2023: End Of Year Thoughts.

Introduction

What a fucked up year. Certainly a lot of ups and downs. I think more downs than ups, but then again I am usually somewhat more pessimistic towards the end of the year.

Politics

I won't get into much about politics because this is the year where I really feel like the human race has entered a point of no return regarding climate change. Indeed I think the more appropriate term to use now is 'climate disaster' now, as once some turning points begin to unfold, we're really at a point where things will not return to as they were.

It's actually a really depressing thing - but one with which I've had some time to let set in, and as well realize that even aside from that, I still have much to give, and we as a human race still need to survive and thrive. 

As well, I'm not very hopeful about the upcoming 2024 United States Presidential Election. I don't believe whomever is declared the 'winner' will be much of anything to celebrate. 

Because US Capitalism isn't a democracy at all, I'm under no illusions that the 'elections' would be any real contest of sorts. The 1% that control US capitalism will do their usual efforts to ensure it will be a '2-way confrontation' in which they control both 'sides' (hence US capitalism is not a democracy, but rather the theater or illusion if democracy). But enough people out there who really believe that 'Democrat' and 'Republican' mean anything other than babyface or heel (or heel and babyface; that it makes no difference is the point) - are the ones that are really condemning us all to failure. The bottom line for me is that capitalism is incapable of addressing or solving the very problems it creates - like climate change. Unless the vast majority of people around the world collectively rise up against the rich and powerful and take over the means of production and resource distribution such that it's actually done democratically - nothing will change for the better.

Music

A mixed bag here. On the one hand, I elected to write a release of 10 songs based on a book I read. And I actually succeeded in writing the songs. The goal in 2024 will be to record them and hopefully get them out before the middle of the year. More to follow on that soon. For the first time, I paced myself and set both weekly and monthly goals. Naturally I got lazy at times, but managed to complete the work in the end. I always remind myself that when I'm really focused and dedicated, I can get practically anything done.

I did manage to complete writing a few other songs as well. No shortage of ideas either. And, in a strange twist, material that I thought I'd lost in 2021, turns out was magically on the computer hard drive all along. You can bet I made a copy of that and placed it on another drive for safe-keeping.

On the other hand, I didn't make much progress in terms of recording. Nor did my band either. It was another year of downs there. Sure I did get a real drum kit, and we start some recording. Some of the results were okay. I think though a lot of it I find frustrating. I feel at times like I want things to move faster, and want others involved to be more focused as well. But you can only ask so much from others.

Additionally, I feel like things get bogged down on details that that seem small to some, but are critical for me. For example, I'm of the opinion that when recording in the digital space, you should always have a click track in the background to keep everyone in time. Seems reasonable, but you'd be surprised how much wasted recording time, energy and effort was spent when this wasn't done. At times like this I feel very powerless. But it's part of the process of working with others - everyone has to learn and come into their own in their own time - and I have to accept that in the same way others do so for me.

Work

More of the same, and end-results just as lame. Of course my boss got a promotion and is highly regarded now. It's funny how I've been on this team for four years now, and everyone on our team has either been hired new, or promoted upwards except for yours truly. It's a grim reminder that it's a game, and that I intentionally handicap myself because I refuse to suck up and tow the corporate lines. And because those in authority around me do, hence that's why they are where they are. My only motivation for more money is to take care of my family - or so I tell myself. But it's actually more than that. If one has been in a vocation long enough - and are good at what they do - it's only natural to want to be both recognized and acknowledged as such by the powers above (that thing called respect). But I have to remind myself that working in a corporate environment isn't a meritocracy, and that people who typically are above you are there because they choose to go along with what the owners/executives want. I do have one thing going for me.

Now that our group is entering a new multi-year project, that very same 'towing a line' attitude the 'leadership' espouses is the very thing that will trip things up. Knowing this gives me some advantage, in that understanding this rationally - and using my critical thinking skills wisely and honestly - can help not only steer the project away from harm, but help me in the process. We'll see.

I did get my certifications from the prior year upgraded. And as far as work goes, I'm pretty much at the top of my game in terms of knowledge and skill (my secret is Free cell).

But back to my motivation, I have to push for more money. For the first time in a long time, I really got to see the higher cost of things really hit our bottom line. Put simply, everything is much more expensive now, and that would normally mean cutting back on things, right? 

I did do one thing that was new. Because I work for a retail company as a support employer, I've never seen or experienced how the retail employees really do their work, and how much is really involved. Towards the end of the year, I finally bit the bullet and volunteered to perform a shift at my local retail location. It wasn't much for sure - I spent most of my time filling ice, emptying trash bins, refilling cups, wiping down tables, moping and brooming, and cleaning windows. But just being part of that and watching a crew working together and cohesively was eye-opening to say the least. And everyone I worked with was very open and easy to be around - they were very gracious. It certainly made me feel like my limited work was contributing in some small way. I hope to do more shifts in the near year.

Family

Well I got laid more often. Though it certainly wasn't because the Mrs finds me any more appealing than before. It happened because I wanted it and well - figuratively and literally - pushed my way through.

Oddly enough, despite the messed up family dynamics aside - we actually got a lot done. Kids are getting through school, and we made some trips to some of the normal places we go do, plus a couple of additional trips as well. But in the case of the latter, it wasn't exactly by choice.

I'll get into that more in a future post. But for now, let's just say that due to some family issues, some trips were needed and that ended up costing us. My bonus from last year got used up pretty fast when you factor in plane trips, car and shuttle rentals, meals, mortgages, clothes, etc.

Me

The ongoing neck issues were finally diagnosed as 'Cervical spondylosis' (neck arthritis). Yay me. After all the drama surrounding tests, treatments, issues regarding the digestive system, my heart, etc., it's good to know that I'm not gonna die anytime soon. It means lots of physical therapy, changes in diet, and more exercise. Which is all good and fine - let's just hope it can all be done.

I mean I've finally had to come to terms with the fact that I'm never going to look as I did before. I'm not the young person I once was - with a full head of hair and massive chest and legs, but I finally found a way to accept who I am. I did this by simply no longer caring about what other people think of me.

That all being said, I shouldn't be so hard on myself. I still wear the same size pants I wore back in high school, and all my clothes have fit me for the past 20 years. Indeed I had to wear a suit for the first time in 13 years, and pulled it off without any issues.

Conclusion and next steps

• Begin recording drum parts for the 10 songs I wrote in 2023.
• Contact a potential recording/audio engineer to help expedite the process.
• Work to identify potential musicians who could assist.
• Continue pushing my band to record its songs.
• Stay at pace for writing another release of 10 songs - the goal is to complete writing at least one song per month.
• Stay focused on my goals at work, and focus no longer on others and how well they do, and more on ensuring my goals and work is done to my very best and honestly.
• Get my health in order and get back to being physically more fit.
  

Three things I've learned in my many years in IT.

And I think this applies to pretty much any vocation -

Three things you need in order to survive or even flourish in any vocation.

1. Being able to meet deadlines and follow through on commitments. No one can trust a flake or someone who isn't reliable.

2. Being able to interact and communicate with others in the environment. No matter how much knowledge you have, no one will work with you if you think the world revolves around you, or you lack the patience to listen to others.

 
3. Handing adverse and unknown situations while maintaining composure. No one will want to work with someone who loses their shit when under pressure.

Pictures of Montreal from an REM train.

Another type of knowledge and learning that the Internet has enabled.

This is probably the most succinct summary about the reality of both American Exceptionalism, and this 'Wild West' myth -

The kind of things I like to watch and listen to.

I always learn something.

Well back from our trip.

More to follow on that later.

But right now not really going much of anywhere.

Landed 30+ minutes, and still no gate.

Just like a few weeks ago.

Anything interesting on scheerpost.com?

Couple of things that caught my attention.

https://scheerpost.com/2023/12/17/chris-hedges-the-death-of-israel/

Chris Hedges: The Death of Israel

December 17, 2023

Settler colonial states have a terminal shelf life. Israel is no exception. 

 

https://scheerpost.com/2023/12/18/resolution-in-us-congress-calls-for-end-to-assange-case-as-extradition-nears/

 

Resolution in US Congress Calls for End to Assange Case as Extradition Nears

by EditorDecember 18, 2023  

 

This is me to a tee.

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/gen-x-isnt-saving-enough-to-retire-5593841/

They can keep their fucking shame though. 

Yeah those 401Ks are really working out well.

A painful and visible aspect of life is approaching.

And to no surprise, I'm not ready for it.

I'll write more about this later, but for now, I've got some family affairs to take care of, and they involve travel and all that.

No this wasn't a technical glitch.

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-war-footage-in-ctvs-hannukah-story-feels-deliberate-to-some

I couldn't otherwise give a fuck about the Toronto Sun, but they are the only people who've so far aired this.

No not technical issues, but ethical issues. Someone brave was able to get this out on the air.

They are apologizing for exposing a religious fallacy with the bitter horrific reality.

And yet ANOTHER reminder that the United States is a capitalist system, not a democracy.

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/12/10/zionist-suppression-in-congress/

Let's be clear - the United States was founded on the principals of white supremacy, class and patriarchy.

In order to count you needed to be 3 things.

• white
•  rich 
•  a man

If you weren't 3 of those things, you counted for nothing.

The only thing that has changed today, is that instead of rich white male slaveowners, those doing the oppressing are now large corporations.

One good thing about each generation that comes, is that they offer a different perspective or writing style that really makes an impact.

Consider this piece -> https://consortiumnews.com/2023/12/08/caitlin-johnstone-the-official-story-of-oct-7/

Is Testing Bouncing?

https://waynemroseberry.github.io/2023/12/06/Is-testing-bouncing.html

Bouncing - yes.

But to where - that remains to be seen. 

Part of the reason (I saw at least) for the transition of software testers from '2nd-class employees' to 'consultants' and 'contractors' was this mindset.

All of this before, many technology companies (like Microsoft) chose to eliminate the role altogether. 

Testing was (no really, is still) seen as a cost or necessary evil - one that many companies felt they can either do away with, or have someone else do, or 'automate'.

Quote of the day - 12-05-2023.

Lawrence Davidson -

“As a general principle, it is the tactics of the oppressor that creates the context for the tactics of the oppressed.”

Which could also illustrates how capitalism operates -

“As a general principle, it is the tactics of the employer that creates the context for the tactics of the employees.”

Chris Hedges and the Israeli-committed genocide against the Palestinians

Going on for over a 100 years?

https://scheerpost.com/2023/12/04/chris-hedges-report-the-war-on-palestine-has-gone-on-for-over-100-years/

And they are back in business

https://scheerpost.com/2023/12/01/chris-hedges-israel-reopens-the-gaza-slaughterhouse/

RIP Myles Goodwyn.

The voice of Canadian Rock.

April Wine was the stuff of legends.

Thank you Myles for all the great songs, guitar, and singing. April Wine's work will live on.

Best historical plaque ever.

So Henry Kissinger finally dropped dead.

That's about the only form of justice his many war crime victims (survivors and otherwise) will get.

It's a grim reminder these kinds of individuals getting into spheres of power and do all sorts of terrible things - is by design in the US capitalist system.

This system is designed for psychopaths - who're willing to do their bidding - to flourish, and even be honored.

But to the asshole who kicked it (one can only hope he finally choked on his own bullshit) - here's a nice neat summary for a war criminal -

Making the trip back.

A blunt fucking message indeed.

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/11/29/a-blunt-message-for-israel/

Always must be in the face of war crimes.

The dirty work of the establishment always comes ...

 ... from those who claim they can be trusted.

Case in point - > https://blackagendareport.org/news/1766/33/Black-Media-Misleaders-Do-the-Democrats-Dirty-Work

 

If Biden wants Black votes, he needs to act like it and respond to Black people’s demands. Yes he predictably lost control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections, but he didn’t do very much when he had a congressional majority. What happened to the Voting Rights Act? Congress could have reaffirmed its original purpose and revived its enforcement capabilities with new legislation but they didn’t. They prefer to point fingers at the conservative controlled Supreme Court rather than lift a finger to do what they claim to want.

High profile Black media personalities have their positions because they will not advocate for Black people or their politics. Their job is to provide cover for the people who at best don’t want to hear from Black people or at worst actively work against them. They are on the television screen and have bylines in the right newspapers precisely because they have agreed to disappear Black people. 

Be prepared for more bamboozlement under the guise of journalism. Understand that Black politics will not be part of any discussion. Making it so would create a problem for people whose goal is to win office while also excluding the people whose votes they need. Media are an important part of sham democracy. No one should expect anything more than, “But Trump!” between now and November 2024.

 

Aggressive bullying on behalf of crapitalism='tactical language'.

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/11/28/john-kiriakou-aggressive-cops/

I'm sure they've all been trained by the IDF. 

Amazingly, I'm sure they're people out there who would still go out of their way to defend such actions.

Making a trip up North.

Have some family business to take care off.

Is it possible for an 'abandoned' mall to have a future in US crapitalism?

https://www.lloydcenter.com/events/

When I lived in Portland many years ago, my family and I spend some time here.

It wasn't like other malls - but it had a vibe. It had a feel and look that distinguished itself from contemporaries.

I won't get into all the details of what and how and why the mall is where it's at today - you can read viewpoints about it here, and here.

I can't help but wonder how a more democratic and socialist realm would handle things.

Probably the best commentary on the whole

Now that some time has passed since this whole issue came to light ...

Should we all be freaked out by this?

'Unrealized loses'

'Too big to fail; too rich to jail' - really means the next phase in the collapse of the late stage of late-stage capitalism (aka crapitalism).

More 'everything'

Thanksgiving - celebrating the beginning of Indigenous People genocide.

Can we finally get rid of this day, once and for all?

https://blackagendareport.org/news/1747/33/The-End-of-American-Thanksgivings-A-Cause-for-Universal-Rejoicing

This is WHY one should never trust establishment media outlets like 'The Guardian'.

They try to hide history from memory.

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/11/21/destroying-history-to-preserve-an-illusion/

Well now I have seen everything.

The picture doesn't do it justice, but it is a pink sky

Super-Rich 1% Match Carbon Emissions of the Poorest 5 Billion People.

So says Oxfam - > https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/climate-equality-a-planet-for-the-99-621551/

Overview

The world faces twin crises of climate breakdown and runaway inequality. The richest people, corporations and countries are destroying the world with their huge carbon emissions. Meanwhile, people living in poverty, those experiencing marginalization, and countries in the Global South are those impacted the hardest. Women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, people living in poverty and other groups experiencing discrimination are particularly at a disadvantage. The consequences of climate breakdown are felt in all parts of the world and by most people, yet only the richest people and countries have the wealth, power and influence to protect themselves. With that power comes huge responsibility.

If no action is taken, the richest will continue to burn through the carbon we have left to use while keeping the global temperature below the safe limit of 1.5°C, destroying any chance of ending poverty and ensuring equality. The world needs an equal transformation. Only a radical reduction in inequality, transformative climate action and fundamentally shifting our economic goals as a society can save our planet while ensuring wellbeing for all.

 h/t Scheerpost.

 

This is very deep.

Wow - that was a nailbiter.

But congrats to the Montreal Alouettes.

The Least Of The East beat the best of the west.

Will any country act?

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/11/19/craig-murray-activating-the-genocide-convention/

It all depends on this -

It just needs one state to invoke the Genocide Convention and change the narrative and the international dynamic. That will only happen through the power of the people in pressing the idea on their governments. 

Sigh - I hate aging.

More to follow on that later.

An episode of a program worth watching.

The Chris Hedges Show -

Oh look, we're slowing fucking up our future.

https://scheerpost.com/2023/11/13/the-last-12-months-were-hottest-the-world-has-experienced-in-last-125000-years/

 

Climate Central, an organization that describes itself as “an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives,” released a report this week examining average temperatures from around the world, finding that in no other point in at least 125,000 years has there been a warmer 12-month period.

Ninety-nine percent of humanity was exposed to above-average temperatures in the period between November 2022 and October 2023, the report found, with around 5.7 billion of the world’s 7.8 billion individuals being exposed to at least 30 days of higher-than-normal temperatures that were “made at least three times more likely by the influence of climate change,” the organization said.

 

Need some help debunking right-wing/crapitalist talking points on the genocide being committed against the Palestinians, by Israel?

Look no further than this list comprised by Caitlin Johnstone -> https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2023/11/07/the-ten-dumbest-things-were-being-asked-to-believe-about-israels-war-on-gaza/

Here are the ten dumbest things we’re being asked to believe about Israel’s war on Gaza, in no particular order:

1. That Israel had no idea what Hamas was up to prior to October 7, but ever since October 7 has known about every hospital, mosque, school, refugee camp and water tower that Hamas is hiding in.

2. That the blame for all of the deaths caused by Israeli weapons launched by Israel rests solely on Hamas.

3. That Hamas is using “human shields” — meaning Hamas bases are hidden amidst civilian populations — yet Israel is managing to kill thousands of civilians without doing any meaningful damage to Hamas.

4. That it would be perfectly fine to murder children by the thousands even if they were being used as “human shields” — as though resolving a hostage situation by mowing down thousands of child hostages would be regarded as reasonable and acceptable by the public if it happened in our own country.

5. That it is only by pure coincidence that Israel bombing “Hamas targets” in civilian infrastructure and residential buildings just so happens to look exactly the same as what you’d expect to see if Israel was simply bombing civilian infrastructure and residential buildings and lying about its reasons for doing so.

6. That satellite images of entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble in Gaza have been caused by “precision strikes” directed solely at Hamas and have been carried out with the greatest of care for human life, despite Israeli officials openly saying that “the emphasis is on damage and not on accuracy” in this assault and that “Gaza will eventually turn into a city of tents; there will be no buildings.”

7. That this bombing campaign has anything to do with freeing Israeli hostages — as though the bombing campaign itself has not killed dozens of hostages, and as though anyone believes Israel would stop bombing Gaza after the hostages are returned.

8. That the only reason anyone could possibly oppose the detonation of thousands of bombs on an open air prison full of children would be if they had very strong and hateful opinions toward the members of the religion of Judaism.

9. That Hamas attacked Israel entirely out of the blue and completely unprovoked, solely because they are evil and hate Jews.

10. That Washington is powerless to stop this genocide that it is directly funding and supplying.

 

One of the key (among many) flaws of capitalism, is how psychopaths end up carrying out the ruling class' wishes.

https://www.liberationnews.org/israeli-settlers-soldiers-unleash-a-new-nakba-in-the-west-bank/?utm_source=one_signal&utm_medium=desktop_alert&utm_campaign=liberationnews

Why, you may ask?

Settlers and soldiers work hand-in-hand

OCHA reports that, since Oct. 7, “In nearly half of these incidents, Israeli forces were either accompanying or actively supporting the attackers.” The settlers have long been an extrajudicial arm of the Israeli regime, doing what the government does not want to take official responsibility for. In the current ultra-right government, however, this relationship of open.  The minister in charge of settlement policy is Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of the far-right Religious Zionist party who is himself a settler extremist. After settlers attacked the Palestinian town of Huwara in February, Smotrich said, “I think that Huwara needs to be erased.”

On Oct. 10,the ultra-nationalist Zionist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir distributed 10,000 U.S.-supplied assault rifles, helmets and body armer  for “civilian security teams” to be used by settlers against Palestinians not only in the West Bank, but also to attack and displace Palestinians in mixed Jewish-Palestinian cities within the Israeli green line.

Palestinians on lockdown while settlers run riot

Since last month, Israeli forces have put Palestinians under a lockdown while allowing settlers to travel freely in the West Bank to hunt them down.  Palestinians require Israeli permits to travel and access their own lands, and are imprisoned by the Israeli separation barrier, which the world knows as the apartheid wall.

Palestinians are also blocked from accessing the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem, violating their religious rights to attend the third most important shrine in Islam. The IDF is attacking and worshipers who are praying in the streets, having been denied access to the mosque.

Settlers and soldiers even detained for 6 hours and tortured Palestinian Authority officials visiting the area.

Israeli forces and settlers have been committing “necroviolence.’ The regime prevents proper burial rites for Palestinian martyrs by withholding bodies, while settlers actively seek out and attack funeral processions. Due to the movement restriction, local mosques are being used to hold bodies of Palestinians killed in areas in the West Bank.

See, psychopaths know no bounds. They partner with other psychopaths to do psychopathic things - like serial-killing and committing war crimes.

As a songwriter/musician navigating the future of performing and release songs, I watch this with both earnestness, and hope.

https://scheerpost.com/2023/11/08/considering-bandcamps-changing-role-in-music-industry-amid-layoffs/

Earnestness - in that that as technology evolves, there'll always be those in positions of power within the US capitalist system that will use it to exploit and steal from those who create.

Hope - in that my best defenses to the above, is 1) recognizing and understanding the value in the words and music I create, and 2) never letting any entity attempt to see it as less than that. By this, I mean not allowing myself to be reduced (as many of the corporate mediums would like) to a 'content provider'.

Holy fuck!

Not sufficient indeed

https://blackagendareport.org/news/1663/33/The-Demand-For-a-Ceasefire-is-Necessary-But-Not-Sufficient-The-Demand-Must-Be-for-Decolonization-and-Palestinian-Self-Determination

 

Chris Hedges makes it clear - Israel is out to exterminate the Palestinians, and take over the entire region as a ethnostate.

https://scheerpost.com/2023/11/05/israels-final-solution-for-the-palestinians/

This it not to say the rest of the world agrees. Even in the US it's not the case, despite what the US crapitalist ruling class wants -

 

 

UK

US

No racial or gender bias in schools here in the US - you say?

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/0013189X231189444

https://scheerpost.com/2023/11/06/we-analyzed-over-3-5-million-written-teacher-comments-about-students-and-found-racial-bias/

Our study showed that teachers wrote more when describing behavior incidents of Black students compared with white students. They also used more negative emotions, words like “anger,” “hurt” and “disrespectful,” and used more verbs, such as “scraped,” “hit” and “spanked.” We found the opposite was true for Asian and Hispanic students compared with white students.

Further, we found that teachers used more words, negative emotions, verbs and impersonal pronouns when describing incidents for boys compared with girls.

 

Pretendians - a futher violation of Indigenous People in North America

And to think, I grew up thinking this person was a legitimate Cree native born in Saskatchewan. 

Indeed - I remember her Sesame Street appearances.

Normally I would not link to something from the CBC (I grew up on them, but consider them these days as corporate propaganda), but I've always respected the program 'The Fifth Estate' -

https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/buffy-sainte-marie

The part that really bothers me isn't just the personal or professional deception - that's pretty awful.

What I find really disturbing is that the media and entertainment businesses that obviously knew about this long ago, and never bothered to correct this because she made money for them.

And I don't buy the idea that she never knew her own background -

Even Sainte-Marie herself confirmed that she was born in the United States.

In March 1982, she signed a marriage certificate making her union with Hollywood composer Jack Nitzsche official. On the certificate, obtained from the County of Los Angeles, Sainte-Marie certified that she was born on Feb. 20, 1941, in Massachusetts to Albert and Winifred St. Marie.

 

 

It's simple isn't it?

It's simple.

The ruling class (or 1%, or the rich, or elites, or MIC, or whatever term one would like to describe that small group of people who control the vast majority of wealth and power) of the US capitalist system do not see the United States as a country. They see it as just another market to exploit, land to plunder, wealth to steal from the majority, resources to extract and consume, etc.; like any other that's a part of its empire.

And they themselves are trying to destroy this country under the assumption that they can reform and reorganize it into a more fascist one where the corporations they control and the government are fused together. What they fail to understand is that they are following the same path as how previous empires collapse and die.

Or to put it a different way -

Capitalism needs the illusion of democracy to keep the majority working class under control and obedient to the ruling class.

Fascism gets rid of this illusion altogether for same goals as above, because they don't think it'll be needed.

In either case, it'll be game over for us here in the US, as well as the rest of the world. The US capitalist ruling class is unable respond to the very existential problem its created - climate change. The system of capitalism is only capable of doing nothing more than virtue signal about climate change. Even if the empire doesn't crumble completely, I highly doubt the successor system of fascism will do any better; because it will be more hyper-focused on exploiting the majority and the land even more that it already has.

Our only hope as a species - is for the working majorities around the world in each country to unite together in a broad movement. And mass against the status quo systems of governments:

- to create a new system in a more humane and democratic format

- to stop the endless consumption and destruction of the planet.

Only when the lands and resources are under democratic control, can we as humans really take steps to stop the destruction of the planet, and reorganize governments to really serve the needs of its people, over the rich and powerful.

The challenge is two-fold:

1) Getting the majority of people around the world to recognize that - by in large - it's their systems of governments (and the ruling class that controls them) that are the causes of the suffering and destruction of their lives and their futures.

2) That only a more socialist and democratic form of government - one that the people can truly channel to address issues like climate change - is the way forward.

Can always count on the Black Agenda Report to call things as they really are.

Biden being the 'Greater' and 'Less Effective' Evil at the same time:

https://blackagendareport.net/news/874/33/Biden-is-the-Greater-and-Less-Effective-Evil

Israel being called out for their war crimes and reacting with pure projection:

https://blackagendareport.net/news/872/33/Israel-Declares-Most-of-Humanity-Illegitimate-and-Irrelevant

I always believed consumerism has been one of the core elements of US capitalism.

Turns out, I'm not the only one.

Gaza Telecide.

Perhaps it should be referred to as 'telecide'?

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/10/31/hundreds-feared-dead-in-bombing-of-refugee-camp/

Like most things on American television, it'll be heavily censored, 'content' edited, and of course, packed with lies and propaganda!

The strange things I see in the skies.

If you had a $175 million dollar judgement against you, you'd probably be shitting bricks.

Unless you were a large destructive chemical company, whose own criminal history can be somewhat comparative to it's parent corporation (hint - they were complicit in the Holocaust).

https://sustainablepulse.com/2023/10/29/bayer-monsanto-hit-with-175m-verdict-against-roundup/

Bayer-Monsanto Hit With $175M Verdict Against Roundup

 

Gee I fucking hope so.

 

Coming into downtown and all there is for me ..

... are darkness, trains, and cold winds ... and a beaten-up piece of candy.

Quote of the day - 10-26-2023

Patrick Lawrence.

More Americans than previously now make the connection between the Pentagon’s budget and supplemental spending such as Biden just requested and the decline across the board of American life. The heavy price we pay as Biden feeds us outworn platitudes is ever better understood. Is it not equally irrational that it does not occur to the majority of us to raise our voices in protest, to object to all that is done in our names, to reject the idiotic rhetoric, the cover story, and insist that those who purport to govern us and execute policy owe us honesty, open debate, a truthful accounting of what this nation does in the world? 

'Gaza Ethnic Cleansing'=Palestinian genocide

https://thegrayzone.com/2023/10/24/zionist-think-tank-palestinian-genocide/ (h/t Consortium News).

Zionist think tank publishes blueprint for Palestinian genocide

Pretty sick shit, isn't it?

 

Sayonara Nebula and Curiosity Stream.

I subscribed to your streaming service because of JT (the host of First Thought, and Second Thought).

You chose to censor him and remove all his content over false accusations and for his daring to stand up to the right-wing propaganda being fed here over Israel's continued genocide of Palestinians.

Well you can kiss my subscription goodbye.

And good riddance to you.

We should call de-platforming of individuals by tech corporations what it is - censorship.

On YouTube, I see that Richard Medhurst;s and Eva Bartlett;s channels were either demonetized, or completely removed.

First Thought got removed by Nebula.

I figure with the continued bombardment of Gaza/genocide of Palestinians by their colonial oppressors - this would just be the beginning.

They are scared of people like them speaking out, and speaking up. They are afraid they will be listened to, and then in turn; those who listen will then question.

Go get 'em, man!

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/10/23/us-government-newsguard-sued-by-consortium-news/

Another reason to dislike driving into work.

When one isn't feeling well.

But if one doesn't work, one doesn't get paid.

Then there's the whole 'visibility' carrot that management has been dangling over me for years. To disobey or defy would be 'perceived' as a 'career-limiting move'.

The cult(ure) of lies and propaganda that is Israel.

https://scheerpost.com/2023/10/18/chris-hedges-israels-culture-of-deceit/

Note: I said Israel. Not Jews.

When you see how this is traced to the US capitalist ruling class, you see a trend that connects racial supremacy, colonialism, imperialism, and settlerism - all in one.

Well if I was truly qualified for the role, I'd otherwise apply.

 

Yes, what fucking banking crisis?

https://www.axios.com/2023/10/14/global-banking-boom-crisis-svb 

Gotta love that tagline -> 'quiet global banking boom' 

The world's banks earned $1.3 trillion in 2022, in "the best period for global banking overall since at least 2007," per a new report from McKinsey. The estimate for 2023 profits, at $1.4 trillion, is even higher.

Why it matters: The past two years' headlines have been filled with bad news for banks. But the industry as a whole looks astonishingly healthy. Which, if nothing else, is a good reminder to always look past the headlines.

Driving the news: This year has seen the biggest bank failures since the financial crisis. Silicon Valley Bank was felled by higher interest rates; First Republic and Credit Suisse soon followed.

• Other banks are also hurting. Bank of America is sitting on paper losses of more than $100 billion after buying low-yielding bonds it now can't afford to sell. Citigroup is trying to cut its way to growth, with no visible success to date. Goldman Sachs has given up on its core strategy of leaning into being a bank. Charge-offs across the board are rising.
• The Chinese financial sector is looking particularly fragile.

The other side: If you're the kind of person who pays attention to quarterly earnings reports, you would know that JPMorgan on Friday reported that third-quarter revenue was up 21% and income was up 35%, thanks in part to its acquisition of First Republic.

• Wells Fargo's revenue and income were up 20% and 57%, respectively. Even Citigroup had a pretty healthy third quarter.

A conference I would like to someday attend - Dilemmas of Humanity.

https://dilemmasofhumanity.org/3rd-international-conference

New term of the day - 'atrocity propaganda'.

Context here -

It's a little late, but posting it anyways.

Summer Sunset in Loomis Lake State Park, Washington State.

The war crimes of Israel.

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/10/10/a-massive-war-crime/

“Starving 2 million people who cannot move and are under a land siege and naval blockade is genocide,” Pakistani writer Fatima Bhutto wrote on social media. “This is a war crime.”

 

Indigenous Peoples' Day.

As written by a (presumably) white female America. Note the word 'celebrated' below -

How is Indigenous Peoples' Day celebrated?

Indigenous Peoples' Day is more a day of recognition and mourning than of outright celebration. Great ways to commemorate Indigenous Peoples' Day are to educate yourself and others on indigenous and Native American culture, and their contributions and history.

You can also contribute to charities and causes that support indigenous people. Good options include:

• American Indian College Fund provides scholarships for Native American students.
• American Indian Policy Center provides government leaders and policymakers with accurate legal and historical information.
• American Indigenous Business Leaders support the education and development of indigenous-owned businesses.
• Association of American Indian Affairs provides aid in drafting integral legislation for indigenous people, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and the Tribal Governmental Tax Status Act and the Indian Child Welfare Act.
• First Nations Development Institute supports economic development and education for Native communities.
• Native American Heritage Association provides financial aid to those in need living on reservations in South Dakota.
• Native American Rights Fund fights to preserve Native American rights and tribal resources.
• National Indian Child Care Association provides tribal child care and early childhood programs.
• Partnership With Native Americans aids those living in poverty on reservations.
• Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations provides networking, professional and career opportunities for Native American women.

Still the above listing of the groups is a good starting point.

Of course in the late-stage of late-stage capitalism, there's never any responsibility taken for the crimes committed, no accountability for the lives destroyed, and no justice for the victims, survivors, and descendants. Just lots of talk and proclamations.

I would say for those who sincerely want to learn more - best to start in the area you live in now.

There are also outlets online to learn from as well, like Native News Online.

 

Well there weren't many, but we did see some salmon.

Hey look, the ruling class in other crapitalist countries is just as bad as the ones in the US.

Apart from a different religion and skin color, there's not really any difference.

They target the flow of information to the majority, because that's their only real means of control.

https://www.newsclick.in/bengal-editorials-organisations-reactions-pour-against-newsclick-raid

Sign the petition. 

(h/t to BreakThrough News and the People's Dispatch)

I wish this came true.

I'll keep my fingers crossed -

'Capitalist Magna Carta'?

Definitely need to find the book this article is based on and add it to my reading list -

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/10/05/german-banker-british-lord-who-wrote-capitalist-magna-carta/

New terms of the day - 'cognitive warfare'

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/10/01/impeachment-cognitive-warfare-on-capitol-hill/

Bonus term: cognitive warriors.

We will have to maintain a keen sense of history. We must be able to put the proceedings in the context of an indisputable written record that extends back at least nine years, when Hunter Biden was named to the board of Burisma Holdings, the controversial Ukrainian gas company, and Joe Biden, as vice-president, began intervening directly in Ukraine’s political, economic, and business affairs.

Extensive Catalogue of Evidence

The cognitive warriors in the press and among agenda-setting Democrats will urge us at every turn to assume there is no written record of events — no valid history.

 

Probably the best and deepest backstory into the whole Canada Nazi situation.

https://ingaza.wordpress.com/2023/09/26/canada-saluting-a-ukrainian-nazi-was-no-coincidence/

I'm still at a loss as to why this guy who got the standing ovation from Canadian Parliament isn't in jail.

The end of an era - and the end of effective usage of Netflix.

I have to admit, when I signed up for it all those years ago, Netflix was an appealing service and concept.

I liked the idea of renting DVDs to watch and return through an online service, but there was something else that was essentially more appealing.

I realized that I had access to a whole variety of movies, shows, and so forth, that one could otherwise not find a regular video store (do those even exist outside of porn shops now?).

So my 'queue' ran the gamut of many genres - various Hollywood film types (gangster, horror, comedy, noir, drama, action) from numerous periods going all the way to over a hundred years ago.

Additionally, there was music performance shows, theaters, independent films, documentary films, and many more. And, many of those across a variety of other countries' cinema flavors.

And I had always had it in my mind that for Netflix to expand and grow, it had to branch out and create its own sets of entertainment along the lines described above.

But a few things happened along the way that have since ensured I'll likely not be a customer of theirs for too long.

• For one thing, like many online companies, they have since treated all things that are presented on their platform as 'content'. So, no longer films, or music, or theater and so forth, but just product on their medium. In this regard, pretty much everything is reduced to just bits streaming back and forth across many services on many systems, and into 'devices', as opposed to just televisions and our heads.

To be fair, that's something even many of the traditional film companies do now. And indeed, since they themselves are now owned by large media conglomerates, they figure the best way to 'monetize' their products and services and content, would be to stream them.

Of course, all of this still is riddled with ads at every turn, no only within the sponsors and regular commercials, but within the shows themselves (hint: product placement never went away).

• And then there's the mode of filming itself. It's gone from actual film, to digital. Which if you're into all this 'high-definition' imagery may be fine. But having more definition doesn't necessarily make for better quality filming. Indeed something I actually find distasteful about most digitally films today is that they all have a similar look and feel - some degree of motion and graininess that doesn't really appeal to me.

• Then there's the reality that , I as the primary demographic has been pushed aside. Indeed as a cross over from computer animated films from the 1990's every one of them contains no end of 'celebrities' lending their 'voice talents' to obnoxious, idiotic and outright stupid characters in a variety of genres. And the idea that this would somehow relate to children is all bullshit. Really what it is making whole (and subsequent) generations dumber and dumber. None of this ever appealed to me. Now to make things worse, there's an entire generation of movies, shows, and so on that do nothing but shit on all things male. In these, males are usually portrayed as one or more of the following - dumb, scummy, racist, violent, cowardly, evil, and, well you get the idea. It's what sells these days.

None of this is any surprise - I'd been seeing this for a long time. It's simply how these media corporations operate in a crapitalist system. And I guess that's the part of me that's really disappointed in what Netflix has become. The company that a recently as a few years ago helped complete Orson Welles' last film, is not what it is today. It certainly is not what it once was, or could've been.

Today I'm less than a customer and really just another subscriber/bill-payer. I pay for content my family watches and that's really what Netflix counts on. They count one me tolerating the shit they put today because I tolerate it.

Thanks for the memories Netflix. I'll remember the good times when something better comes along, and when I find a way to drop it altogether and move on.

 

Some people make a career out of making excuses.

When it comes to the Toronto Maple Laughs, it's call being a sports writer evidently.

https://thehockeywriters.com/1993-non-call-costs-maple-leafs-stanley-cup/

Focusing on missed calls, writing about it 30 years later and leaving that part that Toronto completely bombed in Game 7 is the ultimate in feigned victim-hood.

 

The trials and tribulations of being in IT for a retail company - Part 2 (Yesterdays and Todays)

(Continuing on this earlier post)

When last we left off ...

I was performing a role within IT - for which I didn't have the title, nor the level - for close to two years. 

Naturally working like this benefits the employer as opposed to the employee - they get more work and labor from me at a lower amount of compensation. On top of all this, I was subjected to a regular and routine hostile work environment thanks to a toxic individual (who due to perceiving me as some sort of threat to their existence and status, chose to denigrate and deride everything I did - right or wrong), along with several project managers who had a rather dubious relationship with the manager PM.

And at that time, despite all the success in our group, the company chose to lay a bunch of employees off as cost-cutting measure. We all knew this was coming months in advance.

... you can probably imagine the stress I was under that week ... because at the time none of us knew whom exactly they were gonna let go, and who'd survive. Me and the lead PM talked about it ... we figured best to update our resumes. On top of that, I had just bought a house not too long ago.

When that fateful day came, the company had sealed off one of the floors, and had black screens blocking of the hallways. If you were scheduled for an early morning meeting on that floor, you would be taken into a conference room, told your job was eliminated, and exited from the building by security.

A meeting did come on my calendar ... but it as from my then director for all of us. When I got there, it was only then that I noticed the fellow Lead Test Analysts in various areas were not present. That's when we got the news ... all of them had been laid off.

I sat there listening to the director talking ... he said all who were at this meeting had their jobs in tact. This left me w/a strange feeling, though I was to performing this role, I was technically still listed as 'Lead Test Analyst' -how and why am I still here?

After the meeting, the director and my then-manager stayed behind and told me that I was moving to a new group, and that my job title and level would officially change to match what I was doing (production deployment).

Well I found out which group, and I tell you - I wasn't exactly ready.

It was one that let's just say, had a 'reputation'.

That reputation was one of being VERY difficult to work with, to engage with, to get any assistance with issue with, that had a variety of strong and challenging personalities, and so on. They were also a team that was always on the radar of upper management due to a number of high-profile and high-severity issues.

I remember the first time I met with them and THEIR leadership. The idea of someone dedicated to production deployments - and I in particular - wasn't too well received. I even recall one of them saying (in polite terms) that I wasn't needed.

Fortunately - that VP who had previously supported me - was also at this meeting. He believed in me and was confident I could help this group. So on I proceeded.

Life certainly wasn't fun. I had no guide on how to help this group, other than being told - 'fix their problems and tell them how things should be done'.

Somehow, something told me that wouldn't work in this group. Plus as I would later find out, some of the managers were either incompetent, toxic, and both.

So I decided to take a different approach. I decided to observe, listen and ask folks where they needed help. Despite some resistance and skepticism from many, some did speak up and tell me - they needed help sequencing and communicating their deployments; they needed help navigating the IT change management process; they needed help with some of the maintenance windows, and so on. And one by one, I started helping the teams by taking on some of those tasks, and by helping teams organizing their releases. I also took over owning the outage windows from our infrastructure vendor, and turned it into a regularly cadenced event with a plan and all the necessary communications.

This wasn't by no means easy. After all, I was still reporting to my previous manager reporting to that previous director who didn't really offer any kind of support. And some of the toxic managers in this group took every opportunity to belittle any accomplishments, or magnify any mistakes along the way.  Of course still, there was resistance to me as an 'outsider' and as someone who wasn't a developer or analyst.

But over time, and with some patience - the organization got more disciplined and got better. As well, one of toxic managers toxified their way out of their job. And after awhile, I even shepherded some regular release schedules for each team - to allow for for predictable deliveries of solutions. Of course, all of this took time and effort and energy AND well ... time mostly.

Lots of late evenings, lots of overnights, lost of weekends. Most of that time I never have ever really gotten back in the sense that it's never been really compensated for.

But over time the group got better, and eventually we succeeded in being one of (if not the) top producers of changes for our respective business areas and customers.

So ... did any of this lead to anything more or better? Tune into Part 3 to find out.