Vermont

Welcome to Vermont. And that state of Vermont to be found in that continent of North America is a beautiful place. Green Mountain. A super cool place I guess. And that junkmobile of a car, complete with a motorcycle in it, to be found in those photos above, well that seems to have gotten everyone on that road trip throughout that state of Vermont and all points in between. Vermont, a place where land is measured in acres versus square feet and backyards are the side of a mountain where everyone seems to live off of in self sufficiency. A land that is farmed. The city versus the country. A place where time stands still, well sort of. And you can see the stars at night, even the milky way, without the lights of the city. And then there are no billboards in Vermont, a relief to the eyes and soul from big city advertising. And it is an oasis, some sort of a botanical garden of paradise, an orchard, an herbal pharmaceopia with just about every herb, fruit and vegetable enough grown on ones land to where one doesn't even have to go to the supermarket for food, for apple trees everywhere, for grapes, greens, tomatoes, plums, poppies, wormwood, morning glories, garlic, onion, squash, echinacea, elderberry, comfrey, milkweed, lavender, valerian, willow trees, willow bark, anise and all herbs growing in the wild, etc. And that Vermont State Fair with those farm animals posted in those photos above and local vendors, the arts and crafts as part of it, that self substaining fair, well that was even more amazing to see. And those lakes, quarries, creeks, caves and waterfalls, well they were even more awesome to see. And as the world seems as if it is crashing down all around me, I am not sure what else there is to say about that state of Vermont and those photos that find themselves posted above in my web 2.0 social media user generated content internetaholicness attempt to maintain content for this blog and my other blog whenever blaghers block possible. Except that what's up with those guns that Walmart sells in its stores there? Occupy the NRA. Have a great road trip vacation day and more.

Vanishing New Jersey

And I have heard it said that the only thing constant is change. And some stories do not end as you expect. And in between blaghing about all things #KaliefBrowder, #SandraBland, Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street and beyond, and with that Google page rank update still sending me in search of a fifth full time job for when that get rich internet quick does not get rich internet quick. This blog post happens to be one of those off the wall, out of the blue, from left field posts, I think, that may have nothing to do with a No Police State, or maybe it does, who knows. This is one of those posts that has to do with real estate, the economy and change, kind of like one of those Vanishing New York posts, only this one is about Things That Aren't There Anymore: Central NJ Edition, or at least things that won't be there in the coming months, Northern New Jersey Edition. And does this mean that you've become one of those New Jersey people when you start blaghing about all things New Jersey. And I have always thought that when one crosses that New York, New Jersey interstate line, that it becomes a completely different commuter world, seemingly for generations to come. And so word on the street is that Food Basics in New Jersey, and also that Chase Bank next door to it in that New Jersey Plaza are closing in the coming months. And what's up with that "For more information on A&P Stores sales and bankruptcy" statement to be found on that Food Basics website I am not exactly sure, though this impending closing news wouldn't be such news to me if I didn't find myself passing by these places every so often. And from what I hear, this Food Basics lot, used to be Two Guys Department Stores years ago. Do you remember when? And then there is that The shemittah and financial collapse article that has something to do with releasing of debts every seven years, and blood moons, that in my paranoia conspiracy theories has me wondering if this is the beginning of another economic collapse, not since that mortgage meltdown a few years ago, doomsday, the beginning of the end, again, or something like that. And when the stores all around you start to close, you start to wonder if this shemittah and financial collapse stuff is true. Are stores starting to close worldwide, nationwide? And what will become of these places when they close, another chain store, another strip mall, condos, abandoned? Are these changes reflected across the nation? Is this just another story of gentrification, white flight, no not white flight..., genocide, a war zone, blight, urban renewal? And what else is there to say about this real estate situation that has not already been said in this kind of real estate situation time. Have a great impending development, impending shemittah and changing times day.

and ditto a couple of months later:...

And that photo of Food Basics with those "food Basics is Closing" signs in the window and on the ground, well it looks like Food Basics, this location only, is closing.  The only thing constant is change.
 

A No Police State Song

And I have blaghed about that No Police State thing on this blagh before in times past. So much that I thought to repost that No Police State Song on this blog again. And it's that time of year again when that TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK (POLICE) RIOT 27TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS! that I have found myself singing that No Police State song at in times past comes up again in that city of New York, in that neighborhood of the Lower East Side, now called the East Village for real estate marketing purposes, maybe. And this time this years reunion concert is to be accompanied by a Tompkins Square Park Campout - Camp New York Post, according to those Facebook events I came across in Facebookland. Squat the world. Occupy Wall Street Worldwide. No one is free when others are oppressed. Is another world possible. And what, if anything, does this have to do with a No Police State.

 #blacklivesmatter #icantbreathe #ferguson #baltimore 

No Police State

The place was martiallawville two thousand and one
and everywhere I looked I saw people with guns
standing on the corner in uniforms
full of torture devices for if you stray from the norm
they'll stop you over here and they'll stop you over there 
they'll stop you anywhere and they won't even care
as they shake you down and throw you on the ground 
put their foot on you and then kick you around 
they'll punch you and they'll beat you till you're almost dead
I couldn't take it no more and so I said
No Police State. yeah, that's right, no policy state. 
I screamed No Police State. No Police State. 

And so, I left the street and then I went to the store 
but as I walked through the metal detector
I could not get through because this man at the door
in a uniform called security 
with a criminal record worser than you and me
he took my bags and my belongings too
and he said the words we are surveilling you
with plain clothes spies and close circuit cameras
inspection devices and ten way mirrors
and so I started shopping from aisle to aisle
but I could hear them all the while
they murmured, they whispered and then they said
come with us your time is at hand
to be mocked, scourged, tried, tempted and afflicted
and crucified and persecuted in this wilderness 
I said to them deliver me I did not do a thing 
they said I did and that was it and so I screamed
No Police State. yeah, that's right, no policy state
I screamed No Police State. No Police State.

And so, I went home and I felt secure
until the evil knocked at my door 
it was a legion of men it was an army 
and they called themselves the authority 
who were concerned for my safety 
so they said to me can we see some ID 
to use against you as you will see
our king he owns the land and he even owns you
so this is what we're gonna do
they trashed my place, they tore it upside down
they took everything and then they threw it around 
then they wanted to put me under their care
cause it looked like I could not take care of my affairs 
so I took no further thought for what I was gonna say
cause they were gonna search and seize me anyway
and so I screamed, No Police State yeah that's right, no policy state
I screamed No Police State. No Police State. 

Justice For Sandra Bland and Kindra Chapman

And on this day finds itself as Occupy Wall Street day one thousand and something. And Occupy Wall Street is still moving fast, I think. And also on this day, Black Lives Matter is still moving fast. And on this day MILLION PEOPLE'S MARCH AGAINST: Police Brutality,Racial Injustice, and Economic Inequality is also happening in that city of Newark in that state of New Jersey. And this event is another one of those seemingly a bazillion and more #blacklivesmatter events for all things police brutality and beyond. And according to that Facebook event invite for that Million People's March, this event describes itself as:

Police brutality is an ongoing, growing and deadly problem in the United States Of America.

It includes the unwarranted and unjustified killing of unarmed people, the use of excessive force, the violation of peoples' constitutional rights, racist and discriminatory practices, criminal activity, corruption and misconduct, increased militarization of police forces, and the failure of the criminal justice system to hold police accountable. 

Police brutality is not an isolated problem. It is a historical problem with roots that are deep in the social fabric of this country. It must be seen within the broader context of racial and economic injustice and inequality.

While the victims of police brutality come from all racial groups in society, the vast majority come from African American, Latino, Native American and other communities of color. They are overwhelmingly poor and working class. Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Abdul Kamal, Kashad Ashford, and Rekia Boyd are among the recent victims.

Police brutality has been and continues to be the cause of social unrest in the country. Throughout contemporary US history incidents of police brutality have sparked explosive episodes of civil rebellion and unrest, with the most recent being that of Ferguson, Missouri.

The failure of the criminal justice system to hold police officers accountable is causing a political crisis as more people discover that police brutality goes unpunished. Police kill unarmed civilians and are not even charged.

One grand jury after another fails to indict police officers. The cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner being the most recent examples. This is perpetuating a growing belief that the criminal justice system is racist and illegitimate.

Police brutality is a serious and longstanding problem. For decades attempts have been made to reform the police. These efforts have only been successful when tremendous sustained political and social pressure have been brought to bear upon the appropriate government institutions.

For these reasons the People's Organization For Progress (POP) is calling a MILLION PEOPLE'S MARCH Against Police Brutality, Racial Injustice, And Economic Inequality. We will march to demand an end to police brutality and justice for all of its victims, police reform, and an end to the problems of racial injustice and economic inequality which lead to police brutality.
Lawrence Hamm
Chairman, People's Organization for Progress

And there was another #BlackLivesMatter related event for Sandra Bland and Kindra Chapman in that city of New York the other day also, held at Union Square Park. And that Justice For Sandra Bland and Kindra Chapman Facebook event invite described itself as follows:

Peoples Power Assemblies will meet at Union Square Wednesday (7/22) at 5pm to demand justice for Sandra Bland, Kindra Chapman and all others killed by racist police terror.

And so there was a rally and a march as part of this event, that seemed to be accompanied by a wall of polizei two or three feet deep at every police state step along the way. And so they rallied, they spoke, about all things Sandra Bland and Kindra Chapman and police brutality and beyond. And then they marched, from Union Square Park to 34th Street Penn Station, to 34th Street and 5th Avenue, where protesters were arrested as in that Protesters Arrested @ Justice For Sandra Bland and Kindra Chapman YouTube video and photos from this event that finds themselves posted above, and then continuing on to Grand Central Station where there was a Die - In. And where this march continued or not continued after this event on this day I am not exactly sure. Though the list of Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter events seem to go on and on. Is another world possible. No one is free when others are oppressed. And what does this have to do with a No Police State.

March To Shut Down Rikers Island

And even when that Google page rank update of yesteryear still wants to send me in search of a fifth full time job for when that get rich internet quick does not get rich internet quick, I still find myself attempting to blagh away in order to maintain content for this blagh and my other blagh whenever blaghers block possible.
And on this day finds itself as Occupy Wall Street day one thousand and something, and Occupy Wall Street is still moving fast. And Black Lives Matter, that everything police brutality and beyond movement, is still moving fast also. And in between reading those current event headline news of the day about that #ChinaMeltdown, China stock market going under, that take down the Confederate flag debate, #OccupytheNRA, and everything else in between, there was a march to shut down Rikers Island the other day, some place similar to Attica Prison. And I know that there was a march to shut down Rikers Island the other day, in that city of New York, because that Facebook event invite from Resist Rikers says so."Today, we march to Rikers Island to deliver this scroll, demanding the immediate and unconditional removal of all the children from the island". And that Resist Rikers description of that MARCH TO SHUT DOWN RIKERS - JUSTICE FOR KALIEF BROWDER! NO TO CRIMINALIZATION! Facebook event invite read something like:

March to shut down Rikers Island on Saturday June 27. 

Gather to rally at 3 p.m. across the bridge from the jail complex, at 19th Av and Hazen St, Queens.

RAIN OR SHINE 

We demand JUSTICE FOR Kalief Browder, who suffered at the hands of Corrections Officers like so many others at Rikers, 

We demand the city immediately STOP JAILING MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE and fund mental health services instead,

We demand QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES and healthcare to those currently incarcerated,

We REJECT Mayor de Blasio’s 14-point plan for "reform" at Rikers. We will not accept any more limitations on visits and criminalization of our families.

On Saturday June 27 march on Rikers Island with us, to demand an END TO THE RACIST PRISON SYSTEM and IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN. We will not be silent. 

#ResistRikers #KaliefBrowder #Justice4Kalief #EyesOnRikers #BlackLivesMatter

Bring noisemakers, banners, friends and family. Spread the word and contact us to get involved with outreach and planning.

And Here are 6 Companies That Get Rich off Prisoners. And then there is this Flickr photo, "We shall return to encircle and suppress the ability of the slave state to oppress the children. We must make our Long March to raze the slave state to the ground!!"
And then there is that NAACP photo that finds itself posted above."The prison state. Welcome to America, home to 5% of the world's people and 25% of the world's prisoners". And the list of articles about the prison state, the slave state of America, goes on and on.

#blacklivesmatter #shutitdown #wewillnotbesilent #alllivesmatter #handsupdontshoot #justiceforericgarner #stolenlives ##thisstopstoday #boycottblackfriday #wewantjustice #indictamerica #icantbreathe #Ferguson #Baltimore

Occupy Psychiatry. Psychiatry Kills. Abolish forced psychiatric treatment. No one is free when others are oppressed. Is another world possible. And what, if anything, does this have to do with a No Police State.