force was charged with “identifying and assessing the impact that climate change could have on the missions and operations of the Department of Homeland Security.”
...“How will FEMA work with state and local partners to plan for increased flooding or wildfire or hurricane activity that is more serious than we’ve seen before? What assistance can the Coast Guard bring to bear to assist remote villages in, for example, Alaska which already have been negatively affected by changes up in the Arctic?”
Halp Me! I Is Stuk Here Wit FEMA!
ToDaZeD WTF'nFF?!?
who hired these wastrel snakes?!?
This dork can barely fog a mirror.
[Reid] I’ve been one who does believe in our Constitution, separation of powers and one of the issues I have fought is to make sure the White House doesn’t continually take from us, our power.
Everyone should understand, this earmark issue is simply that - a way for the executive branch of government to steal power we’ve been granted in our Constitution.
We have a constitutional duty to do congressional directed spending; and I don’t want to give up that responsibility.
I can’t understand why some of the more conservative members here want to give up their power. I don’t understand that.
...
Now then, the little Constitution that we have doesn’t have a lot of information in it but what is in it is what runs this country and am convinced that I do not want to give up more power to the White House - whether it’s George Bush or Barack Obama.
And I’m going to fight as hard as I can against President Obama on these earmarks and my Republican colleagues who hate to vote for them but love to get them.
vid here
Scholar. Searchlight style.
Hey Harry—you wanna jeep about the loss of POWAH from the Congress? Take a little lookie-see into the Regulatory Agencies, the Czars, the Small Grey Bureaucracies y’all created while neglecting to install an off-switch.
Here’s what the “little Constitution that we have” says about your POWAH:
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; . . .
Here’s another brain trust:
[Pelosi] “So here we are with a bill on one side of the ledger that benefits 155 million Americans. We have tax cuts for the middle class across the board. Everybody gets that tax cut. But in order for the middle class to get that tax cut, the Republicans insist that those who make the top 2 percent in our country, that they get an extra tax cut--adding billions of dollars to the deficit and not creating any jobs.
Lookie here, dumbarse: there IS no “tax cut.” There is maintenance of the rate in effect for 10 years. Just because you counted your chickens before they were even eggs doesn’t mean you can make an omelette out of US. And those top 2 percent you’re so worried about? They pay more than 40% of the Income taxes paid. They’re your cash cow, you cow. As for the jobs—go get a job from somebody who makes $17k/year. As you’d know if you’d ever gotten a job from any source other than nepotism or cronyism.
“To add insult to injury, they have now added this estate tax provision. An estate tax provision, now mind you, the Democrats’ side of the ledge benefits 155 million Americans. In order for the President to get those terms accepted, the Republicans insisted that $23 billion in benefits go to 6,600 wealthiest families in America--6,600 families holding up tax cuts for 155 million Americans. Is that fair? Does that meet any test of fairness that we have? Again, this $23 billion not creating jobs. This $23 billion increasing the deficit by 8 percent in the next fiscal year.
Rly. You really want to argue for a Wealth Tax? For a tax that destroys family farms and family owned businesses? Yanno—where 70% of JOBS are? And you dare talk about “fair”?!? Stupid
CowMeat Puppet.“Think of what we could do with that $23 billion. We could triple our research in cancer and diabetes. I think that means something to all Americans, including those 6,600 wealthiest families. We could give a $7,000 raise to every public schoolteacher in America. We could create investing in new technology--780,000 jobs, 780,000 jobs. Nanny, please. It is not attractive for a
ladywomanfemale of your age to reach under her skirt and whip numbers outta her arse. srsly. knock it off. Instead we are giving a bonanza to 6,600 of the wealthiest people in America who really don’t need the help.Think of what the people who created that wealth—and who own it—could do with it! Re-start the American Economy, maybe? Whence you derive your
graftsalary. Yeah. That. “Giving”?? “Help”?!?? Whoinhell do you think you are?!?? Such a large ego really deserves a much bigger person.“It’s just amazing to hear our colleagues on other side of the aisle talk about deficit reduction when everything on their side of the ledger increases the deficit and does not create jobs--tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent, most egregious of all the estate tax provision that they have that benefits not 1 percent, not one half of 1 percent but one quarter of 1 percent of the American people.
Nanny; why the hate?
And here’s a little Historical Type Iron:
December 16, 1773
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Teh Iron - It Tickles
squealing like a little ... well, yanno
Clever Julian
Julian Assange tried to hide his bail address from the public ...
Assange’s lawyers argued that the location - a 10-bedroom stately home - should not be disclosed on grounds of privacy during yesterday’s hearing…
[the address [belongs to] Captain Vaughan Smith, former Grenadier Guards Captain,—Ellingham Hall on the Norfolk/Suffolk border...] Cpt Smith set up the Frontline Club in London in 2003…
Despite a string of millionaire and celebrity backers, who include a list of luvvies, lefties and ‘internationally renowned’ backers, [Assange] has yet to raise the £240,000 bail money.
In other nooz, Michael Vick*ptui* wants another dog.
NOT 20-20 Hindsight...
*whaaaaa?!?*
Jimmah Cahtah demonstrates the acumen, insight and sage judgement that characterized his term in office.
ThinkBig.com video interview here
“I guess my biggest failure was not getting reelected," ...
hm.. Guess again.
Carter, 86, said the loss taught him “not to ever let American hostages be held for 444 days in a foreign country without extracting them." He added, “I did the best I could, but I failed."
So, until that lost election, you thought that was a good idea to “let American hostages be held for 444 days in a foreign country”?
..."I should have paid more attention to the organization of the Democratic Party,” Carter said. “I was not only the leader of our nation, but I was also the leader of the Democratic Party. And I think I failed in that respect to keep the party united."
...
“Step by step, we have realized that this issue of homosexuality has the same adverse and progressive elements as when we dealt with the race issue 50 years ago, 40 years ago,” Carter says
What are these “same adverse and progressive elements?” What does that even mean?!
“So I would say the country is getting acclimated to a president who might be female, who might obviously now be black and who might be as well a gay person.”
Carter: finger on the heartbeat of America.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
ToDaZeD eww
slugs of a feather...
I am aware of the various allegations Julian Assange faces in Sweden.
I support Julian, whom I see as a pioneer of free speech, transparent government and the digital revolution in journalism. His commitment to exposing the follies of government and business offers the greater society a chance to protect itself from these follies. Some aren’t just follies. Some are crimes. What do we do with someone who informs the authorities—and in this case it is the free people in a democracy who are the “authorities”—that a crime has been committed? Do we arrest HIM? Do we try to shut his mouth? Do we hound him, threaten him, track him down and hunt him as if HE is the criminal? He bravely informed the citizenry of what was being done in their name and with their tax monies. That is no crime. That is an act of patriotism. He should be thanked and honored, not abused and jailed. It dishonours this court to be used in this way, holding this man without bail. Julian has made the world, and my country in particular, a safer place. His actions with WikiLeaks have put on notice those who would take us to war based on lies that any future attempts to do so will be met by the fierce bright light provided by WikiLeaks and intended to expose those who commit their war crimes. His actions will make them think twice next time—and for that we all owe him a debt of gratitude.
He is “out of the country” staying at the Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa.
...“experiential showers, aqua-thermal bathing experiences, Finnish saunas, outdoor solariums, thermal-heated loungers, deluxe spa suites, and two world-class Pritikin restaurants.” $4,500 a week is the minimum price…
...A fellow patron of the spa said he didn’t look well. “...he sure was fat, even fatter than he looks on TV, like he’d gained a hundred pounds,”
...It is unknown whether the Communist Cuban health care system, which Moore has praised, offers its citizens refreshing stays at luxurious weight loss resorts.
Nothing But the Whole Quote
which makes it worse...
I hadda check and see if MO said really said what she seemed to have said or did context ameliorate the impact. She did. Only thing.... ya add the context and it’s worse than originally framed.
She started out with blablabla ‘crediting’ parents with the “ultimate responsibility” and “working very hard” to teach good eating habits. Then comes the…
...Butt. When our kids spend so much of their time each day in school, and when many kids get up to half their daily calories from school meals; it’s clear that we, as a Nation have a responsibility to meet as well. We can’t just leave it up to the parents.
Parents have the right to expect that their efforts won’t be undone each day in the school cafeteria.
“Up to half of their calories?” Schools are pushing breakfast, lunch and dinner and that’s only half?!? And since kids are spending so much time in school, whyinhell can’t they read and cipher? srsly.
Amusing to watch with the sound off BO trying to stay focused while she speaks. “Where’s the TOTUS?!?” “Oh. Look. Written notes. On paper?!? Hm...” *drifts into Mussolini Gaze* “uh oh! Fly!” .... “who’s that?” “watch her hands, she told me to watch her hands” *drifts into Mussolini Gaze* “uh oh - watch her hands, nod knowingly”
OR *clicky*clicky*
Monday, December 13, 2010
ToDaZeD Christmas Question
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Ok—what’s the kewlest present you’ve found so far—yanno, the one you can’t wait to give?
Friday, December 10, 2010
Riddle Me This
ToDaZeD coffee thotz
What is it about City Fulk?
Do those who tend to be more “liberal” gather there out of choice? Or does something about the crowded environment lead to the adoption of “liberal” thought processes as a means of self-preservation, protective coloring, or herd/belonging behavior?
I realize my own tendency to stay the hell out of major Metro areas is in part due to my own introverted nature [defined as getting your batteries recharged via solitary activity]. All those people doing all that stuff with all that noise *aaiiiieeeee* Too. Much.
So is that the difference? Do extroverts [defined as getting your batteries recharged thru social activity] naturally gravitate to where the people are?
If that’s so, why the marked difference in worldview [defined as the framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual interprets the world and interacts with it—Values & Visions] between City and Country folks?
I imagine I oughta toss in a ‘defined as’ on that, too. Those who, by preference, choose to live in an urban, usually coastal, environment/a rural or small town environment. Both tout the superiority of their choice on reasons that boil down to “it’s close to/in the heart of what’s Real and Important in Life.”
The Upper East Side New Yorker cites the available ‘culture,’ proximity to ‘what’s happening’ and ‘important people’ usually snide, fuckwit hipster twits. The ruralite cites ‘wide-open spaces,’ ‘ability to live with the rhythm of the Seasons,’ and ‘good, decent people’ a lack of snide, fuckwit hipster twits.
When you live in a City, damned near nothing you interact with is yours. A typical day: leave your [rented] apartment, walk down a [public] sidewalk or take [public] transportation to work in a [publicly held] ginormous corporation, lunch at a [open to the public] restaurant, rinse, repeat. But humans don’t work that way; we personalize. So it becomes MY building, MY street, MY subway, MY restaurant, MY job ask any union member.
In the Country/small town, dang near everything you interact with is either owned by you, or someone you know. Your house, your pick-up [on a road your county supervisor—at your behest—keeps paved. with your money], lunch at Suzie’s cafe or Ben’s drive-in, work on your farm or for Jack’s Tractor store, etc.
In an ideal world yeah, I made myself retch with that one, too. but stick with me a moment. those would just be personal choices—like chocolate or tutti frutti. But there seems to be a lot of slurs on the floor regarding these choices.
Take the latest kerfluffle over the Palin hunting caribou clip from her Alaska show. Stuff like this came out of the urban hipster fu contingent:
Personally, I know little about hunting. I blame this on having read “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers at a young age and getting the notion that hunting was supposed to involve naturalism and squalor and wistfulness and some confusing anecdotes about deaf-mutes. To me, dressing an elk means putting it in a sweater.
Like 95% of the people I know, I don’t have a visceral (look it up) problem eating meat or wearing a belt. But like absolutely everybody I know, I don’t relish the idea of torturing animals. I don’t enjoy the fact that they’re dead and I certainly don’t want to volunteer to be the one to kill them ...
Aside from the parenthetical “I know big words - be impressed” snark; [or, more on point, because of it] added to the vague, pseudo-psychological “naturalism and squalor and wistfulness” confusion, I gotta ask: howinhell do these fulk think the animal gets from the field to their plate/feet/chairs?!? Fairies and magic dressing-wands?!? Or Teh Little Dirty People doing Jobs Real People Won’t Oughtn’t to be Expected to Do?
[ and yet, they don’t support slavery. rly?]
Run that by me again, Boy. Your point is you know Big Words, you read Important Literature, and you believe the morally correct stance is with your fingers in your ears yelling “lalalalalala” while someone else does the difficult dirty work to put steak on your plate and unborn lamb pelts on your cuffs? That’s really your thesis? That’s what you think is Right?
[I do NOT want to see your bathroom.]
And you expect my respect and obsequious adulation because you can couch your nouveau-aristocrat point in a snarky, “witty” manner that heaps contempt, pompous scorn and self-satisfied superiority over those who are willing and able to do The Deed that makes you scream like a little [City] guurl?
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
— Robert A. Heinlein
That really seems to crystalize the difference for me. Some folks realize that Civilization is a thin veneer between us and the way the world really is: Mother Nature is out to kill you—all day, every day; Life is hard won and hanging on to it is a life-long, 24 hour/7day chore. Those skills that keep you and your family [and neighbors] alive are Good Things—not “dirty,” “nasty,” “icky,” or “beneath” anyone. Keeping those skills honed is what just might keep you and yours alive when [not IF] The Big One hits—be it earthquake, storm, Yellowstone Caldera or Iranian EMP missile out of Venezuela.
Other folks believe that they are Civilizations’ Special Children. They believe that, simply because they were able to master some of the more esoteric skills that Society has brought us [writing witty, snarky dialog for TV; generating or keeping track of the hippest, ever-changing fashions; mastering various tech gadgets], they have somehow earned the right to keep their own lilly-white paws free of the dirt and grit of every-day Life. They—the nouveau-aristocrats—don’t have to worry about where their food might come from and would be horrified and disgusted to find that the best mushrooms grow in steer shiit and arugula thrives in New Jersey dirt whence it must be harvested. Don’t even bring up the origin of their Kobe Beef Sliders.
Because Civilization is all they see—all day, every day—they forget what surrounds it. They would need to drag around a Valium IV drip if they considered how tenuous a hold it has on the tiny islands it occupies. They find it unthinkable that one medium-sized natural [hey—it’s naaaatural] disaster and *p00f* they’re three days away from Lord of the Flies: not literarily, but literally.
These fulk are, indeed, Civilizations’ Special Children [window-licker phyla]—byproduct of a Society that, because of its success, has lost touch through its affluence with its environment and what was required to bring it into being in the first place. They are a specialized breed—utterly dependent, without realizing it, and fragile.
The only question is whether or not this Civilization can afford this Special Class and how we shall choose to provide for their care.
erm... that was odd
"Please Go!"
Note the “smile” at 0:25
OR *clicky*clicky* to RealClearPolitics
*shudder*
And dang but Slick Willie has aged....
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{/if}
