freee peach

"Hell Is A Lonely Place" by Charles Bukowski

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:21:00 +0000

Nirvana's Opposite

Tom Waits -'Nirvana' (by Bukowski)

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:09:00 +0000

David Alan Huber

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:38:00 +0000

David Alan Huber, 1946-2010

Photo by Paul Kister

My friend's complete obituary, which I found with a web search, stated that based on data the website received from the Social Security Death Records, David Alan Huber, born August __, 1946, and last known to live in Fredonia, Arizona, died on December 31, 2010. This meager obituary brought home my having failed to sit down with Dave and record his life---as I assumed I would one day---failed with good intention, yet my not learning his story despite our biannual association over the six years we knew each other, Just a flash of memory is all I have.

High and dry, with virtually no camping gear, I drove into the Paiute Campground twenty miles west of Fredonia. The camp host stuck out his hand and introduced himself, "I'm Dave Huber". (The "Dave" would stick even though he often introduced himself as "Montana".) Dave, assessing my situation, told me not to worry about paying the camp fee until I received my Social Security check; he stocked me up with some canned goods, and put me in the trailer that belonged to the Paiute Tribe, all without my asking. He also provided some needed company as I was high and dry (having roamed the high desert for several weeks: Hopi Reservation, Glen Canyon (Lee's Ferry), Escalante National Monument. I had just spent two solid days in Seaman's Wash, rewiring my brake lights with only the coyotes for company). Dave cooked me a few meals over the next week; we sat out under the stars wondering things like: how our solar system, which is right here, can be in a Milky Way which is way out there; and is that the space station, appearing and then all too soon, disappearing? Dave knew, I didn't. The wind was in its cave that week as we nightly watched the heavens into the wee hours. That was 2004, July, when I bought some camping gear and then explored Mount Trumbel, Turoweep, circling back then to the Paiute where I visited Dave for a couple more weeks before continuing the wandering I had begun that May. About a half dozen times over the seven years that followed I reunited with Dave at the Paiute, where he was always welcoming, where, he said, I could always call home.

Dave grew, worked, loved for sixty four years and then left the world with more than likely only my two cents worth of a remembrance.

Don't you know you are a shooting star? Don't you know, Dave?
Mike.

Reading R. R. Palmer

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 17:02:00 +0000

I'm reading R. R. Palmer again: The World of the French Revolution (1967). Now I'm going to ramble. Maybe not. The book jumped off the thrift store shelf, don't you know. And I had been reading Kevin Phillip's Bad Money (2007?). Just now a comparison occurs to me that Palmer is never outdated? but is a 2007 book on the economy outdated by 2011? Phillips is an old guy now who shares his depth and wisdom, I think. My only problem with his book is the photograph of him on the dust jacket which makes him out to be under fifty, still. It's that kind of lack of integrity I despise; I'm sure Phillips had no control over the publisher's aims. Mr. Coughlin, it's only a dust cover for God's sake.

By God it's nothing less than a symbol for what's wrong with the country I tell ya---for example Obama can state as a reason for our bombing the hell out of Libya that not doing so would be a threat to our values here at home. Maybe no one was paying attention, I don't know. But this absurd statement of his kind of ties in with the French Revolution in that Palmer thinks that some of the smaller European revolutions after 1789 and into the 1800s could not have succeeded without France's support. Had France not supported said revolutions would the French values at home have been threatened? Apples and oranges: France never launched 100 cruise missiles on the first day, which leads to the rephrasing of Obama to---not launching 100 cruise missiles and not dropping a thousand bombs would be a threat to our values here at home?

Oh, what I really wanted to comment on is Wikipedia. In reading the French Revolution hard copy I had to look up The French Revolution which segued into The American Revolution. But before that on Wikipedia I had to segue into mercantilism, mortgage backed securities, The Great Depression, bonus army, and posse cumatatis when perusing my Bad Money hard copy. My comment is that this free encyclopedia is a great enabler of truth to the masses. I figure that to know the truth it really helps to be privy to the facts. And with Wikipedia the average Joe and Jane can simultaneously broaden and deepen their quest for both facts and truth. Wikipedia is, and is a symbol for, this new revolution.

Whew! And so much of truth, I'm finding, lies in job security, having an extra buck for a book, having an extra hour to read. Or am I nuts? The (existential?) truth of one's existence is part and parcel to the country's bottom line? (Or is it the country's bottom line is part and parcel to the truth of its citizens' existence)? All Americans must have an abundance of both food, and ahem, food for thought. And the e-book edition of American Theocracy by Phillips is STILL selling for thirteen bucks on Google Books. This is STILL artificial scarcity as is the silly idea that public library e-books must EXPIRE after two weeks. My guess is that Phillips would rather have thirteen million readers at one dollar a pop than one million at thirteen dollars a pop. But many (most, probably) of the country's writers are stuck still with the old idea that their e-books must either be paid for or they must expire in two weeks after the fashion of library books becoming overdue.

Here's an idea. Similar to how the racetrack determines or adjusts the odds or payback on a two dollar bet (do they still have two dollar bets? My God, do they still have race tracks?) the price of an e-book could be adjusted. Let's say a 5 to 1 longshot has suddenly received 50% of the betting money. The track adjusts the payout from ten dollars to two fifty, or basically even money. Is that how it works? The track adjusts the odds as the bets come in so as to ensure it's having enough money to pay out if the longshot wins. Something like that. OK, as an e-book sales take off the 'puter can adjust the price downward in the face of higher demand, way downward as the only measurable cost to cover is the author's fee. THE WORLD WINS.

Well, Woodstock, Virginia has changed. There are now insulting cameras at every traffic light. How can we be serious about making the world a better place to drive in if revenue is tied to the status quo, which in this case I construe to be maintaining an even pace of driving infractions, or even improving upon the driving infractions, meaning increasing their rate, but only for revenue's sake. No, last summer I received a $159.00 speeding ticket (57 in a 40), immediately after which I retraced my drive to see the error of my ways: how could I have done that? And I spotted the same officer in the exact same spot at the bottom of the hill as he had wasted no time getting back into position. To elucidate? my point let me make believe a conversation with said officer with the transportation department.

Officer: Could we creatively remedy a safety problem where drivers, especially out of town drivers, don't see the speed limit sign?
Dept.: How many tickets do you write per day?
Officer: I average one per hour at the bottom of that hill.
Dept: How much is the average fine?
Officer: $159.00.
Dept: You are doing a great job; get back to work.

Otherwise, life is good.
Mike

Ridgerunner Article

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:40:00 +0000

Appalachian Trail “ridgerunner” Augie Buchheit aids hikers as only a veteran hiker can

Augie has gradually whittled his life down to a small set of essential objects. Along the way, he made some discoveries. “When I set out to do the AT, I said to people who asked, ‘I live in Baltimore, and I’m sick of people. I just want to be . . . all by myself,’ ” Augie explains. “But on the AT, it’s all about the people you meet along the way, about community. It reaffirmed my faith in people.”

Washington Post

Bad Money video

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:17:00 +0000

Kevin Phillips speaks in 2008.

Steve Coll on May 11, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:19:00 +0000

http://youtu.be/vHtgmdEaE-c
bin-laden: A surmise on Pakistan's collaborative aid to the enemy. Posted by Steve Coll to The New Yorker just hours after bin-laden's being shot dead. This country, looks like, has a big problem with nuclear Pakistan.

I never did get around to blogging my rejoicing upon the discovery, the morning after bin-laden had been shot dead, of said fact in The New York Times print edition at my local supermarket. I bought the paper and placed it on the Escort's dashboard for three days before salting the paper away.

This is the last time I will refer to the mother-fucker as the cock roach as he has now met his maker. But for many years I would not utter his fancy name.

I'm rambling, I know, but I want to say that this idea of questioning morality, legality, whatever, of putting a bullet in this guy's head, is absurd. The guy was a five star general in charge of the whole theater of despicable operations.

Osama bin Laden, may you rest..
May your misguided followers give US some peace.

"The Laughing Heart"

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:00:00 +0000

The great Tom Waits reads Charles Bukowski. Beatnik For Jesus tipped me off to this one.

"What About Bob" Final Analysis

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:27:00 +0000

Two questions: 1) What About Mike? 2) What about Bob ?

The story establishes Bob's capability for manipulation via deceipt (detective); he is not shy (phobic) about people (unlocked apartment). He has a considerable income which allows him to pay very expensive therapists---and to not have to work. He has no interest or responsibility whatsoever except for his cold fish. Beyond the fish Bob's sole filet is driving therapists nuts; it keeps him going. I think all of this is established in the plot.

I think Bob is intent on upstaging his therapists as a son might his father, George W. for example, showing George H. W. how it's done, resulting in tragic slapstick.

Mr. Coughlin, It's a spoof, for God's sake!

I say there is more truth in a good spoof than ten thousand years worth of, say, Morning Joe.

But what about Dr. Leo Melvin (is that his name)? Well, the plot establishes him as being a successful therapist with no phobias, as being a responsible husband and father, and as being as rational as Bob is irrational.

However, I think, the doctor's rationalness or reasonableness (he doesn't get angry), is sometimes a sore point for his family, a minor flaw, trivial weakness---which Bob exploits brilliantly! As the story progresses Bob acquires the trappings of normalcy while driving the doctor berserk.

God, I hope I don't sound like a pompous movie critic here but "What About Bob" is therapy for us all.

But, What About Mike?

You tell me.

Morning Joe

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:36:00 +0000

Morning Joe is the two purpose tag of one of those shows which pretends to keep the viewer informed while creating an atmosphere of one's living room or almost dinner table. It is oh, so civil. Purpose two is to connect the tag of the show with an advertiser, in this case Starbucks. One of the 'discussions' was a specific terrorist threat upon NYC this weekend. The discussers repeat and repeat that the threat, while not positive, meaning it is possible but not guaranteed, nevertheless has been confirmed. In essence what I just said is rephrased over and over again to the backdrop of flashing lights of NYC police cars. Exactly what "confirmed" means is, probably, in a definition book of one of our security agencies. I'm not trying to be smart here. What I'm trying to express is the meaninglessness of discussing a confirmed "possibility" of a terrorist attack on NYC this weekend. No, the terrorists are anonymous, not identifies. But the source of the information is a trusted source who lies to us only occasionally. This is what I keep, or kept, hearing over and over on Morning Joe this morning. One way to weigh the possibility in a positive way is to repeat over and over that the source of the information has provided US with reliable information in the past, and has proved to be unreliable not 100 percent of the time. But the source has been reliable, just not completely reliable---over and over and over again. I don't know why I even mention it.

Terry Gross interviewd a couple of NYC firemen the other day in her seasoned and sincere way. I admire Terry Gross for her sincerity and depth of questioning. The firemen had lost friends and immediate family in that dirty, sleasy attack on US ten years ago. Morning Joe interviewed a.fireman who was there. Why do I perceive the sincerity as fake? I'll tell you why. It is because you cannot have both genuine concern and emotion one minute and hot diggity dog diggity advertisements the next. Even Cronkite couldn't do it; and even then I knew there was something wrong.I just don't understand how caring, sincere, red-blooded Americans, can allow their emotions to be manipulated for the sole purpose of selling product. On the Morning Joe the whole point is to sell product. And going into any kind of sincere depth on a subject is just not conducive to selling product. It is almost as if the idea is to disourage complex thought by feeding the viewers civil discourse that says absolutely nothing. Just keep saying it over and over again and the viewers might think we are onto something, when of course what we are up to, what we are really up to is selling product. Find out what an audience likes to hear and keep saying it over and over again. I ran out of fingers this morning counting the number of times the discovery seemed to have been made by the discussers that tension exists among those who see government as the problem and those who basically admit government can actually provide solutions, to the economy, jobs, healthcare. I mean the tone was as if the discussers just discovered this dichotomy if that's the word.

Well, I can go on and on and on without saying much as well as the next guy.But by God I don't do it for a living, even if I could. I know Auden most likely meant something else, or most certainly did; but I can't help thinking his line "the devil in perfect English" anticipated Morning Joe.

Otherwise, life is good.
Mike

Colbert Is Not Killing Me With Laughter

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:19:00 +0000

The Colbert Report is on. No, the advertisements are (real time now) bombasting after being segued to with a jumping around by Colbert, the old hype jump. The advertisements are adolescent, to be kind. And then... Colbert is back saying succinctly that we'll see you next time!!! By God he fooled us (me anyway) into thinking he was coming back after the advertisements. But by God the advertisements came right back after Colbert's succincity. Not to worry, I know I can leave this room anytime and go to my tent via the old Escort, where I'll listen to "The World" The question is is Colbert sane? Well, I can't answer that but I heard him on the radio once (I think) and thought he was OK. But he is selling his soul to commercial TV. I know, I know, it's his soul and he can do with it what he pleases.

My intention here is twofold: One, I intend to create a three post record of my own insanity here in the valley of the blind; and two, I intend to state that Colbert, Hannidy, O'Reilly, well, it is one and the same show. My message is sort of Marshal Mcluhanish: the message, rather than originating from political persuasion, in actuality is the design to segue the listener, the viewer, into this world of commercials. Politics has little to do with the message. And humor? No, I didn't think Colbert funny. Maybe he had an off night.

Life is good.
Mike

TV IS OFF

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:10:00 +0000

I am at a wonderful hostel in Warren, New Hampshire (there is only one). Appalachian Trail hikers are talking about the trail, about their commonalities (two just discovered they both are from Ashville, North Carolina). I am talking, and I am interested and fascinated by these youths' reasons for challenging themselves with the Appalachian Trail. One challenging instance is that the trail head down the road is disconnected from the trail by a fast moving stream; do they cross, or do they walk the alternate route and add miles to their hike. There is coffee in the community pot. The TV is off; actually it shows the weather channel on mute.

Life is good.
Mike

TV Killing Me Again

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:46:00 +0000

I am at a hostel for Appalachian Trail hikers in Warren New Hampshire. A sit-com is blasting from the TV. Need I say more? I had intended to edit video. I can't, I won't. It is the same canned laughter as existed ten, twenty, fifty years ago. The rhythm is the same, the idiocy is the same, the advertisements are the same. They are all designed in a way to, not purposely mind you, to drive me away from socialness. I mean I have got to get out of here. One of the lines just infiltrated my consciousness: "Did I make a mistake?" "So, sue the condom company." Laughter. "College is for other girls who can't get modeling contracts" Laughter. Did I get off at the right station? Am I on the right planet? And the laugh is on me as I am paying this depressing place ten dollars to punish me. My tent is set up but it is way to early to go there. I am headed for the Escort. Laughter, more laughter, and I can't muster up any sense of humour. This must be what it feels like in a coffin.

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:31:00 +0000

A NYTimes.com opinion article raised my hope that somewhere in this country attention is being paid to US bombing the hell out of two bit dictators. God, I thought I was the only one to notice that US has not a single criterion for bombing the hell out of somewhere else. To me it is almost as if if we can get away with it without reprisal we will bomb. Obama’s Non-Doctrine Doctrine

The Simplicity of the Mind, or Simplemindedness

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:11:00 +0000

Was listening to On Point (Tom Ashbrook) this morning. The topic centered around Warren Buffet's assertion that the wealthy should bear a greater burden when it comes to reducing the national debt, or perhaps the deficit, which I can't differentiate. Perhaps the deficit is the physiology and the debt the anatomy of the hole the country has dug for itself. A couple of ?experts weighed in. One proposed taxing consumption because the rich consume more. I'm thinking: yea the poor consume less but of course at, say, 100% of their income. But this expert's thinking contained the old carrot and stick approach to solving problems, for example that the poor would be encouraged to save! He went into detail: taxes would be based on yearly income less yearly savings. Shazam, life in the big city is transformed at the stroke of simplicity! I turned the radio off.

The problem (as opposed to challenge) with economics in this country is to a greater extent, I think, one of attitude. The poor must change their attitude toward the rich and vice versa (now there's a challenge). For example the 60 million American families earning less than $21,000 per year must acknowledge that the system does permit them, even encourage them, to lift themselves up and into their own wealth, which is a sort of if you can't fight them join them motivator. The quarter of a million American families earning over one million a year must acknowledge that the playing field is not level. That would be a start, a sort of common ground.

Simple minded? Yea, about as simple as the expert I listened to earlier.

Appalachian Trail 2011 'Hover' 'Bear Bag'

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:06:00 +0000

View Hover's Channel http://www.youtube.com/lindsey8095
View Hover's Blog Five Million Footprints

Appalachian Trail 2011 'IB' from Tennessee 'Hippy Kippy' 'Frenchy' 'Brother Of The Wind' from New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:22:00 +0000

Appalachian Trail 2011 Pixel Shazam Boom

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:38:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:33:00 +0000

Manchester Center Vermont. Spot of rain on lens. Northbound AT. PairOfAces, Trump.

Appalachian Trail 2011 HotSauce

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:46:00 +0000

'Hot Sauce' is a trail name that invites a question about diet,. This is virtually the only time I have enquired about a thru-hiker's daily diet. Northbound on the AT at the trail head to Mount Stratton.

Appalachian Trail 2011 HandStand

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:29:00 +0000

Hand Stand is from Germany and is wearing a kilt, not quilt as I misspoke. Northbound on the AT not far from the top of Mount Stratton.

Appalachian Trail 2011 'ComedyCentral'

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:53:00 +0000

Larb, JackRabbit, PinkFloyd, and HandStand or rather without HandStand, relax on Mount Stratton Vermont.I caught HandStand still on the trail a few minutes later on my way down. Hiking the Appalachian trail can be strictly solo, pairing up, or as in the case of 'ComedyCentral' teaming up. I cut little out of this video because the dialogue informs: comraderie, travails such as Lime Disease, style such as, well, look how long it takes JackRabbit to remove his pack and sit down for lunch versus Larb. Great group! Oh, and don't forget Hugh who while not part of ComedyCentral, strictly speaking, is part of all who climb to his and Jeanne's mountain top, if I may say so.

Appalachian Trail 2011, Piece Of Cake

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:45:00 +0000

Appalachian Trail 2011 Whistler

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:48:00 +0000

Drop of rain on lens. May raindrops keep fallin' on your head, Whistler.

Appalachian Trail 2011 Peru, Professor

noreply@blogger.com (whoinsamhill) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:07:00 +0000

An incongruity between "Professor" and multi-tasseled cap incites humour,