YOU guys ARE sending a Browncoat to the Gulf !!! by Niki2

Well, we're up to $75 to send me to the Gulf to help with the cleanup (it's in the "worse than we knew" thread, for info). I've checked out volunteer ag..."/>

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

YOU guys ARE sending a Browncoat to the Gulf !!!

POSTED BY: NIKI2
UPDATED: Thursday, June 3, 2010 16:09
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 2633
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Thursday, May 27, 2010 12:21 PM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Well, we're up to $75 to send me to the Gulf to help with the cleanup (it's in the "worse than we knew" thread, for info). I've checked out volunteer agencies and registered with a couple...most ask you to pay your own air fare, but I've found info on people who are housing volunteers and other things.

I don't expect anyone to kick in; in a way it's totally selfish of me to want to go and help because it would make ME feel better than anyone else, and one person more or less isn't anything dramatic. But I can kick in another $50-75 probably by July 1--this will be going on for a long, long time as we know--so that puts us at $125-150 for what Pizmo found was an air fare of $250--that WAS round trip, wasn't it Piz? I know sometimes you'd like to get rid of me, but... ;o)

I don't know how these things work, since I've never volunteered to anywhere I couldn't drive, but on the off chance this comes around, anyone who knows anyone who could pick me up at the airport (tho' I'm guessing volunteer agencies might do that)...

So anyone who wants to really know they've personally made a tiny dent in the Gulf Coast disaster, if you help me get there, it's not a joke, I swear to gawd I'll work my little TAIL off for two weeks!! Choey's said she'd care for my "menagerie" and Jim's on his way to independence (only six days after major surgery!), so I'm free.

Just the thought of even two of you caring enough makes me feel so damned good...Browncoats RULE!

"I'm just right. Kinda like the sun rising in the east and the world being round...its not a need its just the way it is." The Delusional "Hero", 3/1/10

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 12:27 PM

..

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 12:30 PM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

So you figured out how to change titles, eh, Whatsit? Congratulations, your choice was probably because it's mine no doubt, but it speaks loudly to what kind of person you are. And aren't.

What you don't realize is it's easiest for the person who STARTS the thread to just pop in "edit" and "update"...coupla clicks, no more.

"I'm just right. Kinda like the sun rising in the east and the world being round...its not a need its just the way it is." The Delusional "Hero", 3/1/10

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 12:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
So you figured out how to change titles, eh, Whatsit? Congratulations, your choice was probably because it's mine no doubt, but it speaks loudly to what kind of person you are. And aren't.

What you don't realize is it's easiest for the person who STARTS the thread to just pop in "edit" and "update"...coupla clicks, no more.

"I'm just right. Kinda like the sun rising in the east and the world being round...its not a need its just the way it is." The Delusional "Hero", 3/1/10

*razberrys*

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 1:20 PM

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Niki, I'm in for $50.

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 1:30 PM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Wow! This is wild--that puts us up to $125 from you guys and another $50-75 from me. This might actually happen!!! Scary...but exciting. Didn't mention that I grew up on airplanes and in airports, and just the idea of FLYING again sets my heart a-thumpin', much less being there to help! ...wow...

"I'm just right. Kinda like the sun rising in the east and the world being round...its not a need its just the way it is." The Delusional "Hero", 3/1/10

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 1:42 PM

Keeping order in every verse

Niki, how do we get the money to you. Being a Brit I feel awful that a company with my country's name on it is responsible for this disaster. I'd be happy to add my few quid. I'll pledge $50 or whatever the monetary conversion is. Good idea , my love. Wish I could go myself.

Peacekeeper---keeping order in every verse!!!

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 1:46 PM

America loves a winner!

Thanks for your support. If ya can't go, give. Please.

Bones: "Don't 'rawr' her!"
Booth: "What? she'rawred' me first."

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 2:15 PM

... fully loaded, safety off...

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
--that WAS round trip, wasn't it Piz? I know sometimes you'd like to get rid of me, but... ;o)

Yeah, round trip - I know there's no getting rid of you!

I figure $50 sitting in a drawer or the bank when someone like you really wants to go (wish I could) money well spent.
And that was airfare from SF to NOLA btw. I thought I remembered you saying you were in that area. I checked at http://www.travelocity.com no telling what rates will do, for today a lot of carriers had that price.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 2:26 PM

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Thanks for your support. If ya can't go, give. Please.

Less talky-talky, more givey-givey. :)

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 2:28 PM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Thanks for your support. If ya can't go, give. Please.

Less talky-talky, more givey-givey. :)

Gonna meet me down there ?

Bones: "Don't 'rawr' her!"
Booth: "What? she'rawred' me first."

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 4:41 PM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

My goodness! Let's see...Peacekeeper, anyone who has PayPal can do it that way, but NOT NOW! Just make a pledge until/unless we find out we've got enough. Tho' this is scary/exciting, given you just put us up to, what, $225?!?!? I couldn't do my share until July 1, but if anyone else puts us up to the full $250, I'll go as soon as/if they contact me to.

If not PayPal, you can send a check if/when the time comes, or any other way--I can e-mail anyone my snail mail addy. I can get Jim to pull the money from our retirement and be paid back, if/when they should call me before the money can get here. Just be sure you're serious about the pledge (which I know doesn't need saying).

Thanx for the good wishes, Raptor...and everyone, whether I can go or not, pretty please, if we can't get enough together for me to go, get that money to the groups already down there, 'kay? And even if this happens, give what you can...I know it's not like Katrina or Haiti, where humans are in physical danger, but it WILL impact all of us, one way or another eventually, I guarantee.

One of those I'm registered with is the Audubon Society, another...well, here are the ones I'm either registered with now or will be:

http://lagulfresponse.org/home.html (Louisianna Gulf Response)

http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov/ (State of Louisianna government's website put up for this issue)

http://www.audubonaction.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aa_registration_
thanks (Audubon Society)

http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/ (Volunteer Louisianna, via Americorps)

http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/0510/735309.html (volunteering via a local news station in LA)

I registered with three of those, but aside from Audubon Society I forget which other two. I chose the three I did because they appear to be the ones most DOING now--a couple of the sites just wanted registrations and can't say when/if they'll contact. I also chose ones that posted info on housing, because I certainly couldn't afford my own!

You have to register, they have to figure out where and for what they can use you, and so forth before you can go. Some places ask for minimal donations to offset housing, food, etc., others talk about "dorms" and sleeping bags. Any of that is fine with me, if I can raise the money or find it somewhere in our budget (hahahaha).

The one thing I know is I CAN help. I did years of rehab, and tho' they probably don't have seals/sea lions, ;o) I'm great at breaking up frozen blocks of fish (which would actually be good for my wrist!), cleaning pens/cages...I know a lot that could be used. I may be 61 and no longer able to sit on seals or do heavy lifting, but even doing laundry for those who CAN is a help. I'm not averse to anything at all, if I just could get the chance!

And believe me, I'd take all my Serenity and Firefly t-shirts with me and wear none others! And yak to anyone and everyone I work with about how wonderful Firefly is, how wonderful you guys are, and urge them to see it. Seems a fair payback, eh?

Pizmo, I’ll hope air fares don’t go up too much before/if I can go, that’s all I can do. Yeah, we may disagree on most things, but I didn’t figure you’d try to really get rid of me for good

Not that you COULD! Yes, I live in Marin, just 11 miles above SF, and I love just GOING to SFO to pick people up and drop them off, it's kinda like my "second home". My dad worked for Pan Am and I was born in San Mateo, so it's kinda my "back yard" as it were.

Mike, that’s unfair. Those of you with jobs and other stuff CAN’T go, we know that; I don’t have one, so it’s fair I should represent us, if I can. Raptor made a fair plea for donations; those who can, will, nobody should be pushed (in proper school marm voice). Tho’ if anyone who doesn’t like me (none of those around here, nawww) or can’t go want to donate to any of the above, that would be fantastic too.

This is all kind of shocking, it’s happening so fast. I never dreamed I could get the chance to pitch in. I know even if it does happen, it won’t do so fast, there’s a lot of coordination going on. But it sure makes me proud of all you guys, and would be such a dream come true for me...I’d miss the HELL out of my huskies...and Jim and Choey too, of course ;o) ...but it’s driving me nuts not to be able to help, and it would be incredibly wonderful if I could, even if only for a couple of weeks—-because this will be going on for YEARS, trust me, maybe decades, the size it’s becoming. It would/will be damned hard to come home again, I know that already.

Just caught Charlie Melancon (D. LA) on a clip, and then on the Maddow show. Did anyone else see him? He kinda broke down in the House today, talking about it...he’s intimately familiar with all that area, and he said the frustration of watching and listening to all the finger pointing and politics just grew to be too much. He watched the same thing happen over Katrina, and this is even worse for him. I sat here crying along with him watching the clip in the House...I cannot even imagine how he must feel. No matter what we/they do, a lot will never be saveable. The spills we’ve had here have been miniscule in comparison, and not so much that we couldn’t clean them up completely. What he and those in the Gulf are facing...imagination fails me.

Whatever happens, guys, thanks for giving me a day of hope. If this actually happens, I’ll make you so damned proud, with many pics and as much video as my little Olympus can kick out (on breaks and time permitting of course). Okay, I better shut up now. I’m starting to get hypomanic; time to go watch In Plain Sight or Chuck or something calming...!

"I'm just right. Kinda like the sun rising in the east and the world being round...its not a need its just the way it is." The Delusional "Hero", 3/1/10

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Thursday, May 27, 2010 8:34 PM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

I wish we had a big thermometer to post here. ;-)

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

"You can lose a quark you don't girth." -Dreamtrove's words to live by, translated by Ipad

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Friday, May 28, 2010 2:00 AM

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Thanks for your support. If ya can't go, give. Please.

Less talky-talky, more givey-givey. :)

Gonna meet me down there ?

I wish. Unfortunately for me, with my wife out of work, it falls to me to provide every penny of income and sustenance, and I have an overhanging dread that my job won't be around much longer, either. So, no time off for me - I've got vacation time banked, but at this point I'm not about to let them try to run my area without me, because (a) it causes me twice the work trying to fix it when I get back, negating any relaxing benefits of a vacation, and (2) they just might figure out that they could run things without me!

So I do what I can. I send my proxy, Niki. And I send money I don't really have and can't really afford, because there are others who need it more than I do. It's not enough, not by a longshot, but it's what I can do.

Mike

"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero, Real World Event Discussions

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Friday, May 28, 2010 8:09 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Mike, if everyone sent in just a dollar or two to the organizations working down there, it WOULD be enough! Not that I'd push anyone to; we're all in different situations, and at this point in time, few of them provide a lot of money!

Someone remarked about their dog(s) keeping them broke, and it made me grin. I know that one all too well, and I've got two fish tanks, a pond with fish, a snake, parakeet, three rabbits and two dogs! The dogs are the worst, by far; the rabbits are really only expensive when they need vet care, and the others are negligible. But man, those two huskies keep me on the edge of broke!! If it weren't for them, I'd be able to be at the Gulf NOW, with money for housing! Sigh...not that I resent it (much), I adore them both...most of the time.

Kochak costs us extra, too, in that she's an invenerate counter surfer (she's only 8 months, so we're PRAYING she grows out of it!). She's stolen enough of OUR food and items to cost more than a few pennies!

I thank any and all who have sent money down there, and you guys for trying to help me get there, whether it happens or not. Shows you have good hearts (NOT that anyone who doesn't want to, can't afford to or for any other reason hasn't helped).

I contribute to a lot of stuff, which we really can't afford, because as you said, others need it more--the worst of us is still better off than those who have suffered disasters. This one just touches me so much because it's about ALL of America, because it involves the environment, because of all those who will be impacted, and because I have SOME skills that might help. Otherwise, I just send what money I can.

"I'm just right. Kinda like the sun rising in the east and the world being round...its not a need its just the way it is." The Delusional "Hero", 3/1/10

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 8:01 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I'm bumping this because it's ended up directly under PN's assinine "Give money to a Browncoat", which makes me sick every time I glimpse it. This one will continue to go down the list, with which I have no problem, I just couldn't stand where it was.

Raptor:

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President”

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you.

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.”

...so much for "togetherness"...this, instead, weakens us...

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 8:16 AM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

I still hold hope that the remaining gap will be filled. If not, then my contributions will go to an organization in the area. But I can get 80 hours of community service accomplished by donating to Niki, and an assurance that 100% of my investment would be used to help those in need. This is more than I could get by donating directly to area charities.

It is a logical investment.

--Anthony

"On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you." --Auraptor

"This vile and revolting malice - this is their true colors, always has been, you're just seeing it without the mask of justifications and excuses they hide it behind, is all. Make sure to remember it once they put the mask back on." --Fremdfirma

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 10:11 AM

I've been meaning to respond here, been too busy. I'm willing to put up the last $25 you need, if that's enough.

Just be careful out there, yeah?

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 10:24 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Hot DAMN! Bless you, Byte! I'm GOING! Still have to wait to hear back from the organizations I registered for, and I can't kick in my $50 until July 1, but it's GOING to happen, I promise.

Told Jim and said I probably should pull my own $50 pledge back because I'll need SOMETHING down there, can't go penniless. To my surprise HE stepped up to the plate, said keep my pledge for the flight, he'd pull money out of our retirement for my expenses down there!

So we're set, folks...I'm goin' to the Gulf (omigawd, I've got tingles). Think I'll sign up for a couple more organizations today, the final two of the five best I found.

It probably won't happen soon (gawd I WISH!), bear in mind, so put that money aside. Like I said, the first wave of over 20,000 volunteers are there, so they won't need more until those can't take more time off work/get sick/get tired/can't do it anymore or whatever. But I guarantee I'm going, whenever I get called up. If it's before July 1, Jim says he'll even pull enough to make up my pledge.

Already trying how to figure out how to protect all my various "infirmities", hee, hee, hee. I had a huge "boot" I had to wear for months when I got the achilles tendonitis--gonna pull it out again, with it I can walk. Got a legitimate brace for the permanently-bad wrist, and another I bought back a while for the other wrist, which has a gangleon cyst and trigger finger currently (tho' maybe I'll gird my loins and go to the doc for that, which I've been putting off).

Also looking for the rubber boots one of the head of the Marine Mammal Department at Marineworld so sweetly gave me when I worked there...providing my own boots would probably be a good thing. I can wear those for a while before returning to the big boot. Have to pack all my Serenity t-shirts, and, and, and...

Okay, getting ahead of myself. Gotta go do something else, get off the computer, and fight the returning hypomania. Wow.

You guys are just too damned fantastic!! Will let you know the first I hear from any organization, and I'll be on my way. Wow...

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President” ...Raptor

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you. ...Raptor

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.” ...Raptor

...so much for "togetherness"...this, instead, weakens us...

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 10:27 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Oh...so excited I missed the wish that I take care. Believe me, I will...I don't want to make any of my old body parts any WORSE. I know I'll come home exhausted, but hopefully not any worse, and I know enough about this shit not to do what Obama did...walk out on the beach and pick up a glob of oil!! (That still blows me away)

Have to take the "night splint" I wear for the next three-to-six months for the tendonitis, and my own sleeping bag, and, and, and...

Okay, enuff. I'm outta here, go tell Jim and Choey and do some housework to get rid of that hypomanic energy...it WILL, believe me!

Wow...what a dream come true!!! I'll shut up now.

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President” ...Raptor

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you. ...Raptor

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.” ...Raptor

...so much for "togetherness"...this, instead, weakens us...

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 10:43 AM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

The initial 25 dollars is in the mail.

I'm very happy. :-)

--Anthony

"On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you." --Auraptor

"This vile and revolting malice - this is their true colors, always has been, you're just seeing it without the mask of justifications and excuses they hide it behind, is all. Make sure to remember it once they put the mask back on." --Fremdfirma

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 11:00 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Don't send anything yet, Anthony...or anyone else! There's always the chance they won't call me up...no, wait that's not possible; this is going to go on for a long, long time. Rather, put it aside or in a savings account if you have one, maybe you can make some interest before it happens.

However, Peacekeeper, I'll watch the exchange rate; I'll try to catch it when it's good and then maybe you can exchange it over there and I'll give you my address, that might save you some if you can't do PayPal or something. I dunno. Right now I can't think straight...

I'm forced to do something here. I have to say "thank you" to Raptor...it was his thread about how shocked he was by the extent of this that started this whole thing. Thank you, Raptor.

And BIG thank you to Anthony, who truly started this landslide. I've e-mailed you Anthony to tell you some of what this means to me, but I think you already know.

Now I just GOTTA go do something physical...I'm starting to make typos...

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 11:20 AM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
I'm forced to do something here. I have to say "thank you" to Raptor...it was his thread about how shocked he was by the extent of this that started this whole thing. Thank you, Raptor.

And thank you, Niki, - seriously, for doing good works.

I've talked to my friend in New Orleans, and am trying to get info on what the locals are saying needs to be done. With the well still gushing, the situation is still...fluid, sad to say, and with hurricane season upon us, it could be a very long summer indeed.

Any and all help will be appreciated. This is bigger than any of us. It's bigger than all of us.

Bones: "Don't 'rawr' her!"
Booth: "What? she'rawred' me first."

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 11:39 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Thanx, Raptor...I gotta PULL myself away from here, but haven't managed so far...and it's 2:30, for heaven's sake! Seems kinda like I don't want to go away from you guys, break the link as it were...

I admit I'm kinda hoping they call me up before hurricane season starts. Never been through one, not hoping to! I consider them, and tornadoes, in a whole different class from a simple earthquake.

The organizations will put me to work where I can be best used; as I said, even if it's just doing laundry for those on the front lines, I don't care, I just want my hands in there WORKING!

It won't just be a long Summer, doll, it'll go on for years. I hope I get a chance to get down there before too long, dunno how long I can handle waiting, but I can't go or plan to do anything, it's up to the organizations to point me where I can best help.

If anyone knows anyone who can mention to Audubon Society or either of the two LA government organizations (I posted their links somewhere here) who can tell them there's a VERY ready and willing volunteer who has SOME small experience in this stuff, who can pay her own way down there and doesn't care how dirty the job is, that would be fantastic. Otherwise, I wait.

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 11:54 AM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

"I admit I'm kinda hoping they call me up before hurricane season starts. Never been through one, not hoping to! I consider them, and tornadoes, in a whole different class from a simple earthquake."

Hello,

I have a personal scale of natural disaster.

An Earthquake of sufficient magnitude is the worst. You can't be sure what it's going to be like before it gets there, and it can reduce even the safest structures to rubble.

A Hurricane is next, because of the vast area it can affect. The good thing is that you CAN build hurricane-proof houses. Unlike an Earthquake, where the ground always has the option of opening its maw and swallowing you up. I have survived several S. Florida Hurricanes with minimal damage thanks to some simple precautions and the sturdiness of my parent's home. It tends to be the poorest people with the least-well constructed homes in the lowest-lying regions who routinely suffer the worst from Hurricanes. Modern building codes are improving the situation. This is doubtless of little comfort to you, who will probably be staying with low-income people in cheap housing on territory below sea level.

A Tornado is least scary, unless it's coming at you. Then the only safe place to be is under ground. Otherwise, the swath of destruction is far less than either a Hurricane or an Earthquake.

So, those are my top three. I don't know enough about volcanos to render judgment, although they are probably right up there with high magnitude Earthquakes. I remember reading about obliterated, ash-buried cities...

--Anthony

"On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you." --Auraptor

"This vile and revolting malice - this is their true colors, always has been, you're just seeing it without the mask of justifications and excuses they hide it behind, is all. Make sure to remember it once they put the mask back on." --Fremdfirma

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 11:57 AM

America loves a winner!

Quakes, tornadoes and hurricanes don't completely wipe out entire ecosystems and push species to the brink of extinction.

This event will.

Bones: "Don't 'rawr' her!"
Booth: "What? she'rawred' me first."

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 12:12 PM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Damn...one more and then I’m gone, so help me gawd!

Gee, thanx Anthony, that's very comforting!

And yes, Raptor, it takes MAN to fuck up huge chunks of the Earth, Nature doesn’t do it on her own. Well, she does, with Ice Ages and stuff, but that doesn’t count!

Okay, here we go:

Anthony: $25
Pizmo: $58
Mike: $50
Peacekeeper: $50
Niki: $50
Byte: $25

Those are who you can thank.

If anyone wants to PayPal me the money (which Anthony already did, damn, he's fast!), that's a great idea...I can just leave it there until I need it. Or else you can put it in savings and maybe earn some interest, who knows...

Don’t think I mentioned, but Jim also said he’d not only give me what we can out of the retirement account, but would cover the pledges if they don’t come in on time. I trust you guys, but if snail mail is too slow or something, my darling Jim has made it so I could go TOMORROW if they called. He knows how much it means to me, so he’s helping make it possible (even tho’ I know he’d rather I didn’t go). Whattaguy!

Peacekeeper, if you’ve got PayPal, that would be easiest for you. Otherwise, e-mail me and I’ll send you my snail-mail addy. Someone said they didn’t like PayPal, but for the life of me I can’t find who. Whoever it is: ditto if you want. My e-mal, again, is Nikovich@pacbell.net

Okay, I’m gone. I promise. For a few hours anyway...

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 2:37 PM

I usually keep my Paypal account clear of money in case it's ever hacked, but I'm transferring the $25 into it now, and as soon as it's there I'll wire it over to you.

Hmm, hey, is your computer portable? I guess you can try to find a library or something, maybe. It'd be neat to hear updates from you.

Maybe I'll transfer a little more money, just in case you get there and you find you need extra.

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Saturday, May 29, 2010 2:54 PM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Thanx love. Someone else sent in $50--whichever of you it was, many thanx.

I had thought of locating an internet cafe, but Choey says I should take the laptop her son bought her last year, bless her heart. That way I can download videos and pix and send them off to her, so she can then save them to my machine and put them on YouTube for you guys. I figured I'd e-mail her and she can log in on my logon and just copy the e-mails here, so I can keep in touch. May not be much, depending on how exhausted I am and how much time is available, but I will definitely take videos and bring them home, no matter what. And pix.

Thanx again, all of you...I just realized I don't have to check my e-mail several times a day, as it's Memorial Day Weekend. Nothing will happen until Tuesday at the earliest, if then. I hope it isn't too long, waiting is hell...so I'm signing up with the other two organizations. Now it's possible, I want to BE there, even tho' I realize it's early and much, MUCH more help will be needed as time goes by.

Bastards didn't cap the well, I see. My worst fears are being more and more confirmed: August. Shit.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 8:27 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Just a quick update to add Frem to the list, as he quietly "slipped" me $25 for expenses. Bless you, Frem!

I'll start a new thread if there are REAL updates or progress to share, otherwise the subject is closed in this respect until I hear something worth note.

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President” ...Raptor

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you. ...Raptor

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.” ...Raptor

...so much for "together"...this, instead, weakens us...

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 8:36 AM

Paypal's still processing my transfers. I should get the first $25 tomorrow, and another $25 by Friday.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 9:06 AM

Ten Things You Need (But Don't Want) To Know About the BP Oil Spill

By Daniela Perdomo

Global Research, May 29, 2010
AlterNet - 2010-05-27

How the owner of the exploded oil rig has made $270 million off the disaster, and nine other shocking, depressing facts about the oil spill.

It's been 37 days since BP's offshore oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Since then, crude oil has been hemorrhaging into ocean waters and wreaking unknown havoc on our ecosystem -- unknown because there is no accurate estimate of how many barrels of oil are contaminating the Gulf.

Though BP officially admits to only a few thousand barrels spilled each day, expert estimates peg the damage at 60,000 barrels or over 2.5 million gallons daily. (Perhaps we'd know more if BP hadn't barred independent engineers from inspecting the breach.) Measures to quell the gusher have proved lackluster at best, and unlike the country's last big oil spill -- Exxon-Valdez in 1989 -- the oil is coming from the ground, not a tanker, so we have no idea how much more oil could continue to pollute the Gulf's waters.

The Deepwater Horizon disaster reminds us what can happen -- and will continue to happen -- when corporate malfeasance and neglect meet governmental regulatory failure.

The corporate media is tracking the disaster with front-page articles and nightly news headlines every day (if it bleeds, or spills, it leads!), but the under-reported aspects to this nightmarish tale paint the most chilling picture of the actors and actions behind the catastrophe. In no particular order, here are 10 things about the BP spill you may not know and may not want to know -- but you should.

1. Oil rig owner has made $270 million off the oil leak

Transocean Ltd., the owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig leased by BP, has been flying under the radar in the mainstream blame game. The world's largest offshore drilling contractor, the company is conveniently headquartered in corporate-friendly Switzerland, and it's no stranger to oil disasters. In 1979, an oil well it was drilling in the very same Gulf of Mexico ignited, sending the drill platform into the sea and causing one of the largest oil spills by the time it was capped... nine months later.

This experience undoubtedly influenced Transocean's decision to insure theDeepwater Horizon rig for about twice what it was worth. In a conference call to analysts earlier this month, Transocean reported making a $270 million profit from insurance payouts after the disaster. It's not hard to bet on failure when you know it's somewhat assured.

2. BP has a terrible safety record

BP has a long record of oil-related disasters in the United States. In 2005, BP's Texas City refineryexploded, killing 15 workers and injuring another 170. The next year, one of its Alaska pipelines leaked 200,000 gallons of crude oil. According to Public Citizen, BP has paid $550 million in fines. BP seems to particularly enjoy violating the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, and has paid the two largest fines in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's history. (Is it any surprise that BP played a central, though greatly under-reported, role in the failure to contain the Exxon-Valdez spill years earlier?)

With Deepwater Horizon, BP didn't break its dismal trend. In addition to choosing a cheaper -- and less safe -- casing to outfit the well that eventually burst, the company chose not to equip Deepwater Horizon with an acoustic trigger, a last-resort option that could have shut down the well even if it was damaged badly, and which is required in most developed countries that allow offshore drilling. In fact, BP employs these devices in its rigs located near England, but because the United States recommends rather than requires them, BP had no incentive to buy one -- even though they only cost $500,000.

SeizeBP.org estimates that BP makes $500,000 in under eight minutes.

3. Oil spills are just a cost of doing business for BP

According to the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, approximately $1.6 billion in annual economic activity and services are at risk as a result of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Compare this number -- which doesn't include the immeasurable environmental damages -- to the current cap on BP's liability for economic damages like lost wages and tourist dollars, which is $75 million. And compare that further to the first-quarter profits BP posted just one week after the explosion: $6 billion.

BP's chief executive, Tony Hayward, has solemnly promised that the company will cover more than the required $75 million. On May 10, BP announced it had already spent $350 million. How fantastically generous of a company valued at $152.6 billion, and which makes $93 million each day.

The reality of the matter is that BP will not be deterred by the liability cap and pity payments doled out to a handful of victims of this disaster because they pale in comparison to its ghastly profits. Indeed, oil spills are just a cost of doing business for BP.

This is especially evident in a recent Citigroup analyst report prepared for BP investors: "Reaction to the Gulf of Mexico oil leak is a buying opportunity."

4. The Interior Department was at best, neglectful, and at worst, complicit

It's no surprise BP is always looking out for its bottom line -- but it's at least slightly more surprising that the Interior Department, the executive department charged with regulating the oil industry, has done such a shoddy job of preventing this from happening.

Ten years ago, there were already warnings that the backup systems on oil rigs that failed on Deepwater Horizon would be a problem. The Interior Department issued a "safety alert" but then left it up to oil companies to decide what kind of backup system to use. And in 2007, a government regulator from the same department downplayed the chances and impact of a spill like the one that occurred last month: "lowouts are rare events and of short duration, potential impact to marine water quality are not expected to be significant."

The Interior Department's Louisiana branch may have been particularly confused because it appears it was closely fraternizing with the oil industry. The Minerals Management Service, the agency within the department that oversees offshore drilling, routinely accepted gifts from oil companies and even considered itself a part of the oil industry, rather than part of a governmental regulatory agency. Flying on oil executives' private planes was not rare for MMS inspectors in Louisiana, a federal report released Tuesday says. "Skeet-shooting contests, hunting and fishing trips, golf tournaments, crawfish boils, and Christmas parties" were also common.

Is it any wonder that Deepwater Horizon was given a regulatory exclusion by MMS?

It gets worse. Since April 20, when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, the Interior Department has approved 27 new permits for offshore drilling sites. Here's the kicker: Two of these permits are for BP.

But it gets better still: 26 of the 27 new drilling sites have been granted regulatory exemptions, including those issued to BP.

5. Clean-up prospects are dismal

The media makes a lot of noise about all the different methods BP is using to clean up the oil spill. Massive steel containment domes were popular a few weeks ago. Now everyone is touting the "top kill" method, which involves injecting heavy drilling fluids into the damaged well.

But here's the reality. Even if BP eventually finds a method that works, experts say the best cleanup scenario is to recover 20 percent of the spilled oil. And let's be realistic: only 8 percent of the crude oil deposited in the ocean and coastlines off Alaska was recovered in the Exxon-Valdez cleanup.

Millions of gallons of oil will remain in the ocean, ravaging the underwater ecosystem, and 100 miles of Louisiana coastline will never be the same.

6. BP has no real cleanup plan

Perhaps because it knows the possibility of remedying the situation is practically impossible, BP has made publicly available its laughable "Oil Spill Response Plan" which is, in fact, no plan at all.

Most emblematic of this farcical plan, BP mentions protecting Arctic wildlife like sea lions, otters and walruses (perhaps executives simply lifted the language from Exxon's plan for its oil spill off the coast of Alaska?). The plan does not include any disease-preventing measures, oceanic or meteorological data, and is comprised mostly of phone numbers and blank forms. Most importantly, it includes no directions for how to deal with a deep-water explosion such as the one that took place last month.

The whole thing totals 600 pages -- a waste of paper that only adds insult to the environmental injury BP is inflicting upon the world with Deepwater Horizon.

7. Both Transocean and BP are trying to take away survivors' right to sue

With each hour, the economic damage caused by Deepwater Horizon continues to grow. And BP knows this.

So while it outwardly is putting on a nice face, even pledging $500 million to assess the impacts of the spill, it has all the while been trying to ensure that it won't be held liable for those same impacts.

Just after the Deepwater explosion, surviving employees were held in solitary confinement, while Transocean flacks made them waive their rights to sue. BP then did the same with fishermen it contracted to help clean up the spill though the company now says that was nothing more than a legal mix-up.

If there's anything to learn from this disaster, it's that companies like BP don't make mistakes at the expense of others. They are exceedingly deliberate.

8. BP bets on risk to employees to save money -- and doesn't care if they get sick

When BP unleashed its "Beyond Petroleum" re-branding/greenwashing campaign, the snazzy ads featured smiley oil rig workers. But the truth of the matter is that BP consistently and knowingly puts its employees at risk.

An internal BP document shows that just before the prior fatal disaster -- the 2005 Texas City explosion that killed 15 workers and injured 170 -- when BP had to choose between cost-savings and greater safety, it went with its bottom line.

A BP Risk Management memo showed that although steel trailers would be safer in the case of an explosion, the company went with less expensive options that offered protection but were not "blast resistant." In the Texas City blast, all of the fatalities and most of the injuries occurred in or around these trailers.

Although BP has responded to this memo by saying the company culture has changed since Texas City, 11 people died on the Deepwater Horizon when it blew up. Perhaps a similar memo went out regarding safety and cost-cutting measures?

Reports this week stated that fishermen hired by BP for oil cleanup weren't provided protective equipment and have now fallen ill. Hopefully they didn't sign waivers.

9. Environmental damage could even include a climatological catastrophe

It's hard to know where to start discussing the environmental damage caused byDeepwater Horizon. Each day will give us a clearer picture of the short-term ecological destruction, but environmental experts believe the damage to the Gulf of Mexico will be long-term.

In the short-term, environmentalists are up in arms about the dispersants being used to clean up the oil slick in the Gulf. Apparently, the types BP is using aren't all that effective in dispersing oil, and are pretty high in toxicity to marine fauna such as fish and shrimp. The fear is that what BP may be using to clean up the mess could, in the long-term, make it worse.

On the longer-term side of things, there are signs that this largest oil drilling catastrophe could also become the worst natural gas and climate disaster. The explosion has released tremendous amounts of methane from deep in the ocean, and research shows that methane, when mixed with air, is the most powerful (read: terrible) greenhouse gas -- 26 times worse than carbon-dioxide.

Our warming planet just got a lot hotter.

10. No one knows what to do and it will happen again

The very worst part about the Deepwater Horizon calamity is that nobody knows what to do. We don't know how bad it really is because we can't measure what's going on. We don't know how to stop it -- and once we do, we won't know how to clean it up.

BP is at the helm of the recovery process, but given its corporate track record, its efforts will only go so far -- it has a board of directors and shareholders to answer to, after all. The U.S. government, the only other entity that could take over is currently content to let BP hack away at the problem. Why? Because it probably has no idea what to do either.

Here's the reality of the matter -- for as long as offshore drilling is legal, oil spills will happen. Coastlines will be decimated, oceans destroyed, economies ruined, lives lost. Oil companies have little to no incentive to prevent such disasters from happening, and they use their money to buy government regulators' integrity.

Deepwater Horizon is not an anomaly -- it's the norm.

Daniela Perdomo is a staff writer and editor at AlterNet. Follow Daniela on Twitter. Write her at danielaalternet [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 9:07 AM

... fully loaded, safety off...

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
Just a quick update to add Frem to the list, as he quietly "slipped" me $25 for expenses. Bless you, Frem!

I'll start a new thread if there are REAL updates or progress to share, otherwise the subject is closed in this respect until I hear something worth note.

We'll keep bumping this one - you gonna need more than just airfare! No money from the Tightie Righties? Come on, just $5 bucks, this is bigger than politics.

Heh... do you have any Hazmat Firefly/Browncoat shirts? I'm just sayin', case you get on local news.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 9:13 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Hee, hee, hee; no, Pizmo...besides, I seriously doubt they'll let me do hazmat work. You have to be specially trained, and most likely the government is responsible for those people.

But I have three or four Serenity t-shirts (how I wish Fox would let people do Firefly t-shirts!), which I will be wearing nonstop.

The tightie-righties?! Are you friggin' KIDDING?? a) They hate me, b) when have you known right-wingers to contribute to much of anything (unless it involves a tax break), c) they mostly don't give a damn about the environment anyway. As Kane said, he can't see it from his house!

In other words: Get real!

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President” ...Raptor

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you. ...Raptor

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.” ...Raptor

...so much for "together"...this, instead, weakens us...

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 2:20 PM

Actually, wanted to add a thought here, about the best use of talents and whatnot.

Got dragged off to the theatre over the weekend, and sitting through the horrible advertisements (something I find repulsive about payin for a move and bein bombed with) there was one for Dawn dishwashing liquid, a rather shameless and exploitive plug if you ask me, since they were claiming that is what is used to help clean oil off of waterfowl - although I don't doubt the claim too much since I use it as a degreaser on small engines that have parts which could be damaged by something more caustic.

But despite my ire, the thought it brought to mind is that would likely be the best use of your talents, Nik - since like me, you're fond of all the critters of the world, and get along with them rather well.

Like I said, such a small thing, but that's all that big things are really made of, innit ?

-F

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 3:25 PM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Thanx, BlackNavarre

, but they usuall let people well trained in that do that job. My de-oiling of birds was back in the 70s, so I'd need to be brought up to speed, in other words: retrained. Procedures have no doubt changed in the interim. I wish to hell I would be allowed to do that, but I seriously doubt it.

Yes, Dawn is shameless about it, but I don't begrudge them that, I think they've a right to be. As far as I know, it is STILL the standard used for de-oiling wildlife, I don't think anything better has come along since then. It was discovered shortly before our spill and we thought it was a miracle substance. See, it doesn't hurt the animals, as well as being such an incredible grease cutter. Half the problem before Dawn was that whatever you used could kill the birds because then you had to get it OFF them completely, absolutely and totally or the substance itself was deadly (wasn't any kind of soap that I recall, some kind of de-greaser).

Wonder if they've ever tried THAT on a spill (hee, hee, hee)...Foamy Detergent Gulf, anyone? Me, I'm grateful enough to Dawn that I've NEVER bought anything else. Don't care if something better comes along for washing dishes, or even if something better comes along for de-oiling wildlife; my heart belongs to Dawn.

I don't know what goes into it or exactly why it works so fantastically, but I DO know that survival and release numbers went up astronomically when they began using it.

Go Dawn!

And yes; I haven't been to a movie in a theater in ages, to hear they've tacked on COMMERCIALS when you've already paid ticket price just makes me, well,

Operative Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President” ...Raptor

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you. ...Raptor

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.” ...Raptor

...so much for "together"...this, instead, weakens us...

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 3:43 PM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Uh, I wrote something to mike in an e-mail which I want to say to all of you. With each donation has come a "thank you". Well, here's what I wrote to Mike, and you should all know it:

Quote:
NO thanks are necessary; in actuality, it's a totally selfish thing to do, and probably won't be awesome in the slightest. Given my age and various infirmities, I can't do the things I used to, so it'll probably end up being something menial. That's fine with me. My selfish reasons are:

1) To have one last chance to do something actually hands-on about the environment, which I love so.

2) To assuage the feelings of helplessness I've felt during Katrina, Haiti, and all the others; at least when we had our Loma Prieta quake, it was close enough that I could actually HELP; this kills me.

3) To be able to represent Firefly and the Browncoats makes it triple neat, and people there are gonna be made to feel good, knowing a bunch of people chipped in to send me.

I've been reading about all kinds of aspects of volunteerism on a really great page at one of the cites I signed up for. They had gathered a ton of information from Katrina (it's an Louisiana site) and put it all together.

One struck me; story of a bunch of volunteers who got to whatever project they were to do and the equipment hadn't arrived. They stood around, getting frustrated. The leader saw a man leaning on a trailer, watching them, small, wistful smile on his face. The leader told one of the volunteers "I know you think you're not doing anything right now, but you ARE. See that man? He now knows that people CARE, that there are some who care enough to stop their lives, travel here and help...that means something, that means a lot". I'll never forget that.

So that's part of it for me. They're gonna know you guys CARE, that it's touched you, and that's big, and I get to be the one to take that to them.

You really think I deserve thanx from anyone? I don't; I've not had such joy in many years, trust me. I have a rule: I never do anything I don't want to do. People ask me to do this or that; if I don't want to, I politely refuse. So trust me, it's a selfish gesture, pure and simple!

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 4:57 PM

Ain't nothin selfish about the desire to do something to help others, we only tell ourselves that to pacify our inner demons.

-F

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 6:56 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I disagree, BlackNavarre! While I don't necessarily think it's "selfish", I don't believe in "selflessness" per se. That's something I've long hung onto--for me at least. I'm not so egotistical as to believe it holds true for all others. I can't know them deep inside. But I can ME.

It's my philosophy of not doing something I don't want to. I KNOW doing what can seem "selfless" to others isn't really, it's just that they wouldn't do it themselves, so in some cases hold others in higher regard who DO. But the core of it is that we do what we WANT to do--even if it feels like we don't, somewhere deep inside the satisfaction is OURS, nobody else's.

For me, it's not hidding from demons, it's realistic perspective. Self-awareness is a biggie for me, and it took me down a peg or two to recognize this and accept it. In no way means I don't feel good about doing something, I just recognize the feeling good, if nothing else, is MY reward.

It actually came about on one of the mental-health forums I was on. Because I saw the good in people who had been told they weren't worth shit all their lives, and spoke up about it, some of them latched onto me and called me "angel" and suchlike. I never FELT like an angel, I had just seen that people who thought they were weak and bought into those messages, if they were "seen" for the person they really were by those of us there and we spoke up to counter the inside voices, I watched miracles happen and saw many of them find their inner strength and change drastically. So putting those things out in the open wasn't "selfless" of me, it was just recognizing that if I spoke up regarding the good things in them I did, it helped them become people we all admired. I never lied or pretended, mind you, I only spoke up about things I recognized which were laudable. I'm big on not kissing up--leftover mommy stuff.

Long explanation for short reality; you did it better than I am capable of doing.

(Of course, I had a further lesson to learn down the line...often those who most lauded me for being "so wonderful" would later turn on me just as dramatically if I disagreed with them, or because their inner voices weren't ready to be countered. Which taught me that in some ways their NEED to see me as something special was THEIR need, and didn't actually relate to me at all. Some pain ensued, but I got THAT in the end, too, eventually, and it was the final piece of the puzzle.)

Operative Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President” ...Raptor

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you. ...Raptor

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.” ...Raptor

...so much for "together"...this, instead, weakens us...

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 7:05 AM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

People will always hold in higher regard those who display qualities that they lack. I hold by sister in great esteem because she has shown great ambition and perseverance in her life.

It is not in spite of her desire to achieve that I honor her achievements. Rather, it is because of that desire.

I wish I had her same ambition, and treasure the drive in her. Likewise, you selfish do-gooders who relish the acts of kindness are highly esteemed by me, who has only come late and haltingly to the party.

It's not just the do-gooding. It's the mindset that demands it, enjoys it, and needs it, that I hold in awe.

--Anthony

"On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you." --Auraptor

"This vile and revolting malice - this is their true colors, always has been, you're just seeing it without the mask of justifications and excuses they hide it behind, is all. Make sure to remember it once they put the mask back on." --Fremdfirma

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 10:19 AM

Well, with me... not so much.

Remember, I got into this not because I like people, or kids - hell, I can barely tolerate my own species most of the time, and have many a day where I don't even do that all that well - my primary motive wasn't a love of humanity, but a deep, bitter, all-consuming HATRED of those who abuse others for fun and profit, not out of ignorance, mental illness or neglect, but deliberately, knowingly, on purpose, cause they get their kicks out of it via money, power, or fulfillment of a form of sadism I understand all too well only because *I* feel it towards them, and I do "enjoy it too much" when I get to lay down real, physical hurt on them and watch them beg and plead, yeah.

But I did learn, eventually, the deeply held, unconquerable kernel that kept sparking and fanning the flames of that rage and hatred, was in fact compassion - something I would never have understood if circumstances hadn't repeatedly put me in a position where I was the *only* possible healer for folks that due to circumstances, would not, could not, put enough trust in anyone else to enable them to help.

And I wasn't real happy about that, mind you, for reasons HKCav touched on in our theological discussion.

Most importantly though, it came very clear to me, that your reasons mean jack shit, how you feel, why you do something.. to the person you are helping ..are all but meaningless.

What you BELIEVE matters almost nothing.
What you DO means everything.

And that's as true a thing as exists in this world.

-Frem

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 10:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
People will always hold in higher regard those who display qualities that they lack.

True: although sometimes those qualities ain't all they're cracked up to be, neither.

I envy Wendy for her courage, and her unyielding faith in not only humanity, but a just world.

Conversely, she envies me for the ability to bring down doom and destruction upon folk who poison humanity and make the world an unjust place.

Of the both of us, she got the better deal.
Destruction lasts but minutes, Faith lasts forever.

-F

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 11:14 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Quote:
What you BELIEVE matters almost nothing.
What you DO means everything.

And that's as true a thing as exists in this world.

Once again, BlackNavarre, you nailed it.

We have a saying in the mental health community. When people voice feelings of anger at someone or something that happened, we try to help them understand that what they're THINKING is okay, no matter what it is; the fact that they didn't ACT on those thoughts in some harmful manner is all that counts.

That helps with mental illness, believe me!!!

Well, admire or not admire, I pretty much find something to admire in 99% of the people I've known. People I've run ACROSS, not so much

But I don't get angry as much, nor take things as personal, and that's a biggie for me.

For example yesterday. PG&E is fucking up the street, so I took an alternate route just by my house (they hit US tomorrow). Windy, tiny little street less than a quarter of a mile long...if you went around the bend too fast and a car was coming, woe be unto you. We have tons of those in Marin.

Anyway, suddenly this woman stepped out in front of her car. I hit the brakes, and no doubt I had a shocked expression on my face. She started to rail at me about not being able to cross the street "in front of my house", and this lady was a pro--I wouldn't say she could give one of ours a run for his/her money, but leaving out the obscenities, she WOULD.

I sat there and smiled at her and watched her, didn't say a word. Was funnier than hell...she'd take a few steps up her driveway, turn around and come back and scream some more nastiness, then turn around and make it a few more steps up the driveway (their house is up the hill some), and on and on. I never said a word, just smiled at her. Then she got a little camera out and went around to the back of my car to "take a picture in case you do it again", then back to the walking up the driveway, turning around and coming back a few steps. She never shut up.

Then she said "you gonna harrass me all the way up to my house!?!?" I kept smiling, and finally she turned around, walked behind my car and got into HERS. It was hysterical.

A few decades back, I'd have been screaming back at her trying to justify myself because I felt that, tho' I was sure I was in the right, I must have done SOMETHING wrong (no, I wouldn't have felt that consciously, but there has to be some sense of "I must be wrong" subconsciously, or we don't take it personally). No, I just found her amusing.

Of course, I'm not a really good buddhist. If I were, I'd have driven on. If I were, I wouldn't have come home and looked up the vehicle code, where it says 'Any pedestrian on any roadway at any point other than a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles on the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard", and wouldn't be putting that in her mailbox with a gentle reminder that she might ant to keep it in mind in future.

Like I said, I'm not a GOOD buddhist...didn't Mal say something about not being good?

At any rate, that's what makes it easy for me not to resort to the kind of thing below...most of the time!

I will always maintain, however, that there's really no such thing as "selfless", tho' I'll grant you admiration for people who do things I CAN'T. Doing things I CHOOSE not to do, that's different; I still give them their due, but I don't think they're selfless. Nor am I.

Operative Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President” ...Raptor

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you. ...Raptor

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.” ...Raptor

To Niki: “My guess is it won't just be your ugly face you dislike.....Well, it's true......if you had a soul.”

...Remember, remember, the ugliest member...

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 9:41 AM

There, paypal finished processing. I'll get another 25 tomorrow.

Please ignore my godawful real name.

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 10:20 AM

Please send me money so I can do my part to clean up the enviroment...and by my part I mean by a new TV.

H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.
"I find those statements amazing. I said I found your remarks 'amazing'" Niki2, 2010.

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 10:39 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Hero:

You have nothing to say.

Hippie Operative Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

To our President: “Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar. Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.... oh, go fuck yourself, Mr. President” ...Raptor

To Anthony, unquestionably the most civil person on this forum: “Go fuck yourself. On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you. ...Raptor

To Frem: “You miserable piece of shit.” ...Raptor

To Niki: “My guess is it won't just be your ugly face you dislike.....Well, it's true......if you had a soul.” ...Raptor

...Remember, remember, the ugliest member...

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 4:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
Hero: You have nothing to say.

Your just saying that because you hate the enviroment. Here I am trying to do my part and your not helping, I think your just part of the problem.

Now if you'll excuse me...I've got to dump a can of used motor oil into the stream behind our property so I can recycle the can in tomorrow's pickup. Go green everyone...go green.

H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.
"I find those statements amazing. I said I found your remarks 'amazing'" Niki2, 2010.

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