╪ Observe the Architects of Hell

Globalism: The Enemy of the Middle Class
[info]ixtasis
"In Wedenesday's Wall Street Journal, Alan Binder, former economic adviser to President Clinton, former member of the Federal Reserve Board, and proponent of open markets highlights the issues of China's entrance onto the global stage, in particular, the effect on jobs. Here are exerts from the article.

For decades, Alan S. Blinder -- Princeton University economist, former Federal Reserve Board vice chairman and perennial adviser to Democratic presidential candidates -- argued, along with most economists, that free trade enriches the U.S. and its trading partners, despite the harm it does to some workers. "Like 99% of economists since the days of Adam Smith, I am a free trader down to my toes," he wrote back in 2001.

Politicians heeded this advice and, with occasional dissents, steadily dismantled barriers to trade. Yet today Mr. Blinder has changed his message -- helping lead a growing band of economists and policy makers who say the downsides of trade in today's economy are deeper than they once realized. ...

he is saying loudly that a new industrial revolution -- communication technology that allows services to be delivered electronically from afar -- will put as many as 40 million American jobs at risk of being shipped out of the country in the next decade or two. That's more than double the total of workers employed in manufacturing today. The job insecurity those workers face today is "only the tip of a very big iceberg," Mr. Blinder says. ...

Some trade critics are bothered by the disappointing performance of Latin America since it slashed tariffs in the 1980s and 1990s while more protectionist China and Southeast Asia sped ahead. Others are struck by the widening gap between economic winners and losers around the globe. The rethinking on trade issues is the most significant since the early 1990s when many in the U.S. worried that Japan would overtake the U.S., a fear that has since abated..."

http://www.finance-mentor.com/is-free-trade-bad-for-america


America's Middle Class Has Become Globalization's Loser
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,439766,00.html

"What remains

This undoubtedly superior United States doesn’t exist anymore. As a center of power, it is still more powerful than others, but for some years now that energy has been flowing in the opposite direction. Today, Asian, Latin American and European nations are also playing a role in the United States's productive core. The world's greatest exporter became its greatest importer. The most important creditor became the most important debtor. Today, foreigners dispose of assets in the United States with a net value of $2.5 trillion, or 21 percent of gross domestic product. Nine percent of shares, 17 percent of corporate bonds and 24 percent of government bonds are held by foreigners.

Neither laziness nor the obvious American penchant for consumerism can be blamed for this changed reality in America. US industry -- or at least what little is left of it -- is responsible. In the span of only a few decades, US industry has shrunken to half what it once was. It makes up only 17 percent of the country’s GDP, compared to 26 percent in Europe.

Every important national economy in the world now exports products to the United States without purchasing an equivalent amount of US goods in return. The US trade deficit with China was about $200 billion dollars in 2005; it was a solid $80 billion with Japan; and more than $120 billion with Europe. The United States can't even achieve a surplus in its trade with less developed national economies like those of Ukraine and Russia. Everyday, container-laden ships arrive in the United States – and after they unload their wares at American ports, many return home empty.

Those looking for something good to say about the superpower won't find it in the trade balance. The growing imbalance can't be attributed to natural resources or the import of parts for manufacturing firms. Oil imports, for example, don't make as significant a difference to the trade balance as is often assumed: They account for only $160 billion dollars, a comparably small sum. Instead, it's the top products of a developed national economy that the United States is importing from everywhere in the world – cars, computers, TV sets, game consoles – without being able to sell as many of its own products on the world market."

AUDIT THE FED
[info]ixtasis

From the Daily Paul
[info]ixtasis
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/97179

FEMA Martial Law Exercise With Foreign Troops Set for July 2009

Posted June 22nd, 2009 by OFallonBrent

This is very alarming. This IS NOT an exercise for FEMA to practice disaster relief. This page states very clearly that this exercise will "focus exclusively on terrorism prevention and protection, as opposed to incident response and recovery".
AND THEY ARE BRINGING FOREIGN TROOPS INTO OUR TOWNS AND CITIES TO TRAIN TO POLICE US. As stated in FEMA website, "This year the United States welcomes the participation of Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom in NLE 09".

http://targetfreedom.typepad.com/targetfreedom/2009/06/femawebpagemartiallawforeigntroops.html

NLE 09 is a White House directed, Congressionally- mandated exercise that includes the participation of all appropriate federal department and agency senior officials, their deputies, staff and key operational elements. In addition, broad regional participation of state, tribal, local, and private sector is anticipated. This year the United States welcomes the participation of Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom in NLE 09.


http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/nle09.shtm

Plans for my weekend.. plans plans plans..
[info]ixtasis
Tonight L. is coming over and we're going to barbecue some chicken and drink our troubles away while we make signs for mine and Travis's bikes for Saturday's END THE FED rally at Santa Monica Pier. Tomorrow Laura and I are going to bring some lunch, some vodka and our boogie boards and drive up to Malibu and relax and swim in the ocean.

Tomorrow night I'm open to ideas if I'm not too tired..

Saturday we are going to drive down to Santa Monica and ride our bikes to the rally and around Venice and Santa Monica. Saturday evening we have a reservation at The Melting Pot.. mmmmm and then we may end up joining J up in Angeles Crest with some friends that are having a drum circle *crosses fingers*.. I'm still waiting to hear back on that but I really want to go. Sunday we will go out for brunch and then maybe see a movie and go home and barbecue the tri tip we got from Fallbrook.

The weekend's looking good to me...

stay out of trouble ;).

The Atheism Tapes
[info]ixtasis
Whether or not you're an atheist, I strongly recommend The Atheism Tapes by Jonathan Miller. It's more of a philosophical journey through the scientific mind. I watched disk 2 last night and think I need to watch it once more to make sure I grasped every concept that was presented. It offers fresh insight into understanding a lot of the unanswered questions and emotions we experience as human beings. It's quite complex and some of the language is difficult because you're dealing with individuals attempting to explain their understanding of an experience very personal to them, how they have come to the conclusion that there is no creator, using complex philosophical concepts and what they believe to be conclusive scientific constructs.

Check it out if this sounds like your cup of tea.

I would not consider myself an atheist, while I am not religious by the standard usage of the term, I do consider myself more mystical than an atheist would. Especially someone like Richard Dawkins, but I do find him fascinating.

Personally I think a new religion needs to incorporate mysticism with science in a way that is comprehensible and all encompassing. I think Jung came the closest to doing just that.

I wanted to add that Sir Jonathan Miller does a wonderful job at playing devils advocate.

Cynthia McKinney arrested by Israelis...
[info]ixtasis
Why would mainstream media bury this? An Iraeli ship illegally in Gazan waters arrests a US Presidential candidate delivering aid to Gaza and this isn't top news?

This is the presidential candidate I voted for. Wtf is going on?



JERUSALEM (CNN) — The Israeli navy took control of a boat that violated an Israeli blockade and crossed into Gazan waters Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said, while a Gaza group said the ship was carrying humanitarian aid, a former U.S. congresswoman and a Nobel laureate.

The boat’s crew included former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, according to the Free Gaza Movement, a human rights group that sent the boat it calls “Spirit of Humanity” from Cyprus. ...


"According to the Free Gaza group, McKinney said, “This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip,” before authorities confiscated cell phones.

“President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey,” McKinney said, according to the group."

http://cryptogon.com/?p=9615

"Ms Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland, said in a statement: “The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught.”
Her fellow passenger Ms McKinney, a former US presidential candidate, said: “This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip.
“We’re asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey."

end the fed rally July 4th
[info]ixtasis
This Saturday at Santa Monica Pier at 1pm - We Are Change's END THE FED rally!! BE THERE OR BE AN ECONOMIC SLAVE!

Competing currencies for a free market!

Obama's Town Hall Meeting on Healthcare Reform
[info]ixtasis
http://www.tinker.com/event/msnbc/health_care_discussion_with_president_obama

http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

The sound quality is terrible, figures.

yay!
[info]ixtasis
Travis found the cats!

oh where oh where has my little cat gone oh where oh where can she be
[info]ixtasis
My cats are missing :(. They didn't want to come in last night when i went to bed and stupid me let them stay out there thinking they'd come clawing at the door, so I left my bedroom door open so I could hear them. I woke up this morning and no kitties. I called for them and they didn't come. I am so upset.

it doesn't matter
[info]ixtasis
If everything's fine then why do I feel this discontent? If everything is as it should be then why do so many things seem wrong and why do I even give a shit anymore, seriously? Why do I care? Isn't it time I just dumb down into my average existence and find ways to distract myself from living and ways to numb my feelings and just stop worrying about it, whatever it is?

I'm not fucking cute and I don't amuse you. Look at me one more time with that blank fucking stare, I don't care. Tell me nothings wrong (just leave me alone). It doesn't matter.

I am happy
That I have you
Even though you're not here now
I know somewhere
You are dreaming
Though it's definitely not of me

It doesn't matter
If this all shatters
Nothing lasts forever
But I'm praying
That we're staying
Together

I am warmed by
Your friendship
Even when you're far away
And I'm happy
In the knowledge
We may never see the day

When I kiss you
And you kiss me
Don't pretend you miss me
The worst kind
Of diseased mind
Is one filled with jealousy

If we should meet again
Don't try to solve the puzzle
Just lay down next to me
And please don't move a muscle

I will thank you
Most of all for
The respect you have for me
I'm embarrassed
It overwhelms me
Because I don't deserve any

It doesn't matter
If this all shatters
Nothing lasts forever
But I'm praying
That we're staying
Together

...

As I lay here with you
The shame lies with us
We talk of love and trust
That doesn't matter

Though we may be the last in the world
We feel like pioneers
Telling hopes and fears
To one another

And oh what a feeling
Inside of me
It might last for an hour
Wounds aren't healing
Inside of me
Though it feels good now
I know it's only for now

The feeling is intense
You grip me with your eyes
And then I realize
It doesn't matter

...
[info]ixtasis
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/29/gop-senator-calls-inquiry-supressed-climate-change-report/

"A top Republican senator has ordered an investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency's alleged suppression of a report that questioned the science behind global warming.  

The 98-page report, co-authored by EPA analyst Alan Carlin, pushed back on the prospect of regulating gases like carbon dioxide as a way to reduce global warming. Carlin's report argued that the information the EPA was using was out of date, and that even as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, global temperatures have declined. ...

Carlin said McGartland told him he had to pull him off the climate change issue.

"It was reassigning you or losing my job, and I didn't want to lose my job," Carlin said, paraphrasing what he claimed were McGartland's comments to him. "My inference (was) that he was receiving some sort of higher-level pressure...

In a written statement, Issa said the administration is "actively seeking to withhold new data in order to justify a political conclusion."

Carlin said he's concerned that he's seeing "science being decided at the presidential level."

The controversy is similar to one under the Bush administration -- only the administration was taking the opposite stance. In that case, scientist James Hansen claimed the administration was trying to keep him from speaking out and calling for reductions in greenhouse gases."

CALIFORNIA SHOULD SUCCEED FROM THE UNION!
[info]ixtasis
"California accounts for 12 percent of the nation's gross domestic product and the largest share of retail sales of any state. It also sends far more in tax revenue to the federal government than it receives — giving a dollar for every 80 cents it gets back — which means Californians are keeping social programs afloat across the country."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_re_us/us_california_why_it_matters


Yeah, so the Federal Government should allocate MORE of our tax dollars back to us instead of offering us a bailout that we'd have to pay back at interest. Fuckers.

wknd.
[info]ixtasis
Friday night James and I drove out to the restaurant/wine bar Travis works at and had some wine and beer and ate some yummy food. When Travis got off we drove back to our place and put Haxan on and drank a little more.

Sunday morning Meg and I put our bikes on my bike rack and drove down to Venice Beach where I bought a really cute dress. Saturday night Travis and I drove down to his parents in Fallbrook. Saturday morning I went to visit my dad in San Diego and made him breakfast. He gave me a new amp for my bass and a painting. We took a drive down to the beach to walk around for a little bit, then I went back to Travis's parents house for a barbecue with his family. His parents told us about this really good marinated tri-tip at a market near them so we picked some up on the way home, as well as some enchiladas.

We drove back home and neither of us were feeling that great.. so I went to sleep.

I'm in a grumpy mood today. I wish everyone would leave me alone. I'm looking forward to going home and eating some enchiladas.

MJ
[info]ixtasis





Remember that joke...

What does Michael Jackson and Sears have in common?

Boys pants half off.


I heard Michael Jackson died of food poisoning. He ate a 3 yr old weiner.

Farrah Fawcett died and went to heaven. When she got there God asked her what her dying wish was. She wished all the children in the world were safe from harm. Later that same day, Michael Jackson died.

SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW GOD!!!
[info]ixtasis

government trying to push climate change taxes...
[info]ixtasis
I'd like to see definite scientific proof of anthropogenic climate change before me and my progeny pay a carbon tax... highest tax increase in American History. Sure proof of climate change can be observed (ice cores), but proof of anthropogenic climate change remains to be seen.

Also the effects of warming increases the co2 emissions historically, and cannot been seen until about 800 years later... not the other way around. This is according to scientists who studied ice cores. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/12/co2-in-ice-cores/



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4066189.stm

"If the global climate were not getting warmer, it would be getting cooler; stasis is not an option"



1975 Newsweek Article on Global Cooling
In the 70's many scientists warned of the crisis of Global Cooling
http://www.glennbeck.com/2006news/newswe...


Global Warming and Cooling, Ice Ages, a perspective
http://mysite.verizon.net/mhieb/WVFossil...

Sun spot number: correlation with global warming
Solar variations and cosmic rays may be driving climate change
http://motls.blogspot.com/2004/09/sunspo...

NASA Study Finds Increasing Solar Trend That Can Change Climate
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...

"This paper shows that the carbon dioxide increases may follow rising temperatures, not the other way around. What's more, the ice samples suggest this is a natural process. This observation is just one of the factors that, in the eyes of anthropogenic global warming skeptics, lets humans off the hook for global warming. Although they are satisfied with findings that the Earth is in a major warming trend, anthropogenic global warming skeptics believe that science places the blame on humanity without enough scientific proof to back it up."

http://science.howstuffworks.com/climate-skeptic2.htm

(no subject)
[info]ixtasis

my lucky day
[info]ixtasis
My favorite lip color had been discontinued and I was quite upset. I kept looking for it online and when the last little bit of the color I had left was about to disappear, I found it on ebay. They had two for sale so I bought both and was so excited!

I received my package today and enclosed were 8 instead of the 2 I paid for. I am so happy!!

free freak.
[info]ixtasis
I have gone free sample crazy. I have spent all my free time the past couple days filling out forms online for free stuff...

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