Impious since 2006
Showing posts with label American Gothic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Gothic. Show all posts
Mar 1, 2018
Dec 21, 2016
Feb 21, 2011
American Gothic
Those guys look like a whole barrel of laughs.Next up, the soup cans that inspired Andy Warhol.
Jan 15, 2011
Saturday Morning Cartoons
The American Dream
The latest animated explanation of how the recent transition of the American Dream (purchased entirely on credit), was virtually guaranteed to become an American Nightmare. This is an extremely well done cartoon that takes a satirical look at “The American Dream”.
The AMERICAN DREAM is a 30 minute animated film that shows you how you’ve been scammed by the most basic elements of our government system. All of us Americans strive for the American Dream, and this film shows you why your dream is getting farther and farther away. Do you know how your money is created? Or how banking works? Why did housing prices skyrocket and then plunge? Do you really know what the Federal Reserve System is and how it affects you every single day? THE AMERICAN DREAM takes an entertaining but hard hitting look at how the problems we have today are nothing new, and why leaders throughout our history have warned us and fought against the current type of financial system we have in America today. You will be challenged to investigate some very entrenched and powerful institutions in this nation, and hopefully encouraged to help get our nation back on track.
Jan 1, 2011
Oh, Those Opulent O’s.
We’ve come to the end of a decade - yes, I start counting my decades by the ones and not the zeroes, which means that 1980 was the last year of the 70’s. I know it looks stupid on paper, but it is the proper way. My reference point would be the classic Onion Headline - “The Millennium Begins in 2001, Terrorists Note.”
In the grand tradition of rehashing old news and making sub-standard lists of events, arbitrary lists of the ‘best’ movies or music, reality television ‘stars’, or worst of all - consumer products - allow me the exercise of looking back with the rose colored glasses of time. I’d like to try to present the previous ten years as it might show up in a history book.
The Opulent O's
Previous eras of the American experience have been labeled, whether accurately or not, by the generations that followed. The eras of the Gilded Age, the Roaring Twenties, or the Fabulous Fifties give an over reaching illusion of wealth and comfort afforded by all the citizenry. Careful study shows that there were major exceptions ranked by class status and race in each of these three examples, and the names themselves discount recessionary times, and any turmoil that existed. However, the tradition of remembrance for a grouping of ten years with a fantastical moniker has become an unfortunate reality of historical narrative when examining the history of America. The era that we are focusing on now is no exception -- the era which begins at the turn of the 21st Century to the new year of 2011 CE. This time has become known as the Opulent O’s.
To first explain the name of the era, the people of the time did not refer to the year in which they lived as the aughts, or oughts as proper English would dictate, or even the example of the generation that lived through the turn of the previous century, the 1900’s. The pronunciation of the year in which they lived predominantly was spoken as, “two thousand and...” followed by the number designate. Hence, why a few historians have refereed to the era as the ‘And’s’. The consensus by reputable sources and careful research has been to designate this time as the ‘Oh’s.’ The evidence in the historical record suggests that the people of the time would sometimes drop the ‘two thousand’ in speech and would simply state, “Oh six,” when giving a descriptor of a year; as an example.
The word Opulent has become to describe the era. The Latin derived definition in English are defined as 1. Having or indicating wealth, and also 2. Abundant or plentiful. Ignoring race or regional exceptions -- the word perfectly defines the era.
The primary fuel of the time was cheap and easily obtained petroleum drilled from the ground. The peak of use of gasoline and plastic derived from oil occurred in this era. The abundance of cheap oil and fuel allowed for cheap food sources. The importance of oil in the life cycle of plant to waste product must be studied to understand the mindset of the time. The availability and sheer amounts of cheap fuel created a cradle-to-grave manufacturing cycle from consumer goods to 4 ton single passenger vehicle with low fuel to kilometer use ratios -- which defines the zeitgeist. The most important aspect, in hindsight, to the lifestyle of the times was the amount of fuel used to create inexpensive food. The petroleum was used in the creation of fertilizer, and copious amounts were used in the entire process of seed to market, and market to aftermarket production.
Simplified, the oil or oil products would be used by the farmer from every aspect of his production -- from the multiple passes on a tractor (soil toiling, planting, chemical pesticide application, cultivation and a final till of the soil), to transport to industrial food processing off site (sometimes thousands of miles) from the farmland. Next, from the secondary processor which would create a chemical byproduct of the original agricultural product (Maize and soybeans being the most popular of the bases found in most supermarkets [see also ADM Corporation] would then transport and package the new product and ship by truck to market. Retail supermarkets [Safeway, Albertsons], “fast food” restaurants [McDonald’s, Chili’s] or superstore retail outlets [Costco, Wal-Mart] would then cater to the final end user, who more often than not, used a single passenger vehicle to transport the product home. Once the product was consumed, the end user simply disposed of the plastic packaging to preserve the food product, and the outer container -- typically another plastic or cardboard package which only served to encourage purchase. Once discarded the packaging materials were then transported by another gas powered truck or transport to take the used goods to be covered in a landfill. The concept of cradle to cradle manufacturing may have germinated in this era, but due to the nature and scale of the single-use economic cycle, it was counter productive or even suicidal for any industry to adopt a plan to reuse or recycle their resources or waste products.
Since fuel and food were inexpensive, the lifestyle of the typical American of the Opulent O’s were filled with store bought conveniences and electronic trinkets designed for obsolescence which encouraged constant replacement. Leveraged credit based upon elevated housing prices allowed consumers buying power. It was not uncommon for an American to have bought a home past their means, and taken credit based on that home’s perceived market value, called a home equity loan. These funds were then used to purchase more consumer goods -- and often with a credit card [MasterCard, Visa]. The economy was primarily based on the spending habits of the consumer. Even after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush urged Americans to go to the malls, and purchase houses and cars to get the economy engine moving again. The government created an environment of low interest rates and extremely easy credit in order to facilitate the consumer’s appetite.
Two major military engagements were initiated in response to the sensational terrorist attacks in America, under the banner of a “War on Terrorism.” The engagements in Afghanistan were aided by the Allied Western NATO nations, and the second invasion of Iraq resulted in the replacement of the government there, and a permanent American presence. History has shown, both of these costly involvements were to secure the oil fields, and an attempt to stabilize the region [see also Iran v America 1970-2020] -- thus insuring the flow of inexpensive oil to American business interests. Specifically those partners in Europe and China. Like the citizenry, these foreign entanglements were funded largely by credit. The U.S. had gone from a creditor nation to a debtor nation in 1988, but accelerated during the Bush and Obama Administrations.
Despite the trillions of dollars expended, the price of oil rose as industrial engines of India and China grew their GDP by 20% per year. Oil Prices rose in late 2006 because of simple supply and demand, plus speculation in the commodity markets. Soon, inflation of consumer products, fuel prices, and food began to outpace the threshold of business and consumer expendable incomes. Quickly, the slowdown of consumer spending toppled the preposterous derivative financial products of the time, wiped out the housing speculation and subsequent consumer credit bubble, and exposed widespread institutional Ponzi schemes, not dissimilar to the domino effect experienced at the end of the Roaring 1920’s.
Amazingly, the Six Corporate media companies either were misinformed or incapable of reporting the trends that were creating the problems that led to disaster, and instead reported only soft news (entertainment and sporting events which fed to their other advertising sponsored media concerns), or blatantly perpetuated partisan arguments to fill a 24 hour news cycle with surprisingly low or useless content to their audiences. The news of the day, even as late as 2010, was that of recovery and consumer confidence -- despite under reported or manipulated unemployment figures and a withering manufacturing base. Despite the ineffectual news climate, the government and other influential sources were inserting the word “unsustainable” into the collective vocabulary. At the end of the decade, even to the most optimistic, it seemed that the party was coming to a close. The start of a ‘new normal’ was discussed and contemplated.
Notable Starts: Enhanced government security, social media on networked devices, portable networked computing in communication devices, alternative energy, commercial exploration of space, TEA Party [Taxed Enough Already Party]
Influential Americans: George W. Bush (43rd President), Barack H. Obama (44th President), Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Warren Buffet, Alan Greenspan, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerburg, Steve Jobs, Sarah Palin.
Human Achievements: Completion of the Human Genome Project, Large Hadron Collider (Switzerland), 2nd Hubble Space Telescope repair by Human Astronauts, extra solar system planetoids discovered, water found on Mars and the Moon.
Notable Disasters: Terrorist Attacks on September 11th, 2001, Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans and Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill, Global Warming/Climate Change.
In the grand tradition of rehashing old news and making sub-standard lists of events, arbitrary lists of the ‘best’ movies or music, reality television ‘stars’, or worst of all - consumer products - allow me the exercise of looking back with the rose colored glasses of time. I’d like to try to present the previous ten years as it might show up in a history book.
The Opulent O's
Previous eras of the American experience have been labeled, whether accurately or not, by the generations that followed. The eras of the Gilded Age, the Roaring Twenties, or the Fabulous Fifties give an over reaching illusion of wealth and comfort afforded by all the citizenry. Careful study shows that there were major exceptions ranked by class status and race in each of these three examples, and the names themselves discount recessionary times, and any turmoil that existed. However, the tradition of remembrance for a grouping of ten years with a fantastical moniker has become an unfortunate reality of historical narrative when examining the history of America. The era that we are focusing on now is no exception -- the era which begins at the turn of the 21st Century to the new year of 2011 CE. This time has become known as the Opulent O’s.
To first explain the name of the era, the people of the time did not refer to the year in which they lived as the aughts, or oughts as proper English would dictate, or even the example of the generation that lived through the turn of the previous century, the 1900’s. The pronunciation of the year in which they lived predominantly was spoken as, “two thousand and...” followed by the number designate. Hence, why a few historians have refereed to the era as the ‘And’s’. The consensus by reputable sources and careful research has been to designate this time as the ‘Oh’s.’ The evidence in the historical record suggests that the people of the time would sometimes drop the ‘two thousand’ in speech and would simply state, “Oh six,” when giving a descriptor of a year; as an example.
The word Opulent has become to describe the era. The Latin derived definition in English are defined as 1. Having or indicating wealth, and also 2. Abundant or plentiful. Ignoring race or regional exceptions -- the word perfectly defines the era.
The primary fuel of the time was cheap and easily obtained petroleum drilled from the ground. The peak of use of gasoline and plastic derived from oil occurred in this era. The abundance of cheap oil and fuel allowed for cheap food sources. The importance of oil in the life cycle of plant to waste product must be studied to understand the mindset of the time. The availability and sheer amounts of cheap fuel created a cradle-to-grave manufacturing cycle from consumer goods to 4 ton single passenger vehicle with low fuel to kilometer use ratios -- which defines the zeitgeist. The most important aspect, in hindsight, to the lifestyle of the times was the amount of fuel used to create inexpensive food. The petroleum was used in the creation of fertilizer, and copious amounts were used in the entire process of seed to market, and market to aftermarket production.
Simplified, the oil or oil products would be used by the farmer from every aspect of his production -- from the multiple passes on a tractor (soil toiling, planting, chemical pesticide application, cultivation and a final till of the soil), to transport to industrial food processing off site (sometimes thousands of miles) from the farmland. Next, from the secondary processor which would create a chemical byproduct of the original agricultural product (Maize and soybeans being the most popular of the bases found in most supermarkets [see also ADM Corporation] would then transport and package the new product and ship by truck to market. Retail supermarkets [Safeway, Albertsons], “fast food” restaurants [McDonald’s, Chili’s] or superstore retail outlets [Costco, Wal-Mart] would then cater to the final end user, who more often than not, used a single passenger vehicle to transport the product home. Once the product was consumed, the end user simply disposed of the plastic packaging to preserve the food product, and the outer container -- typically another plastic or cardboard package which only served to encourage purchase. Once discarded the packaging materials were then transported by another gas powered truck or transport to take the used goods to be covered in a landfill. The concept of cradle to cradle manufacturing may have germinated in this era, but due to the nature and scale of the single-use economic cycle, it was counter productive or even suicidal for any industry to adopt a plan to reuse or recycle their resources or waste products.
Since fuel and food were inexpensive, the lifestyle of the typical American of the Opulent O’s were filled with store bought conveniences and electronic trinkets designed for obsolescence which encouraged constant replacement. Leveraged credit based upon elevated housing prices allowed consumers buying power. It was not uncommon for an American to have bought a home past their means, and taken credit based on that home’s perceived market value, called a home equity loan. These funds were then used to purchase more consumer goods -- and often with a credit card [MasterCard, Visa]. The economy was primarily based on the spending habits of the consumer. Even after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush urged Americans to go to the malls, and purchase houses and cars to get the economy engine moving again. The government created an environment of low interest rates and extremely easy credit in order to facilitate the consumer’s appetite.
Two major military engagements were initiated in response to the sensational terrorist attacks in America, under the banner of a “War on Terrorism.” The engagements in Afghanistan were aided by the Allied Western NATO nations, and the second invasion of Iraq resulted in the replacement of the government there, and a permanent American presence. History has shown, both of these costly involvements were to secure the oil fields, and an attempt to stabilize the region [see also Iran v America 1970-2020] -- thus insuring the flow of inexpensive oil to American business interests. Specifically those partners in Europe and China. Like the citizenry, these foreign entanglements were funded largely by credit. The U.S. had gone from a creditor nation to a debtor nation in 1988, but accelerated during the Bush and Obama Administrations.
Despite the trillions of dollars expended, the price of oil rose as industrial engines of India and China grew their GDP by 20% per year. Oil Prices rose in late 2006 because of simple supply and demand, plus speculation in the commodity markets. Soon, inflation of consumer products, fuel prices, and food began to outpace the threshold of business and consumer expendable incomes. Quickly, the slowdown of consumer spending toppled the preposterous derivative financial products of the time, wiped out the housing speculation and subsequent consumer credit bubble, and exposed widespread institutional Ponzi schemes, not dissimilar to the domino effect experienced at the end of the Roaring 1920’s.
Amazingly, the Six Corporate media companies either were misinformed or incapable of reporting the trends that were creating the problems that led to disaster, and instead reported only soft news (entertainment and sporting events which fed to their other advertising sponsored media concerns), or blatantly perpetuated partisan arguments to fill a 24 hour news cycle with surprisingly low or useless content to their audiences. The news of the day, even as late as 2010, was that of recovery and consumer confidence -- despite under reported or manipulated unemployment figures and a withering manufacturing base. Despite the ineffectual news climate, the government and other influential sources were inserting the word “unsustainable” into the collective vocabulary. At the end of the decade, even to the most optimistic, it seemed that the party was coming to a close. The start of a ‘new normal’ was discussed and contemplated.
Notable Starts: Enhanced government security, social media on networked devices, portable networked computing in communication devices, alternative energy, commercial exploration of space, TEA Party [Taxed Enough Already Party]
Influential Americans: George W. Bush (43rd President), Barack H. Obama (44th President), Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Warren Buffet, Alan Greenspan, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerburg, Steve Jobs, Sarah Palin.
Human Achievements: Completion of the Human Genome Project, Large Hadron Collider (Switzerland), 2nd Hubble Space Telescope repair by Human Astronauts, extra solar system planetoids discovered, water found on Mars and the Moon.
Notable Disasters: Terrorist Attacks on September 11th, 2001, Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans and Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill, Global Warming/Climate Change.
Jun 21, 2010
Apr 26, 2010
Family demonstrates good trigger discipline
Two AR-15's, Two HK G3's, One Saiga, One AKS-74U, One MP5. The variants.: Saiga-12
Sep 29, 2009
Obamagoths
Barack and Michelle Obama with Spanish Prime Minister José Luis RodrÃguez Zapatero and his family + goth daughters.
Jun 10, 2009
Jan 13, 2009
Bush Legacy
The legacy of George W. Bush, in graphic form -- courtesy of The Atlantic (click pic to enlarge).
Jan 5, 2009
Aug 13, 2008
Goth Party Failure
Tampa Bay hosted a Goth party that called itself "Convergence 14"
First off, it was in the DAY TIME. Automatic fail.
Second, Tampa. Florida. Yeah, in the summer. Can you imagine the stench of BO and the runny mascara? Here's the original link to the story... if you dare...
And then there's this: The "OneFonz" was going to jump over a remote controlled shark in a pool. It was just a kiddie pool so I expected it to be, you know, funny.
First off, it was in the DAY TIME. Automatic fail.
Second, Tampa. Florida. Yeah, in the summer. Can you imagine the stench of BO and the runny mascara? Here's the original link to the story... if you dare...
Dude? Ah... the ComiCon was last weekend
And no, I'm not going to validate your parking.
Ice Skating? Can someone tell me EXACTLY what's Goth about that?
Okay, not complaining about the bikini fashion show
- hold on a tick... a BIKINI show?
At an event for pasty vampire Gothy people? Judges?
Yep. That's a fail.
Mojitos? Yeah, I know it's Florida... but isn't that supposed to be clove cigarettes and blood? At least box red wine? I'm fairly sure mojitos at a Goth event is a fail.
In the picture, "Acid Poptart" gets classy by downing some right before the bikini contest.
(I really hope that's not a dude!)
((double bonus, check the guy behind her holding his nose...))
And then there's this: The "OneFonz" was going to jump over a remote controlled shark in a pool. It was just a kiddie pool so I expected it to be, you know, funny. Then they took away the pool to make it safer. What?
Let me remind you that these people are supposed to be like a death cult or something?
And, note, this activity is a) outside, b) during the day.
Annie Rice must be spinning in her grave...
Let me remind you that these people are supposed to be like a death cult or something?
And, note, this activity is a) outside, b) during the day.
Annie Rice must be spinning in her grave...
Oh, and then he couldn't even make this jump.
Dude. That's an Epic Ultimate fail.
Jul 30, 2008
Spanking the Monkey
Astonishing Details In Peoria Mom's Murder Cutn'Pasted from Eric Shangraw
20-year old John Finnegan is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother. 43-year old Mary Finnegan was found strangled in her home Friday morning.
In video bonding court this afternoon, Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons said Finnegan told police he had a four year sexual relationship with his mother. He said he found her asleep in her bed last Thursday and killed her swiftly.
Lyons said Finnegan also told police he (allegedly - an important word not used in the original cut'npaste) had sex with his mother's corps (They misspelled corpse, there) and cut her hair.
"The circumstances [are difficult because they] involve a family and an inappropriate relationship. And it involves a result that is violent. Those things added together are some pretty tricky ingredients. They are difficult for people to absorb [actually] happening on their street," Lyons says.
Lyons says Finnegan staged his mothers' home to appear she had died from a drug overdose.
Mary Finnegan was on medical leave from Caterpillar and being treated for bi-polar disorder.
Bond for John Finnegan is set at $2.5-million.
Jul 2, 2008
Dead Lawn
I love this country...
And let me zoom into a story I just read about a couple in Sacramento, California who let their lawn die - you know - to save water resources and not burden their community. After all, the Gov had declared a state wide drought and asked people to conserve that precious water resource.
Yeah, you already know they got slapped with a $746 dollar fine.
Click the headline for the link. It's pretty damn funny. Reminds me of Brazil.
Meanwhile, here at the homestead - I've got a similar situation. Except that I'm not trying to conserve anything. You bet I have a dead lawn.
Normally, my lawn is dead. I have a massively huge tree, and my neighbors also have massively huge trees. A canopy if you will. Because of these massive trees, there is no sun. No sun? No grass. The trees deliver something called dense shade. Every blend of grass planted there doesn't take. Not that I watered that junk, nor spent a lot of time on it. Just a polite sprinkling of grass seed for the mice and birds -- and to pretend that I was trying.
This year, that massive huge tree decided to get into my septic drain for a free drink. Eff you tree... but I ain't cutting it down. No way. I'm saving too much from AC from all those leaves.
The plumber excavated my pipes, leaving a massive amount of dirt on one half of my no-lawn. I have officially decided that I'm not going to even pretend this year.
Wonder if I'll get a citation too?
Oh, and a huge branch fell down on the other half just the other day. It's massive. I'd have to drag it somewhere - but I don't want to. I'm just going to let that bad boy sit there right up front. It's more of a warning to the neighbors to a) not park in front of my house b) don't bother me.
Oh hell yeah, I'll be getting a citation.
And let me zoom into a story I just read about a couple in Sacramento, California who let their lawn die - you know - to save water resources and not burden their community. After all, the Gov had declared a state wide drought and asked people to conserve that precious water resource.
Yeah, you already know they got slapped with a $746 dollar fine.
Click the headline for the link. It's pretty damn funny. Reminds me of Brazil.
Meanwhile, here at the homestead - I've got a similar situation. Except that I'm not trying to conserve anything. You bet I have a dead lawn.
Normally, my lawn is dead. I have a massively huge tree, and my neighbors also have massively huge trees. A canopy if you will. Because of these massive trees, there is no sun. No sun? No grass. The trees deliver something called dense shade. Every blend of grass planted there doesn't take. Not that I watered that junk, nor spent a lot of time on it. Just a polite sprinkling of grass seed for the mice and birds -- and to pretend that I was trying.
This year, that massive huge tree decided to get into my septic drain for a free drink. Eff you tree... but I ain't cutting it down. No way. I'm saving too much from AC from all those leaves.
The plumber excavated my pipes, leaving a massive amount of dirt on one half of my no-lawn. I have officially decided that I'm not going to even pretend this year.
Wonder if I'll get a citation too?
Oh, and a huge branch fell down on the other half just the other day. It's massive. I'd have to drag it somewhere - but I don't want to. I'm just going to let that bad boy sit there right up front. It's more of a warning to the neighbors to a) not park in front of my house b) don't bother me.
Oh hell yeah, I'll be getting a citation.
Jun 18, 2007
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