Simon Linnett, Executive Vice-Chairman of
Rothschild, has called for a new international body, the World
Environment Agency, to regulate carbon trading.
In
a recently published paper, Trading Emissions, for the Social Market
Foundation, Mr Linnett argues that the International problem of climate
change demands an international solution.
Unless
governments cede some of their sovereignty to a new world body, he
says, a global carbon trading scheme cannot be enforced and regulated.
That, perhaps, it might be regarded to as having wider benefits than merely “saving the planet” – perhaps it might be the basis for a new world order, one that is not based on trade and/or conflict resolution – and, even • Perhaps one can see a way to achieve this goal, through leadership, vision and some marginal and manageable renunciation of national sovereignty, how the world might just get there.
This isn't about saving the planet by going green; that's just the cloak of goodness the greedy and powerful hide behind. They get the extra bonus of manipulating people under the guise of Green goodness; if you question their good environmental cause you must be a moron or a flat-earther. It's really a genius scam.
If the fear profiteers truly care about the environment they wouldn't be jetting all over the world in private planes, and they definitely wouldn't be promoting Cap and Trade, which allows polluters to keep polluting. This scheme is just as nonsensical as mortgage derivatives which helped bring down our economy, but even worse - considering the damage to the planet. Please inform yourself. It's a good thing to question these things. When you're told "The debate is closed!" and "The science is solid", look closer.
Gore has put fear into children with his hysterical "facts" (..."the entire north polar ice cap, during the summer months, could be completely ice-free within five to seven years.” - D'oh! and double d'oh!!), gloom and doom scenarios and scary animations of drowning polar bears. My Gawd! These kids could be daydreaming, building forts, volunteering to help people who are in actual danger NOW - rather than those animated polar bears of the future. But, no! They've been subjected to propaganda from Al Gore.
Gore, a man who (with Enron and Goldman Sachs along with the Rothschilds. See video, Baron Rothschild seems to "care" about the environment only for power & money) devised a carbon swap scheme (cap and trade) as a the cure for "climate change", (through his corporations) will rake in gazillions of dollars, pass the taxes on to us through energy and oil prices - AND *GET THIS*polluters will be allowed to continue polluting through carbon credits. Got that?! And, somehow, he's convinced people that he actually cares about the environment. He flew in a private jet to Copenhagen! If he truly fears ice caps are going to melt in five years, do you REALLY think he'd be quite as hypocritical? There's no truer statement than: Actions speak louder than words.
Sadly, Gore, a snake oil salesman, has had access to children long enough there are people in their twenties - walking around like zombies from a bad 1970's film - muttering "There is a consensus among the scientists"; "The ice caps are melting"; "The deniers all work for big oil"; (NOTE: PLEASE STOP IMMEDIATELY AND READ THE CLIMATE RESEARCH UNIT'S HISTORY AND SEE WHO THEY THANK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. Big oil and other industries? No! Say it isn't so. Are they really to be trusted as the purveyors of scientific truth, especially considering the email scandal.) "Stop climate change!", which might be a tad hard to do, considering climate has naturally changed for eons before human existence. It's just a THANG this kooky ol' planet has a habit of doing.
And now robotic youth chant Hopenhagen! Hopenhagen! in their "green" pureness, with glazed-over eyes and brainwashed expressions, having been subjected to Gore and corporate "green" marketing campaigns for years now. As good little greenies, they walk in lockstep and attack those who dare to question IPCC's "the solid science" (see why the science is not so solid: here - beyond the possibility that the head of IPCC may be a cap and trade profiteer).
Private jets land in Copenhagen and limos whisk away the rich and powerful, celebrities and world government lackeys - who wring their hands over "climate change"... for awhile. But then they get to why they're really there: Money. Who's going to get a piece of the Cap and Trade action? Soon Ahmadinejad and Chavez will arrive with their hands out, too - no matter that Ahmadi doesn't have a compassionate bone in his Members Only jacket-clad body; unless stoning women and hanging gay men has been twisted into some form of "putting them out of their misery". Chavez and alll the other world tyrants (those from the Congo and Sudan) oppress their people for power, will also be pushing everyone else out of the way in the name of "climate change" to get their hand-out.
Meanwhile, children in Darfur and other third world countries need our help NOW. That's what our children should be learning: That they are very fortunate to be safe with food and shelter, and they can help the world by doing what they can for people less fortunate. They can use today in a positive way and have tomorrow to look forward to - rather than spend their sweet youthful days wasted in fear - knowing they make a difference.
Instead, Gore's got children terrorized by his predicted events (rising seas and melting ice caps for his end goal - more money) that children couldn't possibly have any significant effect over, leaving them helpless with fear. What a sad waste of childhood.
David Bellamy, environmentalist PhD, dared to step out of line with the IPCC, and in doing so has been ignored by the establishment for 10 years.
He shares his words of wisdom about the state of science, the benefits of CO2 and his thoughts about "global warming" and Al Gore.
People, like David Bellamy - who dare to speak the truth - never hide in mobs.
Galileo wouldn't cower with other scientists just because there's a consensus (he would wonder how we'd know if scientists are being ignored). Galileo would NOT have listened today if Al Gore and scientists shouted, "The debate is closed!" He would wonder their motives.
Groupthinkers follow, fail and are forgotten (though some should be sent to prison).
As most of you have heard many times, the
consensus of climate scientists believes in global warming. Historically, the
claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to
avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled.Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists
agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you're being had.
If you REALLY care about the planet, and yet you believe Al Gore's fear-mongering, please answer my questions.
I'm just a person, like you, who wants a wonderful planet for future generations and for my daughter. Caring for the environment isn't a right vs. left thing; it's common sense. I'm an Independent and lifelong lover of the environment. I grew up with a dad who walked the walk - reusing, composting and conserving land. I recycle, used cloth diapers for my baby, drive a small car and do everything I can to not be wasteful.
I have an environmentalist friend so passionate he developed a "clean air" technology power plant which he wanted to bring it to California and would've provided clean air and jobs. But local government shot down the idea - lack of wisdom and lots of corruption. So I know there are many innovative ways to keep the earth healthy, and none of them are scams like Al Gore's cap and trade scheme, which will cripple the economy further AND allow polluters to keep spewing. Even one of the pro-anthroprogenic (man-made) warming scientists hopes this Copenhagen
deal goes down in a thud,
because he knows cap
and trade won’t help the environment.
Unless you're an
ideologue bent on doing anything (lying, spreading misleading information,
scamming people out of money, etc) for your end gain – no matter what the cost –
then, please, answer ALL of the questions. I will hit delete if you cannot
answer all of them, simply because I won't know if you really looked at all the information.
If you haven’t looked and thoroughly read ALL of these links
(below) and can’t answer ALL of these questions, I will assume two things: 1)
You don’t care enough about the future to informyourself 2) You are being manipulated with
your own compassion by government groups and corporations who know EXACTLY how to
convince you (through propaganda: movies, marketing, fear-mongering and groupthink,
that if you dare to question or look closer you are akin to a “flat-earther”) that
if you don’t listen to them YOU REALLY DON’T CARE ABOUT THE PLANET.
I admit, in this challenge I am manipulating you in the same
way. But my goal? Simply to know why you believe what you believe.
So, if you REALLY care about the planet read/look at these
links and then answer the questions at the bottom.
From Matt Taibbi's Rolling Stone article - Info about Goldman Sachs in the White House and Cap and Trade.
Gore (grilled in this C-SPAN video)
has ties to Enron, Goldman
Sachs & approves of the bill which Obama signed that’ll put the
burden on
American citizens of billions (and now people are saying trillions over
the years) . At the very same time Al Gore, General Electric
(owner of MSNBC and NBC, Goldman Sachs and many others will be raking
in the
dough)
Question group#1: Profiteers - If Al
Gore the very person putting fear into people with his movie, books and speaking tours - and these
other corporations will profit greatly while trillions of taxes get passed
on to us, while corporations are still allowed to pollute (through carbon credit
trading), why do you believe we should go through with cap and trade? Do you still trust the IPCC science knowing the head of the organization may also be a profiteer in man-made global warming?
WHAT'S THERE TO HIDE IN COPENHAGEN?
Then there's the hiding & Spinning from scientists and media -
Factcheck.org says everything’s fine, just misunderstanding
with email. They use sources like CRU press release, IPCC, East Anglia, ABC- and
more – who are all involved in the scandal.
Why the false hype about glaciers, isn't science on their side? Don't they have the factual statistics? Please Read.
Question Group #2: Dishonest Media - Do you mind
that the very people who are
giving you news (MSNBC and NBC) are owned by General Electric who is
going to get even wealthier in the Gore/Goldman Sach's cap and trade scheme, while we taxpayers pay the price? Do you mind AP journalists like Seth Borenstein give false information to help
grant-paid (millions of dollars) scientists and that he discusses this with them in email?
You don't mind that Factcheck.org uses CRU (the heart of the email
scandal) scientists press releases as legit sources and other
organizations, ie IPCC, East Anglia and ABC, who will either profit or
have been working on the science of manmande global warming?
Though you’ve been told there’s a consensus, these
scientists beg (no, plead) to differ. And many have said what the CRU
scientists have done with their data is an international scientific fraud and
that it is helping to destroy science. Listen to their points not being heard
about missing warming periods etc :
Who started a letter to fellow scientists this way: By now everyone has heard of what has come to be known as ClimateGate,
which was and is an international scientific fraud, the worst any of us
have seen in our cumulative 223 years of APS membership
Question Group #3 Scientists - So you’ve
listened to what these (just a sampling of varied voices) have to say?
Are they
all evil, with malicious intentions and have absolutely no
legitimate concerns or interesting hypothesis? If so, why and why not?
Question Group#5 Experts - Do you realize that “climate experts” warned of a most certain peril of global cooling in
the 1970s? Climate experts can very often be wrong. Especially, when they’re paid billions in government grant money to come to a
specific conclusion. But you do not
question the scientists who tell you “The science is solid” and that “The
debate is closed!” Why?
Galileo wouldn't cower in with the other scientists just because there's a consensus (he would've wonder how we'd know if scientists are being ignored). Galileo would NOT have listened today if Al Gore and other scientists shout, "The debate is closed!" He would have wondered their motives.
From science writer and speaker Joanne Nova's blog, she wrote something I've noticed for a while now, and it's this:
The most dangerous people in the world are the ones who pretend to have good intentions, and there’s a way to tell the fake heroes from the real ones.
Fake heroes like darkness. Real hero’s like the light.
Fakes don’t like debates, open discussions or other opinions, they don’t want their ideas exposed to the light of polite conversation, or the plasma arc glare
of real evidence. To keep everyone in darkness, fake heroes throw names
instead of talking politely. They try to intimidate people who disagree
to keep them from speaking. Sometimes they even tell lies. (And they
tell themselves it’s OK, because the ends justifies the means…)
Long before any of the Climate Research Unit's email came in to question, I've always been suspicious of the over hysterical global warming hype. As I wrote on Joanne's blog:
Since way back when Al Gore and Tipper were grilling Frank Zappa and
other rockers regarding censoring their musical content, I considered
Gore a phony blowhard. Then he started sweating and screaming (in
his dramatic Tennessee drawl) about our most certain peril and how the information he was shouting at us was so absolutely certain "The debate is closed!"
I watched and heard people afraid, yes, afraid to question the great
Gore and all the grant paid climate experts (please note: climate experts in the '70s spoke of our certain demise in a new global ice age. So, as a kid of the '70s, this fear-mongering's nothing new). Two men in Hollywood, standing in
front of me in a movie theater line, a few years ago – had this
conversation:
Man #1: Can you believe (fill in name here) questions
global warming?
Man #2: Gasps and shakes his head in pity for the
inhumanity of it all, and looks like he couldn’t imagine a person
with so little soul could grace the earth.
That’s when I knew we’d all gone completely crazy.
I immediately thought about a psychological experiment I'd seen on TV, where a hidden camera observed a group of people, one of whom would be the unknowing subject. The leader of the group would stand up and ask: What is 2 + 2?, and then proceed to ask each person in the group. The first person (in on the experiment) would say 2 + 2 = 5. And then the unknowing subject answered afterward with certainty: 2 + 2 = 4, thinking once he answered the first person would realize his mistake. But when the others (in on the experiment) answered afterward: 2 + 2 = 5, just like the first person - the unknowing subject seemed confused... initially. Then, after the questions carried on in a similar way for a while, with the unknowing subject's answers never matching the group, the subject, looking completely defeated, would give up and start answering right along with the group. He caved.
VIDEO ON HOW GROUP THINK WORKS & WHY SOME FALL IN LINE & OTHERS DON'T
That's what I began seeing with these guys in the movie line.
But what scientific information had any of us average people seen that would be so unquestionable at that point. These dudes couldn't possibly be so bullied into not questioning because of Gore's "Inconvenient Truth", could they? The whole "green" marketing campaign by businesses wanting to profit on compassionate guilt hadn't made them feel as if they couldn't question our MOST CERTAIN PERIL OF DOOM FROM GLOBAL WARMING? That was a few years ago, before the inconvenient truth was slyly changed to "climate change". How ironically convenient - since the planet earth has existed it has changed climate, severely. Who can question that? Talk about a win/win situation - When we have cold summers we can be ASSURED it's because of our whacked out planet's spin into our ultimate demise, which we are not to question: IS CERTAINLY CAUSED BY HUMANS.
So, yeah, I long ago ignored Gore's meaty-fist pounding declarations of which "The debate is closed!"
Other than him seeming to be too weirdly certain and his want of propagandizing small children into fear with his movie, I had other reasons to not buy into it. Whenever I’d meet someone in the
related sciences (geology, biology) I’d pick their brains (I’m curious
like that) about all sorts of things: space, micro and macro
physics… (I don’t know a lot, but I like to try and learn more), and in
doing so I’d have honest conversations – about solar flares, the
earth’s rotation, condensation, historic weather patterns- and how
these all play into our climate. These scientists I spoke with didn’t
pay much attention to anything the global alarmists had to say, because
so many things play a role in climate – I got from them that it’s often
hard to say definitely. Still Gore yells “The debate is closed!”
When I started hearing “The debate is closed!” from sweaty old,
music-censoring wind-bag Gore, I didn’t stand in line and grovel: yes,
sir!
My bullshit detector went BOING! And hit its limit.
So when the CRU email scandal occurred, it just seemed to fit perfectly into my suspicions. And those suspicions, based on many new things I've learned, has only grown. Al Gore and the goofy back-peddaling scientists only look like naked emperors in my eyes.
I have to wonder what critical thinker and musical genius Frank Zappa would think of all this. Somehow, I think he'd be questioning his music-censoring foe. Frank, wasn't a conformist, so the shouting of certainties would probably just make him look all the closer... and do it without giving a crap what people think of him.
The propaganda I am seeing now, I could only once imagine in the pages George Orwell's "1984".
This "Fact"(myass)check.org piece is an insult to anyone with a working brain when it tells you as "fact", basically: "Walk away. Nothing to see here. No Problem". The way they toss aside the most incredible corruption - one involving governments, government grant paid scientists (paid millions, or is it billions?) and a complicit media - to rock science in recent history, is criminal in its intent.
Factcheck's piece is propaganda for useful idiots, meaning - they want the blind
little group-thinkers (who don't question them) to carry their false
information as fact. I don't have time to list ALL of the corrupt
agencies, corporations, etc. included in their source list, but even someone
post-lobotomy can see that a CRU press release can not be trusted. Factcheck's sources are a line up of the corrupt. While they may have some legit sources (I haven't looked closely yet at all of them), you can not include a CRU press release, for example. Are they kidding?!
The CRU, Climate Research Unit, is the very agency under investigation, as are many involved - ie
ABC has a stake in making billions off carbon credit scheme.
This site can call themselves "FACT"check all they want. But look at their source list - East Anglia, IPCC, CRU - and more - are all INVOLVED in this historic and horrific scandal of truth in science, journalism and politics.They are the ones that are not being clear with the information involving email that had been manipulated and deleted. SO WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD FACTCHECK.ORG BE STUPID ENOUGH TO PUT THEM AS A SOURCE?
I can only imagine, "fact"check.org thinks people are not savvy or alert enough to pick up on that.
But don't trust me - do your own research.
If you know anything about IPCC, ABC, East Anglia, CRU, etc., they should have no place in the source list in their own "factcheck". Of course these organizations will give Factcheck.org a PR answer and testify to their own honesty. Much like Al Gore told Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC (who in a corruption of journalism didn't follow up on his lie) that the emails in question are all ten years old. A blatant lie! Not a mistake. A lie! Some emails were only weeks old.
Who is standing up for truth anymore? A good journalist would have done her research and known info like the email dates - seeing as the emails are at the center of the scandal - before the interview. Or was she simply a mouth piece for Gore and his agenda?
Some of Factcheck.org's sources - NASA (who is hiding data), scientists at CRU, IPCC, East Anglia and many more - are the very organizations who have EVERYTHING to hide. For a clear explanation of how these organizations have been less than honest, here's a good video. Some of these companies are used as sources, too. Of course, one little video (like Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth) shouldn't convince you. Of course, you should check on the facts yourself.
See here
for a real good break down of what went on in the emails, those emails
Factcheck.org wants you to believe are nothing but a tizzy made up by
confused fools who dare to question. Factcheck can only
be believable to someone who would have no freaking info about
this scandal. They're all working overtime to dismiss this scandal of
science, government and truth.
More Proof of blatant propaganda. Writer Seth Borenstein of the Associated Press is cozy with the CRU scientists! He's not a writer. He's a propagandist!! Wake up, folks! They're trying to play us like fools. Here's more proof of propaganda.
This C-SPAN video addresses Gore's corporate connections, which, when asked about, make him squirm.
Emails here with connections to big (oops!) oil, and these emails talk about media spin.
Despite the media's propaganda spew, The UK Telegraph has some heroic writers who have balls not to lie for the govt. and the CBC has a hero. And there are some really good scientific websites, where they break down the data.
So the information is out there - not that the mainstream media (General Electric - a big profiteer in cap and trade - owns NBC and MSNBC) will be giving you the truth, or even both sides, but if you know know how to be discerning, you can find good info. You can see some of the links I have re: this scandal, here.
Sadly, more people care about Tiger Woods' sex life - hence our problem.
That's why Factcheck.org can put out idiotic sources (CRU press release
- holy shit, only an imbecile would nod their head w/ assurance of that
"solid" information.)
Factcheck.org, like the majority of media sources, depends on people to be apathetic. They must believe people know and care more
about Lady Ga Ga and Adam Lambert than the scandal that's going on
around the world.When you hear the same pathetic sound bites: "The emails were cherry picked" "The
science is solid" "There's a consensus amongst scientists" (These scientists beg to differ as do these scientists and these scientists all with a variety of very good reasons) and "The
debate is closed!"
No, for anyone with working brain matter those sound bites won't cut it. We proudly use our brains and wonder what is there to hide? Why is Obama refusing to investigate? And why in the world is Obama bypassing congress to go straight to the EPA? Are we only subjects who are supposed to take in propaganda from hysterical and fear-mongering movies about our peril and grant paid scientific agency press releases? Are we really supposed to listen when told don't look behind the curtain? Are we children who are simply supposed to behave? Are we only cogs in the system who are to listen when told to shut up and sit down?
I won't.
I think there's enough reason and it's too important to let White House spokesman Robert Gibbs tell us our questions about all this are "silly". Times are changing too fast for us to get our information from blogs that tell us some dumb ass "wingnuts" are morons for questioning "the solid science". Please, don't simply believe information that sits on top of pop culture like sewage scum. Wake up.
Signed,
Your average California mom-turned Guerrilla journalist.
*Sorry, with all the money that will be had with a carbon tax scheme that will be passed on to us in taxes, and could likely cripple us and not really help the environment, I'm hardly convinced it was all: Nothing to look at here, folks! Move along.
I started to read this article, but couldn't get by the opening:
"With Al Gore’s Oscar and Nobel Prize, shared with a
U.N. panel that declared climate change a reality, I had thought the debate
over the science of climate change was essentially over and that even
laypersons (non-scientists) understood..."
Gee, I can't understand why we thick-headed plebeians didn't just sop up what
Gore, a wealthy-mansion-living-private-jet-flying
politician (oh, did I forget he owns a zinc mine that pollutes?) told us. I mean, he did make a movie about global warming and said it was the truth - complete with
animated drowning polar bears... so, HELLO! That must mean it's reality. How
stupid can we be? Not only did his propaganda (I mean) very factual and
heart-wrenching film make it very clear we all can forget going to New York in
twenty years because it's going be under the sea, but - damn - the man received
an actual Nobel prize, just like Arafat and Barack (I'm sending young people
off to war, but let me swing by and pick up my Peace Prize) Obama did.
With all this solid, factual, non-questionable info, how in the world could we question this stuff-Gore-just-made-up-to-scare-people-into-his-carbon-scheme...
er, I mean solid scientific data? Even if those CRU scientists have been paid
millions/maybe billions by taxpayers and did "accidentally lose" some
goofy ol' data & say odd things about hiding declines, that's just what
really good scientists do all the time! So, hey, let's just wing it... call it
Global Warming (what? Right. I forgot it's been changed because, I don't know, our planet's constantly
warming and cooling - like it did from the ice age and warmed during the
Medieval period.. doesn't matter), I'll do whatever the world leaders want - call it "climate change".
I'm so goofy. I have to start behaving and listen
to my politicians. Yes, sir, Mr. Gore! I won't ever debate this again.You're right - it's closed! I'll tell those physicists and other scientists who care about science to just stop being so silly (you know, like White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs
said the other day) and to not take science so seriously.
Remember, it's good science to "lose" important data, hide stuff, bully
your peers, say that "Heck, this all played out in scientific peer
reviews" and pretend that a lot of human biases, pay offs by governments and
other goofy stuff like politics doesn't taint science AT ALL. Duh!
AND NOW A BRIEF INTERMISSION (FROM MY RANT):
*That program was brought to you by: See, I lived through the hysterical '70s. What's there to fear? And by Andrew Halperin, who posted it on Facebook.
AND NOW BACK TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING:
So that writer of the above article is right! The debate is caput, finis, skee-daddled, Hasta la Vista,
Baby (as the great Ahnold -I'm-going-to-save-the-world-from-melting-just-like-I-saved-Caleefornia-
Schwartz..whatever-his-name-is said) - it's closed, that debate.
Okay, I won't think. I'll just bend over and take it while those all powerful
fancypants are planning my financial demise in Copenhagen; a place they flew
to in private jets, arrived in limos... and are now dining on caviar, sipping
Champagne, rubbing green elbows with Leo Di Caprio and other notable
environmental geniuses, and some may possibly be taking advantage of the FREE prostitutes. So, hey, it is still a free world! Good to know.
Just screw me and my stupid ol'
trying to scrape by self - and my dumb ol' family, community, businesses,
industries who innovate, hire (or have been trying)...
But it's all worth it, right? In order to deplete
the world of carbon dioxide (CO2). Should I forget plants and life thrive on that, too, and
just pretend it's all evil, nasty, tarry, disgusting stuff that coats the
planet like an acidy syrup? Okay, I will. 'Cuz Gore's Carbon swaps will work
like magic erasers and clean the air of all things bad and only do good will
come to the world...
Little African children will never lose parents
from murderous thugs in the Sudan and the Congo. Iranian women will never again be stoned and gay Iranian men won't be hanged. People all over
the world will glow under the glorious light of Gore, Obama, the UN ...
Okay, I feel good. That's what matters, right?
NOW STAY TUNED FOR OUR NEXT PROGRAM - REALITY CHECK FROM GEORGE CARLIN:
“Our lives begin to die the day we become silent about things that matter” - Martin Luther King
In my lifetime, I've never seen a more horrifying breech of trust in science, government and journalism than this climate science scandal. So I can't just sit here and watch the lies, lies coming from our government, the media and the scientific community. I care too much about the future of this world. What's going on in this climate science scandal shouldn't be about left vs. right; I'm an Independent. Our parties shouldn't matter. It's about us (the people) vs. them
(the powerful government agencies and corporations). I wish we'd all
stop bickering and let the real enemy know we're on to them and that we're not going to take it anymore.
The other victims in this science scandal - besides us citizens - are truth in science and
journalism. Both are experiencing a moment of corruption I - just a
California mom, wife, business owner and writer - never imagined could
occur. I'm completely aware that I risk the chance of
sounding conspiratorial and loony, which - until you do your own
research - I may sound. You can see from my previous posts on this
blog, I'm pretty normal, maybe a little klutzy and goofy... just an
average person. But if I were to stay silent and apathetic, I couldn't
live with myself. Honestly.
And, of course, I care about the
planet and our environment. I have since I was a kid, a daughter of a man who composted, put a bucket in the shower to reuse the water and all kinds of other inconveniences of living with a tree hugger. I'm passionate about the environment, I just wonder how allowing corporations to
continue to spew pollution (due to trading carbon credits)
is supposed to help the planet. I've heard about environmentalists with
all sorts of innovations and technologies that have nothing to do with
allowing polluters to keep polluting, and will benefit the economy
rather than putting the burden on the citizens with trillions of dollars
in taxes.
I have a friend who invented a clean air technology power plant, which would not only provide clean energy, but jobs.
Unfortunately, that made too much sense. He's had to fight California
local government for years to get it going. There's too much corruption and not
enough wisdom in government. It never happened.
I hear people who are gung-ho on sending Obama off to Copenhagen to talk about the carbon cap and trade tax - a scheme cooked up by Al Gore, Enron's Ken Lay and Goldman Sachs. These Hopenhagen boosters say things like "Well I love the planet and I will do whatever it takes to save us from our certain peril." As soon as I hear this I wanna punch Al Gore for planting this idea of our ultimate peril. Next, I wonder if these people realize this: The carbon tax scheme will still allow polluters to polute, and in the meantime corporations are drooling for their share of the jackpot. But us? We're going to get screwed, stuck with billions, some say trillions in debt. And our economy is already suffering. There are many better ways to help the environment than filling the pockets of corporations.
“Our lives begin to die the day we become silent about things that matter” - Martin Luther King Jr.
I've kept my political opinions to myself for a long time now, simply because it's easier. It's been extremely hard because I am passionate about my philosophies. Fact is, people tell me their opinions about politics, economics, etc. on a daily basis and I might make a vague comment, but - in the name of "let's all get along", I keep my mouth shut. I can't any longer.
There's way too much corruption. I've seen too many people affected in the last years by what goes on in local, state, federal and world govts. to sit by with my mouth shut listening to everyone else. If people don't like me for my politics, so what.
I'm a registered Independent, because I never want to have to claim a party and become defensive of the individual politicians. I don't care about the politicians, I care about the philosophies. I am an anti-collectivist, small-government business owner who understands how business (when unhampered by mandates & taxes) benefits people, communities and the country... heck, the world - even. I believe I would be a "classical" Liberal, in the JFK ideal if that were the case today.
With California and the country in a financial mess - while trying to run a few businesses in this cesspool of useless, money-grubbing California legislators and minions and threats of Federal mandates - I am only hurting myself and my country by staying silent. An almost tangible result of my inaction is the house full of child-rapists three doors down from me, as but one example.
If we all stood up and fought back, would the government dare put our families in jeopardy this way? I think not.
The other thing that's eating me up inside is that I'm a writer, and it's driving me mad that the media can cover Tiger Woods and other celebrity types, while missing all the real stories that affect us directly. The media is NOT on our side. That's no conspiracy; it's just a fact. They let the big crooks run amok while as they gossip about celebs and report on small time crooks.
Mainstream journalism is dead. If you want to find out information, do your own research. While your at it, check out the Meagan's Law website, because no government official is going to let you know when a house full of perverts moves in nextdoor. Believe me, I found out the hard way.
I pay business taxes, city taxes, property taxes, Franchise board taxes, state taxes, some of the highest (9.75%) state sales taxes in the country, hidden taxes (that were supposed to keep us safe w/ more police. Not!) embedded in my electrical/water/trash bill, amongst outrageous cost of living and no incentives for my businesses.
And what do I get from governments? A house full (about 6 to 8) pedophile rapists living three doors away from me.
Dennis Zine, Mayor Villaraigosa, useless LA city council you've messed with the wrong person.
I'm enraged.
And yes I did just (upon hearing this news & seeng photos of the perverts (most of whom I see milling around, but didn't realize...) just yell to my neighbor toward the rapists' government leased house:
"Those rapists even look at my daughter and I'll cut off their f***en balls!"
Los Angeles government has messed with the wrong person.
*Just spent two hours talking to police, deputies, city council assistance... "Look, I'm sick of talking to people who just pass the buck. Who's the big cheese, the one has some power?" I told Deputy Martinez in Dennis Zine's office.
It's Alex Padilla and Bob Blumenfeld. I'd give them a huge chunk of my firey mind - if they'd just answer their phones.
California's basically bankrupt. Run the state into the ground, they house pedophile sex offenders in single family homes with children without informing us.
I hope everyone had a really nice and un-awkward thanksgiving! My only cringe-inducing moment came while my husband sliced my perfectly bronzed, brandy-basted turkey and discovered that I had accidentally left the little baggy of gizzards inside the turkey as it roasted. He then pulled the bagging from my bronzed turkey in front of my horrified family. Oh well... at least this year there weren't any kitchen fires!
After sitting around with family, I did a little surfing on the internet and discovered my new favorite site:Awkward Family Photos. I looked through the photos for nearly a half hour laughing out loud, maybe because I could relate. What is it they say about tragedy mixed with comedy?
I sent the link to my sister, knowing she could relate. She then wrote back mentioning some of our own family photos that would qualify for the site. But my first thought went to this photo below of my just-out-of-the-navy father spending a little quality time with me.
Recently, I did a little Photoshop work (below) on the photo and emailed it to my dad. He still has a twisted sense of humor.
I know, I know! I haven't been blogging much. My excuse? Running our family business and going to school. But now I've started a whole new exciting business - one I can't yet reveal. But if you want to join Betty's Facebook Fan Page. You'll be the first to know what I'm Betty's got up her sleeve.
Here's a slideshow
of photos from only our first evening
and the following day in NYC. I kept them in the same order as I took
them. So click on the link, sit back and spend a little time in New
York City with me.
In the movie “Annie Hall”, Woody Allen's character Alvy said to Annie about
his feelings for her: “Love is,
is too weak a word for what I feel - I lurve you, you know, I loave you,
I luff you…”
That’s how I feel about New York City: I lurve it!
My husband and his partner Steve Firlotte were nominated for
a Tec Award in NYC for the recording console they designed and built: the Tree
Audio 500. So off we went to New York to attend the awards. He didn’t win.But we devoured New
York City every day, every minute that we were there…I can’t believe I’ve lived my whole life
without really experiencing the city (one visit as a child and once as a parent on a 5th grade field trip don't count) until now.
I fell in love the moment we stepped out of JFK Airport when a cab dispatcher barked at us. My husband got into the JFK airport cab line the wrong way - "That's the wrong way. The line is over there! It's so obvious!" the cab dispatcher yelled in a nasal New York accent, sounding like this: It's so awwwwb-veeeeeuhhsss!
Seconds later, as we stood in the cab line, a Russian-sounding cab driver argued with his passengers as they tried to squeeze large packages into his taxi trunk. The large Russian cab driver yelled, "No! Packages not fit.. I can not" But he was interrupted by a female cab driver who heard the commotion and yelled to him out of her taxi window, "What the hell you talkin' 'bout?! Just put the damn packages in!"
"Welcome to New York!" The out-of-towners behind us said in unison.
I loved the place from that moment on.
And my love only multiplied from there, like a multi-sensory kaleidoscope effect with colors, shapes, sounds, smells, flavors compounded into a dizzying array in my head. One sensation layered upon another. I think I blurted out one night in Greenwich Village "I want to lick the sidewalks!"
Don't worry, I didn't.
I love how the city smells so thick of food (lamb kabobs, sauteing garlic, pizza, Indian food...) it almost makes the air seem edible, as if I could bite into it. The entire city - the people, the racing cabs, the subways, the street musicians, the colorful corner vegetable stands - invigorated me. I loved stepping out our door and into the middle of life, life moving so fast if you stop in the midst of it you'll be plowed down. In NYC I felt like I was in some sort of time warp, super-humanly capable of experiencing more in four and a half days than I have in a normal month. Yet we were never tired.
Here's a video from our first day in NY. Ian and I entered Central Park, heard music and singing... Beatles' songs. Then we stumbled upon a group of people celebrating John Lennon's birthday.
Stay tuned! Many more photos of our NYC week to
follow.
Get in the car and drive. That’s what my husband, Ian,
and I like to do when Friday night rolls around and we’d forgotten to make
plans. Usually we won’t have a destination in mind, only vague ideas – Let’s
drive over Topanga toward the ocean, drive along Wilshire, head over to Santa
Monica, maybe downtown…
One recent Friday night, we hopped on Wilshire near
Beverly Hills and just kept going toward downtown. We stopped to pay our respects
to the desolate and nearly empty lot where the Ambassador Hotel once stood.
With just the sound of cars wooshing by now, I stared at the haunting space and
thought I could almost hear a big band blaring from the Cocoanut Grove.But the Ambassador is but a memory; meanwhile
across the street, an old neighbor, the Gaylord apartment building still stands
lit up and full of life.
Back in our car, we continued down Wilshire, and turned
down a street beside Macarthur Park. There, we stumbled upon a whole new
universe for us. Out of the dark, with downtown LA skyscrapers glowing in the
background, a bandstand lit up in pink and purple lights, seeming to float in
the dark. We rolled down the window and could hear a band playing - conga
drums, quick and energetic. We could see silhouettes of people dancing. Latin music filled the air.We got out, listened to the band and then
walked near the park’s lake.
There was a festival – parents and children rode on tiny roller-coasters and whirling rides; the smell of roasted meats
and corn floated by. A Mexican man and woman tried to tame an angry miniature
horse that seemed to finally have enough of begin humiliated for the public’s
humor.
Only a half-hour car ride from home and yet we’d felt
like we were miles from home.
So last Friday night, we headed to Santa Monica with the
idea of stopping in a café or a pub… or whatever we’d stumble upon along the
way.
It was just after 8pm, when got to Main Street.The cool little bead shop, the eclectic toy
store, the collectible store and California bohemian clothing stores were
already closed. But the pubs, cantinas and outdoor cafes swarmed with people.
Each time we walked by one happening spot we’d hear the sounds of chatter and
laughter, and even caught snatches of conversation. One long-haired surfer dude
to another guy: ”Dude, he’s totallyinvolved, dude, in organized crime… dude.”
One dude per every three words, I figured. My husband nodded. We passed a night
time painting and wine drinking class taking place on a patio. Students painted
and studied their easels while sipping glasses of wine.
Then we came to Jadis, a shop we’d peeked into many times
before but had never seen opened. This night it was. In the window stands a
replica of the robot, Maria, from the film “Metropolis”. It’s surrounded by a
crowd of whirling and flapping gadgets, whose-its, what’s-its and
whatcha-ma-callits that look like they came from a Dr. Seuss story. With the
store lit up, my electronic engineer husband gaped at the floor to ceiling
collection of antiquey-looking electronics with dials, coils, meters and knobs.
I think I saw him drool.
While Ian ogled the gadgetry through the window, I walked
to the front door and studied the posted signs: “Knowledge ain’t nothin’” and “Disorganize
what you don’t know.” And then I saw a sign that said we could knock on the
door and enter for $2 per person. But no cameras or laughing are allowed, one
sign warned.
My husband knocked. I stood behind him. A skinny man with
a long white-haired ponytail opened the door.We put our dollars in a dish and entered. The skinny man began to tell
us what the store was all about. First he asked if we knew anything about Ray
and Charles Eames. Ian and I nodded, we were both big collectors of mid-century
furniture back in the 1980s. We were so into our mid-century furniture that on
our first date when Ian entered my apartment and saw my amoeba shaped coffee
table (I’d bought at a garage sale), he knew we were a match. That and the way
I devoured my Moroccan food later that evening. So, yeah, we knew all about the
Eames' designs, have been to some of their art exhibits, have books about them
and have their films on DVD. We love the Eames.
Well, the man told us, then we’d appreciate what the shop’s
all about since the owner Parke Meek - a man with only a sixth-grade
education and an inquisitive and imaginative mind - who worked with Ray and Charles
Eames, designed props for Hollywood and collected his shop-full of curiosities
along the way. Since Ian also designs and engineers recording consoles (and is
real into vintage electronics) it was an extra bonus, considering our tour guide
once worked in some capacity for the Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra. So Ian
and our tour-guide hit it off. They stopped at every techno, electro sort of meter-type
of object and discussed them in detail, nodding and shaking their heads in
mutual amazement.
While they talked, I roamed the room. As I ogled the collectible curiosities,
I thought about the shop’s owner Parke Meek - his work, his imagination, his curiosity
and his lack of schooling. I thought about the quote that’s been attributed to
Mark Twain: “I never let schooling get in the way of my education". And realized some of the most amazing people I’ve met and know, have
never stopped asking questions – Why? What? How? Why not? They’ve never forgotten to be childlike and curious.
Ian and the pony-tailed man shook hands, and we thanked
him for his tour.
Then we went across the street to the Irish pub, Finn McCools,
for a plate of garlic fries and two black and tans. As an extra bonus, the
baseball game between Colorado and LA Dodgers was playing on a TV screen just above our heads. Curiosities,
garlicky-fries, black and tans and baseball, too.
Sometimes there's nothing better than just getting in the car and driving - like when I was a kid, and I'd get on my bike and ride. I'd explore and wonder what else is out there. I never want to stop doing that.
