Raising. . .

. . . or rising?

(from http://truth-out.org/news/item/12782-un-holds-urgent-security-council-meeting-us-stands-with-israel)  comments of VIJAY PRASHAD, PROF. INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, TRINITY COLLEGE
". . . the UN has been consistently trying to raise questions about Israeli action in the occupied territories and Gaza.

You know, these areas are under Israeli occupation. There is no sovereign nation of Palestine. There is no sovereign Gaza. So when the attack took place on Gaza, the attack did not take place of one country fighting another; it was an occupying power using disproportionate force against a place which it has held under occupation since 1967.

In that context, the Egyptians, Moroccans, and others called for an emergency session. At the emergency session, the various countries, the 15 members of the council at this time, all said that something must be done. The president of the council at this point is the UN permanent representative from India, Hardeep Singh Puri, and after the meeting, he said there was unanimity in the council, that something had to be done, that the situation was atrocious.

The problem was that there was no, as it were, agreement on what should go forward, and therefore the council was paralyzed. In other words, most of the 15 members of the council at this time said that Israel should be condemned for the use of disproportionate force, not only, you know, the extrajudicial assassination of Hamas members and suchlike, but also the bombing of, say, water towers. You know, what does a water tower outside Khan Yunis have to do with the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel? Why was a water tower targeted? So these were the kind of questions they raise.

But the United States blocked any attempt at crafting a resolution. And Ambassador Susan Rice made it very clear that the real culprit here was not the Israeli government, but Hamas. And this was a curious thing, because she spoke of the conflict as if it was a conflict between two governments, two sovereign governments, and therefore the United Nations has to come in and condemn both governments. You know, she wanted a kind of proportionality in condemnation, even though the war is a fundamentally disproportionate war. . . "

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Froggin'. . .

. . . friggin'. . . fracking!

(from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-14/fracking-hazards-obscured-in-failure-to-disclose-wells.html)
". . . Homeowners in Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming have complained that their well water was contaminated with chemicals or methane gas from nearby frack jobs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last year linked the method to contaminated drinking water in Pavillion, Wyoming; the agency is now retesting some of those findings. The EPA has little authority to regulate fracking; Congress in 2005 stripped it of most such power.

States have responded in various ways. Pennsylvania officials require that companies disclose chemicals within 60 days after fracking. New York has a moratorium on the practice until its environmental impact can be determined. Vermont has banned it outright. Texas began mandating disclosure of fracking chemicals this year, after officials determined that operators were voluntarily reporting about half their fracked wells to FracFocus, according to the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas wells.

Oil and gas executives say the FracFocus website helps eliminate the need for any new federal oversight that might unify the regulatory approach. . . "

Might UNIFY the regulatory approach???!!!!!!!

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Cliff . . .

So congressional Republicans claim they will never allow taxes to increase for wealthy Americans.  They claim that they will eliminate loopholes and leave tax cuts in place which will provide the additional revenue the country requires.

Conversely, President Barack Obama says that the amount of revenue that elimination of tax loopholes would generate, (while leaving tax cuts for the wealthy in  place) is not nearly close to the amount of revenue required to tackle the budget deficit.

It seems to me that the 'leave-cuts-eliminate-loophole' strategy either WILL or WILL NOT generate the amount of revenue required.  There is no OPINION involved.  This is an empirical issue and can be proved or disproved.

Either Congressional Republicans or the Administration should take it upon themselves to prove or disprove (OBJECTIVELY & AUTHORITATIVELY) the effectiveness of the strategy.  Or even better, if you can imagine, the news media could take it upon themselves to prove or disprove it (OBJECTIVELY & AUTHORITATIVELY) and actually provide a service to the general public for a change.

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Roses. . .

Roses are fragrant
Chopping logs splinter
You may complain about heat and humidity
I just don't get into winter

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Piano. . .

. . . quotes. . .

“If I ever go to China, I’m going to find a piano and play “Chopsticks”--only not with my fingers, but rather I’ll be using two forks.”  ― Jarod Kintz, Great Listener Series Mute Women

“The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colors in your mind - From "Spiders web” by Maria Cristina Mena

“When you play, never mind who listens to you.” ― Robert Schumann

“Everybody told me this 'girl on the piano' thing was never going to work.” ― Tori Amos

“When she started to play, Steinway came down personally and rubbed his name off the piano. ”  ― Bob Hope

Ray Jozwiak 7:30 November 19, 2012 at the Monday Night Songwriters Showcase at Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery (take the elevator on the right to the 2nd floor) 
124 North Market Street Frederick, MD 21701
Telephone: 301-631-0089 Fax: 301-631-1874 http://www.brewers-alley.com/

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Not long. . .

. . . it's gone. . . Pam's Song

It's not easy
For me to articulate
What I'm feeling
I've heard so many times
Love songs all seeming sublime
Senses reeling
But this is not just a pedestrian thing
It's been too long for one to call it a fling
This can't be wrong
Just call it Pam's song

Just how many
Find themselves lucky enough
To find someone
Who's a partner
Confidant lover and friend
Can't be undone
A wonder that cannot be eas'ly explained
This feeling which can barely remain contained
Lasting so long
Just call it Pam's song

Why me
How could
This be
Fortune
Greater
Than mere
Lucky

There are many
Love songs
Both good and bad
Trite and sappy
But this brisk pace
With Pammy here for the ride
Keeps me happy
I could have been morose depressing and blue
If Pammy I'd not been acquainted with you
We've something strong
Just call it Pam's song

Pam's Song

Music©1978/Lyrics©2012 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Film. . .

. . . instead of litigation. . .

Actors Martin Sheen, Woody Harrelson and Ed Asner, who incidentally all harbor suspicion about the events of 911, will participate in a new film on the subject entitled September Morn.

Advance publicity include the line, "We the people demand that the government revisit and initiates a thorough and independent investigation to the tragic events of 911.  "Fleur de Lis Film Studios, which also made the A Noble Lie, a documentary about the Oklahoma City bombing, and intelligent agent memoir-based Operation: Dark Heart.

Until now Hollywood has steered clear of topic, including Oliver Stone, who steered clear of conspiracy in 2006's feature World Trade Center.  September Morn has a cast linked to the 'truther movement', which alleges official inconsistencies, complicity and cover-up.

A very promising thing, granted.  But is a movie really enough to accomplish anything?

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