The two stories of July 1

So, at the end of this coming week there will be two major events happening. Only one will truly be an event of note, and it won't be here on this planet.

The other, of course, is the 'transfer of power', due to be ceremoniously celebrated in Iraq on June 30th. As there is no doubt United States troops will be there until (at least) the end of 2005(!), I don't see how this can be considered anything but a farce. Not only is it unlikely to benefit the Iraqi people (or, rather, the arbitrary grouping of 3 cultures), but it is already sparking fires and aggression and resentment from those that feel the U.S. has handled the situation unfairly, immorally and illegally.

Fairness, morality and legality, as separate concepts, form a social, religious and political triad that are the structure underpinning our national view of human behavior and interaction. But, in the world of the people to whom we are "bringing democracy", there is a fusion of spiritual and social power. Since we in this country are required, by the tenets of our society and government, to keep our sense of duty to country and duty to spirit in different minds, it is difficult and even uncomfortable to try to comprehend the forces that drive a society where the two are so closely linked. This is why I believe the end of this week is an unavoidable and inevitable crisis point. That is why I do not look forward to the events surrounding that occasion.

I am, however, truly excited at the opportunity we will have to see, in incomprensible detail and beauty, one of the most stunning vistas in the solar system. The Cassini mission to Saturn culminates this weekend with a flight that will take us through the rings, skimming the surface within a few thousand miles, and once more plunging through the plane of the rings to enter orbit for an extended visit. Then, within a few weeks, we will get a close look at one of the other most intriguing planets in the solar system. One that just happens to be a moon of Saturn. Titan, which is larger than Mercury, has been known to have a rich atmosphere and chemistry that probably holds more riches than any other planet besides Earth.

This is going to be a truly magnificent show. Imagine a giant plane of rings stretching from here to the moon. That is what the view will be. I can't wait for this one...

On the truth of matters and how little of it we are shown

The media. Plural of medium, something through which things pass. The Media, as we are formally introduced to it, is comprised of vehicles for words, images and sounds, viewpoints, opinions, diversions. The name "The Media" has come to refer to the forms of communication called "The Press". From printing press. Ancient history, but the root from which the tendrils have reached out, further and further, until we are now doing this. This Blogging Web logging thing, on tendrils that have woven together to form a massive virtual web medium.

The 'birth' of the internet is in most cases referring to the invention of the www, the medium, on which information can flow, by many means, through nexi (nexuses?) known as "browsers". Beasts that reach out and are fed through these tubes, this medium full of information.

One of the great beliefs early on in the growth of the World Wide Web, was that information, truth, would be made available from so many sources, to any number of listeners, that we would become free from the small feeding tubes we now have hooked up to our minds because of the broadcast approach to spreading the word.

Broadcast; spreading the seed in a wide swath from a single source. By definition, this creates a monoculture. This also, by definition, imposes a practial limit on the amount of truth, lies, coercion, seduction, inspiration, that can pass through.

So here we are. NBCBSABC and now FOXCNNMSNBC. All providing us a feeding tube that has at its source a supply of information that requires a huge commitment of time and money. And, of course, those providing the support expect something in return for it.

So, here is the thing. There is such a concentration of wealth in so few entities, that the control of information, whether directly or indirectly, must serve to feed the source more than the sink. It really pisses me off that we have NO ACCESS to vital information because it is controlled by powers with no interest or dependence upon a huge percentage of those of us that have rights of access to it. In other words, the most fundamental structures of democracy are completely and intentionally clogged by a ventriloquists dummy animated by a hidden power broker, fed by a huge power loop that is off limits to most of us.

WHY HAVEN'T MORE PEOPLE MADE A HUGE ISSUE OF THE SQUELCHING OF ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENT BY THE PRESS? I can surmise that those in the press who have the 'priviledge' of access to the White House, have been threatened with the loss of the 'priviledge' if they tried to make the President actually think and speak in full sentences. That the president could do this has, of course, proven not possible with every painful utternace from his mind and mouth as he tries to assemble words or thoughts in any coherent, let alone statesmanlike, fashion. I am totally insulted by the need to feel that it is a real accomplishment when the man completes a sentence.

THIS IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE!!! Statesmanlike, eloquent, knowledgeable, worldly, etc. These are minimum requirements for someone who would represent me to the entire population of the planet. This is embarrasing, frustrating and insulting.

Too many people, kids out of high school for 2 years for Christ's sake, are either being killed and maimed, and are killing and maimming people themselves. The scorecard reads ONLY 800+ dead. More than most people want to confront, but yet a badge of honor to some extent in that many many more Iraqi's have been killed or maimed in the process. We never are told about the number of people our children have killed. Using expensive and highly, overpoweringly lethal machines. Where is the pride in this? Where is the sanity? The humanity? The culture, the love, the sensitivity to the struggle to live for any and all living things?

We complain about the price of gas.

We can't build small cars because, come on, if you get hit by an SUV you're toast. So, everyone is justified, actually required, to pour into one of these monsters the resources and fuel that could provide for a small town in many countries. By this logic we should all be driving semi's. Maybe trains.

When news reports refer to people in other oountries who are struggling to get by as earning "20 dollars a week", or "only 2 dollars a day", or "100 dollars a month", how are we supposed to reconcile this with any kind of reality. Does this mean they can only fill up their SUV ONCE A MONTH if they are going to eat decent meals on the street? There is no information in this that has any meaning. Would someone please realize this and come up with another way to express what is an extremely important concept!

I have said enough for now. This is quite a medium for flushing out the system..

News from above the sky..

Found a good link to Mars stuff:
2004 Mars Exploration Rovers - News, Status, Technical Info, History.

My blogging initiation continues... I'm still not really grokking this, but I've been thinking about a way to start writing. Writing stories, stuff of any kind. This is a vehicle for that type of thing, and my impression is that that is how this whole thing got going.. people started brain dumping and expounding into www. I didn't think this blogging thing was much of anything, but now I think it's worth a look.

That's today's blip.

What's in a name?

So, this is the thing.. I am not exclusively an American. I live in the United States of America. Mexicans, Brazilians, Argentinians, Canadians are all Americans i.e. There are two continents that make up America; North and South.

This is yet more gross arrogance about our status in the world, and our ownership of territory. I am a citizen of United States of America, which is just one of the countries in America.

There.. That's my latest peeve.

Chris Botti - WindowsMedia.com Media Guide

Chris Botti - WindowsMedia.com Media Guide

This is a test of linking to something I found of interest.

BTW - Jazz is a good thing. There are good emotional spaces and sensations that you can get to if you only listen.

First time for everything

This is my foray. I'm gathering that this is the NEXT BIG THING, so here I am.

Hmmmm. Today was supposed to rain, just barely did, now is sunny and breezy. Just right.

Weather is a thing of mine. And the universe. And the planets we know of.

Saturn is the next BIG SHOW. Mars is going to get bumped off the headlines ( if indeed it is there anymore). Although one of the rovers will get to the hills and try to get a view and the other one will drive into a crater and maybe never get out, this will still be upstaged by a flight through the rings of Saturn and a close up view of Titan.

I'm pumped about this. Also, just stepping outside in the perfect dark and looking up at the galaxy. And seeing Hubble pictures of galaxy upon galaxy. And I suppose we are the only planet with 'intelligent' life. After all, why else would Juheezus choose us?

Well this is a start.