Is What Is News In The News or Should The News Be In The News?
Norman
I shall start a new topic because the old ones take some scrolling.
Following the recent discussion which started with DC Thompson and
further developed comments from me on the degree of integrity within
the press in particular and journalism in general; are you aware that
the American courts are busy with a civil action citing G W Bush; R
Cheney; D Rumsfeld; C Rice and Ashcroft amongst others with Treason?
No? Well if not don't you think you should be? Why you don't know,
could be because the lawyer of the plaintiff called a press conference
to tell of their planned action but only Fox News turned up, taped
forty minutes of the proceedings but the story was never aired.
I have no way of knowing if the media thought the story trivial,
mischievous or were afraid to cast doubt on the highest office or
whatever, but they didn't turn up for the briefing. That of course
did not stop the case from going ahead.
The story goes around 11/9 and is brought by a Mrs Ellen Mariani, the
widow of Louis Neil Mariani who was a passenger in the plane which hit
the South Tower. Things about the story didn't gel with her and when
she heard rumours of pre knowledge of the incident, she started asking
the basic questions no one else had bothered with. She claims to have
found evidence that the Bush Administration wanted another 'Pearl
Harbour' to act as a springboard for its foreign expansion policy,
particularly in the Middle East. She alleges that although Bush et al
played no part in the operation they had had knowledge of it, stood by
and let it happen, and if they let it happen then they are culpable.
She is bringing the action under the so called RICO (Racketeering
Influence and Corrupt Organization) law, which was introduced in the
60's to nail Mafia bosses.
The web site on which I found this story, springs off into a whole host
of other URL's so I haven't yet looked at the 'evidence' she
claims to have.
Nonetheless, no matter what the strength or right and wrongs of her
evidence or arguments, if an ordinary citizen tells the authorities to
stick a million dollars compensation in their ear and brings a private
prosecution against the head of state don't you think this is
something of which we should be aware?
http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/9.html
Best
Drew
New Year (with buddies near Edinburgh). Not that I'm getting any
sympathy whatsoever from my supposed nearest and dearest. Is it
peculiar to Scotland that when one mentions an ailment the reply is
like a competition? Such as "Got a hell of a headache," is rejoined
with "Well I'm sure it's nothing like as bad as my brain
haemorrhage." Or there's always the "You should try
childbirth."
Anyroad, thanks for doing the emails Norman. Hopefully we'll get some
response. Wonder if Zydie still stands by her voting decision? Would be
super if Shrub and his ghastly bunch 'went down' but I doubt
it'll come to that. His distorted views are too integrated into the
interstices of power. Only history will I think condemn him in his own
land. As for wanting another Pearl Harbour in the guise of 11/9 it
would surprise me not one bit. Not as if it would be a precedent.
Grottily
Jerry
I expect it was covered by a D Notice in the UK, and the US press is
pretty 'patriotic'
While I'm quite sure that people had an idea that something was going
to happen, sheer probability dictates that.
I rather doubt that they had any idea of the details, for a start they
were all totally stunned.
They've certainly taken advantage of the situation, albeit rather
incompetently.
Incidentally RICO is rather a dangerous catch all trick that the US can
use to sequestrate assets of non US entities.
Norman
Aud Reekie for the occasion. Us old farts played babysitter for the
young'ns who went to town for the fireworks. Why have the Scots taken
it upon themselves to hijack New Year? Just a small blessing over here,
but we spared three to four hours of Jimmy Stewart.
At least you can always say that you have to have a brain to have a
headache.
The American media and judicial system seems to have rolled over (or
more likely fallen over a bank roll) and played dead. The more you get
into alternative news sites the more like Alice it becomes. Every new
story you read you think to yourself "Nah - this one is too far
from reality" but knowing the man it all falls into place. For
another hard to believe tale, check out my effort on uranium near the
end of this article.
http://www.alternet.org/story/29877/
There are more and more of them, I can keep going on about Hubba Bubba
for quite some time, it is so depressing but too serious to ignore. My
perspective from over here may be skew but dissent in America seems to
be like unleaded petrol; one week it was nowhere and the next week it
was everywhere. Maybe, though my selective reading is not
representative of groundswell opinion.
There must be more cheerful things to talk about. You guys had better
point me in a new direction or I will just keep on going in a straight
line.
Didn't hear from the girls btw (more not so good news).
Best for 2006.
Norman
cure a slight malfunction in version 6.3 and it has hijacked my
computer. Norton plays Big Brother in the background but this is right
in your face.
Not Best
Jerry
I've a strong suspicion that it is one of the factors behing 'Gulf War
Syndrome'
It is totally irresponsible using such a long lasting material.
Your link led on to another page:
http://tvnewslies.org/html/dereliction_of_duty.html
I would not be surprized if the Net has already replaced conventional
media for people voicing dissent - especially in the USA
Your observation about the 'groundswell' rings true, when people
realize that they have been conned, they generally get pretty narked.
Sorry to hear that you have been 'Nero-ed'
Generally the best bet is to make a backup Image (on a DVD) before
installing anything.
Good Luck
Norman
startling is that every few days I come across another alternative News
site.
Their description of how to listen to the mainstream news makes an
awful lot of sense. I think I would trust most of the BBC WS but for
the rest it is a question of satisfying yourself that the stories are
verifiable and what is behind what you are being informed about - in
other words sceptical.
The other stories I have been talking about (11/9 RICO and Uranium)
came from the following site.
http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/
I haven't read all 25 stories but some of them are startling. Check
out story 11. Two reporters are being sued for damages after an appeal
court found against them for reporting the truth when Fox News told
them to lie. The fact that they were ordered to lie in a TV broadcast
is not in dispute, only that they broke their contract by not doing as
they were told. It seems that everything is for sale, even the validity
of news items from the major agencies.
Lies are for your protection.
Everyone is equal but some are more equal than others.
The time has arrived, now we must be extra vigilant.
Best.
Jerry
Did you notice that there have been two reversals of 'news' yesterday ?
- the Turkish boy and bird flu
- the 12 'rescued' miners who turned out to be dead
Quite peculiar
I can sort of follow the logic behind the ruling in the Fox case
- Fox are not legally obliged to report truthfully
- eg: they have an implicit 'right to lie' - as there is no law denying
them that right
Personally I would have landed Fox and their friends with $1 damages -
and all the costs
- on the basis that they created the problem
It is a hazy legal area, while we want people (especially the media) to
be truthful, legislation enforcing it would spill over into other
areas.
I suppose the other aspect is that Fox were attempting to force the
couple to appear to be lying, which would damage their reputation.
Some of the wisest words I have heard from a solicitor were:
'If you think justice is not bought, then you are in for a big surprize'
Norman
miners were dead by the time I got to the story. This may not be
scurrilous at all and may be an example of the rumour game most of us
at some time played at school. A message from underground of "We are
near to freeing them" transforms to certain hope by the time it gets
to the surface.
Whilst I take on board what you and the appeal court judges say about
the Fox case, it leaves me wondering why they did it. If reporting the
news is the business you are in then in normal circumstances, you would
not take others to court to prove that you were lying. Why go out of
your way to prove your own disreputability in public. Fox has a certain
notoriety for being a hard nosed company. Maybe they just don't care
and if that is the case then they are treating their targeted audience
with contempt. There is a world of difference between making the News
and making up the News. I have a feeling that after a time with the
likes of Fox; Bush etc the game takes over and develops a life of its
own, but more than likely, after the truthful account was outed then
somebody had to give a brown envelope back and that is what really
ticked them off.
I once met a solicitor, didn't really know him well just a mate of a
mate. He very courageously got out because according to him, the upper
echelons were buying the results they wanted and the lower echelons
were continually lying to him. It was just not the job he had imagined
in Law School.
Where is Drew?
Best
Jerry
dishonesty.
However large companies tend to get very litigious, and dislike losing
cases.
In this case they probably don't care what the public thinks, as the
public that was outraged probably had a low opinion of Fox anyway
- mostly they were concerned with the advertisers
- and avoiding a precedant
I wonder about Drew, probably his cold has paralyzed him.
Next week I am probably going to France for a bit
- things will be quiet round here
Norman
Drew
too. In my Grandfather's day, the wurking maun could either have
Christmas or NY off from work and most elected for NY.
People have said of NY "Nice, quiet." Well bugger that, we had our
usual riot of drunken revelry -- and that was the just the kids. I'm
beginning to recall snatches, still a blur though. One of my mates
(tour manages the Chippendales) said he met KT Tunstall before she even
had a manager. Hell, missed out on that one. Sister in law stayed in
the same Edinburgh street as Ms Rowling when she was writing away in
desperate penury. If only.....
Been busy since returning here, on my desk a couple of clocks being
refurbished (internal and external), juxtaposed with an off-road
motorbike engine in bits. I fear I got the kick-start spring confused
with a clock mainspring. Mmmm, I fear those little grey cells are not
working at peak performance. Yesterday I went to fix my sister's
central heating boiler, think Tom and Jerry cartoon. Oil turned off, I
removed the burner to clean the photocell and electrodes. Turned it
round to check the sparking, looked down the throat and told sister's
man to hit the switch. Seemed good, nice spark, no shorting, then
"whooomff". Just enough residual oil in the system to engulf my
head in flame. Ah well, don't need to shave for a couple of days.
Hope all is hanging acceptably, and Phil if you see this, best to you
too.
Drew (slightly singed)
Jerry
Obviously recovered and tinkering again.
I just confirmed that I'll be off to Brittany tomorrow, so unless I
drop into an Internet Cafe, I'll be off the air for a bit - not sure
how long, but I'm toying with relocating.
Good Luck for The Year of the Dog (not sure what it signifies, but a
Chinese pal reckons it is auspicious)
Norman
neighbours, but with no swimming involved.
Now if you can find a small wine bar that doesn't get the hump about
serving cafè au lait, then you might tempt Drew over too then we would
only have to move Phil to the barbecue.
The good thing about living within the London commuter belt is that
with what you could get for your place you could practically buy a
castle in Normandy, mind you Brittany is nicer I have heard it said.
Here is a bit of C&P on the Year of the Dog, make of it what you will.
"People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human
nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire
other people's confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But
Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They
care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. They can
be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. They can find
fault with many things and are noted for their sharp tongues. Dog
people make good leaders. They are compatible with those born in the
Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit"
Drew, I am so pleased to hear that you are keeping ancient traditions
alive. It is so important not to let ones culture slip through the
cracks.
In the best Tom and Jerry tradition, I hope someone was standing by
with a handy bucket of water which turned out at the last moment to be
confetti and set the whole room alight (I don't really).
On an only slightly less light hearted note, what are the chances of an
ordinary person with a bit of electronics knowledge and a bit of kit
being able to do the following experiment? (This one is from curious
brown eyes of Belgium - not Jan). You will realise that I have
limited subject knowledge but even I recognise that there could be a
bit missing from the question.
You start off with a digital image of some kind, it this initial bit
that I am not sure of. The signal is fed through a microwave
transceiver and then up-linked by means of a parabolic microwave
transmission dish to a geostationary communications satellite operating
in the +/- four GHZ range and then demodulating the returning downlink
signal? Apparently this is fairly easy stuff for any one with a TV OB
van. I have to tell you that I am already out of my depth just asking
the question so make the answer simple; a straight "No" will save
you a lot of trouble. I will tell you why I am asking tomorrow.
Best.
Drew
on depleted Uranium. It occurs to me that residual fractions of 253
could be extracted for nefarious purpose. Theoretically you can also
produce 235 from 238 by blatting with neutrons. Bit messy and you'd
need a lot of energy, but not beyond the capabilities of a
scientifically developed community -- so no danger there!
Anyway, what exactly is the digital uplink question? Do you mean could
I do it? In short, eventually, but you have to buy satellite time
unless you can hijack it and that needs a whack of inside knowledge.
For the novice, no danger unless you buy the kit, and I believe
(perhaps wrongly) that satellite comms have been largely withdrawn due
to being superseded by mobile phones. I think I did handle some
equipment about 10 years ago but I never used it. I could do a web
search. Can you elucidate?
Best
Drew
it was called Iridium because the number of satellites was supposed to
be the atomic number of Iridium (77) but it should actually be called
(tripping off the tongue) Dysprosium.
Iridium is not geostationary (though some systems are). Not sure how
the satellites are tracked, or even if they need tracking. Not too
expensive, thousand or two quid, dollar a minute, can be fed with RS232
data from a computer so images are easy enough. Transmission rate is
understandably low of course.
http://www.heavens-above.com/iridiumhelp.asp
Any help?
Best
Norman
consider his options, and you over your ears in work and me playing
with new progs and things there have not been many group members around
since the New Year.
I eventually got around to dragging the turntable out from under the
bed but the encoding program I intended to use said in the docs that it
was necessary to at least preamp the signal before feeding it into the
computer. Unfortunately my favourite (& only) amp has come to an early
demise after only 35 years. It was one of those like they used to make;
the ones where you needed to wear a truss to pick it up; but alas no
output signal so I will have to have a scout around for a S/H one to do
the job.
Wrt Uranium; I should imagine that it is mostly 238, but depleted
doesn't mean that it is completely spent and there could be all sorts
of other stuff in there as it goes through its alpha and beta sequence.
Normally a half life of 3.5billion years should not pose much of a
threat to life but it may be the other stuff in there that is the
problem including small amounts of 235. One thing for sure is that you
can't have non-radioactive Uranium and as it becomes airborne as a
result of conventional explosions, both locals and soldiers are passing
on the effects of their irradiation.
It is a sobering thought that there is so much of it floating around
the Middle East by now that when the sun eventually burns out and its
surface engulfs the orbit of the Earth there will still be residue over
from Gorgeous Georges little scamper. Anyway, here is the source of my
info.
http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/4.html
About the satellite, this may sound stupid, I know it does to me but I
don't really know what the question is that I want to ask.
It is slightly reassuring to know that we are not the only ones that
have conversations that are tangential to the subject matter. I read
the transcript of a radio interview with a guy that wants to blow the
whistle to Congress on this Americans spying on themselves thing. A
commentator said he had material evidence that Florida State used
satellites to monitor peoples' movements and record their
conversations as they moved about in public places. This brought back
memories of the early 70's film "The Conversation" and how
sophisticated surveillance has now become. He described in brief how it
was done but it didn't make sense to me. There seemed to be a step
missing of how the original image was obtained. I think the article has
time expired from the internet but I saved the comment in case I needed
to use it here. I guess what I am asking is if this is B/S or if it is
feasible and if it is possible, what level of competence you would need
to have to make it work. In other words are we fast forwarding to 1984.
Here is the comment.
"Charles Harding
Posted by: Charles Harding on Jan 7, 2006 4:12 AM [Report this
comment]
I am reporting the criminal misuse of Microwave Surveillance techniques
by the Florida Public Service Commission in Tallahassee, Florida. As a
material witness I will describe this technology, its effects on a
human being, and ways to demonstrate this technology in public. I will,
also, provide a list of State of Florida employees who are cognizant
about this activity.
Imagine being able to track a human being, monitor the sounds and
conversations in his environment, and conduct terrorism via a
geostationary satellite 22,300 miles in orbit.
At the Florida Public Service Commission in Tallahassee, Florida, a
Teleconferencing Station centering around a Microwave Transceiver and
Parabolic Microwave Transmission Dish is used to create an uplink to a
Commercial Communication Satellite operating between 3.7 and 4.2
Gigahertz (GHZ), C-Band Communications.
The returning, downlink, signal is then demodulated allowing the sights
and sounds of the targeted person's environment to be presented on
television and recorded.
Any television station with a mobile news van can duplicate the effects
of Microwave Surveillance. Uplink to a Commercial Geostationary
Satellite at C-Band Frequencies and you can conduct surveillance like
the Professionals.
And an additional comment:
· Nonlethal Weapons: War Without Death, by David A. Morehouse, p.119,
1996
· ". . . microwave weapons are . . . not so new. Their concept has
been in existence almost since radar was developed. It was known that
the concentrated radar beam could kill, and it was explored as a
potential weapon early on. The new applications for the technology
possess high lethal as well as non-lethal capabilities. They can
scramble brain waves, and cause indecision, nausea, vomiting, muscle
spasms, and uncontrolled body movement . . . humans are reduced to
squirming masses."
Now for something completely tangential; what do you know about HAARP?
Not the Irish lager! Everybody thought that Star Wars (SDI) died with
Ronnie but apparently not so. Because it was either considered
unpopular or just a scare for the Russians it was not disbanded but
just renamed and continued on as normal. An offshoot of this is the
HAARP project whereby the USA plans to destabilise the ionosphere by
focussing massive levels of RF energy into the upper layers. The
following is a reply to the above comment:
"Just in case no one believes you......... read these links!
Posted by: Pepper on Jan 7, 2006 8:01 AM [Report this comment]
http://www.earthpulse.com/src/category.asp?catid=1
and this one.......... cut and paste link into addy window.
articles/article/1518131/39351.htm
And somewhere I have the symptons that will tell you if you are in such
an area. They aren't good. Sleep is a key symptom. If your waking up
the same time every night its usually during what should be REM sleep
or dreaming which humans need to get real rest and healing. These are
most dangerous times.
Remember in 1997 Sec of Defense Cohen at the time called for treaties
that would prohibit the use of such weapons from space or those
affecting space and he specifically mentioned the electromagnetic/laser
weapons.
The torture the admin wants is to have micro experiments on prisoners
of the effects of certain actions against the human body that doesn't
kill, but does reduce resistance, leave someone tired and unable to
resist. I would say this is the bigger reason for those micro
experiements. They need that torture capability to assess this bigger
project on greater numbers of humans".
The first link is quite a long read and is cyclical but it is certainly
worth getting the gist of what it is about. The second is from an
Apache server (Linux) and it doesn't want to talk to a Windows server
(for me anyway).
Anyway, there is enough to be going on with. I know you are busy at the
moment but just dip in when you can. It is a curious Techno / Politic
mix.
Best for (The Year of Our Lord) 2006.
Drew
output. Were it a crystal, you could try feeding it into the mic input
of your audio card. Worth a shot. Only thing is though, there is a
weighting curve. Might just get away with acceptable sound if you have
tone controls on the audio card and the bass is set near max and treble
set to minimum. Some audio cards mic inputs also have an extra high
gain setting on the mic and I have a vague recollection that there is
actually an audio card designed to accept phono inputs, incorporating
the weighting curve. Can also buy, reasonably cheaply, preamps for the
job too. Start off at less than a tenner. However, it would be a good
little teeth cutting project for Jan, would it not. Component cost is
virtually zero -- one op amp and less than a dozen other cheap bits.
Only point to be considered is judicious choice of the op-amp. The
industry standard 741 (which I never use) would be a little noisy.
Probably find circuits on the web. Postage to here renders it a bit
dumb for me to fix your amp but Jan could alternatively cut his teeth
by fixing it. Best way to learn.
RE satellite surveillance, whatever the system you'd still have to
have some local monitoring equipment prior to uplink. CCTV has got this
pretty well sown up here. Can't fart in public without someone
knowing about it. Just after New Year on my way back home I dropped in
at a Science Park on the off-chance that some of the guys I do work for
would be 'escaping' from familial duties. At the gatehouse barrier
I asked the watchman if anyone was in the department. He swung a camera
round and said 'Yup". Even years ago I remember 'adjusting my
dress' in a quiet corner of an art gallery, before noticing the
camera. So yes, USA citizens are spied upon big time to a degree which
would make the former East German police envious, but they'll never
admit it. Won't do them any good though, never has, never will. Wrong
people get shot or locked up.
Don't think I'd heard specifically of HAARP but am vaguely familiar
with most of the techniques. Always looking for imaginative ways to
kill our fellows. Star Wars was of course simply a simplistic focus
name for the nefarious activities, partly as a means to obtain funding
by scare mongering and partly to massage the distorted mindset of
dick-heads such as Ronnie, Shrub and Teller. Herriot Watt were funded
something like a million quid for research. They knew it was all daft
but weren't going to refuse blue sky finding. Gawd, the aliens must
laugh themselves silly at the things we do. Bet they have a reality
show called 'Stoopid Earthlings' or something similar.
Best for (I've taken over rule of the world) 0001
Norman
Re the amp; Jan came round with his meter and confirmed no output. I
rather suspected this since both turntables didn't produce a
response, suspect it is in the preamp or in the lead in or out of the
windings since there is no output from phono 1; phono 2; tuner or aux..
I really don't mind if he has a go at it for experience but will
probably go to the recycle shop and see what I can pick up for €20,
they usually test them when they are brought in and give a month or two
guarantee. If I ever come over to the UK with Jan sometime I will
throw it in the boot and you can have a go at it.
Re the satellite, that is what I thought too, but if it was CCTV then
why would you need a satellite at all? The other thought I had was if
the camera physically sat in the satellite and took pictures from space
like the images of Earth you see from space. I found this hype about
being to read a car number plate from space a bit hard to take
seriously but some of the images from Google Earth are pretty good. You
can clearly see the shapes of busses and cars in the centre of Kabul
but not in the centre of Girvan which should be slightly reassuring for
you.
In the late 80's I heard stories about the Russians beaming
microwaves over the pole and targeting small communities in Northern
Canada and waiting for feedback reports on ill effects of locals. This
is the disturbing effect of the technology. I also heard that the
resonance frequency of the human body is 7cps, have you heard this one?
Mind you, if I put something down out of my hand, like a cup of coffee,
and can't find it back thirty seconds later, I can always blame it on
the Russians or the Americans ;- )
The anti side if the HAARP thing suggests that the Ionosphere has not
fully stabilised from the nuclear experiments of the early 60's.
Focussed high energy ELF radiation could lift sections of this layer
into inner space and nobody is sure what will happen then. It could
form a self repairing hole like in the ozone layer or the whole thing
could puncture like a balloon and then the whole planet could receive
unfiltered radiation from the sun. Probably unlikely but these seem
very dangerous experiments to me.
Going back to an old subject, The Vatican, of all sources, has firmly
thrown Shrub's Intelligent Design theory into the bollox bin. The
latest thinking is that there is nothing wrong with evolution so long
as it is not used to disprove God. Well they would say that wouldn't
they (to quote Mandy Rice Davis). They also say that Darwin does not
have it all and they are looking for someone to fill in the blanks. It
is time for our Scottish representative to make an appearance on the
world stage, methinks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/19/science/sciencespecial2/19evolution.html?pagewanted=print
I am very pleased to hear that you have started your own World fiefdom,
(you couldn't make a worse job of it than those who steal elections),
but rather disappointed that you have learned nothing in the last 2000
years.
Shirly you should have begun at the year 0000, then the years BT
(before the Thane) and AT would have run consecutively.
Success with the New World Order.
Best.
Drew
it. Consider it a charitable act on your behalf to entice him to hone
(first cut, perhaps) his skills. Tis but a logical sequence -- helps if
you have a working notion what all these wee coloured things are
though. If nothing is happening at all, first thing to check is the
PSU. Amazing how often a fuse cures equipment, especially if it
hasn't been used for a pile of years 'cos PSU capacitors get leaky
and sometimes need to reform. Sometimes they don't reform and
continually blow fuses. Sometimes they partially reform but still leak
prodigiously 'till they explode. Newer ones have safety blow-outs but
older ones could be lethal and go off like bombs. The experienced
repairer keeps a check on big capacitor temperature! Years ago I was
fixing a TV and voltage probing on the backside of the vertical circuit
board when the smoothing cap spectacularly shrugged off its mortal
coil. Blew a three inch hole in the board (action and reaction) a foot
from my face. The bang was so loud that the owner's parrot fell off
its perch.
Yea, dunno why satellites need to be evoked. Lots of much easier ways
now. Reading number plates would be a bit tricky 'cos you'd need a
muckle great lens. Quick calculation, a low orbit satellite would need
a half meter lens minimum on a good day. Mmmm. The 7Hz got a lot of
publicity a long time ago and it keeps coming up. Rattles your insides
so it would appear, but there are more amenable ways of killing people
than persuading them to stand right in front of a huge horn. One way or
other those in power are determined to bring Armageddon (and presumably
the second coming) forward. Mutually assured destruction fell out of
favour so the US is now resorting to turning global Earth into a
combination cooker, conventional and microwave. That's progress for
you.
I read the link, but pretty standard, naive, childish, witchcraft guff.
Ain't no god (or gods) and unlikely ever to be. As for intelligent
design and evolution, there are far more complex and amazing
observations to be made in other disciplines. If those of ignorance so
profound to 'believe' were aware of the interstices of physics or
maths, they would simply believe all the more fervently. Even in my
long ongoing project with my somewhat rudimentary mathematical skills I
have become humbled by how things dovetail so precisely. Electronics is
but an analogue of physical effects, same formulae, but it doesn't
seem to matter from which angle I approach the desired effect I always
get the same results. Basically I guess one could argue that I am
trying to create a non-causal formulation but ultimately there is
nothing in general relativity which precludes travel backward in time
so I remain optimistic. Oh yes, and I think I've cracked fusion power
too.
Thanks for the approval of my new world order. Did actually start from
0000 (00000000 actually) but didn't tell anyone.
Meglo best
Norman
business. Don't know an electrician that hasn't had 340V up his arm
at sometime or another. I had an electrician once who was trying to
convince me that if I grabbed one HT pylon cable and the neutral line
at the same time and dangled my feet on the ground that nothing would
happen because the tension on the up line has to equal the tension on
the down line so there is no net potential difference. I said "The
theory sounds fine if you would just like to show me how it is done".
I didn't think to check the fuse on the amp since the power on light
works but that might just be misleading. I went to a permanent junk
market today and bought a once popular tuner amp with phono and aux in
and speakers out etc; all the usual stuff. It must be good because it
weighs a ton. It all lights up when you put the plug in but that is all
we could test since there weren't any speakers with it. He wanted a
whole four euros for it (+/- £2.50) couldn't be bothered to beat him
down. I gave him a five Euro note and he gave me three Euros change so
I bought it for about £1.20. I said to Chris " I think I will record
my LP's this week, take it back next Sunday, tell him it doesn't
work and get my four Euros back. Hope it does work though haven't
tried it yet, fingers crossed.
There seems to be a competition going on to see who can invent the most
ingenious ways of annihilating the whole planet. The winner gets a free
burial in the south of France in a glass coffin with a partner of their
own choice. I think MAD might just make a comeback if the Iranians
continue to be precocious.
I think nature in general has a nice symmetry about it. In the most
rudimentary essence, the difference in molecular information between
say a dinosaur and a daffodil is only slight. Although I did read
recently that the canine genome has about three or four times the
number of chromosomes as the human one. It fascinates me when I think
on it that forces in the universe or in an electronic circuit naturally
behave the way they do but calculating it on paper can take twenty
pages of complicated calculus and two Greek alphabets. You always know
when you have it right though when the final equation has five terms or
less including pi. Nature is simple although it doesn't always appear
so.
On the subject of time travel, if we were both able to go back to 1960
say and carry on from there, would we lead the same life we already
have lived or would we be able to modify it in the light of our
pre-lived experience?
You have mentioned fusion power before; I am intrigued but if you tell
me you have cracked containment I will start to get excited.
You should publicise your new status as World Ruler and see how long it
is before the men in white coats come to pay you a visit.
How did Scottish Devolution work? I guess Her Britannic Majesty
didn't give any sovereignty away, just branched the management chain
of command. You know that every citizen has a right of succession to
the throne. At one time I was thinking of writing up to find out what
my number is and then all you need is a majority of people above you
to agree to let you jump the queue and you can legally proclaim
yourself King.
Anyway you can have my vote should you choose this route..
Best.
Drew
hopefully tomorrow. Fusion discussion I'll do by personal email I
think. Quite easy to check results but the software costs £thousands.
Best
Drew
340 (peak to peak) up the arm, yea, and a pile of other places too.
Occasional 25k belt from TVs sharpens up ones reflexes and
involuntarily exercises ones complete vocabulary of expletives. Ever
noticed that birds don't perch on HV lines? Fluffs up their feathers
and they don't like it.
Shame about your old amp 'cos 99% certainty that it could be fixed
pretty easily. Ne'r mind, hope your mega-expensive replacement does
the job (and I though *I* was careful with money!). Question away if
you have problems. Did I mention that browsing the council yard skips a
few weeks ago I scored a Yamaha 100 watt combo guitar amp, spring line
and all. Needed a little fettling but works fine and bleedin *loud*.
Fully expect to score Xmas replaced computers so I keep looking.
>the most ingenious ways of annihilating the whole planet
And allied to this is the democratic Palestine elections. Serious
though it is, am I the only one who finds the situation deeply funny?
Yanks are almost lost for words.
Genome. Yes there are lower creatures which have genomes several times
the human length. Seem to recall that the record holder is a lizard;
and no one knows why. Must be intelligent design, duh. But yes, obscure
things usually resolve down to a few simple terms. Even DNA (though
complex by numbers) resolves down to the four bases. That's pretty
cool. It's only the complexity of systems which make them tricky,
like fluid dynamics or climate modelling or Microsoft software. How a
bunch of nurds can make a collection of ones and zeros so impenetrable
is completely beyond me. Where I'm coming from in my electronics is
that it always resolves to non-causal. But since general relativity
doesn't explicitly exclude this I have a sneaky suspicion that if I
do actually finally succeed with a physical manifestation of the
theory, in a sense it may reflect upon general relativity. Sounds
ambitious I know, and there is as far as I can see no correlation
between the formula, but there is no such thing as an independent
formula. How often pi turns up. Curiously, I get infinities which screw
everything up, and that is the problem which besets Quantum Relativity,
but I'm not reading too much into that :-)
Theory (one) of time travel is that if you went back you'd enter an
alternative universe, of which there is an infinite number. Makes
perfect sense to me. One slight problem with infinite probabilities is
that there is a probability that there are no alternative
probabilities. That kinda suggests that there are no alternative
universes and time travel is actually not theoretically possible. Ergo
General Relativity is not compete. Ooooh my brain's hurting.
Scottish Devolution. Mmmm. Shower of "rogues in our nation" I'm
afraid. Scotland would declare war on USA, Russia and China as a token
gesture if we had moral superiority. They wouldn't attack if we
hoiked up our kilts and mooned them. Hell though, even I have more
legitimacy to the English throne than that bunch of ne'r do weels.
Shuffle up. But if I get fusion to work I'll make Bill Gates look
like a pauper and buy USA for my back garden. Travel to the moon in a
few hours, Mars in a few days. Stake my claim and provide (compulsory)
free transport for IT experts, Media Studies students, The Pope, a guy
I play badminton with, Shrub, Tony...... how long you got?
Best
Norman
Lets all clear off and surprise Phil, it's summer season down there.
I thought if something is keeping Drew away from his computer for this
long then she has to be good. It was worth waiting for though, high on
chuckle content.
"340 (peak to peak) up the arm, yea, and a pile of other places
too". You could get a job working for the Americans, could call it
Camp Girvan; any small airstrips close to you?
Have no fear, the old amp is back under the bed waiting for my next
sojourn to Scotland, whenever that may be. Haven't tried the new amp
yet, precocious three year old who has fingers into everything has been
home (here) with chickenpox and she and sensitive tone arms don't go
together. The new amp is too bleedin' heavy to take back for four
euros but being a Scotsman I thought you would appreciate the humour.
Good news with your amp though, maybe you can now duo with Preston
Reed; maybe.
Yes, I too appreciated the irony of the Palestine situation. Just
before I left England I worked a couple of months for a Jewish guy (the
only one I have met with no business sense). It was the time when
suicide bombers were just making an appearance and the Palestinians
were getting propaganda in the tabloid press by supplying pictures of a
new born baby in combat uniform complete with machine gun bandaleros
and grenade belt. He was saying it was the most terrible picture he had
ever seen. I said "Smarten up you dumb ass, never mind what happened
4000 or 2000 or even 50 years ago, when you push people back so far
that their back is against the wall then they only have one way to go
and it might just be in your direction".
Didn't know about the lizard but Microsoft well. I sometimes think to
myself, "Why should I send them these error reports, what are they
going to do with them". If you accept (big if) that the universe is
non causal then it follows (maybe) that the rules by which it works are
non causal also. You might know the answer to this one; is the word
'Singularity' in the relativity sense, just the scientists old
dodge of dealing with infinities by giving it a name? This then allows
them to carry on and when they meet an infinity they just say "Oh
that is the singularity, we know about that". The thought of
alternative universes is too big for my small brain. I remember when I
was doing thermodynamics and entropy at Poly, one lecturer said it is
possible at one instant for all the molecules in a compressed gas
cylinder to be perfectly aligned and moving away from the valve so that
when it is cracked nothing will happen. Well these are the
possibilities when you cover all the bases.
The big question is, if you got fusion to work would you want to buy
America? I suppose you could do it and turf this lot out. One American
president (can't remember which one now) said that the only efficient
form of government is a dictatorship. I was always intrigued by Kenneth
Kaunda's one party democracy though. It is like he was saying, "I
am a good guy and I am here to protect you from the bad guys" - now
where have I heard that again more recently.
This synchronistically brings me full circle. It used to be said that
photography was the meeting point of art and science but now it is
photo editing and scalable vector graphics, which I have been getting
creative with over the last few weeks. I am going to send you one of my
efforts by e-mail- just for a laugh - see what you think, hope it
comes over; I don't want to put anything on the web.
Best.
Jerry
- even Shrub said something about democracy not working Western style
in the Middle East
There is an old saying that:
'Democracy don't flourish where oranges grow'
My view is that in easy climates there is little need for social
cohesion simply to survive
Our version of 'democracy' is a halfway house to autocracy, which you
tend to get when there is little social cohesion or when life is very
precarious.
The political theorists (used to) call France the hexagon, six distinct
regions, the more right wing areas being dangerously close to Germany.
Palestine is a bit of a problem, much as I dislike Hamas, they don't
seem corrupt, and they do seem to provide some social services -
although I have serious doubts about the value of an Islamic education.
The simple solution would be to give the West Bank back to Jordan, who
owned it before 1967, and Gaza to Egypt who used to administer it
before the same date - trouble is that neither want anything to do with
it.
In my view the 'Palestinians' have missed a major trick, they should
simply have demanded Israeli passports - if they appeared reasonable it
would be hard to refuse - and they would be in the majority - which is
what the Israelis are afraid of.
Drew
demands made upon my person. Must stop leching at the 16 / 17 year olds
at badminton too, one of which is my ex common step daughter. Trouble
is it is so easy to misinterpret ingenuous communication with young
gals as being 'interest'. Mmmmm.
Well it's not outside the bounds of possibility that some day I shall
fix your amp Norman but why is the 'new' one so heavy? Not filled
with firebottles is it? I take it that Jan doesn't relish the
challenge of fixing the old one. And there is absolutely no truth
whatsoever, none at all, that Scots are mean, we're just careful with
money. For instance I carefully browse the council yard skips every
time I go to town and recently found a 20 pence piece lurking in
indeterminate organic substances. But 20p is 20p. Were I musically
gifted I would love to exercise my recent find with Mr Reed but alas I
have two left hands where it comes to musical instrument. Saw him in
the street recently but didn't introduce myself. Maybe some day
'cos musicians tend to be useless at fixing their equipment and I fix
things for relaxation.
Palestine situation isn't getting any better either is it. In a way,
they are doing exactly the same as the Jews by deliberately
marginalizing themselves, kinda like the Scots.
Think it is quite acceptable to use the cover-all singularity term.
Much in the same way that stars used to be described as incandescent
bodies without any cognisance of how they functioned. Ultimately of
course, everything is non-causal by virtue of uncertainty theorem. Gas
entropy is considered causal, even when all the molecules all pile up
at the end of a container, but even they are subject to uncertainty at
a macro level. That pissed off Einstein for most of his life.
I look forward with bated enthusiasm to your picture email. Promise not
to 'coo' like we do at the 5 year old's first school art work of
mummy :-)
>Democracy don't flourish where oranges grow'
Mmm, that's rather good.
Best
Norman
'connections'. I'll bet you used to watch netball just to catch a
glimpse of the navy blue bloomers! The trouble is that at that age
young sirens cloak interest with ingenuousness. As the song says,
I don't believe virginity
Is as common as it used to be.
The reason the amp is so heavy is because it has half a ton of copper
windings instead of a few transistors or whatever. In England you have
to tender for a job at the council tip. I did enjoy rummaging through
the 'waiting to be recycled' piles. You could have asked Mr. Reed
to autograph your amplifier but he might have said "Oh you managed to
fix it then".
I take Jerry's point about the Palestinians asking for Israeli
passports, a bit late now though. I have a sneaking suspicion that if
Hamas plays its cards right, the leadership could gain a respect
similar to Nelson Mandela which would leave the American's looking
pretty foolish.
If I do send my picture I have a feeling that it will be pretty poor
quality. Photos taken from the web tend to alaize on magnification and
it will not directly export from the program to e-mail, so will have to
be scanned in with further reduction in quality - we will see.
Best for now.
Norman
have spent the whole day defrosting the fridge and as careful as you
are water tends to get everywhere. The thing which makes it a long job
is melting the ice on the outside of the freezer compartment where the
top meets the sides. Pans of hot water placed on the inside tend to
detach this so it falls away with part of the top and sides attached.
This then looses contact with the warmed metal and melts only by
convection. Would it not be a good idea to have a small electrical oil
filled heater to sit just above the top surface on the outside of the
freezer box and fixed so that it could only be operated when the fridge
was switched off. Then you could do a turbo defrost in an hour instead
of a day.
Best.
Drew
favourite predilection. Well it's badminton tomorrow night and
there's Sarah, Paulette, Kirsty and Marianne to remain avuncular to.
Sigh. It'll really piss me off in twenty years time if any of then
say "I fancied you rotten." Ach I'll probably be senile of dead
by then.
So why is there so much copper in the amp? What's it doing? You got a
make for it and I can look it up on the web perhaps.
>alaize
Alias, perhaps? Tried to explain the effect to my Mither recently. She
soon regretted asking why wagon wheels go backwards in the flicks.
Defrosting *is* a bugger ain't it. Haven't got a freezer
compartment in our fridge but the freezer is a recurrent horrid chore.
It occurs to me there is a job opportunity there, 'Have hair dryer,
plastic spatula, cold store containers, buckets and towels -- will
defrost". £25 a time. Would be a hell of a lot easier is *someone*
made sure the door was closed properly! Did I mention before that I
once defrosted the freezer compartment in a flat I stayed in and found
a mouse called Otzi entombed. Ever seen the Beeb comedy "The Young
Ones"?
Best
Jerry
I've a couple of stories that would be better not to relate here.
My solution with defrosting the freezer is ... not to bother
I once had some 15 year old frozen fish in the bottom drawer
- it wasn't going anywhere
Not a bad idea as a specialist service, of course freezers could be
built with a form of vacuum pump - the results would be sublime.
Drew
ago and looking round the membership I felt distinctly young and sexy.
Maybe crash helmets have worn away the follicles but hasn't happened
to me. Bit of a rebel in the mature company. But they are super guys
and maybe some day I'll let on that pissing into headlamps doesn't
work any more and I can fix their new fangled electric lights.
I hesitate to ask, but did you finally eat the fish? Shades of mammoth
meals. Or did you sublimate the Homer Simpson in you (as in part in all
of us) to a higher plaice?
Best
Norman
Pissing into headlights deserves a five star rating. I can imagine you
chuckling like Dan Dastardly's dog Mutley.
Best
Jerry
waterproof
- and the wiring looms were infinitely overcomplicated.
No, Drew, I did not eat the fish
- even I am not that reckless
Gawd, I've just remembered the time I asked a mate to bring me back
some octopus from one of his visits to Billingsgate.
He turned up with an enormous box full of defrosting monsters, the
kitchen was turned into an industrial operation, gutting and blanching
the things.
There was so much that I carted loads of it down to the end of the
garden and tried to burn it.
The area stank for months, people suspected I'd disposed of a corpse
- thinking about it, I had, at least half a dozen.
Drew
Mutley, one of my heroes. To be fair only one of the chaps has an
acetylene lamp which needs peeing on but the rest of the old stuff
wiring is pretty rudimentary. Funny, you Jerry can make sense out of
impenetrable code listing and I a whole bunch of wires. It does
intrigue me, the difference in brains. One would think the thought
process would be similar, apparently not. Anyroad out, I took temporary
delivery of a Harley today for a rewiring job. The owner is a roofer,
so.....! Now I've always hated Harleys, though only ever from
spitting distance, but now I truly detest them. What a heap of
unmitigated iron junk this thing is. What's more, looking for spares
on the web I found the slowest site ever. Goes with the territory. Lots
of little Harley images of half a meg each. Bozos.
Anyway, I did enjoy the mental imagery of your fishy exploits. (Yea I
know they are not piscine but they smell the same).
Best
Jerry
seemed overcomplicated. Rather as if they had been designed by someone
who did not know what they were doing, then modified by complete bozos.
You get the same problem with software, initially ill designed, and
then tweaked by people who don't understand how it works.
Can't say I think much of Harleys, maybe they are Ok in the USA, but
they just seem foolish over here.
Their site was probably done by a 25 year old 'genius' with a 24"
screen, 8gb of RAM, a direct connection to the server, and a water
cooled processor.
People should test things, and design for standard kit.
We used to have two computers per programmer, one state of the art, and
the other, the grungiest thing available. The rule was to rigorously
test the code on the slow box, if you got it performing acceptably on
that, then it would go like lightning on later machines.
Yes, that episode rather put me off octopus, now large chillis stuffed
with squid and baked, are something else ...
Norman
Best
Drew
difficult is the concept of simply getting electricity from one place
to another. My own bike (completely re-loomed by me) was originally a
nightmare. From battery to headlamp passed through 'bout a dozen
connections, three switch contacts, two fuses and traversed the bike
twice. Light were s***. Big beefy wire now comes off the battery, goes
through a big beefy relay, thence to headlamp. Just a tad brighter now.
Many years ago I rewired a Harris for a mate, Suzi or Kawa based. When
they did their frame change and breathin' they just used the loom off
the parent bike so inevitably it ended up like a dog's breakfast. My
looming, all sleeved and appropriately routed had less than half the
wire and connector count than the original but was actually easier to
dissemble. Harris saw it and were interested in having looms designed
for them but I really wasn't interested. Weird though that no one in
the world seems capable of making sensible looms for bikes -- cars too,
jeez. Then there are the circuit diagrams which even I struggle with
sometimes so what chance mere mortals.
Jerry, when I rule the world I'm quite keen for you to accept the
position of Software Lord with full powers of corporal and capital
punishment. I have a opening lined up for Bill Gates, and it ain't
pretty.
Best
Jerry
One of the things I found helped a lot was running a socking great
'earth' wire round the bike, rather than relying on the juice to make
its way back to base through the frame (sure I gave it two paths)
things brightened up considerably.
On my old BSA 650 I also shoved an large capacitor in line with the
battery, I can't remember where I heard of that trick, but it worked
beautifully.
With these things, I think the trick is to design them in place, then
strap and document (ha ha) them.
I would be honoured to accept the position of Software Lord.
Actually I once worked with a guy who was from a major family in the
Seychelles, and requested the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer
should he get into power.
Oddly not that long after, there was a failed takeover bid by a bunch
of mercenaries who flew in as 'The Frothblowers' from South Africa. My
pal's brother, who had been behind things got shot in a London hotel -
still one of lifes mysteries.
To be honest, I had an idea something was on the way, as I accidentally
overheard my pal talking with a SA 'travel agent' in our local pub.
Funny the things one runs into.
Better luck with your plans.
Norman
I read your post about Google's star system using activeX controls
which without understanding too much about it I have always recognised
as a bad thing and steered clear. What on the other hand is DirectX; is
this the same thing with a different hat on; is it a close cousin or is
it something completely different.
Confused.
Drew
and chassis. I've seen in the past no chassis connection between
forks and frame, relying for headlight return on conduction through the
head bearings. Ahggg spare me from amateurs. This Harley is '74 and
though amazingly has an electric foot it's got a dynamo. Christ even
reactionary old British iron went the alternator way in the sixties.
The capacitor trick was indeed quite useful for starting with a flat
battery, parallel of course, not in series. Had to kick the thing like
an American squadie democratising Iraqi detainees but it worked in my
Commando too.
DirectX is a thingy for doing thingies in games and other thingies.
Does that clear things up for you Norman?
Best
PS. Just thought this and felt compelled to share it with you :-
How many light bulbs does it take to change a surrealist?
Jerry
Got me beat - wouldn't the surrealist change the lightbulb(s) ?
@Norman, DirectX is a fast and flashy way of drawing graphics, as Drew
said, used in games, but not exclusively by any means. It is a series
of APIs (Application Programmer Interfaces) which are effectively boxed
up routines in DLLs callable by programmers, that control rather more
advanced graphics hardware.
I wonder whether there is an advantage in a dynamo rather than an
alternator with a Zener diode.
British bikes stopped using 'mushrooms' about 1965-6, my 1967 A10 was
'streamlined'.
Once I confess I was 'commissioned' to ahem, lose a mate's Gus Kuhn
Commando, I could not get it started. Finally the problem was tracked
down to knackered carbon HT leads, replacing them with copper solved
all problems - so a repeat attempt was not required.
Fortunate as I'm not enthusiasic about such activities.
That stuff about belting a few oiks is ridiculous, the b*ggers were
chucking stones by day and grenades by night.
What is really interesting is that it was stirred up by 'The News of
the Screws', and old Rupe ain't going to mess his nest with the USA
- can't remember the provenance of those Abu Graib( sp ?) pictures, but
they seem to be the follow up barrel of something a bit deliberate
looking.
Interesting times ...
Last night I heard a smart sounding American explaining how pictures
excite illiterates, curiously his name turned out to be Sheikh
Something OrOther
- I really should not doze off at night.
Norman
lines but was not too sure, however I think I will go with Jerry's
explanation. It was just the 'nameX' style that got me wondering if
there was a connection.
Arsey was too strong a word, more frustration at not shedding new light
on the great tit's stripe.
Didn't know about China and Burma that is Interesting.
Ivadinnerjacket is nuts but I think he is standing up to the bully on
the block and trying to prevent Iran from being Iraq No.2. With that
much oil he doesn't need nuclear energy so it is more than likely for
something else. This with the combination of Iran's intent to trade
oil in Euros and the fact that they have allowed China to build a
pipeline to link into their oil just after an American/ BP/ other/
consortium has put in a now half redundant pipeline to divert the oil
west is causing some frustration stateside (horrible word). Definitely
one to keep an eye on.
I think surrealists are permanently in the dark so shedding light on
them would probably not make a difference. So the answer is none or
infinity, whatever. I did however think of a weird question in bed the
other night (again), maybe it is a well known series or just appeared
in my strange mind. What is the next number in the series:
4 = 4; 5 = 5; 6 = 6; 7 = ?
Have fun.
Best
Norman
http://www.teamliberty.net/id217.html
Best
Norman
with Bush's policies and giving a lesson in dollar economics. Not the
sort of thing you expect to hear from a Republican.
It has suddenly disappeared from all of the news sites so I have had to
resort to C&P. Sorry it is so long but I think it is worth the read.
Stirrings of unrest amongst the foot soldiers.
Best
HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS
Before the U.S. House of Representatives
February 15, 2006
The End of Dollar Hegemony
A hundred years ago it was called "dollar diplomacy." After World
War II, and especially after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, that
policy evolved into "dollar hegemony." But after all these many
years of great success, our dollar dominance is coming to an end.
It has been said, rightly, that he who holds the gold makes the rules.
In earlier times it was readily accepted that fair and honest trade
required an exchange for something of real value.
First it was simply barter of goods. Then it was discovered that gold
held a universal attraction, and was a convenient substitute for more
cumbersome barter transactions. Not only did gold facilitate exchange
of goods and services, it served as a store of value for those who
wanted to save for a rainy day.
Though money developed naturally in the marketplace, as governments
grew in power they assumed monopoly control over money. Sometimes
governments succeeded in guaranteeing the quality and purity of gold,
but in time governments learned to outspend their revenues. New or
higher taxes always incurred the disapproval of the people, so it
wasn't long before Kings and Caesars learned how to inflate their
currencies by reducing the amount of gold in each coin-- always hoping
their subjects wouldn't discover the fraud. But the people always
did, and they strenuously objected.
This helped pressure leaders to seek more gold by conquering other
nations. The people became accustomed to living beyond their means, and
enjoyed the circuses and bread. Financing extravagances by conquering
foreign lands seemed a logical alternative to working harder and
producing more. Besides, conquering nations not only brought home gold,
they brought home slaves as well. Taxing the people in conquered
territories also provided an incentive to build empires. This system of
government worked well for a while, but the moral decline of the people
led to an unwillingness to produce for themselves. There was a limit to
the number of countries that could be sacked for their wealth, and this
always brought empires to an end. When gold no longer could be
obtained, their military might crumbled. In those days those who held
the gold truly wrote the rules and lived well.
That general rule has held fast throughout the ages. When gold was
used, and the rules protected honest commerce, productive nations
thrived. Whenever wealthy nations-- those with powerful armies and
gold-- strived only for empire and easy fortunes to support welfare at
home, those nations failed.
Today the principles are the same, but the process is quite different.
Gold no longer is the currency of the realm; paper is. The truth now
is: "He who prints the money makes the rules"-- at least for the
time being. Although gold is not used, the goals are the same: compel
foreign countries to produce and subsidize the country with military
superiority and control over the monetary printing presses.
Since printing paper money is nothing short of counterfeiting, the
issuer of the international currency must always be the country with
the military might to guarantee control over the system. This
magnificent scheme seems the perfect system for obtaining perpetual
wealth for the country that issues the de facto world currency. The one
problem, however, is that such a system destroys the character of the
counterfeiting nation's people-- just as was the case when gold was
the currency and it was obtained by conquering other nations. And this
destroys the incentive to save and produce, while encouraging debt and
runaway welfare.
The pressure at home to inflate the currency comes from the corporate
welfare recipients, as well as those who demand handouts as
compensation for their needs and perceived injuries by others. In both
cases personal responsibility for one's actions is rejected.
When paper money is rejected, or when gold runs out, wealth and
political stability are lost. The country then must go from living
beyond its means to living beneath its means, until the economic and
political systems adjust to the new rules-- rules no longer written by
those who ran the now defunct printing press.
"Dollar Diplomacy," a policy instituted by William Howard Taft and
his Secretary of State Philander C. Knox, was designed to enhance U.S.
commercial investments in Latin America and the Far East. McKinley
concocted a war against Spain in 1898, and (Teddy) Roosevelt's
corollary to the Monroe Doctrine preceded Taft's aggressive approach
to using the U.S. dollar and diplomatic influence to secure U.S.
investments abroad. This earned the popular title of "Dollar
Diplomacy." The significance of Roosevelt's change was that our
intervention now could be justified by the mere "appearance" that a
country of interest to us was politically or fiscally vulnerable to
European control. Not only did we claim a right, but even an official
U.S. government "obligation" to protect our commercial interests
from Europeans.
This new policy came on the heels of the "gunboat" diplomacy of the
late 19th century, and it meant we could buy influence before resorting
to the threat of force. By the time the "dollar diplomacy" of
William Howard Taft was clearly articulated, the seeds of American
empire were planted. And they were destined to grow in the fertile
political soil of a country that lost its love and respect for the
republic bequeathed to us by the authors of the Constitution. And
indeed they did. It wasn't too long before dollar "diplomacy"
became dollar "hegemony" in the second half of the 20th century.
This transition only could have occurred with a dramatic change in
monetary policy and the nature of the dollar itself.
Congress created the Federal Reserve System in 1913. Between then and
1971 the principle of sound money was systematically undermined.
Between 1913 and 1971, the Federal Reserve found it much easier to
expand the money supply at will for financing war or manipulating the
economy with little resistance from Congress-- while benefiting the
special interests that influence government.
Dollar dominance got a huge boost after World War II. We were spared
the destruction that so many other nations suffered, and our coffers
were filled with the world's gold. But the world chose not to return
to the discipline of the gold standard, and the politicians applauded.
Printing money to pay the bills was a lot more popular than taxing or
restraining unnecessary spending. In spite of the short-term benefits,
imbalances were institutionalized for decades to come.
The 1944 Bretton Woods agreement solidified the dollar as the
preeminent world reserve currency, replacing the British pound. Due to
our political and military muscle, and because we had a huge amount of
physical gold, the world readily accepted our dollar (defined as 1/35th
of an ounce of gold) as the world's reserve currency. The dollar was
said to be "as good as gold," and convertible to all foreign
central banks at that rate. For American citizens, however, it remained
illegal to own. This was a gold-exchange standard that from inception
was doomed to fail.
The U.S. did exactly what many predicted she would do. She printed more
dollars for which there was no gold backing. But the world was content
to accept those dollars for more than 25 years with little question--
until the French and others in the late 1960s demanded we fulfill our
promise to pay one ounce of gold for each $35 they delivered to the
U.S. Treasury. This resulted in a huge gold drain that brought an end
to a very poorly devised pseudo-gold standard.
It all ended on August 15, 1971, when Nixon closed the gold window and
refused to pay out any of our remaining 280 million ounces of gold. In
essence, we declared our insolvency and everyone recognized some other
monetary system had to be devised in order to bring stability to the
markets.
Amazingly, a new system was devised which allowed the U.S. to operate
the printing presses for the world reserve currency with no restraints
placed on it-- not even a pretense of gold convertibility, none
whatsoever! Though the new policy was even more deeply flawed, it
nevertheless opened the door for dollar hegemony to spread.
Realizing the world was embarking on something new and mind boggling,
elite money managers, with especially strong support from U.S.
authorities, struck an agreement with OPEC to price oil in U.S. dollars
exclusively for all worldwide transactions. This gave the dollar a
special place among world currencies and in essence "backed" the
dollar with oil. In return, the U.S. promised to protect the various
oil-rich kingdoms in the Persian Gulf against threat of invasion or
domestic coup. This arrangement helped ignite the radical Islamic
movement among those who resented our influence in the region. The
arrangement gave the dollar artificial strength, with tremendous
financial benefits for the United States. It allowed us to export our
monetary inflation by buying oil and other goods at a great discount as
dollar influence flourished.
This post-Bretton Woods system was much more fragile than the system
that existed between 1945 and 1971. Though the dollar/oil arrangement
was helpful, it was not nearly as stable as the pseudo gold standard
under Bretton Woods. It certainly was less stable than the gold
standard of the late 19th century.
During the 1970s the dollar nearly collapsed, as oil prices surged and
gold skyrocketed to $800 an ounce. By 1979 interest rates of 21% were
required to rescue the system. The pressure on the dollar in the 1970s,
in spite of the benefits accrued to it, reflected reckless budget
deficits and monetary inflation during the 1960s. The markets were not
fooled by LBJ's claim that we could afford both "guns and
butter."
Once again the dollar was rescued, and this ushered in the age of true
dollar hegemony lasting from the early 1980s to the present. With
tremendous cooperation coming from the central banks and international
commercial banks, the dollar was accepted as if it were gold.
Fed Chair Alan Greenspan, on several occasions before the House Banking
Committee, answered my challenges to him about his previously held
favorable views on gold by claiming that he and other central bankers
had gotten paper money-- i.e. the dollar system-- to respond as if it
were gold. Each time I strongly disagreed, and pointed out that if they
had achieved such a feat they would have defied centuries of economic
history regarding the need for money to be something of real value. He
smugly and confidently concurred with this.
In recent years central banks and various financial institutions, all
with vested interests in maintaining a workable fiat dollar standard,
were not secretive about selling and loaning large amounts of gold to
the market even while decreasing gold prices raised serious questions
about the wisdom of such a policy. They never admitted to gold price
fixing, but the evidence is abundant that they believed if the gold
price fell it would convey a sense of confidence to the market,
confidence that they indeed had achieved amazing success in turning
paper into gold.
Increasing gold prices historically are viewed as an indicator of
distrust in paper currency. This recent effort was not a whole lot
different than the U.S. Treasury selling gold at $35 an ounce in the
1960s, in an attempt to convince the world the dollar was sound and as
good as gold. Even during the Depression, one of Roosevelt's first
acts was to remove free market gold pricing as an indication of a
flawed monetary system by making it illegal for American citizens to
own gold. Economic law eventually limited that effort, as it did in the
early 1970s when our Treasury and the IMF tried to fix the price of
gold by dumping tons into the market to dampen the enthusiasm of those
seeking a safe haven for a falling dollar after gold ownership was
re-legalized.
Once again the effort between 1980 and 2000 to fool the market as to
the true value of the dollar proved unsuccessful. In the past 5 years
the dollar has been devalued in terms of gold by more than 50%. You
just can't fool all the people all the time, even with the power of
the mighty printing press and money creating system of the Federal
Reserve.
Even with all the shortcomings of the fiat monetary system, dollar
influence thrived. The results seemed beneficial, but gross distortions
built into the system remained. And true to form, Washington
politicians are only too anxious to solve the problems cropping up with
window dressing, while failing to understand and deal with the
underlying flawed policy. Protectionism, fixing exchange rates,
punitive tariffs, politically motivated sanctions, corporate subsidies,
international trade management, price controls, interest rate and wage
controls, super-nationalist sentiments, threats of force, and even war
are resorted to-all to solve the problems artificially created by
deeply flawed monetary and economic systems.
In the short run, the issuer of a fiat reserve currency can accrue
great economic benefits. In the long run, it poses a threat to the
country issuing the world currency. In this case that's the United
States. As long as foreign countries take our dollars in return for
real goods, we come out ahead. This is a benefit many in Congress fail
to recognize, as they bash China for maintaining a positive trade
balance with us. But this leads to a loss of manufacturing jobs to
overseas markets, as we become more dependent on others and less
self-sufficient. Foreign countries accumulate our dollars due to their
high savings rates, and graciously loan them back to us at low interest
rates to finance our excessive consumption.
It sounds like a great deal for everyone, except the time will come
when our dollars-- due to their depreciation-- will be received less
enthusiastically or even be rejected by foreign countries. That could
create a whole new ballgame and force us to pay a price for living
beyond our means and our production. The shift in sentiment regarding
the dollar has already started, but the worst is yet to come.
The agreement with OPEC in the 1970s to price oil in dollars has
provided tremendous artificial strength to the dollar as the preeminent
reserve currency. This has created a universal demand for the dollar,
and soaks up the huge number of new dollars generated each year. Last
year alone M3 increased over $700 billion.
The artificial demand for our dollar, along with our military might,
places us in the unique position to "rule" the world without
productive work or savings, and without limits on consumer spending or
deficits. The problem is, it can't last.
Price inflation is raising its ugly head, and the NASDAQ bubble--
generated by easy money-- has burst. The housing bubble likewise
created is deflating. Gold prices have doubled, and federal spending is
out of sight with zero political will to rein it in. The trade deficit
last year was over $728 billion. A $2 trillion war is raging, and plans
are being laid to expand the war into Iran and possibly Syria. The only
restraining force will be the world's rejection of the dollar. It's
bound to come and create conditions worse than 1979-1980, which
required 21% interest rates to correct. But everything possible will be
done to protect the dollar in the meantime. We have a shared interest
with those who hold our dollars to keep the whole charade going.
Greenspan, in his first speech after leaving the Fed, said that gold
prices were up because of concern about terrorism, and not because of
monetary concerns or because he created too many dollars during his
tenure. Gold has to be discredited and the dollar propped up. Even when
the dollar comes under serious attack by market forces, the central
banks and the IMF surely will do everything conceivable to soak up the
dollars in hope of restoring stability. Eventually they will fail.
Most importantly, the dollar/oil relationship has to be maintained to
keep the dollar as a preeminent currency. Any attack on this
relationship will be forcefully challenged-as it already has been.
In November 2000 Saddam Hussein demanded Euros for his oil. His
arrogance was a threat to the dollar; his lack of any military might
was never a threat. At the first cabinet meeting with the new
administration in 2001, as reported by Treasury Secretary Paul
O'Neill, the major topic was how we would get rid of Saddam Hussein--
though there was no evidence whatsoever he posed a threat to us. This
deep concern for Saddam Hussein surprised and shocked O'Neill.
It now is common knowledge that the immediate reaction of the
administration after 9/11 revolved around how they could connect Saddam
Hussein to the attacks, to justify an invasion and overthrow of his
government. Even with no evidence of any connection to 9/11, or
evidence of weapons of mass destruction, public and congressional
support was generated through distortions and flat out
misrepresentation of the facts to justify overthrowing Saddam Hussein.
There was no public talk of removing Saddam Hussein because of his
attack on the integrity of the dollar as a reserve currency by selling
oil in Euros. Many believe this was the real reason for our obsession
with Iraq. I doubt it was the only reason, but it may well have played
a significant role in our motivation to wage war. Within a very short
period after the military victory, all Iraqi oil sales were carried out
in dollars. The Euro was abandoned.
In 2001, Venezuela's ambassador to Russia spoke of Venezuela
switching to the Euro for all their oil sales. Within a year there was
a coup attempt against Chavez, reportedly with assistance from our CIA.
After these attempts to nudge the Euro toward replacing the dollar as
the world's reserve currency were met with resistance, the sharp fall
of the dollar against the Euro was reversed. These events may well have
played a significant role in maintaining dollar dominance.
It's become clear the U.S. administration was sympathetic to those
who plotted the overthrow of Chavez, and was embarrassed by its
failure. The fact that Chavez was democratically elected had little
influence on which side we supported.
Now, a new attempt is being made against the petrodollar system. Iran,
another member of the "axis of evil," has announced her plans to
initiate an oil bourse in March of this year. Guess what, the oil sales
will be priced Euros, not dollars.
Most Americans forget how our policies have systematically and
needlessly antagonized the Iranians over the years. In 1953 the CIA
helped overthrow a democratically elected president, Mohammed
Mossadeqh, and install the authoritarian Shah, who was friendly to the
U.S. The Iranians were still fuming over this when the hostages were
seized in 1979. Our alliance with Saddam Hussein in his invasion of
Iran in the early 1980s did not help matters, and obviously did not do
much for our relationship with Saddam Hussein. The administration
announcement in 2001 that Iran was part of the axis of evil didn't do
much to improve the diplomatic relationship between our two countries.
Recent threats over nuclear power, while ignoring the fact that they
are surrounded by countries with nuclear weapons, doesn't seem to
register with those who continue to provoke Iran. With what most
Muslims perceive as our war against Islam, and this recent history,
there's little wonder why Iran might choose to harm America by
undermining the dollar. Iran, like Iraq, has zero capability to attack
us. But that didn't stop us from turning Saddam Hussein into a modern
day Hitler ready to take over the world. Now Iran, especially since
she's made plans for pricing oil in Euros, has been on the receiving
end of a propaganda war not unlike that waged against Iraq before our
invasion.
It's not likely that maintaining dollar supremacy was the only
motivating factor for the war against Iraq, nor for agitating against
Iran. Though the real reasons for going to war are complex, we now know
the reasons given before the war started, like the presence of weapons
of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein's connection to 9/11, were
false. The dollar's importance is obvious, but this does not diminish
the influence of the distinct plans laid out years ago by the
neo-conservatives to remake the Middle East. Israel's influence, as
well as that of the Christian Zionists, likewise played a role in
prosecuting this war. Protecting "our" oil supplies has influenced
our Middle East policy for decades.
But the truth is that paying the bills for this aggressive intervention
is impossible the old fashioned way, with more taxes, more savings, and
more production by the American people. Much of the expense of the
Persian Gulf War in 1991 was shouldered by many of our willing allies.
That's not so today. Now, more than ever, the dollar hegemony--
it's dominance as the world reserve currency-- is required to finance
our huge war expenditures. This $2 trillion never-ending war must be
paid for, one way or another. Dollar hegemony provides the vehicle to
do just that.
For the most part the true victims aren't aware of how they pay the
bills. The license to create money out of thin air allows the bills to
be paid through price inflation. American citizens, as well as average
citizens of Japan, China, and other countries suffer from price
inflation, which represents the "tax" that pays the bills for our
military adventures. That is until the fraud is discovered, and the
foreign producers decide not to take dollars nor hold them very long in
payment for their goods. Everything possible is done to prevent the
fraud of the monetary system from being exposed to the masses who
suffer from it. If oil markets replace dollars with Euros, it would in
time curtail our ability to continue to print, without restraint, the
world's reserve currency.
It is an unbelievable benefit to us to import valuable goods and export
depreciating dollars. The exporting countries have become addicted to
our purchases for their economic growth. This dependency makes them
allies in continuing the fraud, and their participation keeps the
dollar's value artificially high. If this system were workable long
term, American citizens would never have to work again. We too could
enjoy "bread and circuses" just as the Romans did, but their gold
finally ran out and the inability of Rome to continue to plunder
conquered nations brought an end to her empire.
The same thing will happen to us if we don't change our ways. Though
we don't occupy foreign countries to directly plunder, we
nevertheless have spread our troops across 130 nations of the world.
Our intense effort to spread our power in the oil-rich Middle East is
not a coincidence. But unlike the old days, we don't declare direct
ownership of the natural resources-- we just insist that we can buy
what we want and pay for it with our paper money. Any country that
challenges our authority does so at great risk.
Once again Congress has bought into the war propaganda against Iran,
just as it did against Iraq. Arguments are now made for attacking Iran
economically, and militarily if necessary. These arguments are all
based on the same false reasons given for the ill-fated and costly
occupation of Iraq.
Our whole economic system depends on continuing the current monetary
arrangement, which means recycling the dollar is crucial. Currently, we
borrow over $700 billion every year from our gracious benefactors, who
work hard and take our paper for their goods. Then we borrow all the
money we need to secure the empire (DOD budget $450 billion) plus more.
The military might we enjoy becomes the "backing" of our currency.
There are no other countries that can challenge our military
superiority, and therefore they have little choice but to accept the
dollars we declare are today's "gold." This is why countries that
challenge the system-- like Iraq, Iran and Venezuela-- become targets
of our plans for regime change.
Ironically, dollar superiority depends on our strong military, and our
strong military depends on the dollar. As long as foreign recipients
take our dollars for real goods and are willing to finance our
extravagant consumption and militarism, the status quo will continue
regardless of how huge our foreign debt and current account deficit
become.
But real threats come from our political adversaries who are incapable
of confronting us militarily, yet are not bashful about confronting us
economically. That's why we see the new challenge from Iran being
taken so seriously. The urgent arguments about Iran posing a military
threat to the security of the United States are no more plausible than
the false charges levied against Iraq. Yet there is no effort to resist
this march to confrontation by those who grandstand for political
reasons against the Iraq war.
It seems that the people and Congress are easily persuaded by the
jingoism of the preemptive war promoters. It's only after the cost in
human life and dollars are tallied up that the people object to unwise
militarism.
The strange thing is that the failure in Iraq is now apparent to a
large majority of American people, yet they and Congress are
acquiescing to the call for a needless and dangerous confrontation with
Iran.
But then again, our failure to find Osama bin Laden and destroy his
network did not dissuade us from taking on the Iraqis in a war totally
unrelated to 9/11.
Concern for pricing oil only in dollars helps explain our willingness
to drop everything and teach Saddam Hussein a lesson for his defiance
in demanding Euros for oil.
And once again there's this urgent call for sanctions and threats of
force against Iran at the precise time Iran is opening a new oil
exchange with all transactions in Euros.
Using force to compel people to accept money without real value can
only work in the short run. It ultimately leads to economic
dislocation, both domestic and international, and always ends with a
price to be paid.
The economic law that honest exchange demands only things of real value
as currency cannot be repealed. The chaos that one day will ensue from
our 35-year experiment with worldwide fiat money will require a return
to money of real value. We will know that day is approaching when
oil-producing countries demand gold, or its equivalent, for their oil
rather than dollars or Euros. The sooner the better.
Jerry
Economics exam.
America is not 'printing dollars' for export, well it is, but the
physical volume is trivial, and is used in soft currency areas for
small transactions.
What America is doing, is printing US T Bonds and Bills, and those are
sold to people outside the USA, it is also printing corporate Bonds and
shares, and bank CDs.
- America is borrowing from other countries, and those countries are
happy to hold the debt.
It is certainly convenient having a currency that is widely used for
trade, it removes the hassle of exchange rate fluctuations if your
trading partners are happy (or even eager) to agree prices in your
currency.
True, the USA is running a massive trading deficit, but the people who
are trading with America like to run trade surpluses, so they would be
a bit stuffed if the US balanced its current account.
Actually an esteemed economist Lord Terry Burns once gave a post
graduate talk at my old college where he pointed out the amazing
revelation that the trade deficit was equal to the Government's Budget
deficit.
As one guy drily pointed out, 'well it would be, wouldn't it ?'
- he spoke for all of us, but I must confess I was a bit rude to Burns
over drinks afterwards, which put the kybosh on me doing a PHD under
him.
It would be a bit of a problem if everyone decided to stop lending to
the USA, and sold all their holdings. Of course the value of their
holdings would drop through the floor, both in US$ terms - and in terms
of other currencies.
- they would not get much for them, so they probably reckon that they
are better off with the status quo.
It would be perfectly possible for the US to cease running a trade
deficit, and even to repay a lot of debt - it would mean that lenders
would have to find other borrowers, but those lenders would probably
prefer to have the loans denominated in $US anyway
- and the borrowers generally want to spend the money on imports so
they would want to use a widely traded currency.
What I'm saying is that the $US is recognized as an international 'unit
of account', which is convenient for everyone.
If oil were traded in Euros, it would not make a jot of difference to
anyone, well it would be a bit inconvenient if the USD/EUR exchange
rate fluctuated all the time, but if it were stable, it would be like
paying with a five pound note or five one pound coins.
As I've said in an earlier post, even if the dollar went down
dramatically, the only people who would really notice anything would be
those outside the dollar zone, in other words Britain and Europe would
find their exports simply dried up to areas in the dollar zone - which
would precipitate a balance of exchange crisis, and the GBP and EUR
would ... fall.
Over a period, one could see areas moving from the dollar zone to the
Euro zone, but that would take time - and it would not necessarily be
that convenient.
The real problem is that people might start seeing the USA as a poor
borrower, incapable of servicing its debt, but in some ways that would
be an advantage to the USA as it is rather nice to have ones debt
'devalued'.
The Japs caught a bit of a cold buying up over priced American assets.
There is another angle, the USA has huge overseas holdings, those can
be regarded as a form of security underwriting debts to overseas
lenders.
Ron Paul is probably right that borrowing heavily to finance
consumption is not a very good idea, but it is a two way street, if
America pulled in its belt, it would shaft the exporters, and it would
force lenders to look elsewhere for a home for their money.
Hypothetically world markets could switch overnight from using the $US
as a unit of account to using the Swiss Franc. There would be no
shortage of Swiss Francs, because none would be needed, because most of
the $US used for trade do not exist. They are just 'bits' on computer
disks.
People could continue lending to America, just as they are now, and
America could continue with its trade deficit.
The loans could be denominated in Swiss Francs, they would be a bit
pricier because it would be prudent to lock them to the $US, using the
forward markets.
Ron Paul has muddled up two very different things.
a) The $US is an international 'unit of account'
b) America is borrowing rather a lot from overseas lenders
There is very little connection between the two things, the British
pound is no longer an international 'unit of account', yet we borrow
heavily from overseas.
At one time there was, and probably still is, a currency called the
ECU, yet I've never seen an ECU note.
Ron Paul is what they call a 'Gold Bug', he does not realize that gold
is virtually worthless, it does not pay interest and its 'value'
fluctuates wildly with speculation.
The story is that Keynes was so depressed by the pseudo gold standard
that came out of Betton Woods that he died.
Personally I would sell out the 'gold reserves' and spend the proceeds
on snapping up natural resources in fairly secure areas.
Incidentally the Iranians could price their oil in Malysian Ringits for
all a rational American could care, it really does not matter.
The naive approach is that this would bring on a huge demand for
Malaysian Ringits, so their price would go through the roof. FOREX
traders would like us to believe that, but in reality the Ringit would
get tied to the price of oil, and people would keep 'pass through' bank
accounts in Ringits - not necessarily holding them for more than a few
minutes.
Malaysian government or internal debt would retain exactly the same
credit rating as it currently has - it is the quality of the borrower
that matters - not the currency.
What really does matter is huge shocks to the system, like the oil
crisis in 1974.
The shock triggered world wide inflation as cost increases rippled
through the system.
This time the hike in oil prices suits just about everyone, the oil
companies make money that they pump into opening new fields, it is nice
for the producing countries and most people realize that it would be a
good idea to cut down on oil consumption. Actually to some extent it
is a switch of resources from consumers to investment - which is
generally regarded as 'a good thing'.
And, finally, the oil producing currencies don't demand a 'currency',
they demand physical goods or financial investments.
Sadly many people do not understand the nature of 'money', they
actually think that it exists, it does not, it is just an accounting
unit.
The danger is that people focus on the wrong problem
- the 'Islamisist' problem is down to absolute and relative poverty,
coupled with ignorance.
- the US Budget and trade deficits might or might not be a problem.
- the USA displays alarming lack of understanding of the Middle East
- the USA might face a run on its debts, but that will hurt the lenders
A bit of a rant, but it annoys me that people like Ron Paul actually
earn a buck (as a congressman) for spouting such muddled thinking.
It is also dangerous, our whole economic and political system is
actually a 'convention' - if you believe in it works, if you don't then
it disappears.
It is not a con game, it is a benign mirage.
Norman
There was a time that if you could count, that was all you needed to
know about money. A benign mirage maybe but what I have come to realize
is that the more you learn the less you know. I am still trying to see
through the smoke and mirrors and figuring out the right questions I
want to ask.
Best
Jerry
- my Internet Explorer popped and died on my usual box
- so I'm now using my XP 'helicopter' - so called because of the
irritating fans
I certainly agree with: 'the more you learn the less you know'
Actually the definition of 'knowledge' is a bit of a joke in
philosophical terms
- the classic is Freddie Ayer's 'Justified True Belief'
- which is pretty comical
Mostly, I have found, people dress up simple concepts in verbiage, it
fools the masses (who are busy looking in a different direction anyway)
and the rest nod sagely, while not understanding a thing.
I suppose that the 'right' questions are the antithesis of the 'wrong'
ones
- often I've found it useful cutting out dead wood
As far as 'smoke and mirrors' go, it looks to me as if they are
'reality'
- I guess in the past you have told people lies, in the belief that
those lies would become true.
Regards, and please open a new thread, the fans are driving me crazy.