CIA, NSA, NGA, SPY

I can't wait for this fall.  I get to go to D.C. and hear the General Michael Hayden, Former Director of both the CIA and NSA, speak in a closed session just for my industry group.  It's hard to get excited about anything related to my job, but this one has me waiting... 

By nature I'm an inquisitive sort of person.   I also have an uncanny ability to cut through B.S. and make people choke on their own words.  A lot of times my victims don't even realize what's happened to them until it's over.  I subtly let them know I'm on to them, but I don't show my full hand.  A person with genuine integrity spills their guts and fesses up.  A liar keeps on going, and going, and going... fabricating their lies....eventually they hang themselves. 

It's amazing how many people - even when caught red handed - still try to deny lying/stealing when faced with irrefutable facts and evidence.  They wiggle and squirm.  They invent scenarios.  Still, they will not admit to anything.  A popular ploy for the liar is to try to deflect any accusations to the accuser.  Some blame everybody and everything else except themselves.  Then there is the world-famous, "Who?  Me???  That can't BE?"

I think I missed my calling as a CIA agent.  I prefer to work in the shadows, I don't need any recognition to feed my ego, and LOVE it when I'm underestimated.  

Rohnert Park Casino: Public Duped Again

Santa Rosa Press Democrat staff writer, Jeremey Hay, has had the assignment of selling the idea that a 12 acre casino plopped in Rohnert Park is a great idea and draws comparison to towns in southern California that don't share the same demographics nor economy Sonoma County does. 

Now that the public has had a glimpse of the monstrosity going in - as nobody had a clue that it would be 12 acres - the positive fluff piece was put together in an attempt to soothe the public's ruffled feathers trying to calm the fact that the public was duped and fucked over. 

Nice try. 

Summer Solstice

It's summer solstice.  For hippie freaks like myself, today represents the apex of life.  After today the freshness of spring, now mature, begins to wane.  On the human level, it's time to let go of things and situations in your life that have matured and can now only become a stagnant road block to the next phase.

Which brings me to my job.  

I reluctantly expanded my territory about a year and a half ago to San Mateo County when I was presented with an opportunity.  I guess there is a very real shortage of people who will not embezzle nor play games when trusted with millions of dollars. 

Anyway, I'm pretty much a Sonoma County kind of person.  Going to San Mateo brings immediate thoughts to mind of airport hotels along the freeway.  I'm finding out that San Mateo County is more than the space between San Francisco and San Jose.  

Spending summer solstice in Half Moon Bay with a gorgeous, fog-free day was symbolic for me on so many levels.....  and now tonight with the almost full moon.

New Computers

Getting new computers in the office has been an ordeal that makes me want to return to chiseling in stone.  Not only do I need to deal with the CWA union workers employed by AT&T who are way more interested in checking out places to eat for lunch and receiving their scheduled breaks (on the new couch in my office, I  might add) than installing my Uverse and making sure it's working, I also need to deal with the IT guys trying to get everything up and running and making my network operational.

The bounce back between the ATT technicians and my IT guys as to whom does what is never ending.  Each side is blaming the other as being incompetent idiots who don't know what they're doing.  Each side is saying that it's "not their job description nor scope" to deal with the problem going on.  Passing the buck is a staple now in the computer-internet-network world.  The real issue is that everything is so interrelated and complicated that only the most dedicated will stick by you to figure it all out.  We all know that type of dedication is lacking in today's work environment -- even if willing to pay for it. 

All I know is that I don't have internet access, network access, and I'm pissed off.....Is it really worth the hassle?  I'm beginning to think it's not worth all the:  upgrades, operating system bugs, software conflicts, network configurations, hardware conflicts, device drivers, firewall issues, potential security breaches,  BEING ON HOLD FOR TECH SUPPORT FOR  ETERNITY, etc. 

Just yesterday I was speaking with a business owner who is thinking of ditching cell phones and internet.  Why?  Scattered attention and information is pointless.  Keep things concentrated and efficient like a laser beam.  The point was you could do 1,000 things half-ass, or do 100 things with precision and detail.  We are all on circuitry overload.  There is a lot being passed around, but nothing is getting done.  When you start to add up the lost productivity for system failures and the time and resources to fix and maintain it, a business owner may be money ahead in simple, stand-alone desktop computers.  Email is a cluster-fuck time waster.  Use snail mail.  Only the truly important stuff gets snail mailed.  The rest is just noise that sucks up time. 

Eliminating internet access also releases a lot of employer liability with downloading porn, going on Facebook, shopping on Amazon, etc. and the time employees waste using these sites.  Granted, you could hire IT to block usage and monitoring of such sites, but that also has a cost.  

The Meeting

Away from the 'political correctness' police and from the fear of being sued or being misquoted in the press, business owners open up and say exactly what's on their minds.  The backroom, unscheduled meetings where they congregate to commiserate sums it all up.  Business owners have a bad rap for being stuffy and lacking humor.  I find it quite the opposite.  However, I have earned my spot at the table and will never rat them out.  They speak freely in my presence.  I find that the ultimate compliment.

Granted, there are a LOT of business owners who are complete asswipes.  I can't argue that fact.  However, the business owners are competing in a global economy.  The simple fact is that the American public (and people in general) want their goods/services for rock bottom prices or for FREE.  There is no free.

If the United States is to participate in a world economy, then we will have an economy like the rest of the world.

Think about it.......

Life During Wartime

I know some of you can relate...  Classic Talking Heads "Life During Wartime"  And yes, I've heard of a van loaded with weapons, packed up and ready to go.......At the rate I'm going, I'll be "vanned" by the government any day now.... 

MTV: Really had Music Videos

Once upon a time, back in the early 1980's, cable television was in its infancy.  One of the wonders of this new technology was the debut of Music Television. 

I was immediately hooked.  So were my friends.  There was nothing like smoking a bowl and watching MTV.  Ahhhhhhhh, memories.....

Music videos became a quasi-art form not unlike album covers.  Bands had trademark videos that launched their popularity.  I think everybody remembers Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller."  Classics.  Then there was the Madonna "Like a Virgin" video that sent the censorship nazi's wild. 

Instead of showing terrible shows like Jersey Shore featuring four foot tall whores, why don't they bring back the classics during a designated time slot?  Why not get the original v-jays out and dust off the classics that made MTV great?  It would be like Old Home Week.  The younger generation would LOVE old Devo videos and Talking Heads. 

We'd still be glued to the set...  Perhaps we have ditched the weed smoking at this point in our lives....  maybe not. 

No Privacy

OMG... it's about time you dumb asses started to figure out you have NO privacy whatsoever.  Granted, a lot of what is being hyped through the media is designed to shock and awe, but the underlying principle is the same: NOTHING you post on the internet -- including your "private" emails are actually private.

Of course Google, Facebook, Yahoo, etc., have issued media statements to the contrary saying how government snooping is a big no-no.  What a joke.  .  It's all PUBLIC snooping.  Google is the biggest violator sending guys on little motor scooters wearing helmets with cameras to map your neighborhood and address of record without your consent.  BTW... your car needs a wash and  your front lawn is full of weeds.  Oh, and you're recycling bin has a LOT of wine bottles in it. 

However, read the internet giants' statements closely..... they all say they don't fork over information directly to the government.  They say nothing about the corporations they sell advertising and marketing data to -- and what happens to your personal information thereafter.   The government gets the information third party from the advertising and marketing corporations that feed their political campaigns.  How else does the little side bar advertisements specifically pointed to your age, gender, and income level magically appear (including your need for Viagra)?  DUH. 

You think your Yahoo email, gmail, hotmail, and Facebook stuff is FREE?  You truly are idiots if you think all of this offered to you for nothing.  There is a price -- even if it does not come in the form of a monthly bill.  All you morons see is "free" and the ability to post pictures of yourselves. 

How do they get away with it?  I can see you all collectively shaking your angry fist, but you all need to punch yourselves first.  You all never read the fine print when you sign up for your "free" email, app, whatever.  You all hit the "I agree" to the privacy policies and such when you download your latest Angry Birds version as quickly as possible without wincing.  Buried in the legalese you sold your soul to the devil.... fore FREE I might add. 

The Chinese are laughing...and hacking....  no wonder they contain tight control over their own population and internet activity.   They see the example as to what NOT to allow. 

My Circle: Sacred Sisters

Roaming around the Scottsdale, Arizona area like a true desert nomad a couple of months ago, I stumbled upon this COMPLETE circle.  I first saw this circle at TYD's cabin on Spirit Lake this winter in Minnesota.  She had it on the coffee table.  I was immediately mesmerized by it.  TYD's version had five in the circle.  My sacred sisterhood has seven.

When I saw this at some funky hippie shop collecting dust in the corner I HAD to have it as the 'circle' was complete as it had all seven of us.  I got it for a song and a dance being it was slightly chipped and damaged.  I would have paid a LOT of money for it.. the symbolism meant that much to me. 

What was weird was that I was thinking about TYD's mom because she  passed away just days prior to my trip to Arizona while I was wondering around the hippie shop.  I remembered TYD's mother from my childhood for her orchids, and also her love for Latin America.  I was thinking about the conversation TYD and  I had driving from Mille Lacs to Minneapolis when I was there in February.. we were talking about our parents, how short life is, that it's all messed up, and to just live and love without judgement.

The thoughts of TYD and her mom were playing in my head when I found the circle of seven wondering around some nameless tourist trap souvenir shop. 

.  See all you betches in July!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Flying

Yesterday at dance class I was standing next to my fellow classmate.  We are creatures of habit.  We regulars all tend to stand in the same spot on the floor time and time again.  Also, the regulars tend to gravitate together.  We feed off each other's energy.  There's nothing like having a group in sync and instep dancing with the drums pounding away.  It's a primal rush I can't explain. 

After the music stopped, my African dance classmate turned to me and said, "Isn't this just like flying?"

I agreed. 

The only other time I feel like I'm flying is having sharp figure skates on with smooth, glass-like ice....

I take that back...  a bottle of wine will also induce the "flying" effect.  LOL

Decrescendo

I think perhaps decrescendo is the wrong word.  A decrescendo suggests a gentle slide into softness.  After a year of hype that was a majestic crescendo, the abrupt end is more like an awkward, out of key staccato with no following note.  

The scariest place now for me is the mirror - on so many levels.  

Hibbert: Apologizes for Gay Slur

Indiana Pacers center, Roy Hibbert, apologized this morning for his gay slurs.  Fair enough.  We will forgive Roy for bashing gays just as soon as he forgives us for the "dumb nigger" slurs.  Oh, and how did your mother babysit you?  Wet your lips and stick you to a wall???

Somehow, I don't think his apologies are sincere.  That's OK...  neither are mine.  BTW, Roy, your lips look like they're ready to suck cock.   Just sayin'......