America is going to eat itself

…and possibly take most of the world with it.

Just because I haven’t been contributing to the OWS threads, lately, doesn’t mean I haven’t been keeping track of things.

One thing I’ve learned from the patterns of history is this: If a nation does not stop itself from an impending fall, it will plummet all the way to the bottom and then some. Especially if it’s been warned by everybody and their kid brother’s dog.

The POTUS is clearly not in charge. He has to bow to the will and whim of his owners.

So does the senate, and every other elected official out there.

The corpratocracy will keep abusing the system, keep wringing every last groat out of the monetary system until all that is left to consume is itself. They’ve already started in some areas.

The tipping point will come when the corporations will no longer support the expenses of their guardian arm (the police) - and dispose of it. They will either insist on an army forced to go in against family and friends… or bring in foreign mercenaries.

At which point, the police the corpratocracy trained will join against a common foe to oust, rout and destroy the corpratocracy and all the individuals therein. Including innocent folks who were too afraid to speak up for fear of losing their jobs. That’s you, currently vocal 53%. Pay attention.

It’s all going to get nasty, and bloody. And bloody nasty.

I know the corporations don’t give a shit. That’s their problem.

I also know that the people are currently divided on the issue. Not for very much longer.

The police and the armed forces are one bouncing paycheque away from lining up their former executives against the wall. Or burning mansions. Or lynching rich people just because they are rich.

Gated communities will be put under siege.

Washington, New York and Beverly Hills are going to burn.

This state of madness must be stopped before it starts.

[Penned on the 25th Jan]

Behind-closed-doors anti piracy move threatens to enact SOPA/PIPA/ACTA without Govt approval

Something needs to be done about this ASAP. If not earlier.

mikeo56:

Bank of America Gets Foreclosed

Bank of America has little patience for homeowners who have fallen on hard times and behind on their mortgages.  The lending giant is in the midst of foreclosure battles in every state as well as defending against allegations that they engaged in fraud and misrepresentation during the foreclosure process. 

Given all the increased scrutiny you would think the bank would be extra diligent before pursuing homeowners in court.  Think again.

First the mega-bank wrongfully foreclosed on a couple who had paid cash for their house (and thus not only did not have a mortgage with Bank of America but owned title to their property free and clear).  Then, when the couple fought the mistaken foreclosure, Bank of America refused to back down, insisting they owned the home.

When Bank of America lost the foreclosure action they were ordered to pay the couple’s attorney and court fees, since it was Bank of America’s error that brought the action in the first place.

Instead of paying those fees promptly, Bank of America let the bill sit for over five months.  Tired of banks getting away with actions that can throw an average citizen in jail these days, the couple and their attorney had a stroke of genius.  They foreclosed upon the bank.

The action got the attention of the bank.  After an hour of being locked out by bailiffs while their furniture, computers, and cash in the till was seized, the branch manager was able to get the couple and their attorney a check for the fees owed.

The actions of Bank of America says everything about the attitude permeating lending institutions in this country.  They abuse customers and non-customers without so much as a second thought and ignore the rule of law at will.  And while the “little guy” turned the tables here, you have to wonder just how many more stories like this are out there, only the homeowners were too scared, confused or just plain beat down to fight back.

Senior Citizens Occupy, Shut Down Bank Of America

A dozen senior citizens calling themselves “the wild old women” succeeded in closing a Bank of America branch in Bernal Heights on Thursday.

Toting walkers and wheelchairs, the “wild old women” certainly weren’t the most rambunctious group to fight for the interests of the 99%, but they did cause the branch to close and lock its doors, much to the protesters’ surprise.

“We’re upset about what the banks are doing, particularly in our neighborhood and neighboring areas, in evicting people and foreclosing on their homes,” protester Tita Caldwell, 80, told KCBS. “We’re upset because the banks are raising their rates because it really affects seniors who are on a fixed income.”

Bank Transfer Day saw a billion dollars moved out of large commerical banks. In one of the most visible actions against Bank of America, a San Jose church divested $3 million, closed its accounts, and moved to a local credit union.

Class Action Filed Against Bank of America For Foreclosure Fraud.

The suit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, accuses Bank of America and two subsidiaries of a “pervasive and willful” disregard of the facts and the law in their “undisciplined rush to seize homes.” 

The complaint also blasts the judicial system for an inexcusable deference to Bank of America at the expense of homeowners.  When called by judges to case management conferences, lawyers representing the bank often fail to show up.  When Bank of America refuses to negotiate in good faith judges do nothing about it, leaving homeowners to battle foreclosures after Bank of America has negotiated a modified mortgage and then later refused to honor the terms.

So far Bank of America has no response to the lawsuit.

Bankafuckamericans

Hale-bloody-luja. More power to them.

An Open Letter to the President of the USA

First, before anything: if you had bailed out the homeowners and not the banks, you would not be in your present pickle. There would likely not be throngs protesting in the streets, right now. There would not be thousands deriding you for following the whims of your owners campaign contributors instead of actually fulfilling so much as one campaign promise.

Secondly: If you continue to allow yourself to be bought by psychopathic corporations instead of concerning yourself with the interests of the people, you will be remembered as a stupid president. Possibly worse than George “Dubya stands for dumb-ass” Bush.

Third: Your country is pushing through laws that make America look like a dictatorship with self-interest as the only item in the schedule. This is not a state of affairs that has boded well for other countries in the past.

Do the world a favour. Stop America’s collapse into a new dark age by repealing corporate personhood, abolishing money as a form of speech, and enforce laws regarding the legal uses of the word “federal”. As in, if the government is not running it, it is not “federal”.

Give the power back to the people of America. The real people of flesh and blood, who toil for a better life and strive to follow the rules that are now written so that only corporate-people prosper.

Trust me.

It is America’s only chance.

And it is your only chance to bring about the change you promised.

The consequences of inaction are disaster. The consequences of continuing to follow your owners contributors are also disaster.

With Hope,

A concerned observer and recogniser of the patterns in history.

OWS idea: shit-stirring kickstarter

So I just had one of those brain farts that can only cause trouble and decided to share. I’m that special ;)

Start a kickstarter project in the US to buy the next president.

Obviously, it has to be long term. Like 2016 type long term. Y'know, since this year is leaving it a little too late to fund a president.

The whole goal is to bring back a government by the people, for the people and of the people by using the current corrupt system against itself. You can extrapolate a goal figure from what past presidents have cost corporations and then doubling it so the other bastards have to scramble a bit.

If you start now, not only can you rub the whole corruption issue in everyone’s faces, but maybe make it unnecessary to even have the kickstarter going in the first place.

What do the rest of you think? Good stunt? Bad stunt? GTFO?

I just figured out why they really hate torrents

I figured it out, while watching Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood. The thing about most available media is the inherent advertising. Commercial breaks. The incidental advertising, the brand of the icons the media provides.

Thing is, ever since we started getting our media through torrents [mostly because we can’t get the media where we are] we aren’t as exposed to the commercials as everyone else.

All torrented shows clip the adverts.

The kids don’t know about the multitudes of other commercial-oriented things out there. They don’t know about the commercialised game sites. They don’t know about the toys we’d have to order online if they wanted them in the first place. They don’t demand the brands with the logo/mascot/character they’ve been taught to want.

We decide what shows we download in the first place. Most of what the kids are exposed to are documentaries and the odd show we decide actually contains a better message.

Sure, we have a lot more fans of the G4 ponies in the house, now, but the show has a better message than the “need it, want it” of most kids’ television.

I actually trained my 10YO to recognise and despise advertising. Now, if only I could get him to start consumer inspection and doing the things that are good for him…

Maybe I should start advertising veggies to him ;)

Anyway.

I’m doing my bit to teach my kids about things like “value for money” and “we can’t afford that”. And, more importantly, “Handmade means someone cared to make it”.

You can do it, too.

Disconnect the cable. Vet your media before the kids see it. Limit their computer time. Don’t look at the magazine rack. Shop at cheap vendors who don’t even have the brand-saturated products the mainstream ones do.

You, too, can isolate yourself from the commercial.

Unplug. Unravel. Undersell.

It could be the catchphrase of the new revolution.

lobetsyh:

Spotted this on Twitter and had to share it here. Created by Mark Miller (@Gonzoville).

(via lobetsyh-deactivated20120612)

If I could carry a sign in an OWS march…

It would read:

One people
One planet
One chance to change
For the better

Pay attention 1%!

I don’t suppose anyone would like to carry my idea in a march?

Mince Soup

This is another one of those “primary ingredient plus whatever you have lying around” recipes. Again, it’s just a few ingredients away from being a stew.

You will need these tools:

1 big pot
1 ladle or spoon for stirring
1 handy heat source like a cooktop

You will need these ingredients:

water
about 500g mince of your choice
sauces/flavour/herbs/spices to taste
vegetables
thickening or noodles optional

Method:

half-fill your pot with water and set it to boil
add mince and stir vigorously to break it into little eentsy-weentsy pieces
add herbs/flavour/sauces
bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium-high and add veg
add anything else that takes your fancy

Can be served over rice, with bread, noodles or on its own. Theoretically can be portioned and frozen - but mine’s never lasted that long.

Slow-cooker Glop

This one’s for the busy people. Slow cookers are handy little gadgets that allow one to, say, set up a pot roast before you leave for work.

Everything I cook in my slow cooker always ends up as Glop

You will need these tools:

1 slow cooker
1 thing to make it go
1 thing to serve/stir
1 method of cooking rice

You will need these ingredients:

500g protein of your choice, preferably in bite-sized chunks
1-2 jars of simmer sauce
vegetables to taste
rice
water 

Method:

Place protien in slow cooker with simmer sauce and vegetables. Add enough water to cover and start the cooker
When you come back, prepare the rice
Once rice is cooked, add rice to slow cooker
Stir well
Serve glop

Theoretically, glop can be portioned and frozen, but mine never lasts that long…