Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Monday, September 04, 2006
Labor Day: Was Abe Lincoln a socialist?
Greetings to all on this gloomy day in the fiefdom. The plight of workers, consumers, and all else seems to be getting worse. One small example here, a slight breeze blew across the electric wires and there was a very short power outage, less than a minute for me. I happened to be here at Mickey’s when it happened about 8 PM on Saturday. It really caused havoc with my computer (probably because of the unhealthy sut-down?). How come those expensive power surge devices don’t work? Yesterday I was lucky that I was able to get tech support. It cost me my food money for the month but I will rearrange my pile of bills and someone will not get theirs this month. Does anyone here have any comments on uninterruptible power supplies and/or using an external drive as back up?
If it does not rain today, maybe I will celebrate the holiday by standing behind the lawn mower and pushing.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 09/04 at 08:17 AMGood morning, RMJ. I can’t help you with your tech issues...but I’m sure someone here can. In the meantime, I will say: standing behind a lawn mower and pushing is better than standing in front of it and pulling.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/04 at 08:41 AMHey Mick, you got something there about pushing and pulling. Actually, maybe that’s what’s wrong in the world. We have been doing too much pulling and not enough pushing. It’s time to start pushing back.
I just found this. It is from Charley Reeses’ latest.
“...To justify it, the war party lies and seeks to get Americans to think like fascists and racists. Kill the foreigners. Wipe them out. But those people in those countries are human beings just like us. They marry, they have children, then grandchildren. They love, they work, they study, they dream. They don’t deserve to be butchered because some dumb politicians have a quarrel with their politicians. Hezbollah, Syria, Iraq and Iran had nothing at all to do with the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon...” That’s what Charley sez.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 09/04 at 08:53 AMRMJ: Tomorrow, I’m running a link to my new article that touches on our collective denial. I’ve been surprised by some very positive e-mails already.
Anyway, I’m heading out. It’s another amazing weather day here.
Captcha sez: justice
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/04 at 09:01 AMGood morning Mickey and RMJ,
The sun is trying to shine here and I’m hoping it’ll be a nice day.
Mickey that piece about the Lowell union women & girls is quite bittersweet - I just can’t imagine an average girl of today going along with any such movement. But then, the social conditions are so vastly different that it’s not really suprising.
Nevertheless, I amd enjoying a Labour Day of rest, and grateful to those who once had to toil and fight for me to be able to have it.RMJ, check your email
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 09/04 at 09:15 AMHey all-- a sunny day away from “Steve” and all I can think of to do is sit in front of the computer and tell myself I’ll get writing done… hm. Well Mickey in case I don’t get to comment tomorrow, hats off the tomorow’s article that I got the email about last night. You know I’m with you 100% on the SUV thing and all the rest, but don’t want to spoil the suspense for those who haven’t read it yet!
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 09/04 at 09:19 AMHello Empress. Hope you have weather like ours today.
CatLady: Are you writing or do we have to get Mudge to come over and spank you?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/04 at 10:45 AMHey, if it’ll get the dude to post an f’n story here, I’ll claim to be slacking, but no… I’m gonna draw the curtains, block out all that distracting sunlight, and “endeavor to persevere.”
That’s a quote from the Outlaw Josey Wales, probably my favorite Clint movie ever.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 09/04 at 10:52 AMThanks Amelopsis…
Hi James…
Here is a perfect example of how screwed up things are.
http://tinyurl.com/fhutxPosted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 09/04 at 11:47 AMComing up on C-span.....Chomsky at West Point!
05:30 PM EDT
0:56 (est.)
Speech
Failed States
U.S. Military Academy
Noam Chomsky , Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Robert Tully , U.S. Military AcademyPosted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 09/04 at 03:05 PMMickey, it’s useful tips like the lawnmower advice that make my day. Now I know more than the neighbours! RMJ, sorry about your computer. Technology is always great until it goes wrong.
How is everyone? I’ve been away most of the summer & away from computers. Now back at school (boo!) and already I’ve been told off for laziness ... before term has officially started! That beats my personal best. (BTW, I got told off for reading in my free periods ... I’m an English teacher. Brings to mind that Bill Hicks joke, “what’re you reading for?”
On a subject related to today’s post, I think we Expendables should start looking at the print on demand “revolution” as very much a form of freeing writers and the like from the restrictions of big business. I have friends with CDs out in this format (I hope to be playing on one soon) and I’d like to get a book out in this way before the end of the year. As we’ve had Expendable writing month, can I suggest more people look to this? Lulu.com seems like a good place to start, but if anyone has anything better, please let me know as I need to snoop around a bit.
Much love to y’all. Incidentally, this time last week I was in a place in Ireland called Youghal, pronounced “y’all.” It features in a number of jokes involving the British and the word ‘####’ before the place name. See if you can guess what they are!
Posted by Chris Wood on from Manchester, where it is still raining 09/04 at 05:24 PMWelcome back, Chris. Really great to see you. Love your book idea. Let’s get a discussion going on this soon.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/04 at 05:45 PMHi Chris… I like your story about being told off for reading. I have a story like that too. I tell it often. When Christine went to Kindergarten she asked the teacher on the first day when they would be reading books. Christine had been reading simple words and sentences at home for awhile at that point and she was very excited about learning. The teacher became visibly upset and told Christine that it was illegal to read. When Christine came home and told me about the incident, I was sure that she had gotten it wrong until one day when I saw the teacher in the grocery store. I asked her about it. She told me that the teachers had received a memo telling them not to allow any reading till 2nd grade. When I researched the official school policy, I found out that the teacher had misunderstood the memo.
I like your idea about book publishing. I know about a book that has been waiting to be published...a lot of good writers like Mickey and Churchill would have essays in it.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 09/04 at 05:53 PMRead about the first recorded strike in history http://tinyurl.com/lhc63
Questions from A Worker Who Reads by Bertolt Brecht
Who built Thebes of the seven gates?
In the books you will find the names of kings.
Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock?
And Babylon, many times demolished
Who raised it up so many times? In what houses
of gold-glittering Lima did the builders live?
Where, the evening that the Wall of China was finished
Did the masons go? Great Rome
Is full of triumphal arches. Who erected them? Over whom
Did the Caesars triumph? Had Byzantium, much praised in song
Only palaces for its inhabitants? Even in fabled Atlantis
The night the ocean engulfed it
The drowning still bawled for their slaves.The young Alexander conquered India.
Was he alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
Did he not have even a cook with him?Philip of Spain wept when his armada
Went down. Was he the only one to weep?
Frederick the Second won the Seven Year’s War. Who
Else won it?Every page a victory.
Who cooked the feast for the victors?
Every ten years a great man?
Who paid the bill?So many reports.
So many questions.Posted by TM on from 09/04 at 09:39 PMWorked all day today but it was good physical work. The type of work we were meant to do. It felt great compared to my day to day drudgery at the office. I did some yard work and helped to shut down my in-laws swimming pool. We had a great meal together and my brother-in-law & I went to his house and I helped him put in a closet door. The work I did today which was helping other family members is much more rewarding than just earning a check. I wish life was like that. you work to help those around you and at the end of the day it’s not about money but just working for the common good. I wish that familys still all lived together under one roof and pooled their resources together to create a better life for all involved. Your older people could still be taken care of at home and I think it would improve the lives of all involved. Alas we don’t live in a world like that anymore and it’s every man for himself.
Everyone have a great evening and show a little extra love to those around you.
Peace!
Posted by David on from Louisville KY 09/04 at 09:42 PMDavid
Yes, to work as you did today for the common good of the family is a very rewarding experience. It makes you realize what is truly important in life. Sadly, we have moved away from the extended family unit and are the worst for it.
Good evening to all.
Reading your comments tonight and enjoying each & every one of them.
Posted by Canadian Observer on from 09/04 at 10:13 PM
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