Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Saturday, January 06, 2007

The greatest poem in history

Posted by Mickey Z on 01/06 at 07:59 AM

Good morning all....some great comments last night. Did someone say “Let Free-dumb ring”...right now, on C-span, the president of the Biotechnology Industry is debating with a member of Concerned Scientists. The topic is animal cloning in the agricultural industry. The biotech seems to think that the population of humans is already so dumbed-down that they should not be allowed to have labeling on food that would indicate whether or not it is from a cloned source. BTW, a similar campaign occurred in Vermont a few years ago. I believe that it was the largest and most expensive lobbying campaign in the history of Vermont. Monsanto did not want to allow labeling on milk that was from BGH free cows. “Let free-dumb ring”.....

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/06 at 09:01 AM

Good morning, RMJ...and all other Expendables and guests. It’s still a little rainy here but we’re headed for a scorcher (in January terms) today.

RMJ: GMOs, cloning, etc., to me, fall into the same category as other science issues. If we can’t be sure these “advances” are safe, the burden of proof is on the corporations raking in the billions. For that, I get labeled “anti-science.”

On another topic, here’s something to get you going today:
http://tinyurl.com/y3nk32

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/06 at 09:34 AM

Good Saturday, Expendables! First, job news...I passed the ridiculously simple tests, I was told by the supervisor hiring for the position that he wants me to start soon, the HR droid called and left a message while I was at work...I think I have the gig. Obviously I won’t know until I talk to the HR droid on Monday, but no one calls the same day to REJECT you.

Second, a fast story (I have to be at work in 30min): I was riding the bus last night after I left work at 9:30pm. (Training class from 6:30-9:30.) As I got on the bus, I noticed a handsome young man sitting in the back, where I prefer to sit. I couldn’t have had a pleasant expression on my face, seeing someone in the slot I normally occupy, and my feet and throat hurting from overuse. Yet the handsome young man smiled at me! Well, I thought, this evening’s looking a lot better than it was a few minutes ago.

I made my way to the back of the bus, climbing the three steps to get to the upper level with slow and painful steps. Youngster got up from his seat, came to the steps, took my messenger bag from me, and extended his hand to help me up the steps!

Great, I thought, polite and helpful, and what do you know I’m the old feeb this Eagle Scout’s helping across the metaphorical street. Ego, please sit down. You are not wanted here.

Youngster then makes me feel even WORSE by saying, “Hi Richard! Gout bothering you?”

--->PAUSE FOR TERRIFIED CONFUSION<---

“Hello!” I chirped as brightly as I could manage. “Thanks for the help!” As I sat down, I was praying like hell a thuinderbolt would strike the bus, cause confusion, and compel this young beauty to shout something along the lines of “God, please don’t take John Smith home yet!” or ANYthing to give me a clue as to who he was.

“Mom said she was having lunch with you next week,” he burbled innocently. “Are y’all going to Chez Zee? Can I come too?”

OH. MY. GOD. The last time I saw this kid was two years ago. He was 17 then, and gawky, and nervous about being at an adult party. I talked to him about politics, encouraging his rebellion against his Repulsivecan parents’ ideology.

Now he’s a sleek young radical, a PoliSci major at UC-Berkeley, and home visiting the E-vile Ones who gave him life and an education. Lunch next week should be interesting.

Posted by Mudge on from Austin, Texas 01/06 at 10:02 AM

Great story and great news, Mudge. ‘007 may be off to a good start for you.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/06 at 10:11 AM

An interesting one, at least, for me too. New haircut and cat and all that… and on Monday I’m going back to Steve, or Stanley, or Morgan or whatever his name is. It’s kind of a trap, though, pays so much and work is so easy, but after six weeks, I’ll still be stuck for steady work.

But more importantly, Sonja’s starting to win over Frank and Roddy, and already acting like she owns the place. She’s still not helping out with the rent, but we’re in discussions.

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 01/06 at 10:29 AM

It sure sounds promising, Mudge. Great story...how is that gout?

Morning RMJ...morning Mick.

James...what we all really want to know is...how’s the love life going?

Mine is completely non-existent.

Posted by JOS on from Oak Park 01/06 at 12:39 PM

Howdy, Expendables. It’s good to see some new bylines. John from Laramie: I too specialize in ill-informed snap judgements, and find that they’re more accurate than carefully considered groupthink.

RMJ, thanks for the J.T. Gatto link. He’s on the short list of required reading for throwing off the mental yoke.

Mudge, congratulations (I think) on your work prospect. And ‘HR Droid’ is a truism.

Re #2: The rub is that these officers would be a substantial improvement over the incumbents. Especially the ones who have been hosed by the VA. ("I’m sorry Lt. Smith, ‘legs,’ as you quaintly refer to them, are not medically necessary.")

Story-ette:
Sitting in a civilized place for a few precious hours, my friends have the tube on Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses” and I’m speed-scanning Martha Stout’s book “The Sociopath Next Door.” I’d previously tried to watch the movie, without success, but have half an eye on it anyway. The book’s incessant assumptions about morality and behavioral baselines are turning my stomach, like a sermon by an 18th century preacher might, but I’m looking for a chink in the author’s class armor.

Sure, the lack of conscience is a danger in human relations (why no government officials in the author’s menagerie of freaks?) and there goes Captain Spaulding handgunning a thief’s brains onto the ancient furnishings.

Annoyed and sorting through the tawdry Christian framework for human relations, bile is pouring out of some alien mass-murdering gob.

Reading through the statistics on how sociopathy is higher in Western cultures (I try and act surprised) the final scene very slowly unfolds: a cop on his knees, mimicing the hands-on-head of the kneeling accused-cum-suspect, as he’s about to meet his ancestors.

The crane-cam pulls back, high over the white trash courtyard,and John Law gets his early retirement. The book bores me and I close it. I’ve seen enough.

Posted by Zenprole on from N of the Border 01/06 at 12:50 PM

Hello again everyone, from balmy NYC. Pass the sunscreen…

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/06 at 03:20 PM

Good day Expendables,

Sunscreen?? It’s early May showers here. Some sparse spring bulbs are blooming and far from having their hibernation interrupted, squirrels and chipmunks haven’t had any winter rest save for a few days late last year.

I smell a cauldron full of boiling frogs.

(and we’re not even “trying” yet)

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 01/06 at 04:36 PM

Hello Empress...ask and you shall receive:
http://tinyurl.com/yha26g

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/06 at 04:45 PM

Hi everyone....Thanks for the link Mickey. It was so good I passed it on.
JOS #6...Mine is non-existent too.
Mudge...sounds like you’re having a bit of fun.
James...the new hair cut is looking good.
Zenprole...hurry back. It is not the same in the usa without you.

My story for the day is a true account. I just arrived home from the War Protest. I know that it does not do any good at all and will not change anything but I continue to go. Who knows, maybe someday a sleek old radical will be there and I will have a “Mudge” type of day. Anyway today, a man did come up to me. I had never seen him before. He was a bit younger than I am. He was neatly dressed. And he was mad as hell. Seems he did not like the sign I was holding. On it in big letters it says, “STOP USA War Crimes.” He was very angry and on the verge of violence. The other protesters backed away. I was left to talk to the man. He said the usual things--- like anyone who does not support the war must support the terrorists. Sadly, I think his view is held by a lot of people, maybe even a majority of those in the usa. I think I earned my self a tall cool one tonight.

My Captcha word is “police”

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/06 at 04:52 PM

Amelopsis...we were symultyping. My willow tree has buds on it.

Mickey #2...that “anti-science” label gets misused a lot. I hear it every time I oppose fluoridating the water supply.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/06 at 04:56 PM

Here’s a good one…

http://tinyurl.com/y8pwvj

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/06 at 05:11 PM

RMJ I recall a couple of NY’ers who took the trouble to turn up for one of the last few anti war protests Youngfox and I attended and his attitude was similar to that of the fellow you encountered. This guy was so frazzled he just couldn’t stop to think very long on any counter arguments and seemed to think rather highly of himself and his country. He made such a spectacle and obstacle of himself by attempting to interfere with the few tables of informational material that the police removed him (his us flag went with him). I think in that instance the cops removed a source of violence...it was escalating to that point.

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 01/06 at 05:24 PM

Mickey those frogs didn’t look boiled to me!

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 01/06 at 05:25 PM

http://allaboutfrogs.org/stories/boiled.html

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/06 at 06:00 PM

Ok, how about this one: http://tinyurl.com/yjhre6

Posted by Amelopsis on from The Pot 01/06 at 08:49 PM

I don’t mean to be ignoring all the interesting details of Expenable living....

James, a hearty welcome to your newest Cat, Lady!

Mudge, I’m startled when I hear of relatives finishing various university degrees when the last memory of them is helping to tie shoe-laces.

RMJ, Youngfox picked up an interesting fact in a recent post of his...fluoride gathers in our pineal glands, speeding up the onset of puberty.

Hi JOS & Zenprole

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 01/06 at 08:54 PM

what happens after death?

well, it seems you can join the army if you want…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6237607.stm

Posted by michael on from exile 01/06 at 10:53 PM

Hey Mickey, in case you didn’t catch this. ‘Rocky’ blasts US immigration policy and plans to build a wall along the US Mexico border.
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2007/01/rocky_blasts_bo.html

:o)

Posted by Tim on from California 01/07 at 04:22 AM