Facebookomania

Hey Bloggers, or whoever could be reading this blog, and if I can say, I somehow found myself in one of those web 2.0 user generated content MyFace, SpaceBook, FaceSpace, MyFaceSpacePlaceBook, I mean facebook facebookamania facabookaholic days on this day. This being the latest of my internetaholic addictions so much that I can forget what day of the day, week, month or year it is, maybe. And what was life like before the invention of these high tech everything social media cyberworld internetosphere days. And so I found myself replacing MyBlogLog, Craigslist, StumbleUpon, Diggs, YouTube, Twitter and MySpace with now yet another internet websiteaholicness, Facebook. And as usual, I found myself friending friends of friends of friends of friends in an attempt to Facebook myself into that web 2.0 social media world. And what else is there to be said about this latest facebookenomenon that has not already been said. Have a great social media day.

Pottery

Pottery. And I have always liked pottery and ceramics as one of those arts and crafts things. And besides, pottery is beautiful to look at and behold. And clay is such an earthy material to work with when it comes to sculpting, forming and painting it. As clay seems like it is one of those materials from the earth itself. And as far as I know, there has been many schools and educational facilities devoted to nothing more than the crafting and sculpting of pottery and ceramics. And if you happen to be looking for those pottery and clay supplies to do some crafting of pottery yourself, you can find them at AMACO/Brent. AMACO.com is a website where you can find majolica glazes, pottery supply, slump molds and more. They are a place where you find supplies for potteries, education and crafts and you can also find lead free glazes, potters wheels, ceramic, self hardening and air dry clays, modeling and mold making supplies, brushes, tools, kilns, glass products and more for the artist in you at their website. And the photos and colors of some of those pottery designs that they have on their website are really beautiful to look at. With AMACO.com, finding those pottery supplies you may be looking for is just a website visit away.

The Headlines Again

And so I find myself attempting to continue that post of headlines of the day from long lore ago that I started posting from the other day from that stack of news clippings piled up in one of those folders that I wanted to get around to blah blogging about some day, if ever. And so again, I find myself blaghing the titles of those headline news with one or two sentences commentary instead of some really long commentary because, hey, it's less writing sometimes in my attempt to maintain content for this blog whenever possible:

1. DoubleClick to sell Web ads through online exchange. Something about DoubleCLick letting advertisers sell ads on the internet. Is that another one of those get rich internet quick things?
2. amNY.com readers speak out about a Connecticut town's proposal to van baggy pants: Something about young people wearing their pants below their butts, with a readers commentary of "Next time you will be telling us how we can comb out hair or the type of shoes we can wear.
3. Beloved 91-year old dies in a truck horror. An article about yet another casualty of the mean streets of New York that seem like they are designed for cars only and are not friendly towards pedestrians or cyclists. What would Times Up! and Transportation Alternatives have to say about this and making the streets of New York safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Enough of the ghost bikes already.
4. Van drags dead man 20 miles through city. From Queens to Corney Island, driver never noticed accident victim. Repeat commentary same as above number 3. And all too often, drivers of vehicles are never even given a traffic tickets for the casualty of its victims as roadkill. If only the streets of New York could be made more pedestrian and bicycle friendly as elsewhere throughout the country and Europe.
5. Read all about him. Obama-Mania! The English Lauguage Barackafied by the editors of Slate. An ad in the Daily newspaper about books that tell the president-elect's story. I must have found this article interesting for some reason or another as I have saved this clipping.
And again, this folder of saved articles finds itself too big for me to post at the moment and it seems to be passing my by as I hope to continue this list in another posting one day in my blogahoicness, if ever. Have a great headline news day.

Speek

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Speek. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey Bloggers, ever heard of Speek? And that word sound like it can almost be like to speak. And from what I gather by visiting their website is that they are about all communications all the time, as they are a free web based teleconferencing system that dials out to cell phones. And welcome to the world of space age high technology everything where one can now talk over the internet and computer to landlines, cellphones and voiceover internet applications just like the telephone. And now you can register for private beta. And from what I recall doesn't beta have something to do with the testing of websites to see that they are working correctly before they are released to the general public or something like that, maybe. And now you can try Speek for free. Free you say? Well if it's free than it's for me. And what better way to communicate on one of those telephone calls than for free where one does not receive one of those mysteriously seemingly outer space like astronomical phone bills at the end of each month where the amount of ones bill almost seems as if it has be made up. With Speek.com, speaking to another person on a teleconferencing system is just a website visit away.

An Email

Hey Bloggers, or whoever could be reading this blog, as so I received this following announcement from a friend in my inbox the other day and I thought to post it on this blog because hey, it's less writing sometimes in my attempt to maintain content on this blog whenever possible. And this event art rocks.:


1) Thank you all so much for making November's first ever Hell's Kitchen Artists in Studio Tours such an amazing success.


2) I'm happy to announce that our NEXT Hell's Kitchen Open Studios will be May 21-23. And I'd love for you all to be involved.


HK: ArtiST was enormous, wonderful, and FREE. 50+ locales, largely homes & studios, art sponsored by and in many local businesses, media attention, some sales. Follow our art and exposure: Artists in the Kitchen. So many more performed: Theater, dance, music, song, comedy, video, murals...All who joined us to celebrate at the opening & closing parties. Plus so many helped beyond sharing your Great Muses and art: meetings, volunteers, encouragement-coloring the Festival with your unique spirit, much altruism, cooperation and joy. I am very grateful for all of it. It was the best (1st Midtown West) self guided art tour we could ever want.


Our next Open Studio will be May 21-23. And annually now: each May. I would like all artists from our 1st event back again! Plus so many I have met or were referred: join us! Thursday 2-25 at 6:30 PM is an open meeting at the Renaissance Diner, 776 9th Avenue, just south of 52nd St. I would love to see all, but know many will not be able to attend. So here is an indication of what we plan, & you will all get regular updates. And what I need from all participants, which will not take great effort, but will help us get so much more attention & success in promoting our art, fortunes, and neighborhood as a gem like art destination:

If you want to show work or perform: Please hit "reply" to this E-mail. Tell me what you would like to do with us: what type of art or performance. If outside Midtown West, tell me, I will find a local venue to show your talents. include a link to your Web Site or some web presence or art photos, if you are new to us, or have new info this time around!

Everyone, artists, and all who just LOVE art and want a fun, easy way to nurture this surprisingly original and skilled art scene in the midst of the greatest 'art city' in the world:
please do 2 'lil things for us:

1) Just promote us in general. Put our info & Web site (artistsinthekitchen.org) on all your social media/Facebook like sites. Send out this info, you can cut 'n paste the above, to all your contacts. Tell all to check out our many superb artists on the Web Site, see much of the press and listings we had last time: & if any are in media or have such contacts: get a story done on us! Refer any & all artists & volunteers to me, & re: E-mail lists: please send me every E- address you can for my list/publicity. Artists groups you know: please refer them here, we will cross promote with them to get more visitors and possible patrons/clients.

2) I ask everyone to press reply to just pick one thing to tell me you would like to help with. As much or little as you like. Some can be done just sitting at home, other stuff are simple occasional walks around your area. The main categories to choose from: fliering. Web Site or tech help. Recruiting Press. Getting new sponsors. Outreach to block associations. Contacting hotels/concierges/tour buses to promote us. Printing. Help organizing our parties! Craigslist and other online ads. Getting new venues. Raffle. And even celebrity recruitment: good at getting contact/your/my foot in the door? I have a few BIG names and artists who live here...

Lastly, I had to finalize plans with my core group, inc. superb consultants. So soon I will tell you of idea(l)s like: when we may may get separate non-Profit status, like with a Board, (now we have non-profit status under fiscal sponsorship of Fractured Atlas) and give possibilities of how we may expand, get grants or public funds, etc. Now some want my notes to not be a book,Smiley_face and some are wary of attachments. So if you want to receive the projected vs. actual budget and time line for last year or this one, just ask! For our 1st event, I was about $1,700 in the red. This year I would like to break even. When we start making $, it will all go back in the event: I will never take any profit from it.

Thank you all so much again. I look forward to your great help with this amazing community of artists.

Namaste,
Mike
Founder/President
artistsinthekitchen.org

The Vacation

I need a vacation, a such and such vacation. And so the lyrics to that song goes I have heard somewhere before. And everyone seems as if they could use one of those vacations sometimes for some fun in the sun and the opportunity to be one of those tourists or what not, maybe. And do you happen to be looking for one of those vacations? Well you can find an all inclusive vacation at Breezes Resorts. You can also find a Caribbean vacation and an all inclusive vacation package and more at their website. With Breezes Resorts, you can be on the way to Jamaica, Brazil and other destinations. You can also find resorts in Panama, Bahamas and more. And what better way to relax on that vacation that in one of those spas to be found at their website as well. And those photos that they have on their website of those hotels and sights around town seem relaxing and fun indeed. And if you are in that social media mode, you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to their YouTube channels as well. With Breezes Resorts, finding that vacation you may be looking for is just a website visit away.

Random Thoughts

Hey Bloggers, and here it is again on this day another day of the Sun here on planet earth, that day of rest. And for some reason, I find myself blah blogging random thoughts on this blog a lot lately in an attempt to maintain content on this blog whenever possible for some reason or another. And so that bloggers block of what to write about, if anything arises. And so I find myself with this folder of all these news clippings From New York City Newspapers and beyond that I wanted to blah blog commentary on in my blogaholicness at some point in time. And instead of blaghing commentary about each of these articles, I thought to blagh those headlines and a sentence or two of commentary, because hey, it's less writings sometimes:

1. More people "going green". Something about safe alternative non toxic cleaning products.
2. Prevent H1N1 Influenza. Get vaccinated. This Weekend. Is that media hype and publicity campaigns to benefit the pharmaceutical companies, or is it real? War tactics on instilling fear gets votes.
3. H20hhhh, No You Don't! Something about natural gas drilling and causing toilets to explode.
4. Some store color advertisement with and ad for summer fun, water bombs and an image of a yellow and pink water gun. Innocent subliminal fun and guns are the worst invention ever.
5. Another Sunday paper advertisement from some sporting goods store with an advertisement for rifles, pistols and shotguns as hunting and outdoor equipment advertised next to gold clubs. Guns considered as a sport? The local paper mind you. And guns are the worst invention ever again. If only guns can be banished from every human being on planet earth.
6. Pols struggle to save mom-and pops. Something about rents get so high in the East Village of New York and elsewhere that even the yuppies can't even afford to pay the rent.
7. Big stink over Brooklyn plant. Odor could stunt growth in Greenpoint. Something about that Newton Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Greenpoint that seems as if it wants to turn Greenpoint into a waste dump.
8. Tom's cruising ahead. Something about the actor Tom Cruise's film "Valkyrie" or Scientology being political and actually having a real message to say other than bubblegum. A seemingly rarity in Hollywood.
9. Pol: Houston Street medians are "tragedy waiting to happen". Something about pedestrians being killed just crossing the street in the City of New York and cars having the right of way even when pedestrians become road kill. Will those streets ever become bicycle friendly. Will those Department of Transportation and other traffic laws ever change to become safer and pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Too many white ghost bikes chained to those light poles around town already.
10. Prozac pacifies pets,too. Something about the big pharma pharmaceutical war industry drugging up the dogs and animals too. Even the animals are now exhibiting symptoms of depression. Will the water be next. Oh, I think I have read somewhere that the drinking water is even now full of psych drugs to. How does the insurance companies profit from that one? Will Nazi Germany and mass murderers in white coats ever end?
11. Multi 'million-dollar' blocks of Brownsville. The cost of incarceration vs. investment in community. Something about the inner city poor, people of color and minorities make up the majority of the prison population. A Rockefeller Law maybe. Not sure what to comment on this one except no one is free when others are oppressed.
12. Pol: Ditch plastic bags. In proposal large stores would have to use paper. This seemingly utopian would be great for the environment if it ever happened. I think it may have happened somewhere in Europe maybe, a more socially and environmentally conscious country.
13. Watching your steps. Council OKs cameras at dance club doors as part of nightlife safety crackdown. Another one of those big brother is watching you headlines. The loss of civil and human rights in the name of security.
14. Sundance comes to B'klyn. And I think that Sundance Film Festival may have came and went to Brooklyn by the time this post is finished. Though it may make its way around again.
15. China using Web to spy on enemies. Researchers: Computers turned "listening devices". I always seem to think China is that world economic superpower for some reason or another. Everything in the USA seems as if it in now made in China. Is everything in China made in the USA?

And this folder seems to still be stuffed with those articles that I thought I would get around to blah blogging about someday. To attempt to be continued another day, maybe. Have a great day of the Sun.

The Floor Plan

Hey Bloggers, do you find yourself as one of those human beings dwelling here on planet earth in need of one of those basic necessity shelters called housing? And do you have one of those houses? As homes can always be fun to have and decorate, maybe. And if you happen to have one of those houses, or if you happen to be looking for one of those houses, does that question of how am I going to design this house ever arise? Well along comes the house floor plans. And at HousePlansandMore.com you can find those house plans. cabin plans and more that you may be looking for. They are a website where you can design the house of your dreams. You can find house plans, home plans, floor plans, blueprints and more in many different styles such as country house plans, lake house plans, mountain home plans, ranch house plans, southern house, rustic house, contemporary house and just about any kind of house plan and design you can think of. HousePlansandMore.com can design that house for you in that home style you may be looking for. And from the photos that they have on their website, they have some really beautiful styles of houses to choose from as they are all house planning and more all the time.

Time Out New York Style

And on this day finds itself another one of those Sundays that has rolled around. That day of rest, the Sabbath. Or is that Saturday. And yet I find myself blah blogging away in my blogaholicness for some reason or another. And Time Out New York, that really cool all New York all the time magazine, has a really cool issue titled Most Stylish New Yorkers in their last weeks edition. I know, because that copy of it I came across says so. And it seems to be a stylish and coloforul tabloid like fashion plate of people around town dressed up in fashion statements indeed. So much, that I thought to blah blog about it on this blog. And in particular somewhere on page twelve through page twenty six or something, there they are, or at least most of them are according to Time Out New York. The stylish New Yorkers of Eleanor Friedberger, the musician in the Fiery Furnaces, Rio, financial analyst, Starrett Zenko, marketing director for Jonathan Adler, Victor Vazquez, musician in Das Racist, Elizabeth Spiridakis, style blogger, Ill Will, actor, artist, promoter and member of the Retro Kidz, Miss Frankie Rose, musician, Kid Cudi, musician, actor, vampire, Jeralyn Gerba, Daily Candy editor, Cale Parks, musician, Zewiditu Jewel, blogger, student and store owner, Michael Macko, fashion consultant, Chuck Guarino, proprietor and designer for TheCast, Cheryl, disco shamans, Christian Joy, costumer-fashion designer, Coco, makeup artist, Heidi Rosenau, head of PR for a museum, Shien Lee, founder-event producer for Dances of Vice, Josh Peskowitz, freelance editor, writer, stylist and consultant, Jared Joseph, actor in Dreamgirls, Golden Triangle, Brooklyn Band, Frank Tell, fashion designer, Robert James, owner, designer and creative director of By Robert James, Mary "MZ.Skittles" Seats, rapper-singer, student, fashion guru and stylist, Ryan Turner, menswear designer, Ouigi! "The Bearded Man" Theodore, DJ Cassidy, DJ and producer, Rajni Lucienne Jacques, fashion features editor at Nylon, Justin Reese, Topman sales adviser, Kelly Framel, stylist, jewelry designer and fashion blogger, Leah Taylor, managing editor of Flavorpill New York, Ruben Sanz Ramiro, sommelier,Jessica Delfino, twisted minstrel and subversive artsy lady, Louise Ingalls Sturges, photographer, painter, blogger and vintage vendor, Cats Mcdaid-Kelly, M.F.A. student at Parsons, Timo Weiland and Alan Eckstein, fashion designers for Timo Weiland and a host of about fifteen or so other most stylish New Yorkers dressed up or down stylish. And sometimes that city of New York seems as if it can be all about fashion, style, trends and more style, fashion and trends. Have a great fashion Sunday day.

A Hotel

The hotel. And what can I say about those hotels that has not already been said. You know those hotels don't you, those shelters for human beings to dwell in here on planet earth that one usually pays for a temporary stay for a vacation or what not. And from what I can recall some of those hotels to be found across this world are really super fancy with all sorts of amenities like jacuzzis, spas, gyms, massage, swimming pools, bars, room service and more. And some of those hotels are so fancy that one would just want to take a vacation to the hotel and never go anywhere until of course it's time to check out. And then there are hotels in Charlotte. And I have heard of that state of North Carolina before, as that is that state that is to be found in that country of America. And North Carolina can be a cool state to visit as one of those tourists, and what better way to see the sights that state has to offer than in staying at one of those hotels to be found in North Carolina. And there are also great museums, art, music and other culture to be found there. And in Charlotte, North Carolina I imagine there are no shortage of hotels and hotel rooms to choose from for ones stay there to be the Charlotte, North Carolina hotel vacation.

The Musician

And every so often I find my self blogging about music and events on this blog, as music seems as if it can be one of those things that makes the world go round. And from what I see, being one of those musicians can be fun, the idea of playing music for all to hear. And then there are Musicians Friend Promotional Codes. And I am not exactly sure what the musicians friend promotional codes could be, though they seem like they have something to do with coupons for saving money on musician items such as acoustic amps, sound gear, DJ gear, lighting, drums, percussions, guitars, keyboards, recording equipment and all that other music gear a musician could ask for. And usually just about any kind of product one can think of to buy there can be a coupon to be found for it for items like food, electronics, computers, jewelry, shoes, clothing, movies and more from all kinds of different stores. And what better way to save on an item than with one of those coupon codes anyway, as coupons can always be the way to go when it comes to saving money.

A Manifesto

Hey Bloggers, or whoever could be reading this blog. And in my web 2.0 social media user generated content blogaholicness, it is not so often that I find myself blah blogging the headlines. Okay, it is often. And this is one of those headlines of the day that I find myself blaghing with its titles and headlines as follows. And what commentary can I blog about this subject that has not already been said and is being said, I am not sure, as this seemingly communist, capitalist manifesto written afterwards seems to speak for itself:


"Man Crashes Plane Into Austin IRS Office .. Angry Suicide Note Posted",
"Small Plane Crashes Into I.R.S. Building in Texas",
"Suicidal Tax Protest: Joseph Stack Crashes Plane into IRS in Austin Texas",
"Joe Stack STATEMENT: Alleged Suicide Note From Austin Pilot Posted Online",
"The Manifesto Of Austin Texas Crash Pilot Joseph Andrew Stack",
"Joseph Stack Manifesto: Austin Plane Crash Pilot's Blog Text",
and a commentary...,"Isn't it obvious that Joe Stack was a Liberal? I mean if he was a Conservative he would have quoted Hitler....?",
and another commentary "How soon before Mr. Stack becomes the official Tea Party martyr?"

And for some reason that verse from the book, the bible seems to come to mind: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows". 1 Timothy 6:10. And the Manifesto from the website Embedded Art, (Is that that art show in the name of security at the Akademie der Kunst in Berlin Germany, or is that something altogether different?...), that seems to be finding its way throughout internetland cyberworld on this day as follows. And the list of headlines goes on and on....

If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt asking yourself, “Why did this have to happen?” The simple truth is that it is complicated and has been coming for a long time. The writing process, started many months ago, was intended to be therapy in the face of the looming realization that there isn’t enough therapy in the world that can fix what is really broken. Needless to say, this rant could fill volumes with example after example if I would let it. I find the process of writing it frustrating, tedious, and probably pointless… especially given my gross inability to gracefully articulate my thoughts in light of the storm raging in my head. Exactly what is therapeutic about that I’m not sure, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy. Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all. We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principals represented by its founding fathers. Remember? One of these was “no taxation without representation”. I have spent the total years of my adulthood unlearning that crap from only a few years of my childhood. These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a “crackpot”, traitor and worse.

While very few working people would say they haven’t had their fair share of taxes (as can I), in my lifetime I can say with a great degree of certainty that there has never been a politician cast a vote on any matter with the likes of me or my interests in mind. Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say.
Why is it that a handful of thugs and plunderers can commit unthinkable atrocities (and in the case of the GM executives, for scores of years) and when it’s time for their gravy train to crash under the weight of their gluttony and overwhelming stupidity, the force of the full federal government has no difficulty coming to their aid within days if not hours? Yet at the same time, the joke we call the American medical system, including the drug and insurance companies, are murdering tens of thousands of people a year and stealing from the corpses and victims they cripple, and this country’s leaders don’t see this as important as bailing out a few of their vile, rich cronies. Yet, the political “representatives” (thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags is far more accurate) have endless time to sit around for year after year and debate the state of the “terrible health care problem”. It’s clear they see no crisis as long as the dead people don’t get in the way of their corporate profits rolling in.
And justice? You’ve got to be kidding!
How can any rational individual explain that white elephant conundrum in the middle of our tax system and, indeed, our entire legal system? Here we have a system that is, by far, too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand. Yet, it mercilessly “holds accountable” its victims, claiming that they’re responsible for fully complying with laws not even the experts understand. The law “requires” a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing; if that’s not “duress” than what is. If this is not the measure of a totalitarian regime, nothing is.
How did I get here?
My introduction to the real American nightmare starts back in the early ‘80s. Unfortunately after more than 16 years of school, somewhere along the line I picked up the absurd, pompous notion that I could read and understand plain English. Some friends introduced me to a group of people who were having ‘tax code’ readings and discussions. In particular, zeroed in on a section relating to the wonderful “exemptions” that make institutions like the vulgar, corrupt Catholic Church so incredibly wealthy. We carefully studied the law (with the help of some of the “best”, high-paid, experienced tax lawyers in the business), and then began to do exactly what the “big boys” were doing (except that we weren’t steeling from our congregation or lying to the government about our massive profits in the name of God). We took a great deal of care to make it all visible, following all of the rules, exactly the way the law said it was to be done.
The intent of this exercise and our efforts was to bring about a much-needed re-evaluation of the laws that allow the monsters of organized religion to make such a mockery of people who earn an honest living. However, this is where I learned that there are two “interpretations” for every law; one for the very rich, and one for the rest of us… Oh, and the monsters are the very ones making and enforcing the laws; the inquisition is still alive and well today in this country.
That little lesson in patriotism cost me $40,000+, 10 years of my life, and set my retirement plans back to 0. It made me realize for the first time that I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie. It also made me realize, not only how naive I had been, but also the incredible stupidity of the American public; that they buy, hook, line, and sinker, the crap about their “freedom”… and that they continue to do so with eyes closed in the face of overwhelming evidence and all that keeps happening in front of them.
Before even having to make a shaky recovery from the sting of the first lesson on what justice really means in this country (around 1984 after making my way through engineering school and still another five years of “paying my dues”), I felt I finally had to take a chance of launching my dream of becoming an independent engineer.
On the subjects of engineers and dreams of independence, I should digress somewhat to say that I’m sure that I inherited the fascination for creative problem solving from my father. I realized this at a very young age.
The significance of independence, however, came much later during my early years of college; at the age of 18 or 19 when I was living on my own as student in an apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My neighbor was an elderly retired woman (80+ seemed ancient to me at that age) who was the widowed wife of a retired steel worker. Her husband had worked all his life in the steel mills of central Pennsylvania with promises from big business and the union that, for his 30 years of service, he would have a pension and medical care to look forward to in his retirement. Instead he was one of the thousands who got nothing because the incompetent mill management and corrupt union (not to mention the government) raided their pension funds and stole their retirement. All she had was social security to live on.
In retrospect, the situation was laughable because here I was living on peanut butter and bread (or Ritz crackers when I could afford to splurge) for months at a time. When I got to know this poor figure and heard her story I felt worse for her plight than for my own (I, after all, I thought I had everything to in front of me). I was genuinely appalled at one point, as we exchanged stories and commiserated with each other over our situations, when she in her grandmotherly fashion tried to convince me that I would be “healthier” eating cat food (like her) rather than trying to get all my substance from peanut butter and bread. I couldn’t quite go there, but the impression was made. I decided that I didn’t trust big business to take care of me, and that I would take responsibility for my own future and myself.
Return to the early ‘80s, and here I was off to a terrifying start as a ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ contract software engineer… and two years later, thanks to the fine backroom, midnight effort by the sleazy executives of Arthur Andersen (the very same folks who later brought us Enron and other such calamities) and an equally sleazy New York Senator (Patrick Moynihan), we saw the passage of 1986 tax reform act with its section 1706.
For you who are unfamiliar, here is the core text of the IRS Section 1706, defining the treatment of workers (such as contract engineers) for tax purposes. Visit this link for a conference committee report (http://www.synergistech.com/1706.shtml#ConferenceCommitteeReport) regarding the intended interpretation of Section 1706 and the relevant parts of Section 530, as amended. For information on how these laws affect technical services workers and their clients, read our discussion here (http://www.synergistech.com/ic-taxlaw.shtml).
SEC. 1706. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.
(a) IN GENERAL - Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:
(d) EXCEPTION. - This section shall not apply in the case of an individual who pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker engaged in a similar line of work.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE. - The amendment made by this section shall apply to remuneration paid and services rendered after December 31, 1986.
Note:
• “another person” is the client in the traditional job-shop relationship.
• “taxpayer” is the recruiter, broker, agency, or job shop.
• “individual”, “employee”, or “worker” is you.
Admittedly, you need to read the treatment to understand what it is saying but it’s not very complicated. The bottom line is that they may as well have put my name right in the text of section (d). Moreover, they could only have been more blunt if they would have came out and directly declared me a criminal and non-citizen slave. Twenty years later, I still can’t believe my eyes.
During 1987, I spent close to $5000 of my ‘pocket change’, and at least 1000 hours of my time writing, printing, and mailing to any senator, congressman, governor, or slug that might listen; none did, and they universally treated me as if I was wasting their time. I spent countless hours on the L.A. freeways driving to meetings and any and all of the disorganized professional groups who were attempting to mount a campaign against this atrocity. This, only to discover that our efforts were being easily derailed by a few moles from the brokers who were just beginning to enjoy the windfall from the new declaration of their “freedom”. Oh, and don’t forget, for all of the time I was spending on this, I was loosing income that I couldn’t bill clients.
After months of struggling it had clearly gotten to be a futile exercise. The best we could get for all of our trouble is a pronouncement from an IRS mouthpiece that they weren’t going to enforce that provision (read harass engineers and scientists). This immediately proved to be a lie, and the mere existence of the regulation began to have its impact on my bottom line; this, of course, was the intended effect.
Again, rewind my retirement plans back to 0 and shift them into idle. If I had any sense, I clearly should have left abandoned engineering and never looked back.
Instead I got busy working 100-hour workweeks. Then came the L.A. depression of the early 1990s. Our leaders decided that they didn’t need the all of those extra Air Force bases they had in Southern California, so they were closed; just like that. The result was economic devastation in the region that rivaled the widely publicized Texas S&L fiasco. However, because the government caused it, no one gave a shit about all of the young families who lost their homes or street after street of boarded up houses abandoned to the wealthy loan companies who received government funds to “shore up” their windfall. Again, I lost my retirement.
Years later, after weathering a divorce and the constant struggle trying to build some momentum with my business, I find myself once again beginning to finally pick up some speed. Then came the .COM bust and the 911 nightmare. Our leaders decided that all aircraft were grounded for what seemed like an eternity; and long after that, ‘special’ facilities like San Francisco were on security alert for months. This made access to my customers prohibitively expensive. Ironically, after what they had done the Government came to the aid of the airlines with billions of our tax dollars … as usual they left me to rot and die while they bailed out their rich, incompetent cronies WITH MY MONEY! After these events, there went my business but not quite yet all of my retirement and savings.
By this time, I’m thinking that it might be good for a change. Bye to California, I’ll try Austin for a while. So I moved, only to find out that this is a place with a highly inflated sense of self-importance and where damn little real engineering work is done. I’ve never experienced such a hard time finding work. The rates are 1/3 of what I was earning before the crash, because pay rates here are fixed by the three or four large companies in the area who are in collusion to drive down prices and wages… and this happens because the justice department is all on the take and doesn’t give a fuck about serving anyone or anything but themselves and their rich buddies.
To survive, I was forced to cannibalize my savings and retirement, the last of which was a small IRA. This came in a year with mammoth expenses and not a single dollar of income. I filed no return that year thinking that because I didn’t have any income there was no need. The sleazy government decided that they disagreed. But they didn’t notify me in time for me to launch a legal objection so when I attempted to get a protest filed with the court I was told I was no longer entitled to due process because the time to file ran out. Bend over for another $10,000 helping of justice.
So now we come to the present. After my experience with the CPA world, following the business crash I swore that I’d never enter another accountant’s office again. But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle. After considerable thought I decided that it would be irresponsible NOT to get professional help; a very big mistake.
When we received the forms back I was very optimistic that they were in order. I had taken all of the years information to Bill Ross, and he came back with results very similar to what I was expecting. Except that he had neglected to include the contents of Sheryl’s unreported income; $12,700 worth of it. To make matters worse, Ross knew all along this was missing and I didn’t have a clue until he pointed it out in the middle of the audit. By that time it had become brutally evident that he was representing himself and not me.
This left me stuck in the middle of this disaster trying to defend transactions that have no relationship to anything tax-related (at least the tax-related transactions were poorly documented). Things I never knew anything about and things my wife had no clue would ever matter to anyone. The end result is… well, just look around.
I remember reading about the stock market crash before the “great” depression and how there were wealthy bankers and businessmen jumping out of windows when they realized they screwed up and lost everything. Isn’t it ironic how far we’ve come in 60 years in this country that they now know how to fix that little economic problem; they just steal from the middle class (who doesn’t have any say in it, elections are a joke) to cover their asses and it’s “business-as-usual”. Now when the wealthy fuck up, the poor get to die for the mistakes… isn’t that a clever, tidy solution.
As government agencies go, the FAA is often justifiably referred to as a tombstone agency, though they are hardly alone. The recent presidential puppet GW Bush and his cronies in their eight years certainly reinforced for all of us that this criticism rings equally true for all of the government. Nothing changes unless there is a body count (unless it is in the interest of the wealthy sows at the government trough). In a government full of hypocrites from top to bottom, life is as cheap as their lies and their self-serving laws.
I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.
I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are. Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn’t so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer. The cruel joke is that the really big chunks of shit at the top have known this all along and have been laughing, at and using this awareness against, fools like me all along.
I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.
The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.
Joe Stack (1956-2010)
02/18/2010

The Loan

Hey Bloggers, or whoever could be reading this blog. And this post happens to be about the Bank Loan Modification, which sounds like it has something to do with money, money and more money and also with modifying a bank loan. And by the way, has anyone ever heard of that mortgage meltdown that's been in the news a lot lately that seems to have something to do with foreclosures and the meltdown of the economy, a recession and impending depression to where the Federal Reserve and Treasury seems to be bailing out the bailouts and can not seem to print up enough money fast enough to cover all of the national debt to where the government, or at least the economy seems as if it could be having one of those everything must go going out of business sales and everyone or at least a lot of people seem to be out of a job looking for a job. And so back to that bank loan, With those loan modifications, I imagine one can find a loan to save their home from that percentage and a mortgage thing. And if only one could bail at the whole world where housing, that basic necessity for human life, could be free and money would be required to exist as one of those human beings here on planet earth. No one is free when others are oppressed. Peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind.

Music

I need to dance, for inspiration. Isn't that the lyrics to some song somewhere. And music makes the world go round. And from what I have heard before, if one is troubled to no avail, one can always take to the dance floor to dance their troubles away, as music can make for merriment, maybe. And then welcome to the world of digital technology, the internet and the MP3 Search, where most of that music one can search for can now be found online more so than the local music store. And whatever happened to the eight track, cassette tapes and vinyl, those seemingly dinosaur mediums of long lore ago that have seemingly been replaces by modern communications technology, CD's and those MP3's. And hey, its seems like it can be a whole lot easier searching for that mp3 music on a MP3 search engine to be found on the computer anyway than trecking around town in search of that same song when it can now be found without ever having to leave home, or at least without ever having to leave a computer. And who are some of those artists to be found on mp3 out there such as Madonna, Usher, Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, Joy Division, Shakira and a whole lot of other artists to be found in internet land. With MP3 searching, searching for that MP3 has never been easier.

Mardi Gras

Hey Bloggers, or whoever could be reading this blog, and on this day according to that American Gregorian calendar on the wall or desk, happens to be that New Orleans Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday party and celebration day and observance holy holiday. And it's also snowing outside from where I'm at. And what can I blah blog about this day that has not already been said, where the colors and beads of purple, gold and green masks are to be found everywhere, except party and celebrate. And what there is to celebrate and party for I am not exactly sure, though here is a list of Mardi Gras events I found throughout my internet travels.

The L Magazine says there will be a Brooklyn Mardi Gras Parade somewhere around hipsterville Williamsburg, Brooklyn,
7:00pm - 11:55pm. Meet at the corner of McCarren Park and Driggs Ave.

SOB's is having a Mardi Gras Celebration with the Sugartone Brass Band.

Brooklyn Bowl, that bowling rink in Brooklyn, is having a costume bash where they will be heading to that McCarren Park parade also.

And there must be a host of other Mardi Gras events to be found on the internet horizon, though my cyberworld travels are not taking me there now. Have a great Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday day.

Dell

Welcome to e the age of technology and computers, computer and more computers. And those personal computers seem to be all the rage these days and times where it seems as if every person has one of them, or at least every other person has one of them. And then there are those Dell computers, and I have seen those Dell computers around in coffee shops, businesses and homes everywhere. And those Dell computers rock. And then there is the maintenance of those printers that can come with those computers if one finds themselves using a printer to print out something from ones computers at some point or another. And then there are stores that sell those Dell Ink Cartridges. And it is great if one can find discount printer ink for replacing the ink in ones printer. And it can be even greater if one can find a store that sells different kinds of brands of ink for different kinds of printers. And what was life like before the invention of computers and those printers that go along with them. It seems hard to figure out how humanity managed to get along without these high tech devices. And what could life have been like a hundred years ago before the age of these modern electronics and devices we find in this world.

Time

Time, Father time. We all seem to meet him at some point as human being dwellers here on planet earth. And father time sees as if he can be a mystical figure, though he is also real. As who does not follow time sometimes, and who is not affected by the change in the time of days, week, months and years throughout life. And then there are clocks, the grandfather clock, watches and other time keeping devices that we seem to go by that tell us what to do at what hour each day sometimes. And there must be lots of other sayings about that word time. And one of them is how time passes us by so much that how often does one see those grandfather clocks anymore. And I remember those grandfather clocks from long lore ago, so much that they seem like a figment of my imagination. And to see one of those grandfather clocks today in someones room seems like it would be a trip back in time. And those grandfather clocks seem to be some sort of grand clocks, so grand that one can not miss them when they see them in a room.

An Event

And according to this weeks weekly mailing of Jeff Stark's Nonsense NYC list there is an event today as follows.

***** Also on WEDNESDAY *****

Art for Haiti NYC

In light of the current situation in Haiti, Art for Haiti cordially invites you to attend a show and art auction to benefit Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres/MSF) Haiti relief. Through the efforts of MSF, we can directly and positively affect human lives on the ground. 100 percent of the funds will go directly to Doctors Without Borders.

Art work available by: Melanie Baker, Jesse Bercowetz, Louise Bourgeois, Kate Gilmore, Taylor McKimens, Tom Otterness, Judith Page, Dread Scott, Andy Warhol, and many, many more.

601 West 26th Street, at 11th Avenue, 8th floor, Manhattan
7p doors, 8:30p auction; $free, accepting cash, check, or credit (all checks should be made out and credit cards will be charged to Doctors Without Borders)

infoartforhaitinyc.com
artforhaitinyc.com

And I found myself posting a blog entry about Haiti and mother earth a week ago or so as follows:

And according to that Gregorian calendar, it is Sunday on this day, day of God, the Sabbath, the day of rest, or is that Saturday. And yet I find myself blogging on this blog. And I have found myself reading, watching and listening to the news this past week of the latest natural disaster of an earthquake that has taken many lives along with it here on planet earth that has afflicted the city of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. And it seems to be a tragic event with images of devastation that represent the fragility of life as human beings that seem as if they are taken from the apocalypse. And in those thoughts I thought to post some verses on the internet from that book the Bible in various translations in relation to life and death:


By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless.

All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"

And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.

Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. Even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death.

Anyone who is among the living has hope--even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten

I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living

for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;

The wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

And A Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

The business of birth, the business of death. Mortal man. We are all born to die.

SANYO

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

Technology. And everything, or just about everything in this world we live in these days and times seems to be about electronics and more electronics. And then welcome to the world of high tech technology where it seems as if everyone, or at least a lot of people are carrying around some sort of mobile high tech device gadget, fidgeting with it on the go. And then there is that photo of the SANYO Incognito that is posted in this blog post above. And from what I recall, Boost Mobile has one of those qwerty flip SANYO Incongitos. And with those SANYO Incognitos, you could be on your way to high tech communication city. Those SANYO Incognitos come with Bluetooth, a built in camera, camcorder, music and video player on them and you can also talk, text and surf the web on them. Now how about that for that Superman wrist watch technology of long lore ago. Who would of thought that one day this movie high tech superman technology could one day be a reality. And all this for a $50.00 a month unlimited plan with no contracts. No contracts with hidden fees and sky high numbers to be made up each month to pay, now that sounds awesome. With one of these phones, one can be on their way to social media city, as these phones seem to be all communications and more all the time.

Random Thoughts

Hey Bloggers, and here are more of those random thoughts that I find myself scribbling down on pieces of paper every so often in an attempt to maintain this blog with some sort of content whenever possible in my blogaholicness web 2.0 user generated contentness. And I am not exactly sure what to make of these thoughts:
Corporation. That word seems to sound like the word corruption, maybe. And for what reason? Are corporations corrupt? Is that the power and authority breeds corruption philosophy or something. And then for some reason or another, there were the words cursed at birth, the business of being born. The way one is born and arrives into this world. To be blessed or cursed at birth. Is it destiny, fate, numbers, the lottery. What are the odds to be cursed at birth. What's that all about. And then again were thoughts; cards, the game of life. One can only play with the cards they are dealt with in the game of life. And what's that all about I am not exactly sure either. And then there are those random thoughts scribbled of NYPD, as in I guess the New York Department of Police policies to be found in that city of New York, and Checkpoint Charlie on the highway asking for logbook and licenses stopping seemingly every single automobile in one of those road blocks waving automobiles over to the side of the road for what reason I am not exactly sure, except for the idea that one has a vehicle to be stopped maybe. And what comment is there to be said about Checkpoint Charlie, and that Checkpoint Charlie Museum to be found in that city of Berlin and country of Germany. "You are now leaving the western sector", or something like that. And what, if anything does this have to do with a No Police State. Have a great random thoughts day.

Storage

Do you find yourself as one of those New Yorkers living in one of those closet sized shoe boxes with no storage space trying to be creative in the various ways to find more storage space short of stacking everything on top of each other, twenty shelves or more to a room. Or do you find yourself moving and in need of storage, or do you just need storage for some other reason or another not related to the aforementioned at all. Well there's always Raleigh NC self storage. And judging from that title, it seems like one should be in or somewhere near Raleigh NC to use that storage. And so the idea of storage can be a valuable solution for those in need of storage space. And I think that at those self storage places one can get to their belongings in their storage space at most hours of the day and night when convenient. And having one of those storage spaces sure does beat having to have all of ones belongings stacked up to the ceiling with no where there could be nowhere to move or walk around those belongings, or having one of those storage spaces sure can beat simply having all of ones belongs piled up high on the sidewalk or what not. As storage spaces can be great for all your storage space needs.

Greetings

Hello, Greetings, Hola, Bon Jour, and just about any other language on can think of to say hello to. We all seem to greet one another as human beings here on planet earth at some point or another. And what better way to say hello during the holidays, or any other day than with Christmas Photo Cards . You know those greeting cards that can have one of those costumed printed photos of you on them. And I find it amazing in this high technology everything age the idea that one can have their own greeting card with a photo of themselves printed on it. And from what I know, you can choose not only holiday greeting cards, but other kinds of greetings cards with just about any kind of different theme on them one can think of maybe, with more than a few photos printed on them in just about any different color you can think of maybe. And those photo greeting cards can always make for great gifts and decorations around the house or ones dwelling. And what would the mantle be like without that photo card on top of it giving it that warm family and friends decorating feel. The photo card, it's seems like it has come a long way away from the standard greeting card of long yore ago.

The Day Of Rest

And on this day here on planet earth seems to find itself Sunday again that has rolled around. That day of the sun, day of God, day of rest, the sabbath. Or is that Saturday. And yet I find myself here on this web 2.0 social media user generated content blog reading Yahoo, CNN, Google and MSN headlines of the day that read "Gas blast at Conn. power plant kills at least 5", "Evacuees return to LA-area homes swamped with mud", "Super Bowl XLIV: Follow the Action Live", and the list of headlines goes on and one at the rate of a zillioneter per second with the invent of high tech technology in the information age. And oh the world, times, society and days we live in here on planet earth. And sometimes it seems to be a cacophony of a world spinning out of control. And the thought of Kali Yuga, Age of Aquarius and 2012 seems to come to mind for some reason. And then I find myself blah blogging random thoughts written down on some piece of paper somewhere with topics and titles such as Lemmings commit suicide. What's that all about. And I think I came across that topic and thought while watching one of those PBS documentaries a while ago. And then there's the random thought Konige, German for the word King, I think. And that Konige word seems to sound like the word coinage, coins, As is konige is king, cash is king, coin is king. Have a great random thoughts day.

Food Glorious Food

Food, food, glorious food. And I have seen whole books and novels written about the topic of food, that basic necessity in life we all seem to need at some point. And who doesn't like food? As isn't bread the staff of life, or something like that. And the list of recipes and articles written about food, and those colorful close up photos of those recipes and ads for food, well they seem to be endless. And then with the topic of food sometimes comes along the topic of diet, nutrition, weight loss, protein supplements, nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, food fads , how to eat healthy, how to lose ten pounds in ten days, super herbs, super vitamins, mega super protein drink meals, health rituals and just about every other health ritual one can think of relating to food and beyond. As we are what we eat, maybe, as that saying goes. And whole holidays have been build around the sharing and consuming of food, food and more food. And what would life be like without this substance we eat? And as I find my self blogging about this topic of food, all I can think about is food, food, glorious food.

A Freebie

If it's free, then it's for me. And I have heard that phrase said somewhere before throughout my travels here on planet earth. And if only everything in life could be free, or if only money grew on trees, or if there were no need for money at all, then maybe the world could be a better place and then seemingly a lot of people would have one less thing to worry about such as money, money, and more money to just seemingly survive. And as far as I know, there is never anything better than a free item or product, maybe, as I am always trying to figure out how to find things for free somehow. And then there is the best freebies site where a lot of things can be found for free. And this idea of freebies, trial offers and free samples sounds so appealing to me that I want to go and visit that website before I even finish typing this blog entry. As I wonder, what kind of items and products can be found out there on the internet for free. And if I can find movies, music, software and more for free, then it's for me.

The Web

The Web. The Internet. The domain name game. And sometimes it seems as if life here on planet earth could be all about the internet these technological web.2.0 user generated content days and times. And do you happen to have one of those websites, and if you do, then what's your website all about. And what was life like before the invention of this recent information and knowledge phenomenon. And one could wonder how human life could even exist before the age of the internet where information can be shared at the speed of light. And then there's web hosting to go along with all of this website and interneting. And I am not sure if it is possible to weave a web without one of those hosts to host all of those websites to be found in cyberworld. And so comes the task of having to shop around for that host for your website and beyond, as I imagine there could be many of those web hosting companies to choose from when it comes to looking for that website host. And when and if one finds that host for their website, welcome to the domain name game and the internet superhighway.