Why Is Peace So Difficult in Palestine?

It seems like every few years some arrogant, big mouth, hot shot politician in America decides that he/she is The One capable of bringing about peace.

Things go fine for a while, but once real progress is happening the extremists in both the Palestine camp and the Israeli extremists figure out some way to torpedo the deal.

With the Palestinians it is difficult to understand why they find poverty and conflict as better than prosperity for their people. They surely understand that until they openly accept Israel's right to exist, Israel is going to fight to the death. The Palestinians are never going to be allowed to move back to Israel, take back their conquered land, and change the voting and demographics to where the Jews probably would no longer be a majority. The Israelis are simply not going to give back all of Jerusalem to the Palestinians. It won't happen. By demanding it the Palestinians are killing the peace negotiations.

Maybe there are super-rich Arabs who donate large amounts of money to the Palestinians as long as the conflict continues. So some of the Palestinian leaders have become addicted to this welfare. Actually having to go to work and try to solve problems sounds very difficult. Better the status quo.

Among the Jews there is a vast amount of money coming in from America in support of the Israeli state. Mostly from individual rich American Jews but also plenty from the taxpayers and the government of America. See above paragraph about the status quo. There is the second dynamic, which is the builders. There is a massive, wealthy industry in Israel building these houses and apartments in the “settlements.” Just like builders in America, the number one goal is to keep building and keep getting richer.

Last there are the lunatic, fanatic right wing Jewish religious types. These people are not rational. Like true believers in all faiths, Christian or Moslem, they operate based upon sacred old text books, ritual, and faith. These freako super-religious types have resulted in millions of dead people over the last 2,000 years.

-
-
-
-
-
-

Fifty Year Old Natural Gas Pipelines

My father worked for one of the larger natural gas companies which transport gas at high pressures through very large pipelines from the natural gas wells, often thousands of miles to the areas (like California) which use a lot of gas.

I grew up in the culture and the industry. Literally. I was a young boy when I started going to the shop with my Dad on weekends. As a young boy I learned to weld, learned about hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, and plumbing. Sometimes I would ride with him if he went out on a night time call. He didn't deal with residential customers; his job was the automated instrumentation at the pumping stations located periodically along the trans continental pipelines.

They attempted to stop or reduce corrosion of these large pipelines through the use of cathodic protection. The concept does work. But fifty years is a long time too. You wouldn't send your daughter off to college in a 50 year old car, and if you had a choice you wouldn't fly in airplanes that old either. It doesn't matter how well they do the maintenance. Leaks from corrosion and pin-holing of these enormous pipelines are not uncommon.

I don't imagine the investors thought much about having eventually to replace these pipelines back when they were first laid. The guys who founded these companies were entrepreneurs. Certainly in the last 15 or 20 years obscene greed has ruled the business community. There is no big bank account or trust fund sitting somewhere which these companies can utilize to begin replacing these trans continental pipelines. The profits have all gone to big salaries and bonuses for the top executives and to the owners-shareholders.

I really don't know what they will do. By all rights they should be required to devote a substantial portion of their profits to this important safety issue of pipeline replacement, but that is not very likely.

-
-
-
-
-
-

Great Video Clip

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Charter Schools

I readily admit that I am not fully up to date on what is happening with the nation's publicly funded schools. I am not an educator, and I don't even have school age kids any more.

What I do know is that we all want the youth of America being properly educated. I also read my property tax statement, and I see the vast amounts of money that I am spending on educating these kids. I think many of us suspect that lots of disrespectful kids are making it through high school (and maybe even beyond) without being able to spell, punctuate, or capitalize sentences. Their math skills end at being able to balance a check book, they didn't learn a second language, and their knowledge of history is seriously lacking. Jay Leno likes to make fun about how incredibly ignorant and uninformed many Americans are.

These kids are being taught that the ideas of fundamentalist Christianity are more valid than Evolution and Charles Darwin's ideas. This politicization of the school curriculum by the right wing is nothing less than propaganda. A re-writing of history in lot of cases.

The demographic shift from America being a mostly Anglo society to one that is heavily Hispanic is generating challenges as well. It seems like some kids in America don't read well in either Spanish or English. Of course allowing these Hispanics to continue on and receive their diplomas without being able to properly function in the English language guarantees them a sentence of being permanently relegated as a second class citizen.

I am beginning to suspect that charter schools are an assault on democracy and public education. Taxpayers fund these schools, but they are run by private companies. So an important element of democratic control is lost. Even though smart people like President Obama support charter schools, this feels more and more like privatization. Bush and the deregulation fanatics wanted to privatize social security, and they have made great strides in privatizing the military through independent contractors.

The assault on democracy is right out there in the open, but not many people seem worried about it.

-
-
-
-
–

John Dobson

The inventor of the Dobsonian Telescope was John Dobson. In the past he has spent a great deal of time here visiting with the El Paso Astronomy Group. He is old now, but his mind is so sharp it is almost scary.

This fine older gentlemen is brilliant, and his thoughts are as fresh and young as a twenty year old. This video clip is about six minutes long, and it is filled with pearls of wisdom and humor.

-
-

Ex-Workers Who Kill Those Who Have Treated Them Unfairly

Over the last few years it has become more common to hear about an employee who gets fired. The worker feels strongly that he or she has been treated improperly. So the terminated employee returns with one or more loaded firearms and proceeds to kill those individuals that she/he feels treated them badly.

Many times these individuals are long term employees, and when they return they are very specific in who they target and kill. Specific owners, managers, supervisors, and sometimes even their ex-colleagues.

The company always has a great story to tell about how well they treat their workers. But there is always a strong nagging suspicion that there are two sides to this story, and that there probably is something to the aggrieved employee's story about ill treatment. Sometimes this involves continued racial discrimination, other times it is a case where the company has made specific promises to the employee but then does not fulfill its commitment.

Either way, which ever side of the story seems most believable to you, one or more of the owners, managers, or supervisors typically has now been shot dead.

I worked as a supervisor and then as a manager for twenty five years. Based upon my personal experience it is crystal clear to me that if one treats workers like children, they will behave like children. But if the bosses are truly honest with the workers, and if they respect them and take the time to listen to them, these sorts of terrible situations should never occur.


LINKS TO NEWS ARTICLES:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/09/10/2010-09-10_suspended_female_employee_opens_fire_at_kraft_foods_facility_in_philly_killing_t.html

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20100910_Shooter_kills_2_Kraft_workers_at_Northeast_Philadelphia_plant.html


-
-
-
-

Koran Burning 2.01

It is absolutely silly all the fuss being made about this.

This guy is behaving as a good American should. People who acquiesce, lower their heads, or kiss ass in the face of religious intolerance and evil need to take a good look in the mirror. Islam is a terrible belief system, much like Nazism. It is completely intolerant to other religions, it does not allow girls to get an education, it supports suicide killings against innocents, and sharia law says that young girls need to have their clit cut off.

In America we simply don't permit burning witches at the stake or far out religious groups like the KKK. Anyone who says that Islam and Muslims should be treated with the same respect as Christianity or Judaism should go join their buddies in Al Kaida.

This pastor in Florida may be rather ignorant and not all that bright, but he knows that it is time to draw a line in the sand. This is the proper, decent American thing to do. It is time that we stand up against the brutality of Mohammedanism.

-
-
-
-
-

Geezer Scooter on Toyota Prius

I installed this yesterday afternoon, and this is the first trial. This park is far enough from our house that it isn't practical to drive there on the scooter.

This way the dog and I get a nice outing at the park.

-
-
-
-
-

Koran Burning 2.0

There seems to be an absolute firestorm building simply because a pastor of a small Florida church feels that he needs to publicly stand up and make a statement about the evils of the Islamic religion. Everyone from President Obama to General Petraeus have weighed in now. They all are arguing for religious tolerance. In their view this means allowing Muslims to burn American flags, kill members of other religions, cut off young girl's clits, and keep girls from receiving a proper education. This is not an acceptable position for leaders in America to be supporting.

Islam in practice is as bad as Nazisim or the KKK in America were in practice. What this rural Christian minister and a great many normal Americans see is that this is not at all about religion. It is not religious tolerance to say that Americans should accept all this hate speech and hate action (killing and stoning) by the adherents of Mohamed. Accepting and tolerating burning witches at the stake is not religious tolerance.

When it is possible to build a Christian church in Saudi Arabia, then we should allow more mosques to be built in America. And certainly it is consistent with being a loyal, patriotic American to oppose construction of this controversial mosque just a few blocks from where the supporters of Islam killed so many people of various nationalities and faiths.

This is not a conflict between Christianity and Islam. It is an indictment of a philosophy which is completely inconsistent with what America stands for.

-
-
-
-
-

Koran Burning

Islam is a terribly defective religion. The guys who flew airliners into the world trade center and the pentagon did so in the name of Mohamed. Islam recommends cutting off young girl's clits. Sharia law permits stoning to death a woman who may have had an affair. In many Muslim countries women cannot even leave the house without a male familial companion. Girls are not permitted to get an education in Muslim countries. Islam is a completely intolerant religion, not accepting other religious faiths. Just try building a Christian church in Saudi Arabia.

In the name of the holy Mohamed, Muslims routinely wear suicide bomb vests or drive suicide car bombs so that they can randomly kill innocent people. Islam is the faith of the ignorant. Intelligent, open minded people could not possibly say good things about this faith.

One would be expected to actively oppose racism, the KKK, and the Nazis. One cannot be ambivalent on this issue, just keeping quiet and silently whimpering. I approve of the people who want to be honest and open about how terrible Islam is.

This little Koran burning ceremony in Florida seems just fine to me.

-
-
-
–
-
-

Flight Attendant is HIV Positive

Steven Slater, the Jet Blue flight attendant who exited the plane down the emergency chute at JFK after using the airplane's PA system to tell a rude passenger exactly what he thought, says that he is HIV positive.

I am not homophobic, and the job of flight attendant seems like one that might suit a young gay man. But after spending a long career in food processing, I do admit to some concern that someone who is HIV positive is engaged in serving food and drinks.

It is highly improper and illegal for someone who is HIV positive to have sex without first telling their sexual partner about their affliction. Dentists now routinely wear masks and have on surgical gloves to protect against transmission of HIV.

Is it not equally reasonable that the customers deserve to be provided with advance warning before someone who is HIV positive prepares and serves their drinks or food?

-
-
-
-
-
-

L.A. County sheriff's deputies taking longer to respond to emergencies

The LA Times isn't sure whether this is due to the budget problems. Don't be naive. Cops are people like anyone else...except that many are on a heavy power trip and they carry loaded guns.

The city manager and city council of El Paso, Texas think they are real smart to try and claw back nickles and dimes from the men and women who routinely risk their lives on the job. They need to take off their rose colored glasses and stop being so childish.

There will be a payback. Probably not one that anyone will ever be able to prove, just things will stop going so flawlessly with the law enforcement types.

-
-
-
-
-

More Troops To Afghanistan?

The military generals always want more troops. Its one of those rules of nature. Even though they have stated very clearly that this war against the Taliban can't be won militarily, they still want more funding and more soldiers. Endlessly.

So Barack: Are you going to cave in to the lifers again, or are you going to start reducing the number of troops – like you promised?

-
-
-
-
-

Tropical Storm Hermine

Hey Ron, looks like Hermione is going to dump on San Antonio.

-
-
-
-
-

Afghanistan Corruption

Several months ago Obama and the top American military men were all agreeing with each other that the war in Afghanistan simply could not be won militarily. There was a general consensus that the military could only provide some level of security while the civilian, democratic government got more involved and better organized. All parties seemed to be enjoying stressing that for this process to work the government had to greatly reduce corruption.

It seems like a daily event now to read an article about the latest corrupt act of the Karsai government. The Afghani government does not appear to be even trying to get corruption stopped or under control.

The most disturbing part of all this is that the growing corruption has not slowed down Obama or the American military one bit. They have just stopped mentioning that there is general agreement that the war cannot be won militarily, and that a competent and clean civilian government is essential to the process of neutralizing the Taliban.

The biggest bank in Afghanistan seems to be failing. There is a run in process on the bank. Of course President Karsai, his family, and his cronies have been involved in many of the shady banking deals. The deregulation Republicans under Bush set up much of the financial system, so I suppose it is not surprising that it all coming apart now like a house of cards.

ARTICLE LINK: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/world/asia/06afghan.html

-
-
-
–

Misogyny and Misandry

Based upon the sum of their life's experiences, some men gradually come to generally dislike women. This has nothing to do with sex, and it certainly doesn't in any way imply a sexual attraction to other men. It is normally called misogyny, a hostility towards the female gender. At least among women misogyny is seen as terribly socially unacceptable, sort of like being racially biased. When there are no women present, many men will will fess up and admit to their dislike of most things female. Breasts and vaginas which are not all worn out, i.e., less than 30 years old, are clearly the exception.

Misandry is the opposite, being a hatred or contempt of all men or boys. There is open contempt by most women of the things that men consider important, even when men are present. Examples: Ripping off a roaring fart or a good burp. It is generally accepted by women that for men to be biased against women is a sickness, but for women to be be biased against men just demonstrates their superior intelligence. This contempt is not seen as being socially unacceptable at all. Women view it as their important social mission to improve and change their man. They think this is part of the reason they were created.

I am an old geezer now, and over the span of a long life I have been married three times. Each of my wives was intelligent, charming, sexy, and attractive. They were especially charming during the early phases of the relationship, prior to our getting married. Over time I grew to dislike each of them; I'm sure that the feeling was probably mutual.

You used to hear some men say about women, “You can't live with them, and you can't live without them.” I disagree. Men do NOT need women to survive or be happy.

Having been single for the last six years I can attest that one can indeed live very happily without a woman. In fact I find that living alone (with just my neutered male doggie) is far superior to being forced to live with another person – especially a woman.

-
-
-
-
-
-

Motorized Geezer Scooter

Now that the leukemia has reached the advanced stage my platelets are low and so is my hemoglobin. I am very anemic. So I have almost zero strength or stamina. If I walk more than about 20 feet (6 meters) I get light headed and have to stop and rest for a moment.

My little doggie has been very empathic and accepting of this, but at heart he is an athlete and just loves to run. So earlier this week I broke down and bought myself a geezer scooter. It supposedly can go 15 – 20 miles (24km - 32km) on one battery charge, and if I wanted to it would go fairly fast.

I put the long lead on my doggie, and we take scooter-walks together. Its real nice for both of us.

After we got home from this morning's walk, I installed a spare Garmin GPS that was just sitting around on the geezer-scooter.

LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Victory-10-4-Wheel-Scooter/

-
-
-
-
-
-

Murder With Impunity

According to an article in Diario, a Juarez newspaper, in only three percent of the murder cases have the Mexican authorities even established a suspect and passed the case on to the judiciary. Even in those cases which are sent to a judge, there is seldom any conviction or sentence to a guilty party.

In the city of Juarez, Mexico one can commit the crime of murder with a certainty of almost total impunity.



ARTICLE LINK: http://www.diario.com.mx/notas.php?f=2010/09/01&id=955be37356e22a2ae3a1f5a5173807ae

-
-
-
-
-
-

Drones Patrolling Mexican Border

There are several reports in the news that unmanned aircraft are now patrolling the entire border with Mexico, all the way from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. So what is their mission?

Are they carrying missiles so that they can shoot and kill drug smugglers, gun runners, or human traffickers? This is how it is done in Pakistan. If some anonymous American government bureaucrat thinks that some dark skinned foreign person is a bad guy, then it is OK to just go right ahead and kill him, and maybe a few of the women and children around him too. No need for any of that liberal or progressive nonsense like the courts or the constitution.

In Afghanistan-Pakistan they are fighting the undeclared war against terrorism, and here in the USA on the border with Mexico we are fighting Ronald Raygun's undeclared war against drugs.

Or maybe the mission of these drones is utterly humanitarian. Try to spot people crossing the long hot desert on foot who may die from dehydration. This way humanitarian water can be delivered to them by helicopter, jeep, or ATV. Somehow I doubt that this is part of the government's reason for flying these drones around.

I guess the primary mission must be to enrich the companies which makes and maintains the drones. It also makes the remote control drone drivers and their joy sticks seem more important and gives them a bit more job security. The racist Republicans are also using this issue to try and make Obama look bad and the GOP look good.

-
-
-
-
-

Juarez, Mexico Narco Murders

August was the most violent month in the history of the city of Juarez. A total of 15 people were killed in mostly separate incidents yesterday bringing the total number for the month to 336. The number of narco murders in the month of August 2010 surpasses any previous ANNUAL total before 2008. So far this year, an average of 8 people have been killed in Juarez per day, or one homicide every 3 hours on average.

The total for the country of Mexico this year is reported to be 7,638...more than one-fourth of the homicides in the country of Mexico have occurred in Juarez.

-
-
-
-
-