Unfortunately, America is shopping in droves by me. The malls everywhere seem to be packed with cars and thousands of people in a frenzied orgy of spending. Spending money they don't have on junk they don't need for friends and family who are so overwhelmed by the "need and greed" messages that have been pumped into their brains that they hardly notice one gift before they rip open the box for the next. America will have a clasic "morning-after" hangover, when surrounded by plastic junk and crap they don't need they will feel more empty and unfufilled than before. Even the children's fleeting joy at the latest new whiz bang kill'em video game will die on the vine shortly.

Yep they are shopping everywhere I see, shopping with borrowed money agaisnt a vanishing home equity line, using bloated interest rate credit cards for gadgets and junk that put them farther out of touch with nature, isolate them form each other as they glue themselves to portable DVD palyers, (I am getting sooo tired of seeing really smal children parked at restaurants with their own portable DVD palyer, chewing mindlessly whiel watchign some sludge so their parents can "talk")

Come Jan 1 American families will awake from this orgy of spending to once again find themselves deeper in debt, their jobs continuing to vanish, and their family members no happier or closer than before. No one is allowed to be "poor" anymore, or frugal, or savings minded. everyone seems to react with shame if they can spend hundreds on video games and momentarily trndy fashions. peopel barely making a subsistence wage have lulled themselves into buying that plasma screen. We have created a antion of robotic, joylous orgy spenders, consumers enslaved as the Establsihment intends to "stuff" Nevr mind the slaughter abroad, I have the new Gameboy or WII or designer handbag or.... yep America is shopping by me
Swamp

Ooooh, Miz Morgana, such brilliant images you have presented. I've got to go read your article again (and probably again and again) for it is so vibrant and energetic! Many, many thanks.

Gosh folks, I apologize for the many typos. This time of the year makes me psoitively foam at the mouth. And PS, my 3 small boys will not be getting any video games this or any other Xmas goddess willing, nor portable DVD players! (We are cosnidering duct tape and velcro for resturant behavior modification though!)

Thank you for your insights Morgana
Swamp

Swamp the madness around this holiday makes us all crazy as bat guano. We have a homemade rule for Yule. I'm in the mountains above Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay area. The shopping malls and pricey stores were in the high $$$ district. The box stores could be caught with boycotts, we do a lot of that in the Bay Area. So where are you that people are spending like there is no tomorrow or piper to pay?

Oh and for restaurant behavior when my poor son was subjected to hours of me yakking with girlfriends over coffee, I carried Match Box cars in my purse and the restaurant usually had paper place mats so he could draw his race course. The motor had to be quiet though.

I've played video games with my son since the advent of Atari, stayed up all night mastering Frogger so I could beat him, however the time was defined as was his hour of tv. Otherwise it was homework or some other project. He wasn't real big on reading, though enjoyed some mouse and motorcycle series. He's quite grown now, we mmorpg together, as does my husband and most of our extended family across the US and with friends in Australia.

Shy I love you too, thank you.

1st Morgana I wanted to comment on your article because I loved it. So Mike Huckabee thinks women should "offer herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband?" 1950's fantasies here we come. I loved your article and Swamp I loved your post, only I don't know where you are in the country. Here in the west, from Colorado (personal experience) Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and California all my friends wealthy and middle class alike, have commented on how quiet things are, and how little they see people shopping. Everyone I know talks about cutting down, not having the parties they've had in the past, not buying for their kids like they have in the past or grandkids, not taking the trips they have in the past, not decorating with all the lights like they have in the past and for me, I've cut my spending by 2/3rd's (and I was never a big spender, never had it to spend.) I do see kids with Ipods and things like that, and I also hear a lot of young people with children that are buying toys this year to stimulate their imagination and not toys that do it all for you. So I don't know what to think, I do know that if I can drive to the shopping center anytime of the day during Christmas and find a parking place close to the store where I am going, shopping is down.

The one thing a friend of mine in California pointed out was the lack of Christmas shopping coverage on the nightly local news and there isn't any coverage in my area. There are advertisements of course but not coverage of the hordes like they usually do. So I don't know, I've heard that on the East Coast lots of people from Europe are flying in for the weekends to take advantage of the falling dollar and cheap goods in this country so maybe there is a lot of shopping in parts of the country, but not in this area.

Hey Morgana

Yep this season definitely makes me nuts!!!! I live near Wash D.C. in Annapolis, MD although this week I am back in Chicago where it’s just as bad. On Sat I drove across the Chesapeake bay Bridge to the Eastern Shore of MD. I went past this huge outlet mall complex and it was even worse. And it was all upscale stores like Ralph Lauren etc. The parking lots were so full that cars were parked all over the grass. It really is like a Roman orgy. I think a lot of people still haven’t gotten their minds around the high interest rates or the vanishing home equity. There will be some ugly chickens coming home to roost in Jan. The stores around here starting putting up Christmas decorations after Halloween! It’s part of the non-stop programming that is aimed at us. The endless TV commercials that show a simpering woman gazing at a man with mute adoration because he has given her diamonds for Christmas, gag!. In the meantime, more and more local business went bust this year because the tourist trade was so off. This country is on a lit powder keg of a serious economic down turn

My partner and I long ago outfitted each son with little back packs that contain miniature Lego sets, small cars, coloring materials and paper, snacks and so forth to take places like restaurants. They are actually pretty good at restaurants and will sit here happily coloring away and slurping milk and mac and cheese. Of course anytime we try to demonstrate this remarkable display of lovely behavior they immediately “show their rears” as my late mother would say. But at any event we interact with them and they use their imaginations rather than sit robo style in front of little DVD’s. If you see this, it is really eerie watching how slack-jawed and dis-engaged a 3 year old is in front of one of these things at a meal while the parents munch away oblivious.

Swamp :)

Sally
what part of the country do you live in? It makes me wonder if there's a major egg about to be layed re Xmas sales. Many businesses including the big chains are counting on the season to make up for a lousy year. It sounds like pockets of the country are already experiencing a bomb of a holiday season.

I love the old Atari style video games, I just don't like the violent junk that I swear is stealh programming for the War Machine, ie helicopter simulation games that involve blowing up turban wearing people. One of the msot popular games just a few years ago was entitled "New World Order" or some such. This was pre 9/11. It was war game aimed at the Mideast and marketed to kids that are now about the age of the ones serving in Iraq. hmmmm
Pass the Asteroids game please
Swamp!

interesting article on toys

What you shouldn't buy your kids for Christmasby Zac Bissonnette Dec 10th 2007 @ 3:00PM

Even when it's not the holidays, we're awash in consumer goods both practical and frivolous. It's hard enough to decide on a thoughtful and useful gift for someone, much less your children. Here are four toys now on the market that you don't have to think twice about skipping:
more:
http://www.walletpop.com/2007/12/10/what-you-shouldnt-buy-your-kids-for-christmas/

Morgana
this article supports what you are seeing http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22172091/

who know why it is so nuts by me, but perhaps there are so many snouts afixed into the lobbyist trough that they have money to burn. Seriously though, I think our area is one of the one that remains strong vs what is happening elsewhere in the country, fueled in part by defense contractors who litter the landscape around me in droves and employ thousands. Government spending too. NSA is adding 40,000 new jobs into the Ft Meade area near me. where/why is all this gov spending coming from, and why doesn't it make the public news. why are they beefing up NSA so much?

"Excuse me while I run chanting into the night."
Morgana, I love it!
Now that I think about it;when I was in Ellsworth Sat. I went in to our Marden's store; a Maine based
salvedge chain. ( they had a big sale of dusty items from the shops around ground zero, 6 years ago. I have bought A C Moore craft products with smoke damaged packaging, cheap!) IT Was crowded, people wandering every which way. But they had NO corderoy (problem with remainder stores ) so I went to (hold your nose,) Walmart. NOT SO CROWDED! ANd the level of sleeze is lower than ever! No corderoy there either! Their fabric / craft dept is less than 1/2 the size it was 8 years ago.
However on a stroke of inspiration....... I bought 2 yards of clear vinyl, with white lace print, tablecloth material and 6 yards of velcro. I intend to make a curtain for the back ( east facing) door, that will cut out the draft but let in the light!
I am happy that there is a shopping frenzy in your area swamp, it is probably benefiting a friend of mine with a Gallery there. He certainly deserves it. We were on a par financially 18 years ago, in NJ
http://www.graftonart.com/
QOP

Somehow I have acquired a new window, that wants to stay.....'it is military.com/entertainment......?
WHen I opened David's website instead of going away, it stayed.?
QOP

Whew, Morgana you wove several sharp images into a whopping good whole, and great read.

Swamp, my daughter is grown now, but i never did buy any video games or equipment. (Yet, Morgana, you did it right by directly involving yourself with your son.) My daughter's favorite toys were those that involved physical challenges (an athlete from birth). I've witnessed what you describe so well, Swamp. . .the slack-jawed kids who have no connection to the world around them. In fact, there's a very distinct difference between those children whose parents involve them in LIFE and those who isolate their children, albeit with soul-sapping games.

Shopping here? Hmmmm. I'm one bad shopper any time of year. I try to purchase goods from artists during the holiday season. You can expect that studios will be slow (and they were) which is darned maddening anyway given the number of superb artists. And, i think that one hand-crafted toy could replace five poison toys made in China. But, again much of the population long-ago accepted the tinselized version of what the holidays mean.

By the way, what do the holidays mean to each of you, AWers?

Forgive me if this reads too much as an ad, it's meant as a reminder to please support sustainable living. Support your local artists, buy handmade items. http://www.buyhandmade.org/why-buy-handmade

Merry Holly Daze

Thank you Morgana for the wonderful article.
No traffic here in the Berkeley region. I have really noticed that. I wonder if things will load up that last weekend.
I know that many of my co-workers are maxed out on the credit because they have used the cards to maintain our old way of life. I also know a few people who bought houses with "subprime"loans. Nothing sub about these wonderful people they just don't make the money to afford $500,000 houses and believed the realtors and bankers who said that the house would appreciate so fast that they could refinance at a better rate,etc. Not much money for Christmas this year.

Morgana, superb commentary..pretty much on the death of meaning/stupification gross materialism fed-up-to-here sentiment we're collectively not buying it.

Maybe it's the mars retrograde in cancer (probably is). Answer, like everyone posting here "gets" is loving hands at home acts of sharing.
don't have the money for much of anything this year. Our tree is 'breathing' and drinking and quite beautiful. This year, I just can't make myself care about this commercially imposed holiday. Can't afford the expensive electronics 19 year old male sons require for gratification.
There's no heart in it anyway, and I know he understands.
Better to love his rosey cheeks coming in from the snow and cold, his foggy glasses and stomping feet. Gawd, I love my boy, all the more precious in these final years of sharing home and life together.
We're getting between one & two feet of snow today. Everything's coming to a halt...yeah..everything's about to s t o p.

My family chose to give up on all holidays about 10 years ago. I started it with insisting that Mother's Day is a commercial guilt-trip rip off that has totally forgotten that it was started as an anti-war holiday to honor how mothers feel about sending their sons to war. The immense relief everyone felt being released of false crass commercialism to prove their love naturally led to banning all commercial consideration of all holidays. It's been liberating and a money saver. If we do any celebrating at all (sometimes on birthdays) it's to treat ourselves to a movie or going out to dinner.

I highly recommend it.

Important news, everybody. Bill Herbst is recovering from a 'stroke-like' experience and has an online message for all on the left-hand sidebar of his site:

http://billherbst.com

Drop him a few words of love and encouragement and something to make him laugh!

patb, thanks for the update on Bill and the link.

Morgana, lovely article .... and as far as ... chanting into the night ... I have a feeling you'd have quite a few AWer's swelling the ranks right behind you!

I've always hated the commercialization of Christmas. All my gifts to kids and nephews/nieces have always revolved around books, athletics and most especially art stuff. Now they're getting into their teens (the nieces/nephews - my kids are now 24 and 26 - how'd that happen?)!

For the past several years, my Christmas gift to my family is a huge (late) luncheon on the 25th. I cook like a maniac and create a space where we can all come together and enjoy each other (this year it'll be about 30 people, including ex sisters-in-law, kids, close friends, etc). For the first time in about 5 years, my whole family will be here in Miami - my 4 brothers, their kids and spouses and my 2 girls who live in Chile and Vancouver, BC, respectively. I know, it's nuts! I run myself ragged, but I love it! That's what it's all about, right?

Wishing everybody peaceful thoughts as this year comes to a close ... And Sally, many thanks for creating this safe space for all of us!

Morgana, this is an a** kicker great article! Brava! Very very informative.

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/12/secret-document.html

New Document Reveals Military Mystery's Powers

For years, no military program has sparked more fevered speculation from conspiracy theorists than the mysterious High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, or HAARP. And for years, the Pentagon has been pooh-poohing speculation that the enormous collection of transmitters, radars, and magnetometers in Alaska was some sort of superweapon.

But, it turns out, the conspiracy theorists may not have been entirely off-base, after all.

Since its inception, there's been a huge range of opinion on what HAARP actually does: everything from a giant mind control facility to a space nuke countermeasure to a weather controller to an ionosphere-boiling mad science experiment to the mother of all pork projects has been suggested. But now that the program is actually up an running, military managers say the electronics array has much more benign use. "HAARP's main job is to produce radio waves to probe the ionosphere," an Air Force Research Laboratory officer said in October.

Which is true -- up to a point.

More at the link....

Ok the MSM is starting to talk about the slow holiday sales season.

Marta how fun! Wishing everyone at AW Happy Holidays.

Well it would help if I provided the url.

Holiday shopping hits the skids
Mall traffic drops dramatically in the final run-up to Christmas, and chain stores see only modest sales increase.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/11/news/economy/mall_traffic/index.htm

I think there is also an unorganized movement, to keep our money out of the hands of the corporations.
It has been suggested on Smirkingchimp, DU, Huffinton Post, & Common Dreams, by various bloggers.....Long story short, The work of the collective unconscious.
Christmas is music for me. My Father had a tenor voice like Paul Potts'. Not Caruso, or Domingo, or Pavorotti, and sang the tenor parts from Messiah in our annual First Pres. Messiah performance. ( Oh yeh, Mimi & I began as angelic Jr. choir girls) Later in Phila. the annual Pennsylvannia Pro Musica performance.
Handel wrote that magnificent piece of music at a low point in his life, poverty, lack of recognition, exile from his homeland. Like Vermeer tending his tavern to feed his family............, they have been a source of strength & inspiration to me!
Caroling that spreader of good will seems to have become obsolete, while Santa that now, symbol of commercialism, still rides the neighborhoods on a fire engine.
QOP

Morgana, My above post wasn't clear. I was trying to say that your article is great, and it sure is.

The other article is validation for people like me who have been concerned about HAARP.

I have stayed away from the malls. I've done some research on American made toys, and I've found them. I ordered them on line, and the results have been awesome. I intend to continue to buy things made by people who have kept their manufacturing in the US.

Thanks again for the really great article.

Urgent update on my blog-hoping for results. Thanks in advance. Will do prepaid charts in exchange as well.

Carol, I can't either IE or Firefox to load you website. Bummer.

Never mind it loaded. Takes a while and I've got a high speed connection.

Hah I have Swamp fingers! I couldn't get your website to load on either browser IE or Firefox, then IE loaded, Firefox never did. I've got a high speed connection so that's a bit unusual. May 2008 be a profitable year for you!

I'm surprised to hear that, Morgana. Of course my graphics are linked to my outside website because I can do more regarding placement, but still that site doesn't get all that much traffic. Sometimes (It's a one-man operation) there may be server maintenance, though.

Ha-hmm, the stale post below (not even that interesting I accidently posted on the wrong thread).

Lovi, the fingerprint thing is reasonable and has been going on at least 10 years. That's really for the checkwriter's protection, at credit unions too.

The posting on your bank's door, however is a new one. They're experiencing something, for sure to warrant that..lotta, lotta bad check writing/brand new high-dollar scams?

QOP, what a lousy experience! Seems when we need it the most we run into these absurd and rather cruel limitations. The few times I've had a money order sent to me was not the simple affair it used to be (when all you had to do was go to a grocery store to cash them). All this I'm sure is the result of some widespread crime, plus the gov'ts need to stick their noses into every paltry gain that comes our way.
(pushing expletives down to my knees).

America Tortures, now what ?

Short read here's the link and it is what we expected lurked in the dark.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/11/162212/45/657/420375

Morgana, the thing that keeps me shaking my head in a futile attempt to clear it is this DWELLING on waterboarding.
Betcha those missing CIA tapes contain murders.
We do FAR FAR FAR MORE and WORSE to prisoners and waterboarding is one of the LEAST the torment this gov't inflicts on it's growing list of helplessly, hopelessly imprisoned, without even a good lie of a charge.

I don't get it. No. Waterboarding is a hottub with a glass of wine compared to the far more hideous things this gov't does to people.
When did it ever make sense. None of it. Save your mind.

Kelpie Wilson | The Widening Chasm on Energy

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121107R.shtml

Truthout's environment editor, Kelpie Wilson, writes, "Last Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed, by a 235-181 vote, the Energy Independence and Security Act. On Friday, the same bill passed the Senate by 53 votes in favor to 42 opposed. Republicans then threatened to filibuster, raising the bar for passage to 60 votes. The Senate will work on revisions and is expected to bring a modified bill to the floor sometime this week, but giant corporations are working overtime to trash as much of the renewable energy substance as they can."

Swamp fingers Morgana?
:) lol!

Patb, I bet there's worse too. It's not as if they have to make sure the prisoner is available for trial. When we finally have a President and a World Tribunal worth a damn, I hope that Habeas Corpus becomes a universal value, applicable to all nations. That way any difference between "citizen" and none be totally erased. The Bill of Rights should be applicable to anyone in this nation regardless of nationality or citizenship status.

We're terribly behind on all of the UN Conventions. That's one reason I'm rooting for the Republican meltdown. The Civil Rights legislation of the 1960's passed because there was a supermajority of progressive Dems and moderate Republicans. The Republican meltdown would allow us to catch up with the rest of the world in a lot of this stuff.

Swamp, the malls are full because of all of the Fed Employees in DC who still have jobs, some contractors and others. Not everyone is so fortunate. I'm probably waiting for Congress to pass a budget.

Also, I gather a lot of places are slashing prices a lot sooner than before to attract customers-the outlet mall is an example of what I'm talking about. The outlet mall sells things with slight imperfections, outdated stuff, stuff that didn't sell very well the first time, stuff returned from the stores. Those are usually cheaper than 100% new.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_sc/arctic_melt;_ylt=ArE9.Y4L0i7gZvS9OhzJpFas0NUE

Ominous Arctic melt worries experts

By SETH BORENSTEIN

WASHINGTON - An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years.

Greenland's ice sheet melted nearly 19 billion tons more than the previous high mark, and the volume of Arctic sea ice at summer's end was half what it was just four years earlier, according to new NASA satellite data obtained by The Associated Press.

"The Arctic is screaming," said Mark Serreze, senior scientist at the government's snow and ice data center in Boulder, Colo.

Just last year, two top scientists surprised their colleagues by projecting that the Arctic sea ice was melting so rapidly that it could disappear entirely by the summer of 2040.

This week, after reviewing his own new data, NASA climate scientist Jay Zwally said: "At this rate, the Arctic Ocean could be nearly ice-free at the end of summer by 2012, much faster than previous predictions."

So scientists in recent days have been asking themselves these questions: Was the record melt seen all over the Arctic in 2007 a blip amid relentless and steady warming? Or has everything sped up to a new climate cycle that goes beyond the worst case scenarios presented by computer models?

"The Arctic is often cited as the canary in the coal mine for climate warming," said Zwally, who as a teenager hauled coal. "Now as a sign of climate warming, the canary has died. It is time to start getting out of the coal mines."

more...

And we have to wait one more year or so to have a President who will pass the Kyoto treaty, will work on mass transit and renewable energy and some of the economic changes in the environment.

Thanks, Morgana; and thanks, Sally. I visit Astroworld frequently but don't always comment.

(Sometimes I feel like a neighbor who attends an Open House, enjoys a plate of the very best food, and then leaves without thanking the hostess.)

Anyhow, OT here, does anyone know of an alternative/occult/astrological/& or pagan bookstore that would be interested in receiving some (used) books on those subjects? I'm trying to clear out for a big move and would be glad to ship these books to wherever.

Thanks again and to all the great posters here.

PS--or any individuals who would be interested in books on those topics? Email me, please.

Carol, one of the results we're seeing because Bushco won't sign on to the Kyoto Treaty is States stepping up to the plate and making their own agreements with other nations. Gives me pause for thought, that maybe the States will assert themselves and make George irrelevant.

Barbara what a generous offer, I hope you find a group or person that can use the books. Most of the bookstores occult and otherwise in my area carry second hand books. You didn't mention where you are, drop me an email if you'd like and I may be able to point you to some groups or witchy stores in the Bay Area, books here though are widely available. I hope they go where the light is scarce.

The Pluto in Capricorn squeeze...as the first vibrations start to shake the US 2nd house landscape.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/12/10304/187/1002/421063

Morgan Stanley has issued a full recession alert for the US economy, warning of a sharp slowdown in business investment and a "perfect storm" for consumers as the housing slump spreads.

In a report "Recession Coming" released today, the bank's US team said the credit crunch had started to inflict serious damage on US companies.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/12/edwards_drops_enviro_mailer_in_new_hampshire.php#more

TPM is doing a great job.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22150519/

Bush League Justice - A look inside 'Live with Dan Abrams' newest series

By Dan Abrams

“Bush League Justice” is a series (airing Monday-Thursday at 9 pm on MSNBC) that stems from my increasing frustration and outrage over how the Bush Administration has politicized the usually apolitical Justice Department. In the process, it has significantly abused its authority to try to enhance power at the expense of any sense of objective justice. Many of the administration’s most controversial maneuvers have been widely reported, from the torture memos to the NSA’s warrantless searches to the U.S. Attorney scandal to the appointment of only the most conservative of judges and justices.

But that is really just the tip of this Administration’s ongoing effort to uproot the Justice Department. As we will show the week of December 10, they have regularly circumvented Congress, and decimated some of the most fundamental and cherished principles that define justice in this country.

Maybe most egregious is the now nearly unrecognizable Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Since 1957, it has led the effort to enforce civil rights laws and the fight for minorities. Even Richard Nixon’s effort to delay implementation of school desegregation, was less radical then how this President has flipped the goals and mission of the Division and allowed it to become a tool of the radical right.

More...

Barbara check your e-mail. Here in Southern Ohio it's a little short.

Have any of you checked the January 2008 Dell Horoscope issue yet? There's a fascinating article by Sioux Rose on Pluto in Capricorn where she mentions the "s" word. ("Secession.") She even quotes the fellow who operates Vermont Commons, which is in favor of that state's secession. Talking about the states themselves, I'm actually wondering about the notion that even a state as big as say Pennsylvania or New York might need to subdivide into smaller Vermont-sized regional units.

United Counties of America anyone?

Anyway, I'm curious about Pluto in Capricorn and its potential ramifications on centralized and hierarchical power structures. Seems that we got a couple of foreshocks of the Cappy Pluto when Saturn aspected Pluto during the days of Enron. (I believe Saturn was in Gemini back then.)

(Perhaps the sh*t executives cover up is about to explode forth diarrheically?)

Morgana and Frostwolf,
States taking their power back through secession or otherwise is a natural solution to this absolutely incomprehensible mess.
With gwpinhead's simultaneous fiscal ommissions (school funding & shutdowns, infrastructure funding, etc.)and new expensive impositions (recall state ID) and additional successful theft of state national guards (to make sure states can't help themselves in emergencies like natural disasters and wild-eyed mercenaries)..
Well, what do states have to lose, really, except already dwindled funding and outrageous demands to use already shakey state resources to service increasing fed demands. Not such a good deal, is it.
It took a many decades for the states to opt in to the republic, and may drop out in clumps similarly. Each state will have to find a way to recover their state military protections either by passing laws that again forbid their use by the feds, as it was up until Katrina unraveled that protection. It makes sense that ought to be one of the first take-backs of individual state power. Many states are already implementing their own environmental responses, health needs.
Infrastructure declines.

On a vastly different note, through the glass queasily, I've got the notion the repugs are looking at a Giuliani/Huckabee ticket. But would prefer we save our minds at all costs on this one.

Frostwolf, re that pluto/cap energy. 12-08 has mars & pluto creeping into cap just before the swearing in 1-20-09 of the next cardboard president who has a pretty lame authority and perhaps one terms according to THAT chart.

Maybe we could lay off making too big a thing of that ingress (not freak out) since we already know how up-to-no-good they are. More private individual contingiencey action, more self-confidence.

Patb,

I agree that we shouldn't freak out about the Cappy ingress. I think we should instead pray to find our various means and modes of aligning with the Hades/Cerridwen/Kali/Persephone energies that will remove the debris and the detritus, and point us in the direction of salvaging what is still useful and vibrant. Personal contingency and self-confidence, indeed--but also in the context of community. That's most vital, vibrant, essential.

I'm one of those oddballs that believes that the collapse of these structures that oppress, repress, suppress, depress, [insert prefix here]-press and demean and demoralize and desensitize and dehumanize and just render everything ugly, dead, sterile, inert, militarized and hateful; structures that rely on an economy based on extraction of tribute and resources to prop up all the death and fear-based noise--all of it needs to just collapse and the quicker the better. There would be mercy in such a Mortuos Imperial.

It needs to and will just implode of its own dead weight, and I pray to find the little linchpins where I can perhaps make a trifling gesture, but one that causes the whole thing to collapse in a heap like in a comedy.

I had the image of Pluto entering Capricorn of Jacob Marley's ghost appearing to Scrooge and warning him of his peril. Why would I want to get in the way of that? Indeed, let me find the way to encourage Marley to shake his chains at TPTB. Some days, I half expect them all to spin like tops and fly off back into outer space where their craniums can mercifully find rupture and release.

http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/post_83.php

Eight Questions Reporters Should Ask Huckabee

Oh, what glorious Splatter that will be! Gremlins exploding in the microwave, anyone?

Competely with you on the small community need, obvious when supplies run out, survival in.
Even tho I personally have a compulsion to save seeds (just yesterday packed up Stayman apple seeds, damn nice apple from canada), but we just don't know in what sequence all this plays out.
There's the Rub we have to play by ear as it arises.
There's something quite scientifically practical about not feeding our worst fears, you know, like the "detention camp" prisonplanet garbage sites who are little minion fear mongers that get off in some really cheap way SO IT DOESN'T MANIFEST.
I'm convinced more detachment will serve us well, and staying in the moment as events arise helps us immeasurably.

I know you know, Frostwolf, just sayin' my bit.
By the way, do you have a good source to either visit online or download the meanings of those 'roids? Not so easy to find! Thanks!

I assume you mean my reference to Hades, Cerridwen etc., and I was really referring more to them being deities of transformation and death, like Pluto. I don't think Cerridwen or Kali have 'roids attached to them, though that's unfortunate.

Cerridwen is the Welsh goddess of creativity, inspiration, the Cauldron and sometimes she's just seen as "The Source". She spontaneously appeared to me when I wanted to try writing a strange play that I still haven't finished. Kali is a Hindu death goddess. Quite interesting energies they have, both of them. They're both part of my personal pantheon.

You might check out an interesting post on The Archdruid's Report. Last week he wrote a post called "Solvitur Ambulando" which is Latin for "We solve by walking." I too find that the shrill fear-mongering sites get to burden me unnecessarily. While there is a lot of ugly crap out there, I need to remind myself that most of these people are suffering too, and they are all sick folks who a) don't know they're sick and b)don't know where to get the help they need even if they discover their illnesses.

Like it says in the AA Big Book, that which I put my mind to increases. If I focus on the negative, the negative increases and if I focus on the positive, the positive increases.

? Roids' ? Is that like steroid rage?

I love the wise transformational Goddesses. Your discussion reminded me of Persephone and Demeter, Innana and Erishigal, and then recalled the Grey Mare who drinks from the well of transformation on Candlemas Eve to become the Maiden Goddess Brigit.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze201j5/countdown.htm

Frostwolf, hear hear! Good stuff. Smart site as well.
As a rather homogenous aries, still I'll come out swinging and remember later (but still remember).
So many lies and destructive (however inadvertant)preying energy 'round here. I think I get angry over two things, one: innocents in all sentient forms being destroyed and, two: wasting my time considering things that are just not "real", allowing myself to be tricked into solidifying nonsense when we need energy to be well spent during these times. Oh, a third: feeling vulnerable like you and me and everyone we know

Another thing, when I hear all this investing in gold and whatnot, well, a person in my position is pretty much up for being the first to go under
without any protections whatsoever. Really. No protections of any sort.

I'll remember what you said though. They're suffering too.

Barbara, I give my used books to this bookstore in Berkeley, CA. They will even pay for them.

http://www.shopinberkeley.com/s/sunrisebookshop/index.php

Morgana and lunaoscura, thanks. My first thought was to contact some occult bookstore operating in a hostile location. Some years ago (maybe eight or so?) those stores were often hit by arson or vandalism or harassed with selective zoning laws. However, things must be getting better or else maybe they lost the battle, because I haven't been able to find a store like that now.

Barbara

Barbara the little gal, Carol a few entries up has a need in Ohio.

Have Bilderberg Kingmakers Selected Perry for Giuliani Running Mate?

Globalist fingerprints cover frontrunners of both parties

Daniel Taylor
Old Thinker News
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

As reported by the Star-Telegram, Texas Gov. Rick Perry plans to "...campaign on behalf of Giuliani wherever he is needed." Perry denies any intent to become his vice president, but given his attendance of the 2007 Bilderberg meeting in Istanbul Turkey, this denial rings hollow to those who follow Bilderberg activities.

Local media in Texas picked up on Perry's scheduled attendance of Bilderberg 2007.

Perry's campaign buddy Rudy Giuliani presented David Rockefeller - a regular attendant of Bilderberg conferences - with a U.N award in 1993, commenting on his status as a "...member of the advisory council of the Bilderberg conference."

Former CIA Interrogator: We Carried Out Torture Because The White House Told Us To

Think Progress

Wednesday December 12, 2007

In an interview last night with ABC News, John Kiriakou — the CIA official who headed the team that interrogated al Qaeda leader Abu Zubaydah — said that Zubaydah was waterboarded, but defended those actions as having prevented “maybe dozens” of planned attacks and “probably saved lives.”

But despite his vigorous defense of his past conduct, Kiriakou says he now views what he did as torture and says that he would not recommend those tactics going forward. “We don’t need enhanced techniques to get that nugget of information,” he said in an interview with Matt Lauer this morning on The Today Show.

Lauer asked Kiriakou where the permission was given to carry out torture. “Was the White House involved in that decision?” Lauer asked. “Absolutely,” Kiriakou said, adding:

This isn’t something done willy nilly. It’s not something that an agency officer just wakes up in the morning and decides he’s going to carry out an enhanced technique on a prisoner. This was a policy made at the White House, with concurrence from the National Security Council and Justice Department.

http://infowars.net/print.php

Resistance and Hope

By Charles Sullivan

If we Americans are nothing more than hopelessly addicted consumers who think of ourselves as an exceptional people with special entitlements; if we see ourselves as god's morally superior chosen people; if we are selfish and greedy beyond redemption-then we are complicit in all of the horrible crimes that government commits in our name.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18876.htm

Torture and Torment in 2007 AD

By David Halpin

The "only democracy in the Middle East" has imprisoned at least 600,000 Palestinians since the ethnic cleansing of those native people started in 1948 en masse. Remember that the population was hardly a million to start with. Many are arrested at dead of night in a manner similar to that taught by Ord Wingate to the Zionist terrorist squads in the 1930s - the Special Night Squads.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18877.htm

===

Bush: Iran has a 'secret' nuke program:

Doesn't believe report they stopped making WMD in '03

http://www.torontosun.com/News/World/2007/12/12/4720395-sun.html

===

Mullen: Israel not alone against Iran :

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen wrapped up his lightning trip to Israel on Monday, leaving the IDF with a feeling that Israel does not stand alone in the face of the Iranian nuclear threat, despite a recent American intelligence report.

http://snipurl.com/1v6nu

===

Israel keeps up pressure on Iran :

The Israeli government does not like the US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran - and for the most part, is not buying it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7138506.stm

===

'France worried by Iran-Israel tension';

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview published Wednesday that there is a danger of war erupting over Iran's nuclear program if "the Israelis consider their security truly threatened."

http://snipurl.com/1v6nw

Weekly Weather Forecast

December 10, 2007 - December 16, 2007

by Anne Ortelee

Significant Planetary Aspects for:

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday
Friday | Saturday | Sunday

Ta-DA! Trumpets, Drum rolls, cheers and applause!!! Jupiter and Pluto join in the sky this week to create a spanking, sparkling brand new 13-year cycle of evolutionary expansion and change in our lives.

Jupiter, the lord of the heavens, in charge of expansion, magnitude, growth, elevation, superiority; capacity to enlarge, impulse to grow, ascend, progress, improve, magnify, great wholes, inflate; ruling success, honor, advancement, plenitude, abundance, prodigality, excess, surfeit; capacity for magnanimity, optimism, enthusiasm, exuberance, joy, joviality, liberality, breadth of experience, philosophical and cultural goals, comprehensiveness, largeness of vision, pride, arrogance, aggrandizement, extravagance, fecundity, fortune, and providence

combines his considerable gifts with the lord of the underworld,

Pluto, in charge of the principles of elemental power, depth, and intensity; that energy that compels, empowers, and intensifies whatever it touches to overwhelming extremes. Primordial instincts, libidinal and aggressive, destructive and regenerative, volcanic, cathartic, eliminative, transformative, ever-evolving, biological process of birth, sex and death, death and rebirth, upheaval, breakdown, decay and fertilization, situations of life and death, extremes, power struggles, titanic, potent, massive. Both the underworld, underground ~ elemental, geological, instinctual, political, social, sexual, urban, criminal, mythological and demonic! Dark, mysterious, taboo, lurks below the surface of things, impels, burns, consumes, transfigures, resurrects, descent and transformation, destruction and regeneration.

http://www.thecosmicpath.com/

WHooppee!
Jup & Pluto conj. in my 7th; 3o from a conjunction with the part of fortune! ( 1o cap)
I put a free ( for a month) ad in the BDN yesterday. A woman called today wants 2 calendars.
Change?......... Yesterday I called a local real estate agent who bought one last year. She didn't want one this year, worse than that she never even took 2007 out of the wrapping!!!!! How low did that make me feel?
QOP

This morning I heard something so disguting on msm (MSNBC joe Scarbrough)that I was amazed( I know why would I still be amazed! don't know I guess I still hope for the light of spirit to show through) At any rate Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarbrough talking about how Hillary is going to not only bring up Obama's drug use as a teenager but will tie it to drug sales. Buchanen was orgasmic in anticipation of getting Obama into the nigger position-both of these men were beside themselves in their rush to refine the focus on Obama as just another typical brother from the hood. I had to take my shower and cook greens in satay sauce for thirty people so I didn't linger but I had to report this to you. If anyone is offended by my use of the so called n-word I used it to describe the lynching I over heard this morning. These men said that the rumors are coming from Hillary's campaign manager. I think that this society has some very heavy adjusting to experience-when someone is lynched just because we can I am afraid-afraid of this society afraid to be known at all.
This when the disgusting, bloated lawmakers waste their voting to recognize that Christmas is important and as bill Press pointed out this during Hanukka and no mention of Judiasm and god help us no mention of Islam, wicca etc.

QOP-I got your e-mail and I am going to order some calendars. I just won't have any money until January-no help to you at Christmas but I imagine thst heating oil will still be needed in January
I think that you can expect some real spiritual breakthroughprobably involving your beloved cousin who recently made the big transi-the jupiter/pluto conjunction in the 7th. Just an intuition but couldn't ignore the coincidnece

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00153.htm

Financial Fraud vs. Financial Coup d’etat

..........

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/MSNBC_probes_How_many_laws_has_1212.html

MSNBC: 'How Bush became a government unto himself'

Dan Abrams examined the Bush administration's unprecedented use of signing statements in the second installment of his week-long MSNBC series on "Bush League Justice."

"President Bush doesn't like to veto laws," Abrams began. "He doesn't have to. Since he took office, he's been attaching conditions to laws already passed by Congress, allowing him to essentially disobey the will of Congress and dramatically expand his own power."

Bush has issued 1100 signing statements -- almost twice as many as all previous presidents put together -- often completely reversing the intended effect of legislation. For example, when Congress voted overwhelmingly to ban torture, Bush announced that this would "make it clear to the world that this government does not torture." Two weeks later, he added a signing statement to the bill that allowed him to ignore it.

Similarly, when a bill required the Justice Department to report to Congress on the use of the Patriot Act, Bush added a proviso that he could override this requirement any time he thought necessary.

More at the link...

...........

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/210393/

There’s more to character than being charming
Gene Lyons

Canadian Court overturns Safe Third Country Agreement

"The U.S. does not meet the Refugee Convention requirements nor the Convention Against Torture prohibition."

In a surprise ruling the Federal Court of Canada has overturned the "Canada United States Safe Third Country Agreement" in a judgment issued on November 29, 2007.

In a 124-page decision Mr. Justice Michael Phelan ruled that the Safe Third Country Agreement, which came into effect on Dec. 29, 2004 and regulated refugee movement between Canada and the U.S., violates refugee rights and that the United States did not meet the conditions required to be considered a "Safe Country" under the terms of the Agreement.

The Agreement was also held to be contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "The interest at stake is highly important to an individual's life, safety and dignity," wrote Justice Phelan.

The Judge stated, "I would therefore conclude that the designation of the U.S. as a safe third country leads to a discriminatory result, in that it has a much more severe impact on persons who fall into the areas where the U.S. is not compliant with the Refugee Convention or CAT (Convention Against Torture), as well as discriminating and exposing such people to risk based solely on the method of arrival in Canada."

"For the reasons outlined in this judgment, the United States' policies and practices do not meet the conditions set down for authorizing Canada to enter into a Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA)," Justice Phelan stated. .. ... continued

http://tinyurl.com/yvbpre

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/business/2007/12/13/D8TGL60G0_congress_energy/index.html

Democratic leaders fell one vote short, 59-40, in getting the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster. Democrats said they would strip the taxes from the legislation to move the bill forward.

59-40.

Who didn’t vote?

Yesterday's Republican debate in Des Moines was a real snorer, heads nodding off. Today its the Democrats turn at 1:00 pm Des Moines, IA. I'm working but will have it on in the background.
Edwards has t. Mars forming a conjuction with his n. Mercury in the 12th house. His sharp tongue is going to loose itself where folks don't see it coming. With Hillary smearing Obama as a drug dealer there may be some fireworks despite the dull restrictive moderator and softball questions...oh wait that's the Repug debate.
I have yet to figure out why anyone would schedule a debate in the middle of a work day. Couse then again, with all their ICE who has power to hear it?

Oh clymela! I didn't make that connection, and I got out my chart & books last night!
A few days ago, I was sitting in the dining room, at an angle to the kitchen door. In the corner of my eye a dark shape flew.....from the bird feeder outside; through the kitchen wall, and across the kitchen ceiling on an upward incline. I thought "uh oh, floater, symptom of eye trouble.." BUT; one of the cats was sitting on the table facing the kitchen and she sat bolt upright, tracking it with her eyes, which became as big and round as they could go!
In the studio behind the kitchen, I found another cat, ( the dark tiger) perched on the top of the ladder I had leaning against the shelf. I don't think it possible that he leaped from the kitchen table to the top of the refridg, then around the corner to the ladder. He is a notorious clutz, who regularly displaces objects from table tops to the floor. ( I think he was injured before he came to me, slight turn to the left hind leg and a funny empty spot where his ribs end on that side.)
My cousin a "cat whisperer" saved cats, she had 7 when she got sick!
Jan is fine for calendars! Joe ( Kennedy ) & Hugo are on their way with 100 gallons, and then I have my small LIHEAP allotment............Feb. is when I run out! And I think it is going to be a tough winter.
I hope I made a small contribution to getting Dennis included in the debate today! I discovered that David Bright who ran Jean Hay Bright's campaign against Snowe, is one of Kucinich's Nat. Directors! WHen I talked to Jean yesterday I was able to relay that someone in the newsroom at the Des Moines Register, wasn't sure if Alan Keys had a campaign office, ( their reason for excluding Dennis, bogus) SHe pounced on that bit of info and I know she will use it well!I couldn't find yesterday's discussion of it on DU; but this one looks interedsting!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2459135QOP

Morgana,

I've not heard the story of the Grey Mare. I'm curious to find out more. I've worked with Brigid too. In my meditations, she's partners with Kwan Yin. They make a fabulous couple--both are so humor-filled and earthy. This is personal to me, but they're connected to the Point of Law in the Pearl Pentacle (q.v. Thorn Coyle, Evolutionary Witchcraft if you're interested). At least that's where I see them.

(Btw, queer Jesus is the guardian of the Iron Pentacle (Sex-Pride-Self-Power-Passion) when I work it in my body. "Some children see him gay as a goose, the young man Jesus of virile caboose! Some children see him gay as a goose, holding hands with his loving John...")

That should be interesting. ANd I tried to make a tinyurl.didn't work, then I couldn't add or change it?
Me, QOP
Oh And I thought the Repug debate was good. ( well handled by the DM Register)They gave the candidates time to answer questions and didn't spark conflict or waste time over silly issues, abortion immigration!

Frostwolf, the Grey Mare is one of the names for the Irish Goddess Caileach Beara. There are many stories associated with her. If you Google Caileach Beara and Grey Mare you'll get a bunch of references. She is one of the Deities I've worked with some years ago. I probably got the initial research from Merlin Stone's works, "When God was a Woman" and "Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood". Some of the Mesopotamian Goddesses are fascinating. Anyway those two books have been a marvelous resource.

QOP, I watched the Repug debate with the sound muted. Both my husband and son start yelling at the television if they actually hear what these whack jobs are saying. The guestion on Global Warming, and all there little hands waved no no, no such thing...about waist height. Even Joe six pack gets it.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004897.php

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to hold two top aides to President Bush in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate in its probe of fired federal prosecutors.
On a largely party-line vote of 11-7, the Democratic-led panel sent contempt citations against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove to the full Senate for consideration.
As with many of Bush's battles with the Democratic-led Senate, the president may ultimately prevail since his fellow Republicans may be able to block the citations with a procedural hurdle.
Bush has claimed executive privilege to protect aides from complying with congressional subpoenas demanding documents or testimony in an investigation into the firing last year of nine U.S. attorneys. The committee has rejected his privilege claim as unfounded.

I'm watching and listening between work interruptions, but gotta tell ya, John Edwards rapid blinking just drove me nuts couldn't concentrate on what he was saying I had to look away. lol.

http://www.craigunger.com/

Fall of the House of Bush

Edwards beats them all.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/13/85010/160/512/421537

Reid had a choice. He could push the bill that has no provision for immunity for telecoms, or he could push the bill that does. Guess which he chose. Yep. I'm about ready to just quit!

http://salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/12/14/blackwater/

Blackwater in Baghdad: "It was a horror movie"

Exclusive testimony from witnesses and victims provides the most in-depth, harrowing account to date of the U.S. security firm's deadly rampage in Iraq.

........

Edwards beats them all.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/13/85010/160/512/421537

It's snowing again..............I'm beginning to feel like Lara in Dr, Zhivago!
QOP

More on Reid's telecom immunity, et al., maneuvers:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/14/2829/8746/132/421925

Well, you know Lara/QOP, that after the snow comes the daffodils.

QOP wrote: Now that I think about it;when I was in Ellsworth Sat. I went in to our Marden's store; a Maine based salvedge chain.

ha ha !! gratitude from california. many, many thanks for that.

having been born in and raised near waterville (marden's first location), my parents used to joke that marden's was where they got my brother and me.

Here's something you can do right now! Keep trying, line is "busy", jam that sucker's lines!

Senator Harry Reid
202-224-3542

Please report how your call went here:
http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/FISAaction

Here's the suggested message:

"I'm calling to ask Senator Reid to honor Senator Dodd's hold on the Intelligence Committee's FISA reform bill.

I do not support any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies who helped the Bush Administration spy on Americans. I'm counting on Senator Reid to stand up to President Bush and for the Constitution."

We don't have much time. If we work quickly, we might be able

Lindsey Graham, the purty dude from SC, led an effort to quash the "no waterboarding" bill in the Senate. Boy, that's leadership!

http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=15067

What would it cost to buy the support of just about every nationally syndicated neocon talk show host in America? About $19.5 billion, which is what Mitt Romney’s private equity firm, Bain Capital, and Thomas H. Lee Partners have agreed to pay in a leveraged buyout agreement with Clear Channel Communications, the largest radio station owner in the country. This is part of a negotiation that has been pending for over a year. Clear Channel owns more than 1,100 full-power AM, FM, and shortwave radio stations, twelve radio channels on XM Satellite Radio, and more than 30 television stations in the United States. Premiere Radio Networks, which is the largest syndication company in the United States, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Clear Channel and is home to Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and many others. Sean Hannity recently signed a large multi-market contract with Clear Channel, as well. From an anonymous email:

“I’ll bet those hosts won’t reveal that conflict of interest, but it’s worth noting when you hear them begin hyping Romney, which has already begun. A lot of GOP supporters will support whomever they are told to support, so be prepared for a big push for Romney. On the bright side, Romney has more vulnerabilities than Rudy, based on his record. Look at this as the GOP establishment doing us a favor. Rich men can bankroll their own campaigns (a la John Kerry), but it takes a special breed to use investors’ money to buy entire networks that can operate as passive wings of a presidential campaign.”

It should be noted that Mitt Romney, while no longer the CEO, remains a silent partner of Bain Capital.

Ah "quash du jour" they take turns!
Collins voted against the Farm bill today., but Allen who is running for her Senate seat has Impeachment off the table. Snowe at least voted ay on the Farm bill.........
They're all wearing me out!
mrkite, your parents were smart shoppers!
Such a small world!
QOP

This is just getting worse and worse:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/061114.php

Might make some have the feeling that something mighty bad has to be tightly concealed. I wonder if Harry will go along.

http://www.alternet.org/story/69105/

Bush Goes Private to Spy on You

The Bush administration is launching a new government agency that will rely heavily on private security contractors to conduct surveillance in the U.S.

A new intelligence institution to be inaugurated soon by the Bush administration will allow government spying agencies to conduct broad surveillance and reconnaissance inside the United States for the first time. Under a proposal being reviewed by Congress, a National Applications Office (NAO) will be established to coordinate how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and domestic law enforcement and rescue agencies use imagery and communications intelligence picked up by U.S. spy satellites. If the plan goes forward, the NAO will create the legal mechanism for an unprecedented degree of domestic intelligence gathering that would make the United States one of the world's most closely monitored nations. Until now, domestic use of electronic intelligence from spy satellites was limited to scientific agencies with no responsibility for national security or law enforcement.

The intelligence-sharing system to be managed by the NAO will rely heavily on private contractors, including Boeing, BAE Systems, L-3 Communications and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). These companies already provide technology and personnel to U.S. agencies involved in foreign intelligence, and the NAO greatly expands their markets. Indeed, at an intelligence conference in San Antonio, Texas, last month, the titans of the industry were actively lobbying intelligence officials to buy products specifically designed for domestic surveillance.

More at the link....

shy, North America looking more and more like South America every day.

And there's even more on the torture cover-up saga, Pat C:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2007/12/15/not-three-branches-not-two-branches-just-one-branch-of-government/

Hillary is surrounded by nasty smucks...good
gawd what would her goverment look like? Think
about it!

Aw, wv, I'd rather not think about it. And I sure hope we don't ever see it.

Well Bill is paving the way for her to save face if she loses Iowa. Any one of the Democrats are better then what the Repugs have put up, a Bigger crook, a couple of whacked wingers, a couple of crazy men, a washed up actor, and a Perot wannabe.

Did you see where the White House basically told a Federal judge to butt out. The question lurking in my mind is that if Congress and the people don't stop this madness, how long before the World sets out to stop us ? Then some would speculate that the World already is tightening the screws.

Mz Morgana, up just two or three at 4:21 pm is the link I posted to info about the judge being told he doesn't have to bother. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

I suspect there is something so foul at the bottom of this barrel, then we can't quite imagine it--yet.

"The question lurking in my mind is that if Congress and the people don't stop this madness, how long before the World sets out to stop us ?"

Yes indeed Morgana. It worries me.

Here's another on that subject.

The question lurking in my mind is that if Congress and the people don't stop this madness, how long before the World sets out to stop us ?

Well I messed that up. Here's the other one on that subject.

Mukasey silent in CIA tape case

The Democratic-led House failed to block "enhanced interrogation" The US attorney general has refused to tell Congress about a government probe into why the CIA destroyed recordings of interrogations of terror suspects.

Michael Mukasey said giving details might suggest that political pressure could sway law enforcement decisions.

The tapes were said to show techniques such as water-boarding, which simulates drowning. The CIA denies torture.

Meanwhile, Republican Senators have blocked a bill restricting the interrogation methods the CIA can use.

The House of Representatives passed the bill on Thursday before passing it to the Senate.

Among its provisions the bill would restrict the use of water-boarding, regarded as a form of torture by many human rights advocates.

Stunned

In letters to the House and Senate committees investigating the destruction of the interrogation tapes, Mr Mukasey said he saw no need to appoint a special prosecutor into the issue.

"I am aware of no facts at present to suggest that department attorneys cannot conduct this inquiry in an impartial manner," he wrote.

"If I become aware of information that leads me to a different conclusion, I will act on it."

His decision was criticised by Republicans and Democrats, who said Mr Mukasey was hampering congressional oversight of the justice department.

"We are stunned that the justice department would move to block our investigation," the joint leaders of the House Intelligence Committee said in response.

Correspondents say there are suspicions that the decision was made to conceal evidence that the suspects were being tortured.

http://news.bbc.co.uk:80/2/hi/americas/7145658.stm

Morgana, It would be utterly FANTASTIC if the world stops us! They are shoving us off and isolating us more and more economically, this is what is causing the u.s. to be dealt with on the end of a very long stick. This could be yet another expression of u.s. progressed mars retro.

Problem is, where the bleep is the SOURCE of our economy?

Ironically, this very morning I was thinking of asking Norway, through a group I know there whether my son and I might do well to relocate there. Purely exploratory, but an idea becoming more and more like a survival necessity. We are screwed otherwise if we stay here.

Pat C, that is a stunning comment from House Intelligence! Are they RETARDED? They chose Mukasey just like they chose Mr. I Don't Recall.

This gov't is a lost cause, and we'd do well to take actions that accept this FACT as a reference point for our actions in behalf of ourselves and families. Our country won't be liveable for at least another 20 years...you can quote me.

patb,

Another Day, Another Capitulation

The Democratic "opposition" in Congress – you know, the party that represents the common people, good working folk and the most vulnerable in our society: the sick, the old, the poor, the children – have just effected yet another capitulation to Money Power, gutting an energy bill that would have required Big Oil – now reaping the most gargantuan profit margins in the entire history of human enterprise – to pay a pittance in new taxes. The original bill would have also required utility companies to eventually produce a whopping 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources.

....

A hardened cynic might say that the original bill was just a feint all along – the usual shuck-and-jive for the Democratic base, offered up in the sure knowledge that it would be disemboweled in good time at the behest of the nation's true managers. A lesser cynic in a charitable mood ('tis the season, after all) could aver that the Democrats might actually pass a windfall profits tax on Big Oil and a few mild measures on renewable energy – as long as no one said "Boo!" to them. I must say that I incline to the former view myself, but I suppose the latter is not entirely outside the realm of possibility. But in the end, it doesn't matter; someone is always going to say "boo" to any attempt – however anemic – to ameliorate the ravages of the Money Power in even the slightest way. And these Democrats, whether by design or from cowardice and corruption – or both – will always jump out of their skins and scurry to do the boss-man's bidding.

--Chris Floyd

http://www.chris-floyd.com/

Pat C, I miss Will over at Starlight quite alot, do you know how I can contact him? Just am viscerally unable to go over there.

http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/archives/001953.html

Murder On The Occident Express

Wondering who killed democracy in the United States? Wonder why no one is ever held accountable? Perhaps you should read Murder on the Orient Express, the famous mystery by Agatha Christie.

In it, the detective Hercule Poirot is taking a train from Istanbul. There are only fourteen other regular passengers. On the second night, one of them is murdered.

The evidence is perplexing: the victim has twelve stab wounds. But some seem to have come from a right-handed person, and some from someone left-handed. Some seem to have been delivered by someone very strong, and others by someone weak. Other clues each point to different suspects.

Hercule Poirot then gathers all the passengers together, along with an owner of the railroad line. He produces two theories:

#1 The victim was murdered by a stranger who somehow boarded the train and then escaped unnoticed.

#2 The victim was murdered by everyone. All the suspects stabbed him, and none knew who struck the killing blow.

Poirot says he'll let the owner decide which theory is most likely. There is a pause. The owner, because the victim was dislikable, says it must have been the stranger. And that's what he'll tell the police.

So: who cooked the intelligence on Iraq? Was it the Bush administration? Or Republicans? Or Democrats? Or Bill Clinton? Some of them were more guilty than others, but THEY ALL DID IT. And thus they were all happy to blame it on a stranger called "intelligence failure."

Likewise, who authorized torture? As we've learned recently about the briefings given to high-level congressional Democrats on waterboarding, THEY ALL DID.

Who let the catastrophic housing bubble inflate? THEY ALL DID.

Who gave away hundreds of billions to the richest people in America? THEY ALL DID.

In each case, the Democrats and Republicans are the suspects. There are a few honest voices, most very far from power, who act as Poirot. Here's Scott Ritter, speaking about Iraq in 2005:

More at the link...

patb, sadly I don't know will on a personal basis. He's a joy on the internet though.

Pat C, Thanks regardless.
Will if your eyes catch this and you've the notion I can be reached at patwbishop@msn.com.
Love to hear from you!

Chinese Kids Get Foreign-Brand Toys

By ELAINE KURTENBACH
The Associated Press

SHANGHAI, China - When freelance writer Wang Jian shops for toys for her 5-year-old son, she's happy to pay extra for Legos blocks and Japanese-brand train sets.

The reason, she and other parents say: Foreign brands enjoy a reputation for higher quality , a perception reinforced by the product scares of recent months.

"We pay close attention to the news about toy and food safety. If I find a problem with a certain brand, I will just stop using it for sure," said Wang, who writes for film magazines.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/90-12142007-1456434.html
QOP

Pat C. is right. Face it, you live in a one-party state.

Let's hold to hope, my wonderful Awers. In addition to the heroic acts of Kucinich, there is also this. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18888.htm

We are on walking on the edge of a cliff. Yet, there are those who are fighting hard on our behalf. Send energy to them -- at the least/or is that the most?

I agree with Morgana, that our acts are -- and have been -- receiving serious backlash from the rest of the world. This tempo will increase. However, my question is this. . .will those international entities (who understand the wicked tryst of powers) help those who seek to balance the scales once again?

I hope so, i pray so.

http://www.slideshare.net/aquariusmoonduhart/for-all-of-the-holidays/

A redone slideshow!

Here's another interesting find (from an internet friend)

http://lib.store.yahoo.net:80/lib/realityzone/UFNKitcocorner.htm

Exploring the same theme Morgana introduced. . .perhaps war is being waged on as i write this. That war has to do with our currency, the fact the dollar is being dropped as the major trade currency throughout the world. If each of us were to bail out the government right now, we would shell out some 340,000 or more.

I'll just bet each of you, as i did, that when NAFTA was enacted this was exactly what was going to happen. When you create a playing field of service sector jobs -- as opposed to high skilled innovation -- you sink the future value of your company's holdings. There IS a backlash.

Lord of the Underworld sure seems to be having his way these days. :)

Cartoon! Cartoon!
This wonderful animation won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1939...last year this time was it you
QOP who posted this for us all (wv maybe), saved it to play again & again. THIS is REAL animation:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xuiut_mgm-cartoon-1939-peace-on-earth

Sorry I can't claim credit. This time last year I was still on dial up, unable to get Youtube!
I loved it! That was my year of birth!
QOP

Speaking of youtubes, here is Al Gore openly opposing George Bush. Imagine that!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HeTA1S7TXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U1LDeSEo40&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSVblW2ZtKc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW2VKmpVOMU&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqKKdnpNseg&feature=related

QOP, 1939 was the best year, in my opinion, for the greatest advances in art and film in history.
Pure magic. The year that gave us a legacy of human warmth through the arts. And you, Pat Q are a living, card-carrying bearer of magic.
(what day in may or june were you born and what degree ascending are you, if you don't mind sharing QOP?).

If that's the cartoon where Gramps Squirrel visits and tells his twin grandchildren about the aftermath of WWI, I may have posted it. I found it last year around this time and was elated because I had seen it while very small and hoped it would be a series (I was quite tired of Disney even then), but I never saw it again for all those decades. I think somebody posted it over at DU.

I thought that bore your stamp, Shy! Consequently I am flattered to be thought responsible for your postings!
Patb, The warmth emminating from this site is very welcomed today as the temp is still only 22o ( started at 4o this AM!)
We ( me & the movie industry) have 2 grand trines water & earth!
I was born on May 4th, Bridgeton, NJ 8:13 AM. 20o Gemnini rising!
I thought it was ( my Mother said!) 8:30,( Events in my life were out of time cinc, with my chart, for 20 years.....)until, I unpacked my baby book about 16 years ago and found the 8:13 time written down in my baby book. (
( there was a major shift with my Mother moving to the West coast about the time I came to MAine, and I brought the family photos with me.)
Before I bought this house in MAine, I consulted Astrocartography, and was told that Jonesboro, 15 miles up the road from here was the best place in the entire world for me to be! Unhappily, there is an anomally with the daylight saving time in my home town, and they gave me a 4o Cancer rising!
BUT, Jacob Schwartz insisted on the 20o Gem. and it fits.
QOP

Pat C, Thank gawd for youtube and you for posting that comprehensive train of videos, especially the 4th one (unnamed man)with his patient, intelligently expressed view. It shows us that the world has not gone mad, and the best in us is being evoked from malaise to manifestation.
Alchemy, anyone? The fight is a shortways down the 'pike, at the same time the 100th monkey and the sugar in the saturated solution which WILL form crytals of a more loving reality...love potion #9!

Shy, so you're the christmas fairy. People are just as stupid! We watched Merry Christmas from Nextflix last nite, about the Ceasefire on christmas eve 1914 between encamped english, scots, germans and french (wonderful story).
Sometimes it becomes apparent the wildman has to come out and destroy everything before he can FEEL anything. Like an addiction to the (created) depths of hell and the (imaginary) heights of heaven. All slobbery and sentimental only AFTER untold damage has been done! As in Zeitgeist, there have been about 75 Christmyths since the beginning of 'recorded' history.
Man: ignorance, passion, aggression and the tale told by the animator is EXACTLY the same.
How about we skip continuing this slide into hell.
We've known all along where it leads, destruction with corny imbeciles at the wheel. What a price for a "high".

QOP, powerfully connected chart you've got there, no surprise! My birthtime has also been a bit of a mystery on my birth certificate & the stories wildly conflicting between my parents. The certificate has a 7-long slash-9 at the top for my time, old style numerals, and thought the long slash could actually be a numeral "one".
My father said "we couldn't get a cab" to the hospital, the certificate said my mother was there for 17 hours which would mean they needed a cab in the wee hours of the morning, about 2:30am. Sadly, my mother notoriously distorts truth and said "she went herself to the hospital when my father was sleeping and that I was born "in the morning", which doesn't add up to what the birth cert. says.
SO,if I have it right, my ascendant is 20.55 libra, whew.
No wonder I began persueing psychology and philosophy 13 & 17 and read the classics like crazy, because I knew the truth was NOT coming from my parents! Alchemy at it's finest!

Another short flick worth watching...

http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine/short-film

Superb reporting

http://www.atlargely.com/2007/12/the-permanent-r.html

A term we can live with(coined here and now by yours truly):

MERRY CHRISTMYTH!

UK has left behind murder and chaos, says Basra police chief

Guardian Unlimited - 1 hour ago

.. full scale of the chaos left behind by British forces in Basra was revealed yesterday as the city's police chief described a province in the grip of well-armed militias strong enough to overpower security forces and brutal enough to behead women ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2228690,00.html

........

Happy Holidays to you patb! :-) When we are skating on thin ice, we might as well dance!

Sooner or later this was going to be made an election issue. If even he is a Muslim, why should it mean that he "poses a threat to the security of the US"? This is such bigoted thinking, but it just goes to show what kind of atmosphere the present administration has fostered for Muslims, so that if you are a Muslim, you are automatically equated with the word"terrorist"; and this comes from people who really should know better. I think this stems from ignorance of the Muslim religion by a majority of Americans. Because of 9/11, and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan, and Iraq, I think it will behoove every American who thinks that Islam is synonymous with terrorism, to get a hold of a good English translation of the Qur'an, read it from cover to cover, and then draw their own conclusions. They may find that it is not that different from the Bible, and actually supplements it, because it takes up where the New Testament left off, and also has references to Jesus, and his mother Mary, though in a different context to the Bible - that is if you believe in traditional religion.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071216/ap_po/obama