Friday, January 31, 2003

 

 

posted by ~Brahma 5:33 PM

Thursday, January 30, 2003

 

Words From Frank Zappa

The following was sent in by Brahma's World group member, Deno and we thank him for this timely quote These words have never been more true....even today, over two decades later.

"When political leaders do not demonstrate honesty, when people lie constantly in the media--everybody gets used to 'The Big Lie' as a way of life. At that point, honesty becomes a quaintly outmoded concept--nobody wants to be honest anymore, because if they are, they might finish last.
I would say that today,dishonesty is the rule, and honesty is the exception. It could be, statistically, that more people are honest than dishonest, the few that really control things are not honest, and that tips the balance.
I don't think we have an honest president. I don't think that he is surrounded by honest people. I don't believe that most of the people in the Congress or in the Senate are honest. I don't think most people that head up businesses are honest. We have to let them get away with it because we're not honest enough to face up to the fact that we are 'owned and operated' by a bunch of really bad people."

-Frank Zappa, from a CNN interview with Sandy Freeman, October 31, 1981

posted by ~Brahma 1:21 AM

Tuesday, January 28, 2003

 

A Guide To The Presidents Speech

Before we're all held spellbound by this great orator tonight, let me give you something to look for as you listen to him. You can always tell when he's lying......his lips move. But seriously folks....Georgie boy has a definite "tell"...a physical signal that one is bluffing as in a poker game. When you hear him say something that he doesn't really believe, i.e. "We need to provide good health care to people in need", he will look away (to his left mostly) and blink twice. Check it out for yourself! You'll see!

The double blink is a well known sign of deceit. That's why a superior lier can look you in the eyes and lie to your face. That type may be harder to recognize at a moments notice....unless you recognize the overcompensation of "locking in" on the victims eyes. These are usually subconcious signals that give us our "gut feeling" of someones verasity. But when you remain focused and look for these signals, the real truth reveals itself.

Look for yourself and tell me what you see/hear!

posted by ~Brahma 12:38 PM

Friday, January 24, 2003

 

Right In Front Of Our Eyes!

Back in the beginning of January in my local newspaper (Jan.3), the 1st column on the left told of Bush's plan to do away with taxes paid on stock dividends and earnings. The 1st column on the right told of plans for future Medicaid cuts. Do we see a connection here?

Bush just won't let go of this stupid tax give-away, always coming up with an inventive reason for it. When he first took office he said it's time to give the "surplus" that we had from the great economy, back to "the people". Some people more than others. He threw most of us a $300 bone while the top 1% collected millions. True...they paid much more in income taxes, but they had much more income! And that's just the income that they had to report, with much going to off shore accounts or tax defered investments.

Then.....after the economy started going down the toilet, we needed tax relief to help "jump start the economy", same deal....$300 for us....the rest for them. So we needed a tax giveback when times were good.....and we need tax "relief" when times are bad. Very inventive....but just how stupid have we as a people become? Whatever condition the economy is in, the response is tax givebacks. On the same friggin' page they're announcing medicaid (or care?) cutbacks that will devastate the people who need it! Here we see as example of "compasionate conservatisim" at work.

And the bull-twaddy about taxing the profits from stocks twice....is the biggest crock yet. Corporations earn money. The government collects taxes on these profits. Then the corporation pays the salaries of it's employees. From that money (the same money!) the government collects payroll taxes. Then the employees pay an income tax on what's left. When they actually get to spend some money, they pay sales tax on the same friggin' money again! But somehow, when it involves paying out dividends, "oh it's already been taxed..." If someone speaks out against it they scream "Class Warfare!"

Well, yeah...it is class warfare.... started by Bush & friends against most everyone else. Somehow, they get support from many of the people it hurts the most. That's where their genius lies...in public relations. If it were the middle of the 1800's (as they wish!) they would be convincing Black people that we need slavery.

But in spite of all that... the biggest affront to the American people is the fact that we award government contracts to companies that set up dummy off-shore offices to avoid paying taxes altogether! SO...in effect, much money isn't even taxed once! And we reward these "American" companies with contracts paid for with OUR TAXES!

What a Country!!!

Where else could they consider a "tax break" in what they call a time of "war against terrorism" And congratulations go out to Bush for finding all that vacation time (like the month of August!) during this "war"

posted by ~Brahma 12:06 AM

Tuesday, January 14, 2003

 

Dear Brahma,

I received the following e-mail from Bongo Johnny in response to my entry from 12/22

Dear Brahma,

Got to disagree with a couple of points in the 12/22 babble
column. I think more than a little was accomplished in Afghanistan. A
government that repressed and abused women, forbade basic freedoms of
speech, sports and even music, tortured people in the name of religion
and supported lousy terrorists was replaced. Thousands of would-be
killers were themselves killed. Was it the best payback? No. But forget
about Bin Laden's death being the end of this. Kill him and there will be
a hundred other ass holes waiting to take his place. Besides the ones who
actually planned and carried Sept. 11th out have mostly all been killed
or captured. This is a war where the defeats are few but large and the
victories are many but small. This is not a war like those our fathers
fought in. This is a war fought against ghosts who have local support and
sympathy. The Afgan-Pakistan border is impossible to seal off. The
British couldn't do it, the Russians couldn't either. Israel can't even
defend their own borders against such an enemy.

And Iraq is a sponsor of international terrorist with the same
kind of oppressors as in Afghanistan. The only mistake was not finishing
the job in 1991. It's not oil that differentiates North Korea from Iraq.
It's nuclear weapons. Bush may be a prick, but I can't see Al Gore doing
half as much after Sept. 11th. Democrats are very good at domestic issues
but not so good at foreign ones(ie: Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill
Clinton). However, Brahma, keep those opinions coming. It's what makes
this country great.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO
ALL!!!

Dear Bongo;
Since when does the U.S. care that a regime is abusing women, forbade freedoms, or for that matter even tortured people in the name of religion or otherwise. My last post mentioned the Dinka tribes men and women who have had all that and more dumped on them in Sudan. When are we invading them? We do business on a daily basis with countries guilty of the same things, like China. Have you bought anything recently that wasn't made in China? American companies are finding it cheaper to buy products made in China then produce them here anymore. Do we really give a rat's ass that they oppress women? Do we care that they took over the entire country of Tibet?

Why are we so concerned with the oppression of the Kurds in Iraq rather than the tribal warfare going on in parts of Africa? I'm sure we'd be interested if the South won the civil war and we still imported slaves....We are obviously more interested in the massive oilfeilds that the Kurds would help control if/when we invade Iraq. Bush is a former oil executive, as is Chaney. They're still invested heavily there...albeit blind trusts.

Capturing Bin Laden was our stated goal. We failed. That's why it's important. To let him get away with mass murder only provides encouragement for future scumbag terrorists. Even the appearance of him escaping punishment is detrimental to our interests.

Unfortunately, no one can provide proof on any link betwwen Iraq and Bin Ladin. And that seems to be the only place we're looking....you can be sure if there was anything remotely resembling proof, they'd be shouting it from the roof of the White House. But...18 out of 20 of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia! There has been actual proof of money given to Al Quida from the Saudi royal family. When are we invading them?

Korea has flat out said they have and are working toward more nuclear weapons. We don't seem as interested, do we? What gives you the impression that the Republicans are so good at foreign relations? World opinion is going against us more every day. We disavow treaties signed in good faith...like nuclear prolification. We void ecological agreements for the sake of business. You'd think that with the disolution of the U.S.S.R. the world would be a safer place. Far from it. With no one to keep the US in place, the rest of the world is now scared of us! Bush has said he would order a pre-emptive nuclear strike for crying out loud! We're apparently going to prove Iraq has these weapons by forcing them to use them! This is just insanity...pure and simple.

Thanks Bongo, for contacting Brahma's World
We welcome all correspondence

posted by ~Brahma 12:46 AM

Tuesday, January 07, 2003

 

More Bad News...

I know I alluded to postings of a more personal nature, but frankly there's not that much that I'd like to share of my day to day exsistence with you....and I still have comments to post & respond to....among other stuff. But some things are too important to wait...or in some cases, be ignored.

I'm looking at todays (Tues. Jan.7) San Francisco Chronicle. Most of the front page is devoted to the blown call in the 49'ers-Giants playoff game....a major story indeed. Back here on page 9 (out of 16 in the section) there's an article that might have more of a effect on human life. Let me recreate the headline...

weired weather plagues Africa

SCIENTISTS SAY 40 MILLION FACING STARVATION MAY BE FIRST HUMAN VICTIMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Now admitedly, the city of Thaba-Tseka, Lesotho will never make it to the Superbowl, but still....How can this be ignored? Even if you don't believe in the exsistence of global warming....40 million people are facing starvation! (as I open another bag of chips...albeit soy chips)

Will we now see Bush's "compasionate conservatism" run to the rescue? We're talking about 40 million people, for crying out loud. What about the members of the Dinka tribe in the Sudan being slaughtered by the tribe that's currently in power there?
Or do they only care about the Kurdish people that Saddam hates? Well...I guess they do live over massive oil fields...
That fact apparently pushes them to the top of the "to do" list.

We're all friggin' doomed. As long as the current crop of bozos are calling the shots, we're all friggin' doomed. At times like this, we often turn to religion for answers. All cultures have some form of religion...all equally valid in the most basic of concepts. With that in mind, I can only quote Lesotho village elder Makhabasha Ntaote...who believes that something has gone haywire in the cosmos. "We don't know what to expect anymore from the skies...I think God is angry at us, but I don't know why."
Would anyone care to venture a guess?

posted by ~Brahma 5:00 PM

Thursday, January 02, 2003

 

A Sermon for the New Year

This was sent in to Brahma's World by The Rose....

A man suffered a serious heart attack and had open heart bypass surgery.
He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at a
Catholic hospital.

As he was recovering, a nun asked him
questions regarding how he was going to pay for services. He was asked
if he had health insurance.

He replied, in a raspy voice, "No health insurance." The nun asked if he
had money in the bank. He replied, "No money in the bank."

The nun asked, "Do you have a relative who could help you?" He said, "I
only have a spinster sister who is a nun."

The nun got a little perturbed and announced loudly. "Nuns are not
spinsters! Nuns are married to God."

The patient replied, "Then please send the bill to my brother-in-law!

Brothers & Sisters... what lesson can we take from this little vignette? How can we take this tale of levity and use it to improve our lives on a daily basis? ..........From this story, I think we realize the need to stay focused! The nun is attempting to extract payment for services rendered....She receives a response that momentarily distracts her....She just has to insert her dogma into the discussion...allowing the patient an opening to seemingly win the "arguement" through humor.

Of course, the patient will still have to come up with the bucks. But at least for that minute, and probably a few after that, the nun can only remain silent (speechless?) In order to extract payment, she will have to admit that nuns aren't really married to God! So , the lesson is to stay focused! Not just for the nun....but the patient! When you find yourself in a similar position, just stay focused for that moment when the one with the upper hand just can't resist straying off the track by trying to teach you something "undisputible" albeit unrelated....it happens quite often....if you can take the unrelated "fact" and poke a hole in it....you have momentarily won. If you can use humor to poke the hole it becomes much more effective. For some reason, when humor is used to make a point it seems like you've made the undisputible point. Like Johnny Cochrane rhyming..."If the glove don't fit...you have to aquit!"... Why?...he doesn't say....the fact that it rhymes makes it self evident, doesn't it? The D.A. couldn't even respond to that...They shouldn't have given O.J. the chance to create that illusion....they got distracted from the real arguement!

posted by ~Brahma 11:28 PM