" THE MAYOR STILL HATES THE OLD FOLKS "

From John B's statements at last night's council meeting I finally get the message.....If you need to sit on a bench to rest your weary bones, then you aren't welcome downtown. Drag your butt to Calgrove Park or to the Highrise, but we don't want you down town ruining it for all the big spenders on Main Street. After all, how would it look to have an old person with a walker sitting on a bench in front of those over priced apartments .....sorry I mean Condos. After all a prospective buyer from New York or Boston, or Connecticut min't see an elderly person or a disabled person on Main Street and get the wrong impression.... that there are old and or disabled actually living in the City (town) and decide to take their money elsewhere!
The Mayor again showed his ignorance of what the people of North Adams really want. Well actually he doesn't give two shits what the people of North Adams want because He has "THE MASTER PLAN" and the "MASTER PLAN" doesn't include the elderly or the disabled of North Adams, and "THE MASTER PLAN" is what is important! I never have seen a person drag out so many and so diverse and so stupid and so meaningless excuses for not allowing Benches on His Main Street. He did say one thing that does bring some hope to the people of North Adams..... There is an election every two years for Mayor. I do believe His Majesty's reign is about over..... finely! This time around, from what my sources in City Hall tell me.... The Fat Lady is about to sing! .......... BENCH POWER!
Just a thought in passing... who does the Mayor NOT hate? I mean..... besides himself?

"I BEEN A CAMPIN"

Good mornin! Well I am back from a restful week a campin at the City (town) Campground up at Fish Pond. We decided to go a campin locally because it is close to home and I hadn't been up there for many long years. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would have to give it a 9. There were some issues with very old and rotting tables and site maintenance seems non existence. It struck me that putting on kids for summer help to take care of some of these issues, maybe through some summer work grant, could fix these problems. The staff was friendly and helpful and vigilant in maintaining order and safety for all campers, they get a gold star. The last time I was there, pop up campers were just coming into use, but now there are these mega motor homes that need a 200 amp service and an acre just for themselves. Times sure do change. I have to admit I to first started out doing the tent thing, an experience in self inflected misery, then moved up to a pop-up, the older type mind you that was nothing more than a tent on wheels. Then joined the elite with a 30 foot tow behind rig that had more shit in it than I had at home. Ran on gas and or electric, cable hook up, telephone hook up, satellite hook up, central heat and or air conditioning, shower, (inside and outside) flush toilet, stained glass, rug, queen bed, plush couch and an easy swivel chair! Well being that all things have a season, first my truck decided that it had had enough and retired from active service. Now without a tow vehicle all I could do was go sit in the camper in the yard and suck on a bruski and pretend. Then my wife passed away and that pretty much ended my camping. So I sold the camper and all the accumulated stuff that goes with it in hopes that someone else could enjoy it. Guess what?........now I am back to that tenting thing again! ( I must like to inflect pain on myself!) I discovered real fast that when you are older trying to get up off the ground from sleeping on a half deflated air mattress in the middle of the night in a dark tent to take a wizz, is a trick that Houdini couldn't even master. I upgraded to a cot!
I think that with gas prices going through the roof that people will rediscover some of the real assets we have here locally. A nice place for the family to go with lots for the younins to do. Now if we can only get BENCHES downtown for us old tired campers, I may try and discover what wonders we have on Main Street.

" WHY CAN'T I FIND SOMEONE TO VOTE FOR? "

Good Morning People. I would venture to say, even at this point in time, most of you already know which party and candidate you are going to vote for in the November Election. It would seem in today's reality that you either are a Democrat or a Republican. We are , of course not just a two party system, but we seem to only hear about these two and have become indoctrinated into believing that there are only two parties, with the exception of the Independents, who are regulated to a non important fringe group. In my search for someone or party to vote for I am perplexed by what choices I have. I lean towards small government intrusion into my personal life but on the other hand demand that government protect me from the predators that want to control me for their own interest. this would seem to make me a Republican? I demand a party that works to enhance my well being while protecting my rights under the Constitution. This seems to make me a Democrat. Unfortunately if I choose using these guidelines I would be living in fantasy land. Both choices are just the opposite of what they claim to stand for. Not only that but both seem to a shadow of the other. They have become a blurred mix not really standing for their purported platform, but standing more for self perpetuation. To "Keep It Simple Stupid" The Republicans have morphed into a party dedicated to the enhancement of the profit barrens, while the Democrats have become a party that is dedicated to the finite control of every aspect of our lives, a no choice society where government dictates what is good for you and you have no option of making a personal choice. But all this said you can see that one choice is just a mirror of the other.
So what do I do?..... Do I choose the party that I believe is the lesser of the two evils? Do I not vote at all? Do I vote for one of those other nondescript parties listed on the ballot?..........At this point in time I am perplexed and in need of input. So today I am asking for your help in making a decision.............. IT's YOUR DIME!

" SOME FUN FOR SUNDAY "

OK people today is Sunday, so I thought we could rest from solving the problems of the Prez and the Republicans and just have some fun. So lets talk about something just as dumb and silly as the Prez and the Republicans.........The use of those silent letters..... What is this all about any way? Any logical mind or since of reason would tell you that if you don't need something, than you don't use it. Hmmm, then why do we stick in these letters into words? What purpose do they serve? They aren't needed or used? Is there like a quota thing where we have to use so many "W's" in a year in our writings? You don't put on an extra sox over the pair you have on already do you? Today let's list the words with silent letters in them and maybe I can write to the keeper of the silent letters department and get them to look at this for us. . Just think of all the ink that would be saved! What are your words and letters? :~)

" JUST ANOTHER PR STUNT "

I am feeling much safer now that the FBI has captured and uncovered this group of anti-American terrorists .......... Gimmy a break! If you look closely at the words and listen real good to the statements coming out of Washington you can almost feel pity for Gonzales and Alexander. What a couple of butt licks. All it shows to the people of America is that the Republican Party and the Prez are getting so desperate for some good news, If none happens along then you make up your own!
A clear case of entrapment by the FBI. These people were no more a threat than the Skin Heads, the American Communist Party, or Ralph Nader. What does have me concerned is the thought process that is going on with those in charge in Washington. Lets examine their statements:

This group was more aspirational than operational," FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said
Meaning that if you or I chit chat about anything against the Government that is in power we become suspect. These people had no contacts, no money, no nuttin, not even boots.

Nevertheless, Gonzales said Thursday's arrests underscored the danger of "homegrown terrorists" who "view their home country as the enemy."
We are all in trouble now! I think at this point in time 99.99% of the Citizens of America think that their country IS the enemy. Notice the word...NEVERTHELESS... meaning that regardless of the PR ploy and stupidness of those government agencies involved and the obvious set up.....this is a good thing.

"It's an example of the philosophy of prevention. These arrests were made during the talking stage, long before any bomb-making stage," said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. Attorney in Florida. "While they may be seen as bungling wannabes, they are potentially dangerous wannabes who, based on the allegations, were pursuing extremely dangerous plans."
This is the one that really has me concerned the most. "philosophy of prevention" in other words if anyone in the government considers you some how a threat then you are doomed.....Reminds me of Germany and Hitler and the SS.

"We are confident that we have identified every individual who had the intent of posing a threat to the United States," said R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney in Miami
What threat? the poor bastards didn't even have boots! and unless the FBI hadn't gone to them with God knows what promises, trying to entrap them, they would still hanging out in the hood.

So what do you think? The real thing or just more bull shit PR from a desperate Republican Party and President!

"THE TEMPERATURE IN NORTH ADAMS HAS BEEN RISING FOR THE PAST 20 SOMETHING YEARS - IT'S ALL THAT HOT AIR COMING FROM THE CORNER OFFICE "

OK Mr. Mayor...Where is that Home Page for North Adams we have been promised and are waiting to see, for the past two years? It must be some hum dingier! The temperature just keeps rising from all the hot air coming from the corner office. I understand that there is a petition being passed around by the Citizens of North Adams to force His Majesty to stop sending out his henchmen, or is it his BENCHMEN, .....( not all of those messengers like their task but they have a family to feed and we know what happens to those that dare question "HIS WORD". Then again their are those that relish the opportunity to lick butt )
To allow BENCHES for the Elderly and the disabled and THE PEOPLE of this city to rest upon is what the people want. John B... don't you get it...The people of North Adams WANT BENCHES! Stop acting like a spoiled child and for once in your life act like a man and get behind putting BENCHES on Main Street. You are employed by the Citizens of this city to work for their benefit, not your ego!
The Question for today is.......... Why do we have to have a petition to get something done in this city that reflects the desires of the people? Would you sign sign it?

" TO WIT, HATH THOU BEKNOWN THE PREPONDERANCE "

WOW ! Jumpin Samolies...What the hell is he be a talkin bout?...What planet did he fall from?... To day I thought I would rag on the ways certain people and organizations use our English inter mixed with old English, Latin, gibberish, and an assortment of non descript words to make themselves and their position sound superior and to baffle, befuddle, confuse, and hide the truth, from us barefoot bumpkin...........Number one on the chart is the legal profession. They have perverted the English language to the point where lawyers need lawyers to interpret the interpretations. The Insurance Industry tried to do the same deception but we now have laws that make them write in somewhat plain English.......... Then there is the ingredients label on products we put in our mouths, nose, ears, and butts or rub on, rub in, add to, mix with or use straight out of the box. After the first word, which is usually water, no one has a clue or for that matter can pronounce the rest of the shit that they have added...........Next on the list are the LAWS. But one must remember here that they are written by Lawyers for Lawyers with the help of and in cohesion with Politicians............Then of course there is the TAX CODE. I really don't have to say anything here because that one is well known by all, if you can figure out what it says?
OK people, today lets gab about the use of our language and other languages, like Latin by the Church and the medical field, and those examples I listed above. I believe that they should be made to be written in plain simple English so all can understand. What do you think? or am I just Expostulating?

" SOMETHING IS MISSING! "

In America today there seems to be something missing. Our political fabric, on all levels, is a joke. Our elected employees that we direct to do our bidding are a joke. Our moral base has rotted away. Any reference to Religion of any sort is today considered radical and not mainstream, anti-Constitution, not the American way! Law abiding citizens have now become suspect and not protected under the 2nd, 1st, 4th, and all the Amendments of the Constitution by reason of protecting those very rights? Our Schools have gone from teaching even the most basic skills, to coaching our kids on how to pass a Test. Our courts are loaded with nonquilified judges that seem to believe that the criminal is the victim and the victim caused the crime in the first place.....not to mention their total disregard for the peoples wishes ( GAY MARRIAGE ).
We have become a nation of " BRASS RING GRABBERS " Do as little as you can for as much as you can. There is something missing! What ever happened to right from wrong, love thy neighbor, for the good of the many, working together. The drive to better our condition as a nation with sacrifice, ( the working folk seem to be doing all the sacrificing today)
So I pose this question to you..... What is MISSING?

"THIS GLOBAL WARMING THING"

I really fail to see why everyone is fighting over whether we are in the mist of Global Warming or not. It is a fact that our big blue globe has in the past and will in the future go through many phases and changes. Our Earth is spinning around in space and susceptible to many influences from a variety of sources. In the past it has cooled, gotten hotter, wetter, dryer, tipped to and fro on it's axes, flipped over to the extent that the North pole has become the South pole, frozen, melted, the ocean have become dry land, dry land has become oceans, and on and on it goes. To those that still believe the Earth is flat and the center of the solar system.......Go to the library! Anyone with a brain that has a modicum of logical functionality can reason that if you spew gazillion tons of chemicals into the atmosphere, you are going to create an imbalance somewhere. Mother Earth, has through natural processes, herself done the same thing but it takes her billions of years. We are just shorting the cause and effect process. You can call it whatever you want but the fact remains.....we are causing a change and it isn't good news for the human race!

" I'M GETTING DIZZY! "

Life.....doesn't it seem like it is a carousel running just a little to fast and the operator is nowhere in sight and the people watching it go around keep throwing shit at you and won't let you off? Well I'm here to rescue you! I disconnected the power to the thing so now you can jump off and sit on the BENCH and catch your wind. Today I'm going to let you go to that special room that only you have the key to. That place where you go and shed your protective mask that Life has made you put on. That place where you feel like a knight shedding his heavy armor clothing and just sitting around in your skivies. You know the place. That place where you are you........ I don't know how long I can keep Life away from the door and sucking you back on the carousel so for the time you have.....enjoy!

"WHERE TO TURN?"

OK People, Time to get out your score cards. Not many months left till we again are given the right to voice our opinion. So lets see....What are our choices?.....We can stay with the current bunch, give up more of our Constitutional rights, keep lining the pockets of big oil, insurance companies, drug companies, work till we are 90 then be able to retire, allow illegal immigrants to become citizens and we become the illegal immigrants and work for $2 dollars an hour ($1.95 going to health insurance) or we can throw out that bunch and put in the other guys. You know "THE NANNYCRATS" That Party of the working class folks. The party that gave us NAFTA, the party that wants to disarm the citizens (for our own protection you know) suspend the 2nd Amendment, the guys that tell us that GAY MARRIAGE is the way to go, our good buddies that want to tax the shit out of you till you have nothing left and have to go to Mexico to look for work, our pals that believe that only they know what is good for us and we don't have the ability to think for ourselves, that bunch that believes that Huge Government and Total Gov. Control over every aspect of your life with layer after layer of red tape is in your best interest. Our pals that believe that the SYSTEMS SURVIVAL is paramount over it's citizens rights and desires.
WOW...It's so confusing. I have so many good choices here to pick from. Help me out people!
It's YOUR DIME!

"SHAME ON YOU, YOU SHOULD HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME"

Just a note to all you senators that chose to show their real colors......You don't deserve to serve the people of this nation. Again you show how you don't really care about the peoples wishes and are more concerned with Politics than substance! See you in November!!!

"GO GEORGIE!"

Well finely the "KING" of the land is doing something useful. The two points that I agree with are.....
1. This Amendment will once and for all define for the fringe element the true meaning of marriage.
2. The amendment will allow for the people to truly have a voice and not have our wishes over run by some judge who probably is gay himself or herself, and stop this using of the court system to by pass the wishes of the majority of the people.
If you are of the perverse nature and want to diddle in your closet, that's between you and your God, if you have one, but don't try to throw it in the face of my children and try to convince them that it is normal and excepted behavior. Don't try to pervert the purpose of marriage with your twisted outlook of life. You need one of two things.....serious psychological help or a sex change. You pick one!
And as for the mealy mouthed wormy politicians that try to play the fence, more worried about loosing a few votes than standing up for justice.....get real or get gone!
IT'S YOUR DIME.....

"THE UN-STEADY STATE OF THE UNION"

Is George Bush really in need of mental help? Is our president really crazy? Do we have a nut case running the nation? The more we listen to him the more I have to say .....YES! George Orwell's 1984 has indeed come to pass and in terms grater than even He postulated. There is no longer a system of checks and balances, a clear cut division of branches of Government..... the Supreme Court (a Republican Party puppet) dictates the laws of the land, and is the unchecked authority of American Law. They have elevated themselves to the status of supreme ruler of the land. The mentally retarded President has placed himself above reproach by simply ignoring the Constitution and sizing power that isn't his, and the Republican Party controlled Government has allowed this to happen.....Hell, we have allowed this to happen.....Hell, we don't have a say any more.....HELL,Did we ever? I have to say people this is no longer My America! We have been invaded and conquered and we went down without a wimpier, Hell, we even helped! The System no longer serves the people as it was intended to, it is the people that are supposed to serve the System now. It is all twisted backward and upside down. The all mighty and encompassing System that we are enslaved to. The System was intended to be small and to serve only the needs of the people, but it has evolved into a beast that devours anyone that dares to oppose it. The whistle blower, a revealer of truth from within, has now become an enemy of the system, a traitor, an outcast, someone to be made an example of to discourage future discord. , so that makes "THE TRUTH" an enemy of the system, and that makes us all an enemy of the System! The System Rules Supreme...and What or Who is the System.........R=$

"NEW FLAG FOR THE VETS"

On the bright side of the news this morning, the Vietnam Veterans on River street will be getting a new American Flag on Monday, replacing the one that was stolen. Chris Tremblay has purchased, through the office of John Oliver, an American Flag that has flown over the Capital Building in Washington D.C. He will present it to the Vietnam Veterans Chapter in honor of those Vets from Berkshire County that lost their lives in Vietnam. Come help us Honor our local Veterans that made the ultimate sacrifice for us. The Flag will be raised at 12 noon on Monday, Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Chapter on River Street in North Adams.

"SEND THEM ALL PACKING"

I just can't stand by any more, I gotta say sumptin! To you and I, average Joe Smuck Citizen, it is a clear cut black and white problem..... If you are an illegal immigrant then you are a law breaker and should be dealt with as such, whether you are hear for an hour or fifty years, you are breaking the law! Now in the fantasy land of politics those people seem to have a different reality...... "Why not say to those undocumented workers who are working the jobs that the rest of us refuse, come out from the shadows," said Arizona Republican John McCain. In the first place notice how he evades the the term "illegal". All you have to do is insert the term...." Undocumented" Some how that upgrades there status from criminal to normal worker but just not documented! Then pretend that we Americans don't want to do this work, he is correct but he doesn't finish the sentence...." At the wages they are paying"..... The bill "strengthens our security and reflects our humanity," said Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., McCain's partner in the Senate compromise. "It is intended to keep out those who would harm us and welcome those who contribute to our country." Mr. Kennedy would you care to elaborate? Just what the hell are you smoking:?.......... I won't go into the Bill in it's entirety because it is typical politico double speak and so full of holes it could allow the whole Chinese Army through. You read it and see for yourself!

President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in a raid on a lawmaker's office be sealed for 45 days. Now here is an interesting news flash! Talk about protecting your own. Politico protecting politico. Is the Lord Almighty George buying time so he can erase any trace of his administrations involvement if any? I wonder?

OK people that is my rant for this morning.

"WHAT FUTURE?"

The Republicans are all kicked from office, King George is dethroned, we have some normalcy back in Government (whatever that is?) , now what? With all the damage done to our Constitutional Rights, separation of powers nothing but a gray area up for interpretation by those in control, foreign policy a total mess, the NSA checking each sheet of toilet paper you use for secret messages, and on and on it goes. My question today is "NOW WHAT?" you know whoever takes control will not be able to fix all the problems, and they may even be blamed for some of them. Have we entered a new era? Has the Republican Party and Their Contract With Corporate America doomed for evermore our system of government, never to return from the abyss? Have we been mortitly wounded? What do you think?

"MORE PRESS, LESS MESS"

Just a thought here! If we made "THE PRESS" an official branch of the Government with unfettered access to all governmental documents, a clearing house sorta speaking, the branch though which ALL documents must pass before they are secretetized and classified. With full top- top secrete clearances for there unopstructed preview. Wouldn't this put a stop to all this over classifying of documents just for political reasons? This would be an elected body of people serving a short term and unencumbered by any political enety. It would be the responsibility of the government to prove their case before these people that a document is indeed worthy of the "TOP SECRET" stamp. Everything else is public information and treated as such!

"THE OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY"

We seem to take for granted the fact that "THE PRESS" has evolved into almost part of our system of government. They are like the ultimate watchdog group. The safety valve that without, we would be kept in the dark to the goings on in our government. Politicos have a nasty habit of not informing or saying just what they have to. They don't like the idea of an informed public. It is a wonderful institution when the press can be used for their PR Spewage but when they find the dirt then they are traitors, anti American, leekers, and all sorts of negative things. I my self can't imagine our society without the PRESS. We would know absolutely nothing that went on in any government institution--- City (town), State, or Federal. But there is a problem..... When the same people that run the government run the Press you have nothing more than a PR outlet. Your big press operations and their CEO's are more inclined to be republicans because they are the party of profit and news is all about the profit. It is a good thing for us as a country that there are still some independent press people around that are not under the control of the government. I would just like to thank those that have the character to inform and report the news with out the influence of any politico or corporation. THANKS GUYS.......

"THE FACTS MA'AM, JUST THE FACTS"

As usual at last night's Council Meeting the mayor was true to form. No longer can he rely on a rubber stamp for anything he brings before the Council so he has reverted to trying to intimidate, threaten, scare, and lie to the members. He also shows his lack of respect for the Councils ability to comprehend the subject before them, he kept jumping up and saying "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Well I think they do understand all to well. Because the mayor can't control the retirement board and they don't do his bidding, he tries to paint them as a force that will bring down the City (town) to financial ruin and all the city employees will be on the unemployment line. Because they didn't take his advice it cost the City $70,000. Well that may be but Mr. Bloom was correct when he pointed out that when you are dealing with the stock market it is a crap shoot at best and the City could have lost a lot more. The Retirement board seems to be in the hands of an extremely knowledgeable person and they don't need the mayor sticking his nose in trying to take control. As for the Veterans Bill, I believe Mr. Billings was correct to ask for more clarification before voting on it. Although it seemed that the Council would have passed the first section with no problem. The Veterans of this City should get what is due them and I back the bill in its entirety. Mr. Mayor sit down and leave your pettiness at home, you can't control the whole world!