"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!

" WWlll "

After much thought of the world situation and all the forces tugging this way and that way, each seemingly to have some sort of hidden agenda. With sides clearly taking sometimes and sometimes hard to tell friend from foe. With every country involved in a struggle somewhere in the world, over something transparient or sometimes hidden away in the minds of those in power I have done the math and have concluded we are certaintly involved in WORLD WAR 3! Not the war of my fathers generation but a product of the forces of my generation. Just as the British Square, the horse charge of the calvery, or the storming the hill have all been replaced with more intricately layered centrailized command, insted of reporting to, they get orders from! A global agenda not fought over dirt or rightous beliefs or good v/s evil but over the planets resources by the shadow government trying to posess the wealth of the planet for their own financial gain. We the citizens of the world are nothing but cannon fodder for their greed.

"I BET YOU THOUGHT I WAS JUST JOKING.....DIDN'T YOU?"

Well I wasn't! How about some input from you people. It would be the greatest thing to hit this City (town) since "A BOULDER ON A STRING". I'm Looking for some serious input here.

Yup...I finally found the real answer to our dwindling population and low tourist attraction dilemma. It has been starring us right in the face the whole time. Turn the wasted swamp land that the Hoosic River South Branch meanders through into a great lake! Let me explain... Dam up the river at the point where the existing flood control begins, behind the radio tower. then on the other end...on the Adams - North Adams border build a retaining dyke across the low lying land. (to be a nice neighbor...ask Adams if they would like to join the endeavor, which would extend the Lake even further and cut them in on the action, but knowing their dislike for anything that even sounds like progress and development, I'm sure they would refuse) Moving on...being that all this land is low lying swamp you wouldn't have to do much but add some stones around the sides. The secret is to dredge out the swamp area to maybe a depth of 40 to 60 feet deep. Now some land will have to be taken by the mayor, for the good of the many, but that isn't a problem. Existing businesses on high ground would stay because they are above the lake level. On the outflow, dam side of the lake we will install several low flow electric generators, selling the power back to the electric company and the monies going directly to the residents of North Adams via a yearly check. Next, as part of the rejuvenation process, on the hill or mountain, depending on your perspective, on the westerly side of Rt. 8 across from the radio tower we will build a large multi function lodge. A low profile log building, so as to keep in step with the environment and the look of the mountain. the main access to the lodge will be a train trolley that will wind through the wooded area to the south of the mountain starting on Rt.8. The cars will be mostly clear plexie glass so as to afford the passengers an unobstructed view of the ride and also so as to be almost invisible from any observer. the tracks will be in the ground so you won't see them and the width of the train trolley will be 8 feet. There will have to be an access road to the lodge and that will be on the northernly side of the mountain. Again the mayor will have to exercise his "take um Daniel" stamp and take the parcel for parking and pickup of passengers that don't want to ride the train trolley. A shuttle buss will be used here and deliveries will have to be made. Their will be no parking or vehicles allowed on the mountain for obvious reasons. The lodge itself will be a lowprofile log building that will be mostly under ground with guest rooms and decks allowing for a view of the lake. Built into the environment. A first class restaurant over looking the lake with outside and inside dining, a banquet hall, rooms to rent, and a visitor center. This is just a rough draft and the details will be worked out at a later date...... So what do you think?

"IS THIS REALLY HELL ?"

Well today I am depressed. Seems everyday I'm depressed! Well can you blame me! My problem is that I read the News first thing in the morning then go on to read the Blogs then make the mistake and read Blog comments! We seem to be trapped in a big toilet bowl that someone just flushed. Seems all we can do is just.....nothing! Why is that? Why can't we be masters of all we perceive? Is this really HELL? We have no control over our Government, though they would like us to believe that we do. We purchase land with a home on it, but it isn't really ours. The Bank, Insurance Companies, City (town) State, national, environmental, and a plethora of Laws govern usage both outside and inside. We buy something from the store but it isn't really ours, we are only buying permission to use it under certain circumstances. ALL, and I stress here "ALL" our elected officials work harder at preserving their jobs than really doing something substantial to enhance our Health, protect us from the Greedy, keep the Wolf at bay as you were. This is truly what HELL is. You think you are FREE, but only free to exercise the freedoms that "THEY" allow. The DARK FORCE has indeed prevailed in the world....and yes Dorothy there is a Satin! And yes, we are in HELL! IT"S YOUR MELTED DIME!

"SOMETHING FOR A RAINY DAY"

Without getting all philosophical and long winded, I pose a question to you.....Who Is GOD?

"It's SPRING TIME, TIME TO PUT OUT THE BENCHES"

Yes Citizens it's finally Spring time in the little City (town) of North Adams. Time to start getting ready to plant our flowers downtown, fix up the roads, clean away the winter sand in the gutters, and put out the BENCHES for the people...... What do you mean there are no benches? Not this again! Maybe this year I'll write a nice letter to the major news outlets and in form them that the Mayor of the smallest City (town) in Mass. is trying to keep the elderly and handicapped from the downtown by not allowing BENCHES for them to rest on, (BENCHES that everyone wants), and making it impossible for local private businesses to do so by sending out his henchmen to harass them. Also by making up make believe concerns about structural soundness, (we all know that the Mayor is also an expert on bench construction and soundness) ...(just a thought here...I would suspect that the State safety laws already regulate BENCH safety and unless they pass State Standards they couldn't be sold in the State.) They like little news items like that. Of course they will want to check with the Mayor for his side of the story and take a few pictures and they may visit the elderly and ask them their opinion. Of course maybe I am jumping the gun here. The Mayor probably already has plans to allow Benches this year as a nice surprise for us. We'll just have to wait and see! IT's YOUR DIME!

"MAY DAY"

OK, Who is going to set up the MAY POLE?

Not going back to preChristion Rome or dancing to Goddess Flora, there is still some significance of MAY DAY, even today. The celebration of Spring and a hope in the coming season. We should set up a MAY POLE on the front lawn of every City Hall, State Capital, and The White House and all the People should dance around it. What you say...you nuts? It would show our unity as a people, that we are still in control, that we do believe in a better tomorrow...and demand it! It would show our desire for the fertility of the process to grow and become bountiful to our needs, not wither on the vine. A showing that we still do believe in the System and it can work for us, all we have to do is pick off the dead leaves and stems. Make MAY DAY a national holiday to remind those who we allow to govern that we expect the coming year to bring forth a bountiful harvest of laws designed to help John Doe Smuck Citizen. It would be a Celebration as well as a Warning!.....

"IS IT RONNIE THE RAT OR GEORGE THE KING?"

I watched the prez on the tube yesterday and I feel a lot safer and I am assrured that fuel for my truck will now be cheap.....YAH RIGHT! What did strike me is the fact that Georgie and his Spinners are trying to copy, almost word for word, from the Reagan play book. Remember when Ronnie the Rat came on the TV and had this big demonstration on how driving slower (55 mph ) would put us on the road to lower gas prices! Well that didn't work, but it did generate more monies from tickets and a winfall for the insurance companies (surcharges for speeding) . So again more bullshit from the prez and the Republican Party trying to protect the interest of the wealthy at the expense of the working man, without having to do anything real. Although it was a great opportunity for the prez to accomplish one of his pet projects....gutting the environmental laws. Snuck that one in nicely he did! When are we going to wake up in this country and take back our AMERICA? People get your heads out from up your asses and Impeach the bastard and his cronies, throw the whole bunch out and investigate the shit out of them and throw their butts in jail where they belong....they are traitors to the American way of life! On another note.....The Glen Story continues.....now the same stupid people are pissing about this and that. Not in my backyard, to much noise, to many people, ruin the peaceful tranquility of the Town, turn our daughters into whores and our sons into pimps, ruin the habitat of the "Brown Beak Red Breasted Northern Dung Sucker", and the stupidity goes on...... At least if their sons and daughters are pimps and whores they will have a job, more than they have now! What Do You Think?

"OLD TIME MOVIES"

I was watching an old time movie yesterday, you know the old black and white film with poor acting and a bad worn out plot. Well maybe I wasn't actually watching the movie more like starring in the direction of the TV and letting the scenery on the screen time travel me back to those good old days. My mind was adrift in some remote long gone period when things seemed simpler and less complicated. I found myself back in North Adams around, Oh I don't know, you know those olden times! I was seeing the old automobiles and wishing I had one, watching people scurry hither and fro, slipping in and out of the many stores on main street. Wondering what they were thinking and what was important to them, wishing I could communicate. Wanting to stand on the street corner with that group of gentlemen and listen in on their conversation or go up to the Lafayette Club and have a frosty one with the boys while easedropping in on their banter. Not that life was easier back then, hell it was a lot tougher and shorter. Maybe that's what was dragging me back? The longing for a time when people were stronger because they had to be and beliefs were more sincere because sincerity was held in such high regard. An era when a persons word was his seal and badge of integrity and people prided themselves in being honest. Drifting back to busy Old North Adams I became part of the whole City. ( and back then it was a City ) A multitude of people working in the many factories that were around. All busy with the concerns of life but with one big difference from today.......there was hope in the future! They felt they were working for something and what they were doing really made a difference and there was pride in their work. I next found myself on a playground, maybe Freeman School or Johnson School, or Braton School, The French School or maybe St. Josephs, I really don't know which one it was maybe it was all of them. But I was pondering how back then you had neighborhoods and the hub was the School you went to. You learned and developed pride in belonging to something. Where as today it is just a single learning factory pumping out kids that can take a hell of a good test. I may have been feeling sorry for the youngins of today because they were missing out on a lot of stuff that isn't on a test, things that build character and backbone and tools that they will need later in life. Well the movie is over and I don't have a clue what it was about! I'm sure it will be on again.....next time do you want to join me on a trip?
It's Your Dime!

"YOU GOTTA BE SHITTIN ME"

Does ADAMS really think that what they are doing at the Glen is Progress & Development? Are they outta their frikin minds? Is there something wrong with the air in Adams that effects their brains? With all the venues that have been proposed for the Glen, from a Casino (which I thought was a great idea) to condos (which I thought was a bad idea) they decided to settle on this foolish idea. The "TREE HUGGERS" and the "BIRD WATCHERS" and the "Au Natural" crowd have finely takin over. They had a world class gulf course there that just needed maintaining but they let that go in the toilet. What is wrong with those people? Now in concert with the HUGGERS, WATCHERS, and LOOK BUT DON"T TOUCH group they are going to "Develop" the Glen? I don't think so! You gotta laugh though because already those interests are demanding that before anything is done the Town has to hand over 1,000 acres to them. And what is their center piece for this wonderful project.....An Enviromental Awareness Shack! You gotta be shittin me! A word to the residents of Adams....hold on to your pocket books and life savings because your taxes are about to go through the roof. You don't think that the huggers and that group are going to foot the bill do you? Instead of adding to the Town coffers, this project is going to suck the Town dry and to top it all off you won't be able to use the land for anything but standing on a pre- determined plot and just looking...."Honey, isn't the view of the mountains just so beautiful and natural" You gotta be shittin me! Adams... get your head outta your ass and build something at the Glen that will bring in some money!..... What do you think....It's Your Dime!

"THE NEW NORTH ADAMS"

Yup...I finally found the real answer to our dwindling population and low tourist attraction dilemma. It has been starring us right in the face the whole time. Turn the wasted swamp land that the Hoosic River South Branch meanders through into a great lake! Let me explain... Dam up the river at the point where the existing flood control begins, behind the radio tower. then on the other end...on the Adams - North Adams border build a retaining dyke across the low lying land. (to be a nice neighbor...ask Adams if they would like to join the endeavor, which would extend the Lake even further and cut them in on the action, but knowing their dislike for anything that even sounds like progress and development, I'm sure they would refuse) Moving on...being that all this land is low lying swamp you wouldn't have to do much but add some stones around the sides. The secret is to dredge out the swamp area to maybe a depth of 40 to 60 feet deep. Now some land will have to be taken by the mayor, for the good of the many, but that isn't a problem. Existing businesses on high ground would stay because they are above the lake level. On the outflow, dam side of the lake we will install several low flow electric generators, selling the power back to the electric company and the monies going directly to the residents of North Adams via a yearly check. Next, as part of the rejuvenation process, on the hill or mountain, depending on your perspective, on the westerly side of Rt. 8 across from the radio tower we will build a large multi function lodge. A low profile log building, so as to keep in step with the environment and the look of the mountain. the main access to the lodge will be a train trolley that will wind through the wooded area to the south of the mountain starting on Rt.8. The cars will be mostly clear plexie glass so as to afford the passengers an unobstructed view of the ride and also so as to be almost invisible from any observer. the tracks will be in the ground so you won't see them and the width of the train trolley will be 8 feet. There will have to be an access road to the lodge and that will be on the northernly side of the mountain. Again the mayor will have to exercise his "take um Daniel" stamp and take the parcel for parking and pickup of passengers that don't want to ride the train trolley. A shuttle buss will be used here and deliveries will have to be made. Their will be no parking or vehicles allowed on the mountain for obvious reasons. The lodge itself will be a lowprofile log building that will be mostly under ground with guest rooms and decks allowing for a view of the lake. Built into the environment. A first class restaurant over looking the lake with outside and inside dining, a banquet hall, rooms to rent, and a visitor center. This is just a rough draft and the details will be worked out at a later date...... So what do you think? It's Your Dime!

"THE VERMONT LAND RUSH"

There is a land rush in Vermont!.....well at least you would think so going by the prices that local real estate agents are trying to get for some pieces. We're talking remote, no electric, no sewer, no gas, no nuttin...and the roads to get to these parcels are only passable with ATV's in the summer and maybe snowmobiles in winter. So what gives? More greed? Do they think that local people are stupid enough to pay their inflated prices or maybe they are only trying to get out of towners to buy that have more money than brains. We ain't talkin Massachusetts here. We already know what happened to land prices in our own City (town). Once the real estate agents get their grubby hands on property it becomes unafordable to local people, actually they prefer out of towners. So any one out there got and acreage (24 +) I prefer Vermont because they haven't been regulated to death......yet.......with permitidous, and cofferaddalotus...two of the terminal deceases we here in North Adams are effected with. Any way I will pay a fair price for land if it suites my needs....remote, doesn't have to have electric, a brook or stream is desirable and wanted, like to shoot guns without complaining neighbors, and a descent access road to the land. OK I'll be waiting for your call.

"HAPPY EASTER"

I hope everyone out there in Blog Land has a very Happy EASTER.

"THE SIGNS, THEY ARE A CHANGING" (opus 1 in D minor)

I love the key of D minor. It conjures up a since of foreboding, tugs at the nerve endings of doom and gloom. Puts you in a state of depression. Ah.... music, the outward visible form of sharing personal inner emotions with others. A conduit to ones inner self that can be transmitted to the rest of humanity. Ever just sit around slurpin on a bruski and doing a joint ( called pissin in the wind) and listening to some Pink Floyd? Ya right you say....and the check is in the mail,... ya, but I didn't inhale!..... Anyway what does this have to do with anything? Well probably everything. Look around at the situation that the world is in today. Not very humanistic in a humanintarian sort of way. We seem to be on the negative side of life, the black side, the underside, the reverse side, the evil parallel universe,... you get the meaning. Let me pose a question to you? Why is it easier to kick our neighbor when he is down, than it is to offer him a hand up? Why does the nature of the beast always take the side opposite the side that will benefit and enhance our short stay here on earth? Why is it easier to do evil than to do good? Why is it so difficult for those intrusted with our well being to look after our interest instead of the interest of those that really don't need looking after? Somewhere along the way humanity got on the wrong path. Maybe we as a people are inherently evil? Maybe it is a lingering trait from our pre history days when we were in a strictly survival mode against the forces around us. The era when it was either him or me that would survive. Actually that is a pretty lame excuse today. We have evolved to a point where we realize that in order for us to survive everyone has to survive. So..... what the hell has all this gibberish got to do with anything? I think the point I am trying to bring to the forefront in this blog is that there has to be some drastic changes made in our perception of what is important and what is merely survival mode thinking. Stop for a moment (take another toke and a sip) and look at where we are. The laws of the land seem to favor the few, at the expense of the many (Spock... Star Trek ) Just a little side trip here... a great number of cultures and religions, in their teachings, forecast in the year 2012 ( only 6 years away) the "World as we know it will no longer exist" I would surmise that they are talking about the demise of a wampom based system of existence. Wouldn't that be great! But knowing the forces that are dictating our lives and influencing our elected officials it would take a global disaster to bring us from a D minor existence to a C Sharp existence. What do you think?

"WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO BLOGIN?"

I always thought that BLOGIN was a means where one could spew out their thoughts and engage in conversation with others. What some of our local blogs have turned into are "HOME PAGES" dedicated to some sort of self gratification numbers game. The authors just seems to want to put themselves on a pedestal and seem more interested in advertising themselves than engaging in true blogin. Hell, on some of these self gratifying "HOME PAGES" (not to be confused with true blogs) You can't even submit a comment! Lets stay focused on Blogin and the purity of the blog. I am more interested in what YOUR thoughts are, not the thoughts of someone else....if I want that sort of article I can read the newspaper!
What Do You Think? It's Your Dime!

"TO DO LIST"

Good morning citizens... Well what is on the "TO DO LIST" for today, lets see? Wow! There are a lot of things that have to be done. I had better shorten my morning wake-up coffee break and get to it. Lets see,....... number one....... Impeach George Bush and Dick Cheney and put them on a buss headed to a Federal Penitentiary. That should be easy enough to do. I better make sure there are enough seats on the buss though because they are going to have lots of Republican Party Members going with them.
OK, number two..........Round up all the illegal immigrants,... will start with the homes of Republican Party Big Shots and Corporate Mucky Mucks,... Because that is where most of them are slaving, and ship their asses back to the Mother Land, the employers will be put on the buss with George. Also have to finish the Fence between Mexico and the U.S. I'll have to buy more land mines.
number three on the list.......... Nuke Iran, North Korea, The Palestinians, South America, The Gay Liberation Front, and if I have any left over maybe I'll lob one into France just for some chuckles!
Wow time flies when you are having fun. It's almost dinner time. I'll take in some fast food and get back to work.
OK, number four is to go and unlock all the so called SECRET documents and have "The People" reclassify them so that what is really Secret remains Secret and the rest of the dribble is open to the public.
The rest of the afternoon will be spent sucking down some bruskies and reorganizing the TAX SYSTEM, and our POLITICAL SYSTEM.
Stop up and pound a few with me, it will be fun!

"LETS START OUR OWN, BUT THIS TIME LETS DO IT RIGHT!"

Good mornin! I have decided to throw our current people out of power, National and local, and fix the current broken system. Our first problem is to make the wording in our new Constitution very concise, so that it isn't twisted every which way by sleazy lawyers looking to subvert its meaning to the benefit of some corporation looking to enhance their bottom line. We have to keep it simple because the people of this country seem to be simple minded and can't understand the complexities of a representative form of government, which is evident by their choice of the current administrations. OK, lets begin.....

Revision #1... No person can serve more than two consecutive terms in any office or position.

Revision #2... The TAX System will change to a Flat Tax System with the starting amount set at a percentage amount above the poverty level. Deletion of all deductions in all categories and removable of all tax sheltering systems. Corporations and or any enity which has income from any source, will be considered as an individual. The percentage amount of taxaction will be a single fixed rate covering all amounts of income. The percentage rate will be visited once a year by congress ( APRIL 15th ) and adjusted as needed.

Revision #3... All judges will be elected to office by popular vote and their term limited to two consecutive terms. The number of positions available will be dictated by the Court System Case Load.

Revision #4... All elections will be by popular vote.

Revision #5... The House and Senate will present to the public once a year on April 15th, ALL measures and bills in their final form to be voted on by the people by popular vote. No amendment will be attached to any form of legislation that does not relate specifically to that legislation.

Revision #6... Congress will stay in session for eleven months.

Revision #7... No person or organizing shall transfer by any means any gratuity in any form to government employees or their families. All lobbying can only be done in the Front Halls of the Capital Buildings and lobbyist are forbidden access to locker rooms, shower rooms, dressing rooms, exercise rooms, or any room where they may come in contact with government employees.

Revision #8... Revisions can be revised by popular vote.

This is just the highlights of the revised Revisions. Like any good government it 's purpose is to serve the publics best interest by letting the people control the process directly.
So what would you include?

"INSURANCE INDUSTRY WINS AGAIN!"

Well congrarts to all you CEO's of the "Conglomerate Insurance Party of Taxachusetts". Again you have succeeded in cramming down the throats of the people of Taxachusetts your desire to dictate your bottom line at the expense of the working people. And thank you to all the WIENERS we elected to watch out for our pocket books. Once again the peoples representatives have shown that they don't want to do anything to jepodize there standing with BIG MONEY Insurance Companies. Maybe you missed the message? So here it is again, you min't want to make a copy of it this time....."We The People of Massachusetts want You to Control the COST of MEDICAL services and Medicine by DICTATING the PRICES that can be charged, not allowing the INSURANCE INDUSTRY to dictate the system!"..... Is that plain enough to you? You have shown your indignation once again to the working people of Massachusetts by putting the burden of Health Care squarely on their backs. THANKS AGAIN!