tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23575675179015669072024-03-13T07:36:57.310-07:00Errors Explored and Revealedamber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-89028549512331015652018-07-23T07:36:00.001-07:002018-07-23T07:39:16.737-07:00 Sunk in Helsinki by the DonadoHell, he eclipsed himself this time, fawning<br />
over Putin during their "Summit" (--height<br />
of futility's folly, no?) on July 16th. So far<br />
few of us have heard anything beyond<br />
speculation re: their two hours spent alone<br />
except for two translators. This sort of intimate<br />
private talk worked well for Reagan and<br />
Gorbachev back in 1987, but then, those two<br />
were much smarter than the current duo, much<br />
more interested in Glasnost.<br />
<br />
The "clarification"/correction vis a vis "would/<br />
wouldn't" is laughable--gallows humor only,<br />
that is. I can see it now: Kelly Kelly, Pompeo<br />
and a few other trusted sycophants gathered<br />
in the Oval Office, poring over the by now<br />
infamous sentence broadcast 'round the world...<br />
<br />
"Hmmn, lemme see, oh! Will you look at THAT,<br />
Mr. President--just change would to wouldn't,<br />
issue a clarification, and voila! storm over!"<br />
<br />
But no, squalls still erupt as millions of us keep<br />
laughing and shaking our heads about the<br />
effrontery/stupidity of yet another mindless<br />
attempt at creaming over what the world has<br />
known for two and a half years--the Donald<br />
is irrational, narcissistic, heedless and ignorant,<br />
not to be depended upon, unless you count his<br />
determination to fulfill his campaign promises...<br />
the Donado continues to blow dangerously,<br />
fomenting/threatening wars, further<br />
destabilizing an already fractious planet.<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-89243455718209962722018-07-02T16:56:00.003-07:002018-07-02T17:40:12.683-07:00PBS as Tone Deaf as Ordinary Retail American MediaTonight on WTTW (PBS Chicago) Judy<br />
Woodruff described Jane Ferguson as<br />
"intrepid" after showing the viewers<br />
Jane broadcasting from the field in<br />
war torn Yemen. She had a headscarf<br />
(not covering her hair) at the ready,<br />
but what about her tight little black<br />
leather or leather-like cropped jacket<br />
and faded, tight enough jeans? This<br />
is an Arab country where most if not<br />
all women wear black head to toe<br />
clothing. Reporter Jane should have<br />
done her homework and brought<br />
appropriate clothing to "the field"<br />
especially since she had to be<br />
smuggled in, according to Ms.<br />
Woodruff.<br />
<br />
I don't see humane/humanitarian<br />
journalism here, only a spoiled<br />
blond white girl eager for glory<br />
able to dine out on the strength of<br />
her adventures. Western "I gotta<br />
be me" behavior always, anytime and<br />
everywhere is wildly inappropriate in<br />
the Middle East, especially in nations<br />
of a theocratic Sharia/Sunni turn of<br />
mind.<br />
<br />
PBS has not been head and shoulders<br />
above ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. for some<br />
time now...can its tone deaf approach<br />
be more expertly tuned?<br />
<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-27371942743779381292018-07-02T14:28:00.003-07:002018-07-02T14:31:12.300-07:00Obviously Oblivious, That's the Donald, Funny tooPlease see today's Bloomberg Opinion piece,<br />
Trump's Ineptitude No Joke, July 2nd, 2018.<br />
It is a real eye-opener, a jewel of observation<br />
amid uninspired "me too" reams of reportage.<br />
Bloomberg doesn't let his wealth and<br />
Republican Party membership stand in the<br />
way of accuracy and acute observation; his<br />
magazine is excellent, refulgent with the<br />
details required to more fully understand<br />
a complicated issue--these days, there are<br />
many.<br />
<br />
USFARTA is the unfortunate acronym of<br />
a White House bill which is currently being<br />
floated, to many detractors' delight and<br />
comedians everywhere. The "ineptitude<br />
no joke" piece from today goes on to<br />
remind us a lot of the Prez's favorite<br />
notions are "entertained" but never<br />
quite become policy, as well as other<br />
astute points.<br />
<br />
You may enjoy this article about our<br />
obviously oblivious White House<br />
temporary tenant-- i sure did.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-34587455654354902522018-06-21T08:26:00.002-07:002018-06-21T08:40:09.498-07:00The Border Crossing Children Will be Family Safe--for a Mere Three Weeks MoreUnless the USA's Republicans in the House of<br />
Representatives further pressure the Donald to<br />
add to his recent executive order, effecting a<br />
permanent policy change housing illegals with<br />
their children. All the huzzahs, hooplas and hurrays<br />
are all about a little break in this cruel treatment<br />
of young children.<br />
<br />
I still say some fault accrues to these adults<br />
running for our border. We are not heaven on<br />
Earth here, crime, gang, murder and prejudice<br />
free here, despite the "exceptionalist" label our<br />
pols and presidents apply to our land. We do not<br />
have the funds and the jobs for the immigrant<br />
hopefuls (millions?) who think America is Paradise<br />
...which it is not.<br />
<br />
Are we wealthy? Yes, but also heavily in debt,<br />
dimming some of the financial luster many see<br />
without delving into the details.<br />
<br />
Do we now enjoy full employment?<br />
Yes, statistically, 'til you recall the many who<br />
stop looking for work are not included in these<br />
selfsame stats coming out of the Census Bureau,<br />
the Labor Dep't., et al., ALL of which are part<br />
of the Executive Branch--so I don't particularly<br />
trust the numbers' veracity put out by our current<br />
government (--or any government).<br />
<br />
All of these human rights problems basically<br />
stem from two phenomenons: overpopulation<br />
and far too many now not fixing their own<br />
countries' ills.<br />
<br />
But wait! A third thing that must never be<br />
forgotten--The United States manufactures<br />
more guns, airplanes, automatic weapons<br />
than anywhere else, and we sell them<br />
EVERYwhere else. We COULD assist the<br />
Central Americans in their anti-violence<br />
struggles by not selling a single weapon<br />
to these incompetent, immoral dictatorships,<br />
but...<br />
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-25351103857029286032018-06-07T08:52:00.003-07:002018-06-09T08:43:59.778-07:00The U.S. Media, Their Obsession with the Unimportant, and Other Sins Well, we gotta have 'em, love 'em or<br />
loathe 'em: but some of us DEMAND<br />
our so-called journalists do their damn<br />
jobs, just as we insist the pols DO<br />
THEIRS.<br />
<br />
I oh so rarely agree with the Donald<br />
about anything, but he was spot on<br />
in his defense of wife Melania, who<br />
wasn't seen in public for three weeks.<br />
In indecent speculation, reporters were<br />
howling how hadn't Ms. M had plastic<br />
surgery, and alluded to other less than<br />
desirable motivations/actions...Stay in<br />
your lane, media maniacs!<br />
<br />
In the interest of accuracy of info going<br />
out to the public, I have often dialed up TV<br />
stations (even PBS!) to object to errors<br />
of all sorts and provided corrections.<br />
This phenomenon is intolerable, as I possess<br />
fewer educational credentials than these<br />
anchors--they should be more<br />
accurate THAN ME.<br />
<br />
Pursuing a president's wife or other celebrity,<br />
harping on their clothing, public appearances,<br />
health, etc. is highly unseemly AND robs<br />
time from coverage of more matters<br />
of import, matters directly affecting most<br />
people's lives, like war, corruption,<br />
eliminating programs helping the poor,<br />
elderly and disabled, to say nothing of<br />
easing middle class tax burdens.<br />
<br />
But then less-researched drama may boost<br />
ratings and provide lazy reporters the<br />
'relaxation" they all SO desperately need.<br />
(I am not criticizing Lester Holt and the<br />
other serious hard news beat journalists<br />
who often serve in harms' way.)<br />
<br />
Say, lazy bones, are you up to emulating<br />
the higher level of reportage evinced by<br />
Walter Cronkite, Edw. R. Murrow and<br />
like-minded others?<br />
<br />
It's doubtful--habit and a nice salary plus<br />
some prestige will militate against such<br />
improvements...<br />
<br />
So obsession with the unimportant will<br />
roll on, along with cruel unsupported digs<br />
at people in a vulnerable state.<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-63015642930439587062018-05-29T13:23:00.003-07:002018-06-09T08:51:46.969-07:00We Remember Roseanne-- Why Didn't ABC?Roseanne Barr may be a funny comedienne,<br />
but she has always been prejudiced and<br />
racist. Wasn't it Ms. Barr who pulled her<br />
eyelids into slants some years back,<br />
hatefully mimicking garbled Oriental speech?<br />
How did ABC fail to recall that flap, as well<br />
as many more by her and others,?<br />
<br />
--TSK, TSK, ABC, you did not do the<br />
requisite due diligence one might expect.<br />
Ms. Barr has had several of these embarrassingly<br />
inhumane outbursts, but TV execs, harking back<br />
to the past, looked to her old hit series and hoped<br />
lightning might just strike one more time. ($$$!)<br />
<br />
Now Roseanne has been fired again;<br />
perhaps she can get a job at a restaurant,<br />
life imitating art, just as she did years<br />
ago on the show.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-75067181810597007012018-05-12T09:11:00.002-07:002018-06-09T08:47:52.060-07:00The Animal Welfare League: Time for Critics to Roll Up Their Sleeves, Open Their Wallets and HelpBut instead, they mindlessly copy the candlelight<br />
vigil practice/demonstrations generally employed<br />
when innocent people, especially children, are<br />
killed. I have been to this very caring and humane<br />
shelter in Chicago Ridge, IL, many times over the<br />
past ten years and found nothing amiss--seen cages<br />
filled with dogs, cats, small mammals. The front and<br />
adoption areas are always clean, the vets and support<br />
staff pleasant and kind...<br />
<br />
Ahem: it DOES PAY to be kind to the shelter's staff too,<br />
recognizing and understanding they DO have problems.<br />
From the ASPCA to the various states' SPCAs, the<br />
Chicago Humane Society, et al., all are almost<br />
overrun with animals dropped off, too often by<br />
owners who did zero research, not realizing that<br />
cute little puppy would grow to almost human<br />
size. Sometimes it is a tragedy or simple necessity<br />
which brings the pet to a shelter, yes, but more often,<br />
too many heedless Americans are to blame.<br />
<br />
Back to the whistleblowers of Chicago Ridge:<br />
Just who are you, exactly? Do you really care<br />
about animals or are you merely angling for<br />
more press coverage? Have you sent AWL<br />
$25.00 every month as I'm doing, even on my<br />
laughable $1,000 SSA monthly check, rent $600?<br />
I suspect not. Are you all volunteering? I'm 72<br />
and not well, wish I COULD volunteer.<br />
<br />
It is easy to criticize. Here's my message to all<br />
those naysayers who claim they want to reform<br />
The Animal Welfare League, not close it:<br />
Open up your hearts, your wallets,<br />
VOLUNTEER.<br />
<br />
P.S.: Perhaps more inquiry will reveal a more<br />
heartfelt, sincere motivation re: the AWL<br />
protesters/vigil holders. I'm willing to<br />
listen. Best Wishes to all involved.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-88447544098407605812018-05-09T14:53:00.004-07:002018-05-12T18:14:00.551-07:00Mothers' Pleas to Perps of Gun Violence Will Fall on Deaf Ears...Sorry to say so, but anyone who watches the news<br />
even two times a week over the years knows mothers<br />
have pleaded, cajoled, demanded, etc. that this madness<br />
ends so their children can grow up minus shooting scars<br />
--and actually reach adulthood.<br />
<br />
I was struck today by Chicago's NBC 5 story about<br />
Imani Williams, still alive after being shot in her<br />
abdomen. A cell video shows her to be upbeat, planning<br />
to make the serious effort to survive such a horrific<br />
occurrence. I wish her the very best, will pray for<br />
her too, but:<br />
<br />
One of the interviewees stated that since they are<br />
suburbanites, they are not familiar with gun violence<br />
in Chicago, especially the West Side where Imani went<br />
to visit. P.S.: the Western Suburbs are not violence free<br />
either, by the bye, which is where young Ms. Williams<br />
and her family reside.<br />
<br />
As I watched I could not avoid thinking--Really?<br />
More evidence of the Middle Class not watching/<br />
reading/hearing the news, which can indeed be<br />
QUITE INSTRUCTIVE. I guess the "Yuppie" profile<br />
is still alive and well--people obtaining enough formal<br />
schooling and/or training to earn those salaries which<br />
enable flight from the troubled, over-populated urban<br />
center to lead a decent (I suppose) private life free from<br />
many of society's ills... Hmmn.<br />
<br />
I don't have answers beyond the comprehensive,<br />
complicated and overlapping ones suggested by smart,<br />
caring and involved adults I have observed and even known<br />
over the decades in Chicagoland: it will take most of the<br />
parents, most of the teachers, most of the Chicago Police,<br />
and most of the local legislators working intimately,<br />
persistently together--not the sporadic press conferences<br />
by CPD Police Chief Eddie Johnson, Anthony Holmes<br />
and Father Pfleger, all good men...and the tears of the<br />
families we are shown. Human interest interviews, long<br />
a staple of journalism, are inadequate, to say the least.<br />
<br />
Herding cats is probably easier to achieve than the<br />
abovesaid solutions which I am sure are the ways to<br />
defeat poverty, gangs, racism (-tribalism), et al.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, same story, different day; the names<br />
and faces change, but little improves.<br />
<br />
**************************<br />
<br />
<br />
Personal aside:<br />
<br />
(If I met an interesting new person in the Loop or at<br />
an event, and we wanted to continue our association,<br />
I would have to ask what community they called<br />
home. I would then propose further meetings in<br />
locations where I felt reasonably safe. Right now,<br />
although no public place is safe, I will not<br />
go to homes on the West Side, Albany Park on<br />
the North Side, etc. No matter what the ethnicity,<br />
I seldom see anyone at their homes in any case,<br />
for a variety of reasons--and virtually no one would<br />
care to visit mine, tiny as it is.)<br />
<br />
Survival to a ripe old age takes awareness, effort,<br />
luck and research, research, research--but wait!<br />
That's not fun, is it? Fun, our national religion,<br />
insists fun is the goal. Loved ones' tears keep falling;<br />
pleas for nonviolence won't be heard, due to the USA's<br />
irrational affair with fun and the gun.<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-39363242442588812842018-05-08T11:06:00.001-07:002018-05-08T11:09:35.806-07:00Rudy Giuliani a Perfect Match "Morally" for Donald TrumpThe Donald's "new" attorney: None of the news<br />
outlets I've checked have reminded anyone about<br />
former NYC Mayor Rudy G's terrible example<br />
exhibited by him during his stay at Gracie Mansion,<br />
the home for sitting New York City mayors, NOT<br />
THEIR personal property, putatively paid for by the<br />
taxpayers... but I will:<br />
<br />
While RG was NYC's mayor, his mistress and<br />
his wife both lived with him at Gracie Mansion.<br />
--Ugh! Makes the "Stormy" scandal a minor<br />
squall, no?? What WAS wrong with the three<br />
of them, anyway? Why would wife and/or<br />
girlfriend participate in such a situation?<br />
(It's not as if 'ol Rudy is a hunk, after all.) Then<br />
there is/was Rudy: he obliviously, obviously<br />
cared nothing for setting a moral tone nor<br />
tending to his reputation.<br />
<br />
In irony upon irony, these two NYC dudes,<br />
regarding themselves as larger than life, do<br />
as they please--but plenty of us HAVE<br />
NOTICED. Rudy G and Don the Rude<br />
are absolutely a perfect match--for each<br />
other. Never mind what that implies for<br />
the rest of us, the best of us.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned; time to call some of these<br />
news outlets to apprise them of the<br />
Gracie Mansion shame owned by<br />
our "new" Presidential confidant/<br />
attorney...immoral, ignorant officials<br />
are being let go daily--time for these<br />
two to join 'em.<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-71610847139883302692018-04-14T06:38:00.002-07:002018-05-12T18:50:39.652-07:00Syria, Red Lines, Red States and a"Blue Wave"Two nights ago the USA conducted a "surgical<br />
strike" against the Assad regime in Syria. We were<br />
assured by Sec. Defense Mattis and Chairman<br />
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dunford that this<br />
operation would produce little collateral damage<br />
(innocent civilians). We have the U.K. and France<br />
on our side for this outing, so a semblance of<br />
statesmanship provides a veneer of respectability<br />
in many quarters save Russia and her orbit.<br />
<br />
Mr. Obama misspoke about declaring a red line<br />
in Syria but then didn't follow through, making him<br />
look weak. So as to outdo Obama, The Don decided<br />
to be "stronger and greater", therefore, this air strike<br />
to presumably destroy Assad's chemical weapons<br />
capability...<br />
<br />
I'm ill right now so won't be doing much research,<br />
but here are two key questions:<br />
<br />
(1) Will the Allies' air strikes spread the lethal<br />
chemicals further? Is it possible?<br />
<br />
(2) Will voters in Red States come to their senses<br />
and create enough of a "Blue Wave" to create<br />
changes in the House and the Senate come<br />
November 6th, 2018? Is THAT possible?<br />
<br />
Here is what my crystal ball tells me: if the<br />
Democrats and moderate Republicans don't<br />
get serious starting NOW, they will repeat<br />
their lackluster performances of years past--<br />
don't they remember that the right wing is<br />
fiendishly organized? No one can take for<br />
granted easy wins in the midterms.<br />
<br />
Of course, before then, the KGB's Putin<br />
might initiate WWIII, which could make<br />
all sadly, destructively irrelevant-- States,<br />
waves, and even colors like Red and Blue.<br />
<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-4261775073683364792018-03-27T13:40:00.000-07:002018-05-08T10:40:31.652-07:00Bolting from Bolton and TrumpFasten your seatbelts, sisters and brothers, bumpy air ahead...<br />
with dangerous duo Bolton and Trump at the controls. Bolton<br />
is to the right of the Donald, which will only encourage<br />
"Mr. Make America Great Again" toward ever more<br />
bellicose behavior. Don and John are an unwelcome,<br />
bad news team.<br />
<br />
Psychosocial professionals have long pointed out<br />
past behavior predicts likely future actions.<br />
Frightening,isn't it, when we recall Bolton's<br />
hawkish, war-mongering behavior, his ill<br />
temper. He's shown he believes war beats<br />
diplomacy, even writing in the Wall Street<br />
Journal the USA ought to preemptively bomb<br />
North Korea--what? Does he dismiss the virtual<br />
certainty of retaliation by China, Russia, North<br />
Korea and/or others? --NUCLEAR retaliation,<br />
that is.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bolton cannot correctly earn respect for any<br />
putative intelligence when he seems to utterly<br />
disregard the trenchantly salient fact of other<br />
nations' nuclear weapons capability. Decades ago,<br />
the two nuclear super powers, the Soviet Union<br />
and the U.S., were fairly evenly matched, war-<br />
head for war-head. "MAD", the operative<br />
acronym, (mutual assured destruction) kept<br />
"the peace". There has seldom if ever been<br />
a lack of violent hostilities somewhere on<br />
Earth, so construe "peace" as no world or<br />
large scale wars.<br />
<br />
John Bolton argued for war in Iraq, defying/<br />
ignoring warnings re: the bad intel emanating<br />
out of the U.K. We are still there 15 years<br />
later; the Allies won WWII in less than five!<br />
<br />
The midterm elections this November 6th<br />
are crucial choices, first steps, if we want<br />
to avoid disaster. Key changes in the U.S.<br />
House reflecting respect, restraint, and<br />
moderation matched by a few more like-<br />
minded in the U.S. Senate can effectively<br />
stymie bad moves from Trump/Bolton.<br />
<br />
'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished:<br />
a massive uprising of sense, like a bolt from<br />
the blue.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-47668901401962415612018-03-15T11:18:00.003-07:002018-03-15T11:20:48.485-07:00Ken Griffin, Illinois Multi Billionaire, Follows the Time-Honored Robber-Baron Prescription ...by donating $127 million to the University of Chicago,<br />
Department of Economics, naturally. His company, Citadel,<br />
is worth ~27 billion; a hedge fund (remember, hedge funds<br />
are virtually UNregulated) with a harsh boss, 45 souls have<br />
been given pink slips recently, merely for not producing<br />
profit goals for a few months. 45 employees represents<br />
about a third of KG's staff complement, so others will have<br />
to work even harder amidst a flurry of new hiring--hmmmn.<br />
<br />
Let's travel back in time to J.D. Rockefeller, HIS stern and<br />
violent approach to capitalism; eventually, JD realized he<br />
was hated (with good reason) by the many who knew about<br />
his practice of hiring goons to assault his strikers out west, etc.<br />
He and many of his fellow robber barons began to donate<br />
respectably large funds to universities, hospitals and libraries,<br />
feeling charity could wipe away some of the blots on their<br />
escutcheons. Apparently such large contributions DO<br />
get them press, largely favorable, to say nothing of the<br />
oo-ing and ahh-ing, invitations to " A List" events.<br />
--TSK!!<br />
<br />
I find it dispiriting indeed to hope for, therefore, work<br />
for change, when far too many people still fawn over<br />
the rich while conveniently denying or dismissing<br />
the many pertinent facts about most of them--facts<br />
which logically should engender skepticism,<br />
suspicion and a raised eyebrow or two.<br />
<br />
More disparagement describing the Oligarchs<br />
will follow, bet on it.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-57298098196963822922018-03-10T08:39:00.001-08:002018-03-15T11:21:21.436-07:00States' Rights and the Newly-Favored Flavor of Its DefinitionsWatching political decisions/events in California, Illinois and<br />
other states, we see an interesting, 180 degree twist from the past:<br />
States' Rights, a term/concept formerly used to thwart Civil Rights<br />
in the USA's southern states, flouting the U.S. Constitution, is now<br />
used to defy the federal government to provide civil and human rights<br />
to its residents.<br />
<br />
Chiefly two subjects are in dispute: Marijuana legalization and<br />
Illegal immigrant rights. Several states like Illinois, California<br />
and Colorado have simply allowed Pot to be legalized via state<br />
capital decree, whether for medical or recreational purposes.<br />
Perhaps not coincidentally, these same three states are fighting<br />
illegal residents' deportation, whether via sanctuary cities or<br />
by continuing DACA (allowing young people illegally brought<br />
here as babies to remain, gain routes to citizenship).<br />
<br />
California, often the country's trend-setter, is the most strident<br />
and intransigent of the lot, Sacramento issuing three laws<br />
designed to keep the illegal teens in the only home they have<br />
known. Twice elected CA Governor Brown so far stands firm<br />
in support of the three statutes...we now see a Sanctuary State<br />
(CA) rather than just a Sanctuary City (Chicago).<br />
<br />
Will Washington DC, AKA the Donald, launch a new kind of<br />
Civil War? It seems a far-out fantasy--until you recall Mr. Trump<br />
saying he's the only one that matters.<br />
<br />
Hmmn. "States' Rights" promoting more humane policies--<br />
who knew? New definitions, new flavors, new fights: what next??<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-86340633775518379752018-03-10T07:21:00.000-08:002018-03-10T08:24:44.524-08:00Another Costly Credit Crime Horror, Synthetic Identity Fraud, COULD be Avoided...if everyone in the retailer/lender/credit reporting chain<br />
simply DID THEIR JOB. According to the Wall Street<br />
Journal, 03/07/2018, fake borrowers are created, costing<br />
many millions to the lenders who trusted Experian,<br />
TransUnion and a now-infamous third reporting agency<br />
which will be duly noted. The lengthy article revealed<br />
shocking lapses in clerical procedures which would<br />
have eliminated much of this costly crime to lenders and<br />
retailers, thus, to us via raised prices.<br />
<br />
Other, smaller companies have known how to stymie<br />
much of this faux info by, among other requirements,<br />
disallowing P.O. and mail box services as legitimate<br />
billing and shipping addresses--a real, verifiable physical<br />
address demand before sealing the deal. The decades-<br />
long practice of eliminating jobs in favor of machines is<br />
catching up to the USA big time: fewer humans to<br />
process and check important information means weakness<br />
in security and accuracy at all points in the money flow.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, both Amazon and Discover chose not<br />
to comment for this WSJ piece, as they too have taken<br />
massive $$$ hits caused by not due diligence checking.<br />
--But wait! Isn't Jeff Bezos, head of Amazon, one<br />
of the world's wealthiest people? HE CAN AFFORD<br />
to hire fact checkers and electronic verifiers to scotch<br />
this insidious practice.<br />
<br />
I'm surprised what's left of my hair hasn't fallen off after<br />
reading this explanation in the WSJ: a mere credit<br />
application without a subsequent loan or even support<br />
documentation can create a legitimate credit file;<br />
randomly-issued SSA numbers are now the norm at<br />
Social Security (some of the new random numbers will<br />
be duplicates of actual, older SSA card holders as well as<br />
the syn-ID made up ones). Other, quite questionable policies<br />
and practices must be changed to eliminate many of<br />
the time-wasting, money-losing situations we now<br />
see.<br />
<br />
Equifax , the biggest malfeasor in reporting history,<br />
released the personal records of some 147 million Americans<br />
even though told how to fix their software security<br />
vulnerability--they simply ignored the helpful warning/advice.<br />
Understandably, Equifax declined the Journal's requests for<br />
comment. TransUnion and Experian claimed it's just too hard<br />
to tell a fake from a real person for the first time without<br />
identifying information not on file...so I say, get it! Hire<br />
more clerks, detectives, accountants, software gurus,<br />
whoever can derive the true from the false. But AGAIN,<br />
perennially boosting the profit margin (also known as<br />
"growth", the capitalist's prime mover) is at bottom of<br />
these shoddy, illogical excuses.<br />
<br />
Wow. So many stupidities could be avoided by being<br />
more concerned with error and harm, less concerned<br />
for exponential $$$ growth...<br />
<br />
Could be, should be, would be--sic transit gloria mundi.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-27779425510539809282018-03-05T03:21:00.001-08:002018-03-05T03:32:37.889-08:00Billy Graham, Mr. Rogers and Reputation vs. RealityA fallacious sort of respect attaches to the dead in<br />
our culture: don't speak evil about the dead.<br />
Based on notions of fair play, the idea is that<br />
the dead cannot defend themselves against<br />
scurrilous attacks. But there are exceptions<br />
to almost everything; compelling reasons do<br />
exist to point out less than perfect behavior while<br />
certain famous folk, now departed, are extolled<br />
without a balanced critique.<br />
<br />
Billy Graham, said to be America's preferred<br />
preacher, died recently amid public praise.<br />
Not one of the media outlets I checked dared<br />
to include the unhappy fact that Mr. Graham<br />
was an unrepentant anti-Semite--unrepentant<br />
and dishonest until audio tapes revealed the<br />
Rev's disdain for Jews. In 2002 The National<br />
Archives released tapes of conversations<br />
Reverend Billy had in 1972 with then President<br />
Nixon, also an anti-Semite. Rumors of<br />
such un-Christian attitudes circulated for<br />
years regarding Graham, who stoutly and<br />
steadily denied them until the Archives<br />
published the damning tapes, whereupon<br />
Rev BG profusely apologized.<br />
<br />
Then there was Mr. Rogers, friend to<br />
children and normal middle-class values.<br />
My daughter and I enjoyed his show for<br />
years, thinking he really did love children,<br />
loved to be surrounded by them. In 1990<br />
I worked for La Leche League, the mothers'<br />
group promoting breast feeding. One day<br />
my boss told me a surprising story: at an<br />
event sponsored by the League, Mr. Rogers<br />
asked that the children be kept away from<br />
him...what? They had come to interact with<br />
their "friend", Mr. Rogers. But thinking back,<br />
Mr. Roger's Neighborhood did not usually<br />
feature a goodly group of kids, no, just<br />
puppets and grownups.<br />
<br />
Shakespeare, in Julius Caesar, observed that<br />
the good men do often gets interred with<br />
their bones. I submit that, all too often,<br />
the bad they do is buried there as well.<br />
<br />
All the admiration for the public face<br />
of the man (or woman) can't whitewash<br />
any dark side...<br />
<br />
Reputation vs. reality, often at odds.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-2213013266857356342018-03-01T05:37:00.001-08:002018-03-01T05:55:37.704-08:00Young Parkland People Rising--the Right Age, the Right TimeIt's not surprising that the Parkland FL teens are more<br />
effective change agents than the small slain children<br />
and their parents in Sandy Hook were--they are perfectly<br />
positioned to achieve improvements in thorny gun<br />
control practices/politics.<br />
<br />
Again and again, it is now, always has been, about<br />
power, how to have it, how to leverage it. The parents<br />
in Sandy Hook were too destroyed by their tragic<br />
horror to mobilize politically, which is the only way<br />
to overturn bad law and policy in the U.S. short of<br />
a violent, destructive revolution few would want.<br />
But now, after the Las Vegas massacre and the<br />
latest school shooting in Florida, the students<br />
there recognize they are able to move the needle<br />
on the dial toward a more sane policy--one that<br />
other developed countries DO have.<br />
<br />
The "Parkland Advantage":<br />
<br />
(1) These students are either at voting age or very<br />
close to it;<br />
<br />
(2) They are at the most physically energetic<br />
they will probably be in their lives;<br />
<br />
(3) The brain power now available to these<br />
young people is at its peak performance for life--<br />
no accident that college is for teenagers<br />
and young twenty-somethings, by and large;<br />
<br />
(4) This horror happened to THEM--not some<br />
news item elsewhere to be ignored.<br />
<br />
Conservative Republicans in the U.S. House<br />
surely can't be insensible of the threat to their<br />
upcoming re-election hopes. Ditto "Don T" who<br />
has said he's not afraid of the NRA and advocates<br />
significant restrictions as to age requirements and<br />
bump stock purchases, etc.<br />
<br />
Consider the time frame of our next nationwide<br />
elections: every two years U.S. House Reps<br />
face re-election or removal. The students from<br />
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High and their<br />
supporters possess the best schedule possible to<br />
mobilize, register voters, publish PSAs (public<br />
service announcements), canvass, call legislators,<br />
meet with them, more.<br />
<br />
I predict these savvy, savaged kids will make most<br />
of these actions a priority, which CAN change<br />
stupid law and policy here at home. I hope and<br />
pray they will not succumb to the flaws Occupy<br />
Wall Street and their clones stumbled over, after<br />
a promising start.<br />
<br />
This is the right time, Parkland people/students:<br />
Others will join you, keep rising!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-30498358978691157872018-02-23T06:34:00.002-08:002018-03-01T04:49:33.751-08:00More Evidence of Base Motives from Oligarchs Running for High OfficeWhy must they aim for the top jobs without trying for lower<br />
level experience first? Chris Kennedy, J B Pritzker, Donald<br />
Trump and IL Governor Rauner all feel they need not pursue<br />
a proper learning curve, gain experience/expertise before<br />
becoming governors and presidents. The record clearly shows<br />
how hubris produces ignorant, dangerous decisions and<br />
candidates; our current president is but one glaring example.<br />
<br />
The U.S. House and Senate have office holders of various<br />
ages, so "starting young" is not a requirement. Trusting<br />
one's advisers inevitably is, but without the proper<br />
foundation, how can one know which policy prescription/<br />
recommendation to follow?<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, many well qualified individuals don't even<br />
attempt to join the game, as it is so based on money.<br />
"Money answereth all things", says my King James Bible<br />
in one spot...interestingly, though, nothing follows that<br />
cryptic sentence describing or explaining what sort of<br />
"answers", good, bad or indifferent.Where is the value??<br />
<br />
Beware those nobly-canted TV ads proclaiming the<br />
caring character of the super rich candidate--he or<br />
she rarely achieved great wealth without resorting to<br />
LLPs, LLCs, hedge funds and other mechanisms<br />
absolving officers and owners of legal responsibility<br />
when things go seriously awry.<br />
<br />
Base, self-serving hubris drives such people.<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-84886529311826786052018-02-23T05:46:00.003-08:002018-03-10T09:27:17.005-08:00The USA: Every Day Violence in Speech--"Pull the trigger", "It was a shooting match," "Take your best<br />
shot", ad infinitum, ad nauseam. These and many other similar<br />
expressions are frequently found on police procedurals<br />
AND in everyday life, used by various talking head media<br />
mavens. Because we are copy cats, the average Joe and Joanna<br />
spout such phrases when they are spicing up various calls to<br />
action having nothing to do with guns and/or violence...need<br />
to make a decision? "Pull the trigger". Achieved mastery or<br />
success? "I killed it". (You can now see the toothpaste test<br />
ad where a young woman "crushed it" after her whiter<br />
tooth win).<br />
<br />
Our whole society is inextricably intertwined with violence--<br />
from the news, political reaction, TV and movie fiction, in<br />
the home, the school, everywhere. This phenomenon runs<br />
deep indeed, no one can "drill down" to find its bottom<br />
so as to extirpate it. Realizing what this means to stopping<br />
tragic outrages like the latest school murders in Florida,<br />
my mood is grim indeed. No wonder Congress won't<br />
pass stricter gun laws--the NRA's moneyed tentacles<br />
are not the only stumbling blocks to fewer murders<br />
here at home.<br />
<br />
It could happen--most adults in their millions could<br />
rise, unite, and demand better laws, better entertainment,<br />
better behavior from one another. But how likely, in the<br />
immediate future, is it?amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-27636122395693008902018-02-20T10:18:00.001-08:002018-02-23T05:31:01.921-08:00Skepticism is a Scientific Method Requirement --Time to Apply Some to So-Called Viral Experts---BOY!! During this H3N2 flu season (the worst strain currently<br />
floating about), it was only natural to consult whatever authorities <br />
one could find to determine how long the virus lasts on surfaces.<br />
Since most people constantly touch their faces, especially near their<br />
nostrils, often after touching some infected doorknob or other<br />
commonly-accessed object, this could be highly helpful, relevant indeed...<br />
<br />
until you come across these numbers: 15 minutes, a few days, weeks,<br />
six months, etc. These widely inconsistent figures for various virus <br />
lifespans does not inspire confidence in the scientific rigor of these <br />
"studies" conducted at major universities and institutions of repute.<br />
Even allowing for disclaimers such as "...many complicating factors<br />
..." etc. these discrepancies can only point to one conclusion:<br />
the research was badly done, it is immaterial and irrelevant where<br />
done, prestige and tradition notwithstanding.<br />
<br />
********************************************************<br />
<br />
To defeat this flu cycle, stay away from crowds and sick people,<br />
stay home from work or school if infected, if possible; don't touch <br />
your face UNTIL after you've washed your hands and wash them <br />
often: clean off doorknobs, taps, pc keyboards, etc. If you have to <br />
go to the store, wear a mask, carry a lot of tissue, etc. These methods<br />
should cut down on the 49 U.S. states now being hammered by <br />
H3N2, which can develop into pneumonia and a death sentence for<br />
those immunocompromised.<br />
<br />
I see a few phone calls to those enjoying a career in science as<br />
to what they are playing at--admit to the lack of funding/manpower/<br />
expertise, and say, "It depends: some viruses last for a short time, <br />
others far longer, we really don't know."<br />
<br />
At least THAT would be more honest, therefore, scientifically<br />
skeptical.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-29257856742039418762018-02-15T05:44:00.000-08:002018-02-15T06:13:07.870-08:00Back to 2011, Spring: The Donald Trumped by his Own ToolThis overdramatic diatribe experienced a glitch which<br />
I can't rectify, so it appears here in 2018 rather than 2011<br />
where it belongs.<br />
<br />
****************<br />
<br />
Donald Trump, he of the most ridiculous "hairdo"<br />
for a "hair's done" male in America, has himself<br />
been forced back to the drawing board. Not a natty<br />
draftsman, but a batty one, his "forcing Obama<br />
to reveal his long form birth certificate" has<br />
in turn forced The Donald back to the political<br />
drafting table for a new tool. (He really should<br />
have taken up Physics, where he would have learned<br />
about action/reaction pairs.) <br />
<br />
The latest attempt to "legally" discredit the sitting<br />
president involves highly dubious ruminations regarding<br />
Mr. Obama's college transcripts. What a weak tool Trump<br />
now employs! He must have forgotten/not known what<br />
a drunken, poor student Bush II was, that he got into<br />
Yale on a "legacy" provision, that other U.S. presidents<br />
such as Lincoln and Truman couldn't boast of formal, stellar <br />
scholarship....which didn't make them poor presidents any<br />
more than his Princeton background made Wilson a great one.<br />
<br />
President Obama, of course, didn't help himself either,<br />
earlier on. Back in the heady days of Campaign 2008, he<br />
should have released the long form. To have delayed on<br />
such a serious constitutional challenge was not politically<br />
sound; every scurrilous aspersion/attack need not be<br />
answered, but the important ones MUST be.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Trump should trash his current, crude attack<br />
on the president. Pursuant to his First Amendment privileges,<br />
The Donald can critique away. The best tool of all<br />
would be a relevant fact; finding one is just too hard<br />
for the Trumpster.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-81812228688003480852018-02-15T03:27:00.000-08:002018-02-20T11:19:35.638-08:0002/2018: PBS/Frontline Focus on Latino Gangs Left Out Telling Facts and Questions <br />
...such as why the authorities in that NY high school (Huntington<br />
High) did not photograph the supposed MS13 gang name on the<br />
ejected student's arm. I presume they didn't or that would have<br />
been shown--merely verbal insistence that it was seen. The 18<br />
year old, Jesus, insisted it was his girlfriend's first name, but again,<br />
no pix validated his claims.<br />
<br />
The memo erroneously referring to this supposed miscreant as<br />
"Polaco", an egregious error by ICE/Suffolk County, at least<br />
proves in print that there is haste, rush to judgment, etc. Inane<br />
profiling criteria such as T shirts sporting the Chicago Bulls<br />
horned logo and wearing the color Blue seems to indicate a<br />
stunning lack of accurate intel, i.e., precious little true intelligence<br />
in the sad and horrifying mix. Officials in Suffolk and Nassau<br />
Counties declaring an assault on New York's violent gangs relied<br />
on sketchy info from two high schools (Huntington and<br />
Brentwood). Despite regulation haircuts and suits, some sounded<br />
embarrassingly inarticulate and uninformed when interviewed by<br />
PBS/Frontline.<br />
<br />
Yes, undocumented young illegals are part of a messy and<br />
complicated immigration dilemma dogging/dodging order and<br />
economics in our larger states, New York, California, Illinois,<br />
Colorado, Florida. Agribusiness, janitorial services and the retail<br />
food industry love paying paltry wages to those fearful of ICE and<br />
the INS. All young illegals are not gang members; most are trying<br />
to fit in to our hypocritical culture that proclaims a welcome <br />
embodied in the Statue of Liberty and the famous Emma Lazarus<br />
poem--a welcome that has actually never existed here, not without <br />
order, qualifications and legal system documentation. The automatic <br />
assault weapons used in violence around the planet and here at <br />
home are provided for profit by the American armaments industry, <br />
so someday, maybe, Congress can defy the NRA and the gun <br />
manufacturers to severely limit this disgrace underlying so much <br />
death, destruction and disruption.<br />
<br />
**************<br />
No one apparently dares to ask a few hard questions about why<br />
natural born adult citizens of these violent crime infested countries<br />
such as Mexico and El Salvador don't unite, rise up and fight for<br />
a more just and rational society. Yes, that would necessitate bravery<br />
and understanding the real risk to life and limb, but isn't it a<br />
worthwhile proposition? El Chapo IS incarcerated, despite many<br />
clever and outlandish escapes, countries around the world have<br />
shucked off dictators and colonialists, so it has been done,<br />
although not easily or commonly.<br />
<br />
The Latino cultures (full disclosure, I'm Hispanic), like Asian <br />
societies, prize the sons over the daughters. Hispanics even value <br />
vaunting "Machismo", their special term. Mothers often go along <br />
with this, defending criminal sons, saying "he's done nothing wrong". <br />
(If I hear that tired, loyal/loving denial once more I'm going to write <br />
a diatribe castigating that very phrase!) The Chinese put their newly <br />
born daughters in beautiful ceremonial garb out in forests to die of <br />
exposure, to comply with the "one child" policy which has now <br />
relaxed, allowing two per couple. All other societies subtly <br />
demonstrate preference of male over female, sadly, but <br />
overvaluing testosterone leads to crime and violence, world <br />
history proves, so:<br />
<br />
Adults of the planet must become more responsible, must think more<br />
deeply about consequences of their acts to themselves and others, <br />
stop worshipping their tribe/ethnicity/race, society, etc. If humanity <br />
does not mature (evolve), forever repeating the mass murders of <br />
going to war either domestically or internationally, we will continue <br />
to mimic the group behavior of ants, just as Dr. Wilson, Harvard <br />
Emeritus, Entomology, discusses on PBS documentaries and in his<br />
controversial book, Sociobiology.<br />
<br />
Life on Earth can't wait for another thousand years to achieve<br />
"civilization", a much abused word humans wrongly apply<br />
to themselves.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-7784076303695855212018-01-20T09:38:00.001-08:002018-02-20T11:30:14.113-08:00Tweet This: There's More to Life Than North Korea, Immigration, Government Shutdowns and Sex Abuse<br />
Dateline, Mid January 2018:<br />
<br />
Re: Our immigration situation, pols and media mavens on CNN, <br />
ABC, CBS, PBS et al. discuss, chew the fat, "analyze" ad <br />
infinitum and ad nauseam -- but conveniently ignore/avoid/<br />
overlook at least one salient fact: illegals, "guest workers"<br />
provide U.S. agribusiness low wage agricultural employees. <br />
These same "no skill" workers are a significant reason the <br />
USA enjoys eating its food for less money than many other<br />
nations' peoples must spend.<br />
<br />
The media is NOT indulging in "fake news" a la the Donald. However,<br />
TV coverage is repetitive and narrowly focused... are there really only<br />
four issues of import on the current planet-wide stage?<br />
(1) North Korea<br />
(2) Immigration<br />
(3) Government Shutdown<br />
(4) Sex Abuse<br />
(?)<br />
<br />
It is time for lazy cable and free TV news reporters and their<br />
assignment editors to provide America with more (read different)<br />
stories worthy of our concerns. Being cheated in this facile manner<br />
endangers all of us, always.<br />
<br />
Ironically, local reportage does its due diligence -- we get the weather,<br />
traffic and crime stories we need to know, while not neglecting <br />
human interest features.<br />
<br />
Nationally, I find NBC free TV evening news with Lester Holt <br />
the best of the crop. He presides over a varied number of subjects,<br />
not just the worrisome "big four" issues. Lester always spends the <br />
last four to five minutes of his broadcasts with an uplifting, <br />
inspiring story of note. I find him possessed of gravitas but not <br />
gloom, completely (and thankfully) devoid of an idiotic happy, <br />
smiling demeanor while recounting bad/sad/ news.<br />
<br />
Memo to CNN: your anchors (especially the female ones) would do <br />
well to adopt Mr. Holt's attitude: he reminds me of Edward R. <br />
Murrow and "Uncle" Walter Cronkite.<br />
<br />
Tweet or trumpet that, Celebrity Apprentice in Chief!amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-4302702746650423352018-01-08T08:38:00.000-08:002018-01-08T08:39:38.019-08:00An Immodest Proposal: Aspercreme, a Little Dab'l Do YaAlthough this will not rise to the elegance and<br />
sardonic humor of Jonathon Swift, he has<br />
nonetheless inspired this very daring suggestion:<br />
<br />
--Men!! I know you are often aroused even at<br />
inconvenient, wildly inappropriate moments;<br />
for those of you not helped by cold showers,<br />
I think I've got it, by Jove, I've got it:<br />
<br />
After your A.M. shower but before dressing,<br />
why not apply Aspercreme to the "offending"<br />
little member, to fortify you as you rejoin the<br />
"civilized" (--ahahaHAA, cruel joke/hope, that)<br />
world of work, retail, politics, etc. I know it<br />
helps my shoulder pain--maybe it would solve<br />
this nettlesome, primitive reaction males suffer<br />
from...<br />
<br />
Something topical, other than the ingested chemicals<br />
mandated to assist convicted sex-abuse felons may<br />
well be an answer.<br />
<br />
For now, Aspercreme gets my vote. It is indeed<br />
greaseless and odorless, quite inexpensive.<br />
<br />
Come ON, guys! Try it!amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-31060821390123244572017-12-20T09:03:00.000-08:002017-12-20T09:04:29.328-08:00USA's Rampant Sex Problems: Who Owns Our Bodies?There is only one answer: each of us is the<br />
SOLE PROPRIETOR of ourselves, our bodies<br />
our identities. Yes, sure, observing the social scene<br />
some might be tempted to surrender the perception<br />
of that ought-to-be-obvious reality:<br />
"He was my boss"; "he was my husband";<br />
"he was my coach"; "he was my priest";<br />
"he was famous and powerful", etc.<br />
ad nauseam. (By the bye, "he" can also<br />
be read "she".) --So, we allow abuse and<br />
the violating of our very selves.<br />
P.S.: the PSA showing women declaring<br />
"I am powerful" is mere hope without<br />
concomitant bold behavior.<br />
<br />
The relentless pandering for profit practiced<br />
by TV and movie media corporations ever<br />
increasingly emphasizes "hot sex" (desperate<br />
desire, if you will...and even if you WON'T.)<br />
It is time to stop denying media influence on/in<br />
our lives, when politicians even name operations<br />
after action film titles, to say nothing about the<br />
constant barrage of movie references used in<br />
average conversations to make a point, rather<br />
than an apt, original metaphor.<br />
<br />
It isn't self respect fueling women who continue<br />
to permit molestation/degradation et al. in the<br />
preservation of an upward career path, or preserving<br />
a high income from a spouse. It IS a desire for material<br />
gain, "prestige" and social acceptance within a certain<br />
"classy" milieu. But such a choice is an abdication of<br />
one's integrity and soul, so, my dears, you who defend<br />
such "settling", I find you to be less than introspective<br />
therefore, not particularly honest.<br />
<br />
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<br />
<br />
In a recent post I detailed most of the sex-related incidents<br />
which were my history. Although I didn't always report these<br />
shameful episodes, I DID leave the jobs, environments and<br />
settings where they occurred.<br />
<br />
The choices for attractive women are often stark: your money<br />
or your life. However one decides, be prepared for the very real<br />
consequences.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357567517901566907.post-31291699307962119912017-12-02T09:22:00.003-08:002017-12-02T09:27:14.431-08:00One Trillion Dollar Holiday Gift for the Five %, 2017Yes indeed: never mind that Hoover, Reagan, Bush II and other<br />
top-tier republicans have trotted out/tricked/tried this tired<br />
"trickle down" conservative notion ad infinitum, ad nauseam.<br />
<br />
<br />
Impartial studies over the decades have clearly shown that<br />
allowing the super rich and their LLPs, LLCs, etc. to keep<br />
more money has NOT resulted in significantly more full-time<br />
employment opportunities for the 95%. During the Reagan era,<br />
the tax rate for the rich was higher than now, yet fewer of those<br />
wealthy folk complained--a crueler, more ignorant world we<br />
witness today; observe all the high and mighty swearing they have<br />
done nothing wrong while multiple testimonies strongly suggest<br />
many have seriously erred.<br />
<br />
As usual, our Congress has thrown in indirectly related matters,<br />
no pure tax/budget bill in the offing--that would make sense, be<br />
eminently logical. Did the republicans pull a fast one? Hmmn...<br />
alas, it really is only a temporary victory, as they are faced with<br />
a very real upset in 2018.<br />
<br />
I live in hope 'til then. Meanwhile, dear five percenters, enjoy<br />
your holiday tax gift while you have it, as any contract can be<br />
broken and any U.S. law can be overturned.amber ladeirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01898153440272630339noreply@blogger.com1