Go out in the woods and listen carefully. You might hear a tree falling and then silence. Where you once would hear a babbling brook, the sound of running water, there is nothing. There is group out there clearing trees and damning up free flowing streams and rivers with wild abandon. They do not care how you feel about it or what you think about the preservation of our natural resources. They don't have to. They, because of special laws, can construct dams without permits, environmental impact reports or public input. They are not required to submit plans, do studies or seek approval from local, state or federal government. And if you or your property happen to be in the way that is just to bad. If they decide to build on your land, tough. You're stuck. You will have no right of appeal and no court will issue a restraining order.
And they are unceasing in their efforts. So determined and unrelenting are they that their very name is used as byword to indicate industriousness.
Why? Why do they build dams? Many of which either slit up, turning in to mud holes, or fail due to the poor choice of materials and lack of proper engineering. To continue their own damn existence. They seem to lack any concern for the environment or for our rights as citizens of The United States of America. Self preservation is their only apparent motivation.
Who? Who is perpetrating this massive injustice? Flooding thousands of acres of public and private lands every year. Destroying forest and the habitat of untold numbers of wild animals, upsetting the balance of nature. The Army Corps of Engineers? Tennessee Valley Authority? BLM? A massive coalition of power companies and energy corporations? No, this is a group that is not even fit to be called "human".
They must be stopped. Send your dollars and sense to "SOB" and help "STAMP OUT BEAVERS!"
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
corduroy
I was walking through the parking lot when I noticed a sock laying on the ground. That is not unusual, the laundry room is at the end of the lot. Later that day DW and I were at the store and there on the pavement was a sock, the same colour and size as the one I had seen earlier. It even seemed to be in the same position.
I realized it's true what homemakers, what we used to call housewives, have been saying for decades. Dryers are a space/time porthole! The seemingly ordinary appliance eats socks and sends them through another dimension, to who knows where, never to be seen again. At least not by their rightful owners. Makes sense, maybe. In the tumbling confusion and noise the universe "sees" the two identical socks and gets confused. It appears that one object is in two places at once, deifying the laws of physics and violating the natural order. Desperate to set things right the cosmos sends one of them somewhere else in time. Anywhere so long as it is not "now".
In the distant future, after years of intense research, the leading scientists of the day will finally build the worlds first time machine and send a man into the past. Or future. And the machine will bare an uncanny resemblance to a 1965 Whirlpool Deluxe Home Three Temperature Dryer, with end of cycle buzzer. Only bigger with more circuitry. And it will work much the same way. Just as your mother's dryer ate holes in the fabric of her fine linens, the Whirlpool Time Machine will eat holes in the very fabric of space and time.
Mankind will be able to experience history first hand and glimpse the future. There will be drawbacks though. It will only work for one member of a pair of identical twins and only if they enter the porthole together.
And it will be a very rough ride.
OWL
January 29, 2008
I realized it's true what homemakers, what we used to call housewives, have been saying for decades. Dryers are a space/time porthole! The seemingly ordinary appliance eats socks and sends them through another dimension, to who knows where, never to be seen again. At least not by their rightful owners. Makes sense, maybe. In the tumbling confusion and noise the universe "sees" the two identical socks and gets confused. It appears that one object is in two places at once, deifying the laws of physics and violating the natural order. Desperate to set things right the cosmos sends one of them somewhere else in time. Anywhere so long as it is not "now".
In the distant future, after years of intense research, the leading scientists of the day will finally build the worlds first time machine and send a man into the past. Or future. And the machine will bare an uncanny resemblance to a 1965 Whirlpool Deluxe Home Three Temperature Dryer, with end of cycle buzzer. Only bigger with more circuitry. And it will work much the same way. Just as your mother's dryer ate holes in the fabric of her fine linens, the Whirlpool Time Machine will eat holes in the very fabric of space and time.
Mankind will be able to experience history first hand and glimpse the future. There will be drawbacks though. It will only work for one member of a pair of identical twins and only if they enter the porthole together.
And it will be a very rough ride.
OWL
January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Red Queen
It is my job to keep an eye on things. Misses B. and I manage an apartment complex. One Monday morning not to long ago I was driving past the front of the property and I noticed the guard rail had been damaged. Really damaged. This is no light weight wood or tubular steel rail. It is your standard heavy duty, keep your car from going over the cliff, state highway, we not messing around, serious business, guard rail. Put in to keep stray vehicles out of the overgrown blackberries and the creek beyond. Something had hit the rail hard. It was pushed back two to three feet. And six of the big wooden post that held it in place had been broken or split. It must have happened some time in the night. No one here had seen anything.
It's incident report time. Take pictures and get information from local law enforcement. I call the city police. They had no record of any response to an accident at my location. The road itself is the city limit so the fact that they didn't respond came as no surprise. They suggested the sheriff's office. The SO informed me that traffic enforcement on that particular stretch of road was was the responsibility of the Highway Patrol.
I dialed up the local office of the state police.
"I would like some information about a traffic accident."
The nice lady asked when and where the accident happened. I explained that I knew where, but I wasn't sure when. She asked who I was and why I wanted to know. I identified myself and told her that the guard rail out front had been damaged and I wanted to be able to give a thorough report to my employer.
"What exactly do you want to know?"
I needed to find out when it happened, whether or not law enforcement had responded, who was involved, what type of vehicle could do that sort of damage, etc."
"Do you own the railing?"
This was a question I could not answer. I've only been here a short while. I wasn't present when it was built.
"Does it belong to the city or county?"
I think it is on our property but that is part the the city or county road system.
"An incident report will be sent to the owner."
I think that because I had said I wanted to know who was involved she had determined that giving me information would be a violation of someone's right to privacy. I felt I had a right to know at the very least whether or not the officers that work for the public had responded to an incident affecting my (the company's) property. Although it may of not damaged something belonging us it did happen on company property.
She seemed unwilling to give me any information what so ever. I did not feel like hassling about it. End of conversation.
It has been a similar story with other incidents that happen on the property. The police come out and take reports and arrest people for violent crimes. It is my job to know what goes on so that I can protect the residents from harm and the company from liability. When things like this happen I have to give the company an incident report and send corporate headquarters a copy of the police report if available.
When I request a report I am asked basically "What's it to you?". I tell them that I represent the owner of the property on which the incident took place. Someone down at the police station looks over my request for a report and tells me I do not have a valid reason for getting that information. All they are willing to give me is an "incident screen". It only says they got a call and came out. The CHP would not even give me that. People's right to privacy etc.
This privacy thing has given law enforcement carte-blanche to go anywhere, do anything and say to the public, "We are not going to tell you where we have been, when we were there or what we did while we were on your property." If someone wants to create a police state a major hurdle has been overcome. Police accountability to the public is a thing of the past. A happy memory of a better time when we were young and innocent and believed we had a right to know what our public servants were doing.
I don't usually add caveats to my post. In this case I must. I have the deepest respect our local law enforcement personnel. They have shown a great deal of professionalism and are always friendly and helpful. I want to thank them and all the men and women across the country who put on the uniforms and go out everyday to protect our lives and property. They deal with humanity at its worst. They get swore at, spit on, swung at and exposed to every sort of bodily fluid. They keep their cool under pressure, show good judgement and somehow keep a positive attitude. The next day they do it again.
It is not the various law enforcement agencies that have robbed the public of our right to know. It is the public itself and a misguided belief that "personal privacy" is the highest good that has forced us into a looking glass world of twisted logic.
OWL
January 20, 2006
It's incident report time. Take pictures and get information from local law enforcement. I call the city police. They had no record of any response to an accident at my location. The road itself is the city limit so the fact that they didn't respond came as no surprise. They suggested the sheriff's office. The SO informed me that traffic enforcement on that particular stretch of road was was the responsibility of the Highway Patrol.
I dialed up the local office of the state police.
"I would like some information about a traffic accident."
The nice lady asked when and where the accident happened. I explained that I knew where, but I wasn't sure when. She asked who I was and why I wanted to know. I identified myself and told her that the guard rail out front had been damaged and I wanted to be able to give a thorough report to my employer.
"What exactly do you want to know?"
I needed to find out when it happened, whether or not law enforcement had responded, who was involved, what type of vehicle could do that sort of damage, etc."
"Do you own the railing?"
This was a question I could not answer. I've only been here a short while. I wasn't present when it was built.
"Does it belong to the city or county?"
I think it is on our property but that is part the the city or county road system.
"An incident report will be sent to the owner."
I think that because I had said I wanted to know who was involved she had determined that giving me information would be a violation of someone's right to privacy. I felt I had a right to know at the very least whether or not the officers that work for the public had responded to an incident affecting my (the company's) property. Although it may of not damaged something belonging us it did happen on company property.
She seemed unwilling to give me any information what so ever. I did not feel like hassling about it. End of conversation.
It has been a similar story with other incidents that happen on the property. The police come out and take reports and arrest people for violent crimes. It is my job to know what goes on so that I can protect the residents from harm and the company from liability. When things like this happen I have to give the company an incident report and send corporate headquarters a copy of the police report if available.
When I request a report I am asked basically "What's it to you?". I tell them that I represent the owner of the property on which the incident took place. Someone down at the police station looks over my request for a report and tells me I do not have a valid reason for getting that information. All they are willing to give me is an "incident screen". It only says they got a call and came out. The CHP would not even give me that. People's right to privacy etc.
This privacy thing has given law enforcement carte-blanche to go anywhere, do anything and say to the public, "We are not going to tell you where we have been, when we were there or what we did while we were on your property." If someone wants to create a police state a major hurdle has been overcome. Police accountability to the public is a thing of the past. A happy memory of a better time when we were young and innocent and believed we had a right to know what our public servants were doing.
I don't usually add caveats to my post. In this case I must. I have the deepest respect our local law enforcement personnel. They have shown a great deal of professionalism and are always friendly and helpful. I want to thank them and all the men and women across the country who put on the uniforms and go out everyday to protect our lives and property. They deal with humanity at its worst. They get swore at, spit on, swung at and exposed to every sort of bodily fluid. They keep their cool under pressure, show good judgement and somehow keep a positive attitude. The next day they do it again.
It is not the various law enforcement agencies that have robbed the public of our right to know. It is the public itself and a misguided belief that "personal privacy" is the highest good that has forced us into a looking glass world of twisted logic.
OWL
January 20, 2006
Thursday, January 17, 2008
halo
I had to drive my stepson to work this morning. The sun was just beneath the horizon in the east. A few wispy clouds in shades of pink lit the eastern sky. We came round the corner and saw the dark lines stretching across the sky radiating from where the sun was about to rise. Crepuscular rays. Shadows of clouds often a seen in sunsets. Very pretty.
More info on this and other phenomenon, often unnoticed, that put on frequent light shows above our heads as we go on with our busy lives to focused on the future to look up, can be found at,
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/
The camera was not in the car. When I saw the great blue heron feeding in a field at the apple ranch the camera was not in the car. I took a picture in my mind and recorded it here. But I don't want for you see want I saw. Go out and see for yourself....
OWL
January 17, 2008
More info on this and other phenomenon, often unnoticed, that put on frequent light shows above our heads as we go on with our busy lives to focused on the future to look up, can be found at,
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/
The camera was not in the car. When I saw the great blue heron feeding in a field at the apple ranch the camera was not in the car. I took a picture in my mind and recorded it here. But I don't want for you see want I saw. Go out and see for yourself....
OWL
January 17, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
solve for x
On Sunday, November 11, 2007, Veterans Day, Vice President Dick Cheney laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Several years ago the President went to the Tomb of the Unknowns on Memorial Day to observe the changing of the guard. I saw a television news report which gave a little information and background about the honor guard, The Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns.
Among the qualifications to serve as a Sentinel members of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry must posses an unblemished military record and be in superb physical condition. They go through a rigorous training memorizing seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history and the location of the graves of three hundred veterans. They are tested on the manual of arms, uniform preparation and must learn the guard change ceremony. Those who pass the test consider it a very high honor to serve as a Sentinel and are awarded a Tomb Guard Identification Badge.
There has been an email circulating which gives many of the details of the how the changing of the guard is conducted and the prerequisites for serving as a Sentinel. And as usual throws in some stuff which someone made up. Like they are not allowed to speak during the first six months, they may not drink alcohol during their off duty hours and can have their Tomb Guard Identification Badge revoked if they ever use foul language, even after leaving the guard. These last two items stuck me as decidedly unmilitary.
And there is one more very important requirement for serving as a Sentinel. You must be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall. And be of proportionate weight. This is not email rumour or urban myth. It is straight from the official web site:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremonies/sentinelsotu.html
So a person can put on combat boots, hoist seventy pounds of supplies onto their back including, mess kit, shovel, sleeping bag, MREs, radio, tooth brush, razor, mouth wash and gum drops. Top it off with a helmet, sling an automatic rifle with 140 rounds of ammunition over your shoulder, sleep in the rain, get shot at and shoot back. The shooting part comes after six months of having a drill instructor with separation issues wake you up every single day at three AM in order to rudely compare you with fly larvae. But you are not fit to serve in the honor guard at the tomb of the unknowns because you are one half inch to short? Or to tall?
They don't want to hear about how you single-handedly saved four of your fellow soldiers. They don't want to hear about your good conduct medal, medal of honor, silver star, purple hearts, green clovers or yellow moons. They want to know how tall you are.
Doing some research on this I talked to an army recruiter. He told me he thought that the narrow height restrictions for the Honor Guard were in order to achieve "uniformity". Of course!
Here in the United States of America, a country that prides its self on its diversity, we honor our war dead with "uniformity".
OWL
Jan. 14 2007
Among the qualifications to serve as a Sentinel members of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry must posses an unblemished military record and be in superb physical condition. They go through a rigorous training memorizing seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history and the location of the graves of three hundred veterans. They are tested on the manual of arms, uniform preparation and must learn the guard change ceremony. Those who pass the test consider it a very high honor to serve as a Sentinel and are awarded a Tomb Guard Identification Badge.
There has been an email circulating which gives many of the details of the how the changing of the guard is conducted and the prerequisites for serving as a Sentinel. And as usual throws in some stuff which someone made up. Like they are not allowed to speak during the first six months, they may not drink alcohol during their off duty hours and can have their Tomb Guard Identification Badge revoked if they ever use foul language, even after leaving the guard. These last two items stuck me as decidedly unmilitary.
And there is one more very important requirement for serving as a Sentinel. You must be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall. And be of proportionate weight. This is not email rumour or urban myth. It is straight from the official web site:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremonies/sentinelsotu.html
So a person can put on combat boots, hoist seventy pounds of supplies onto their back including, mess kit, shovel, sleeping bag, MREs, radio, tooth brush, razor, mouth wash and gum drops. Top it off with a helmet, sling an automatic rifle with 140 rounds of ammunition over your shoulder, sleep in the rain, get shot at and shoot back. The shooting part comes after six months of having a drill instructor with separation issues wake you up every single day at three AM in order to rudely compare you with fly larvae. But you are not fit to serve in the honor guard at the tomb of the unknowns because you are one half inch to short? Or to tall?
They don't want to hear about how you single-handedly saved four of your fellow soldiers. They don't want to hear about your good conduct medal, medal of honor, silver star, purple hearts, green clovers or yellow moons. They want to know how tall you are.
Doing some research on this I talked to an army recruiter. He told me he thought that the narrow height restrictions for the Honor Guard were in order to achieve "uniformity". Of course!
Here in the United States of America, a country that prides its self on its diversity, we honor our war dead with "uniformity".
OWL
Jan. 14 2007
Thursday, January 10, 2008
dsl
pool glob of blue into a pool of yellow trainrushesby echoes
why? horizon waves layered sky crystalline trees
letters filling blank spaces move movements shadows
in time where did I begin again kaleidoscopic
memory every mountain grandmother watch. Colors
separate. thoughts repeat. Red. Here again.
Black. Echochambersofthemind. Yellow.
Want to play a joke? Trainrushesbyechoesred.
Interlocking lizardsruntogethercrystalinetrees.
Where did I begin again yellowthoughtsrepeat
echo waves white lightening bolt cuts acrossed
All things repeat red echo chamber of the
mind time stops on forever begin again train of
thought yellow white metronomic madness
Channel 0 full amplification thummbb. stisstck
Double Image. Doubles one train train train train
train play a joke Blue Tempura universe needs tuned
in vertical hold. 16 jagged edge glass mental fragment
white lightening bolt All things repeat echo chamber of the
mind. Yellow, train, Channel 0, full amplification
TTthhhuummmm play a Joke Red Thunder Shock
therapy 8 white thun maddness metronmic thunder
channel 0 full Double Double Red thhum yellow
trainlightening Black Begin again 4.. Red. yellow Black
White Red yellowblackWhiteRedyellowblackwhite.....
OWL
Jan. 10, 2007
why? horizon waves layered sky crystalline trees
letters filling blank spaces move movements shadows
in time where did I begin again kaleidoscopic
memory every mountain grandmother watch. Colors
separate. thoughts repeat. Red. Here again.
Black. Echochambersofthemind. Yellow.
Want to play a joke? Trainrushesbyechoesred.
Interlocking lizardsruntogethercrystalinetrees.
Where did I begin again yellowthoughtsrepeat
echo waves white lightening bolt cuts acrossed
All things repeat red echo chamber of the
mind time stops on forever begin again train of
thought yellow white metronomic madness
Channel 0 full amplification thummbb. stisstck
Double Image. Doubles one train train train train
train play a joke Blue Tempura universe needs tuned
in vertical hold. 16 jagged edge glass mental fragment
white lightening bolt All things repeat echo chamber of the
mind. Yellow, train, Channel 0, full amplification
TTthhhuummmm play a Joke Red Thunder Shock
therapy 8 white thun maddness metronmic thunder
channel 0 full Double Double Red thhum yellow
trainlightening Black Begin again 4.. Red. yellow Black
White Red yellowblackWhiteRedyellowblackwhite.....
OWL
Jan. 10, 2007
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