Winds of Change

What Would Merlin Say?

From an earlier post:
Gale: and who will it be blamed on?
Melvin: Iran? 
Gale: yes
Melvin: nah
Gale: or Syria
Melvin: though that would be interesting
Melvin: not that they need a direct connection
Melvin: of course

Melvin: i hope you're wrong
Gale: so another terrorist attack or two
Melvin: but i dont see it going any further
Gale: and bam - bombs start flying

Gale: we are one terrorist attack away from Bush and Co doing whatever they want
Gale: one attack in our country
Gale: and it will happen
Gale: just like 9/11 did
Gale: with our govt. ushering it in

And now we have:

From the latest print issue of The American Conservative:

The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic targets, including numerous suspected nuclear-weapons-program development sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option. As in the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States. Several senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are reportedly appalled at the implications of what they are doing--that Iran is being set up for an unprovoked nuclear attack--but no one is prepared to damage his career by posing any objections.

Way to go, Dick.

This is more soothing

Download perfect_soldiers.mp3

For You Leonard Cohen Fans

This has become a regular on my playlist!

Download artist_track_15.mp3

Like it?

Still too much time on my hands...

How Deep is the Rabbit Hole?

Gale: hey there
Melvin: hey stranger, how you been?
Gale: ooh - surviving!
Gale: and u?
Melvin: yeah bout the same
Melvin: i got the impression a lot's been going on
Melvin: big changes and such
Melvin: you ok?
Gale: yes
Gale: i'm as ok as it gets I think
Gale: not real happy with my life - but what is new?
Gale: you getting bad weather there?
Melvin: yeah
Melvin: you were relatively happy before i think
Melvin: at least with your work i thought
Melvin: maybe not relationships
Melvin: yeah, bad weather
Melvin: worse further south though
Melvin: there too?
Gale: we had storms this evening but not related to the hurricane
Gale: work is happy with me - i'm less and less happy with it
Melvin: right
Melvin: well that's unfortunate
Melvin: cause you seem to be quite good at it
Gale: feel like I'm sacrficing too much
Melvin: ah
Gale: i know
Melvin: of your life, self?
Gale: both
Melvin: ah
Melvin: yeah that can be a prob.
Melvin: can you cut back some?
Melvin: or is it impossible
Gale: and life is too short - and may be shorter...
Gale: spent too many years unhappy already
Melvin: what do you mean shorter?
Melvin: you sick?
Gale: i've been having health problems some, but more that I think the world is heading for a massive crash
Melvin: ah
Melvin: hopefully nothing serious
Melvin: the world?
Melvin: who knows
Gale: if i had no kids - I'd be getting off the grid right now
Gale: leaving society behind
Melvin: where to?
Melvin: where you gonna go?
Gale: this one blog I used to read - I don't read any much now - she lived here in H. and has moved to Nicaraugua
Gale: left the US because she couldn't stand to be here
Melvin: ah
Gale: i don't have plans to go anywhere
Gale: the kids graduate in three years and then I will decide my life
Melvin: right
Gale: what's been happening with you?
Melvin: not to much
Melvin: same ole same ole
Melvin: still seeing S.
Melvin: though we have tried to break it off a few times
Melvin: but keep coming back
Gale: wow - that's a long time
Melvin: we had a good time yest.
Gale: great!
Melvin: yeah..been about 2 years
Melvin: she';s not real happy with her life either
Melvin: though who is these days
Gale: true
Gale: all my old loves keep reappearing
Melvin: oh wow
Melvin: is that a good thing?
Gale: I don't know
Gale: i'm going to see B. in S. L. in Aug.
Gale: not sure if you remember his story
Melvin: is he the younger guy?
Melvin: i think i remember him
Gale: aren't they all? ;-)
Melvin: hee
Melvin: yeah i guess so
Gale: he had a lot of problems
Melvin: yeah
Gale: i moved away wanting him to ask me to stay - he wanted me to not want to move
Gale: anyway - he says he has gotten his life together and wants me to see what he's doing now
Melvin: wow
Melvin: it's been a while though right?
Gale: yes - 3 years now
Gale: not sure that anything will develop except maybe closure
Melvin: how does it feel to you
Melvin: the idea of seeing him?
Gale: a little risky
Melvin: what happened to the man you were seeing there
Melvin: you seemed happy with him
Gale: he's now dating the woman he was in love with while in grad school
Melvin: oh
Melvin: wow
Gale: saw the guy this past month who broke my heart a couple of summers ago
Melvin: yeah..who was that?
Gale: the guy who broke my heart a couple of summers ago was the man I had a fling with in B. Melvin: oh yeah
Melvin: i remember that
Melvin: but he was married
Melvin: right?
Gale: the soap opera of my life
Gale: might as well have been - living with someone 7 years and raising her child
Melvin: right right
Melvin: and there was guy who never returned your calls
Melvin: was that B
Melvin: or someone else
Gale: lol not sure
Melvin: j?
Melvin: is there a j?
Melvin: lol
Gale: yes
Melvin: ok
Gale: I think that was j
Melvin: yes
Melvin: hard to keep up with your lovers lol
Gale: he's been messaging me lately
Melvin: ah..wow
Gale: all the chickens have come home to roost!
Gale: LOL
Melvin: haaaaaaaaaaa
Melvin: when it rains it pours
Gale: or storms in my case
Melvin: yes
Melvin: and the crazy stalker at work?
Melvin: what of him?
Gale: he left thank god
Melvin: good!
Gale: after I kicked the building man out of his position
Gale: and took away his keys
Melvin: wow...good!
Gale: I might write about B on my blog
Gale: it has an interesting twist and connection to the things I've been doing lately
Melvin: phone
Gale: :-P just like the good ole days
Melvin: heehee
Melvin: yeah a lot of people seemed to have slowed down or stopped blogging
Melvin: recently
Melvin: either real life problems have taken over
Gale: i don't think we recovered from 11/2
Melvin: or people or overwhelmed by the political situation here
Melvin: right
Gale: i realized a few weeks ago that is part of my problem - I've given up hope
Gale: hard to do my kind of work when you don't have hope
Melvin: yeah i know
Melvin: but you can get it back
Gale: can I?
Melvin: yeah
Melvin: one good thing politically
Melvin: is at least folks are starting to question
Melvin:the Iraq thing
Melvin: better late than never i suppose
Gale: but its not changing anything
Melvin: no..change takes time
Melvin: but just rising doubts
Melvin: is something i never thought would happen
Gale: I don't know that we have the time it will take
Melvin: of course we do
Melvin: why are you thinking so fatalistically?
Melvin: what do you think might happen?
Gale: more bombs more war
Gale: more 9/11's and then 7/7's
Gale: it's already happening
Melvin: oh sure
Gale: have you heard of the Merlin Project?
Melvin: but it's not like time will end
Melvin: this terror cycle is just beginning
Gale: but human life might
Melvin: i agree
Melvin: how so?
Melvin: what's that?
Gale: everyone ratcheting up the violence
Gale: the nuclear options will be used
Gale: and if not that - everything, everyone is predicting a mass reduction in the human population by 2010
Gale: probably 2008
Gale: 4 out of 5
Gale: gone
Melvin: wow...seems a bit extreme to me
Gale: the neocons are hoping for it
Gale: say its the only way to maintain control of the world and the dwindling resources
Gale: so they might as well make it happen and control who the 1/5 gets to be
Gale: the Merlin project is a computer program designed back in the 80's
Gale: by a couple of scientists and philosopher historian types
Gale: they felt things could be predicted because there is a pattern to everything
Gale: so they created the Merlin Project
Gale: which has been startling accurate
Gale: and now guess who pays them for their info?
Gale: the Pentagon
Melvin: wow
Gale: the Pentagon pays them and then prepares for "scenarios"
Gale: based on what they say is coming
Gale: the Merlin Project is predicting a mass decline in population in 2008
Gale: so if you had the power - would you try to "manage" the predicted disaster?
Melvin: well they're only 80 percent accurate
Melvin: lol
Gale: where do you get that?
Melvin: on their website
Gale: you googling Merlin Project?
Melvin: yeah
Gale: lol
Gale: thought I was making this up?? :-)
Melvin: hee
Melvin: no, just checking it out
Melvin: lol
Gale: I learned about it from a website http://rigorousintuition.blogspot.com/
Gale: if you like your tinfoil hat you might like reading it
Melvin: hee
Melvin: yeah yeah apocalypse revelation whatever
Gale: no - what this man Jeff Wells points out -
Gale: it doesn't matter if we believe the predictions
Gale: the Pentagon believes
Gale: and the neocons believe
Gale: and they are paying big bucks to the Merlin People
Melvin: well i believe the Necons will overreach
Melvin: if they havent already
Melvin: when you think about it
Melvin: as long as we've had the nuclear bombs
Melvin: it's amazing the world hasnt gone up in smoke already
Melvin: came down close in 61
Melvin: or 62
Gale: oh I believe they are overreaching
Gale: and they will bring us all down with them before giving up their power
Gale: this is it... between now and 2008
Melvin: nah
Melvin: not gonna happen
Gale: when there is another election
Melvin: nope
Gale: they have to do what ever they are going to do
Gale: and they know it
Melvin: i dont think so
Melvin: they've had their little dream
Gale: I hope you're right
Melvin: it didnt work
Gale: it is working
Melvin: they dreamed of so much more
Melvin: no..not as planned
Melvin: they thought this would be easy
Gale: so they are getting desperate
Melvin: they'd have the whole middle east by now
Gale: and desperate people do desperate things
Melvin: nah
Gale:Iran is next
Melvin: we're not that crazy yet
Melvin: to allow it to happen
Melvin:iran has been next for a while 
Melvin: but they cant seem to make it happen
Gale: the little bombing display in London
Gale: who do you think did it?
Gale: and who will it be blamed on?
Melvin: Iran? 
Gale: yes
Melvin: nah
Gale: or Syria
Melvin: though that would be interesting
Melvin: not that they need a direct connection
Melvin: of course
Gale: and you can't sit there and take a terrorist hit on your own land and do nothing now can you?
Melvin: nope
Melvin: i think this bogging down in Iraq
Melvin: has changed their plans
Gale: they don't care
Melvin: their silly dreams
Melvin: didnt work
Melvin: and they know it now
Gale: not at all
Gale: let the place go to hell and blow each other up
Gale: that has been their plan all along
Gale: it is going fine
Gale: they just can't be to gleeful in public
Melvin: well i dont think so
Gale: as they plan their next terrorist attack
Gale: and give us reason to bomb another country
Melvin: not feasible
Melvin: as much as they may like it
Gale: i hope you are right
Melvin: the reaction now against IRaq war is a GOOD thing
Gale: they don't care about feasible anymore
Melvin: they have to
Melvin: it's politics
Melvin: and you can go over the line
Melvin: they already pushed it to the limit
Melvin: they know that
Gale: not when you hold all the power and the voting machines
Gale: we will never have an honest election in this country again
Gale: the powers that are will continue
Melvin: well it's bad..but not that bad
Melvin: as you're painting it
Melvin: i hope
Gale: who has questioned the attacks in Londonas anything but another attack by islamic fundamentalists?
Gale: everyone immediately said see - they still hate us
Gale: we have to get them
Gale: and it wasn't even that bad - in the scope of things
Gale: doesn't have to be anymore
Gale: everyone has bought the story before it is told
Gale: this man Jeff Wells - quotes a lot of Cohen and Dylan lyrics on his blog
Melvin: so who are you saying did it?
Melvin: of course they hate us
Melvin: and will continue to hate us for many years to come
Gale: Bush and Co
Gale: just like 9/11
Melvin: nah
Melvin: i dont buy it
Gale: do you not think our intelligence has the ability to stop what they want?
Gale: they allow to happen what they want to happen
Gale: and encourage
Gale: and participate
Melvin: Madrid too? 
Gale: yes
Melvin: so there are no islamic fundamentalists who want to kill us?
Gale: google Operation Gladio
Gale: there probably are at this point
Gale: and our govt. is using them well
Gale: funding them
Gale: making sure govt. agencies are stood down when needed
Melvin: so why not take Saudi Arabia?
Gale: why bother?
Gale: they need the hate against us to continue
Gale: they foment it
Melvin: to what purpose?
Gale: to give them reason to go to war
Melvin: so they can wipe out the entire middle east
Melvin: and put up Mcdonalds?
Gale: metaphorically yes
Melvin: so why not just do it
Melvin: we've got the nuclear capabilities
Gale: that's what I believe is coming
Gale: but China and Iran and Korea aren't going to play along
Gale: and will join forces
Melvin: yeah, it's just not that simple
Melvin: that's what i'm saying
Melvin: they can overreach
Melvin: and have
Melvin: just like Vietnam
Gale: but the showdown is coming
Melvin: between who?
Gale: the Neocons and everyone else
Melvin: i dont think so
Melvin: that's where we disagree
Melvin: now if they start fabricating shit
Melvin: to go into syria and Iran
Melvin: then i may change my mind
Gale: if?
Melvin: hasnt happened yet
Gale: ok
Melvin: it would be almost impossible
Melvin: to fabricate on the scale
Melvin: that Iraq was
Melvin: especially after they've been found out
Melvin: a bit too late
Melvin: but better late than never
Gale: see I don't think they care
Gale: and they know their time is running out
Melvin: i hope you're wrong
Gale: so another terrorist attack or two
Melvin: but i dont see it going any further
Gale: and bam - bombs start flying
Melvin: well they'd have to really fabricate that one
Melvin: and blame it on Iran
Melvin: but i dont see that happening
Gale: and as you say - there are those that hate us now
Gale: a whole region
Gale: the middle east
Melvin: they already did
Melvin: believe me
Melvin: it's just worse
Melvin: i was there
Melvin: so were you
Gale: it sure is
Melvin: they've turned 'normal' men
Melvin: and women
Melvin: into enemies for sure
Melvin: into radicals
Melvin: Iraq is now a training ground for terrorists
Gale: and whether or not they actually attack us, it will be easy now to carry out an attack and have everyone believe they did
Gale: yes - thanks to our govt. who knew exactly what they were doing
Melvin: maybe
Melvin: we'll see
Melvin: i used to think that would happen
Gale: Iran is joining forces with Iraq
Melvin: well dont you think they have to 'secure' Iraq before they go to other countries?
Gale: secure it for what?
Melvin: even conservatives realize that
Melvin: for business
Melvin: for so called 'freedom'
Gale: no they don't
Gale: right
Gale: for all those bogus ideas
Gale: like freedom
Melvin: but even the conservatives
Gale: there will be no freedom there
Melvin: and hence the American people
Melvin: will start to question that
Gale: they won't have time to
Melvin: only the most staunch Kool aid drinkers
Melvin: like Hannity
Melvin: wont
Melvin: others will
Melvin: they cant get away with it
Gale: we are one terrorist attack away from Bush and Co doing whatever they want
Gale: one attack in our country
Gale: and it will happen
Gale: just like 9/11 did
Gale: with our govt. ushering it in
Melvin: and a draft?
Melvin: we dont have the resources
Melvin: you start a draft
Melvin: and people will wake up
Gale: you don't have to have the resources if you pull all the troops out of  Iraq and then bomb the whole region Melvin: you mean nuke it?
Melvin: that won't fly
Gale: sure as hell well if one of Iran's bombs heads this way Melvin: they got a nuclear one yet?
Gale: i'm sure they do
Gale: as well as N. Korea
Gale: and China has enough to spare
Melvin: that's why we dont go any further
Melvin: not a reason to
Melvin: these guys are crazy
Melvin: but not stupid
Gale: but they will not give up their power or their plan for power
Gale: they have nothing to lose
Melvin: i dont know
Gale: because if they lose their power - they have lost everything
Melvin: wolfowitz has backed off
Gale: might as well be dead
Melvin: they have plenty of power
Melvin: they've found the limits
Melvin: there are limits
Melvin: that's where we disagree
Gale: i'm not so sure
Melvin: well i hope i'm right here
Gale: me too
Gale: and in 2009 I will have to come down out of the mountains and get a job
Melvin: ha
Melvin: absolutely
Melvin: just like those in the homemade bunkers in the 60s
Melvin: though it damn near almost happened
Melvin: and what you;re painting COULD happen
Gale: yes it did
Melvin: but it's a worse case scenario
Melvin: which does you no good
Melvin: to even ponder it
Gale: i see all the pieces coming together
Melvin: well stop!
Melvin: it will drive you crazy
Gale: stick my head back in the sand?
Gale: I'm already crazy
Melvin: hee
Melvin: retreating
Melvin: to some hill
Melvin: is sticking your head in the sand, isnt it?
Melvin: sending out your death antennae
Melvin: is hardly healthy is it?
Gale: no - it is trying to have some happiness in the time we have
Melvin: hell, that's true everyday
Gale: exactly
Melvin: whether the world ends or not
Gale: and living this life aint cutting it anymore
Melvin: we are mortal
Melvin: well that's for you to decide
Melvin: for sure
Gale: something has to give
Melvin: i imagine it will get worse before it ever gets better
Melvin: that's History for you
Gale: how bad is it going to get is the question
Melvin: yep..always is
Melvin: and always seems like the worst
Gale: and who will survive?
Melvin: though in reality it's always been bad
Melvin: and yet never quite that bad
Melvin: if you know what i mean
Melvin: right..
Melvin: we've come to the brink before
Melvin: worse than now
Melvin: and it's true with Bush at the helm
Melvin: things definitely have a good chance of getting worse
Gale: i think we are closer to the brink than we know
Melvin: a whole lot worse
Melvin: yes i know you do
Melvin: i dont think so yet
Melvin: but we'll see
Melvin: what they do next
Melvin: will be key
Melvin: but as i said
Melvin: and keep saying it is a Positive
Melvin: note that people are now questioning the Iraq War
Melvin: and Bush had to go on the defensive
Melvin: this is good!
Gale: we will see
Melvin: right
Gale: I need to let the dog out - brb
Melvin: ok
Gale: stupid dog is afraid of storms
Gale: won't go outside
Melvin: hee
Gale: and Peanut is here too
Gale: running around
Melvin: who's peanut?
Gale: the dog who lives next door
Melvin: ah
Gale: maggie has a better social life than I do
Melvin: hee
Gale: she has sleep overs!
Melvin: ha
Melvin: well it's time for bed
Melvin: nice talking to you
Gale: ok
Gale: was it nice?
Gale: lol
Gale: ;-)
Melvin: nice and depressing
Melvin: lol
Gale: haa
Gale: live in the moment
Melvin: indeed
Melvin: me too
Gale: get those wet clothes off
Melvin: hee
Gale: sweet dreams
Melvin: it's just your latent power to inspire
Melvin: being buried by Mercury
Gale: yes
Gale: i'm sure that is it
Melvin: or something or some computer named Melvin
Melvin: hee
Gale: merlin
Melvin: yeah
Melvin: him
Melvin: lol
Gale: lol
Gale: i may blog parts of this chat
Melvin: cool
Gale: and protect your identity
Melvin: call me Melvin
Gale: haa!
Melvin: hee
Melvin: night

Now go read these links:
New American Military Base being Built in Israel

A Nation in Peril by Whitley Striebly

"Another small terrorist attack in the US will not be sufficient. In fact, that will only weaken an administration whose one area of popularity remains its effectiveness against terrorism. No, something much larger is needed now, and the sudden expansion of discussion about the possibility of nuclear terrorism should be taken as a sign and a warning. There is great peril now. If the administration begins to collapse, and that does not seem far off, given Mr. Rove’s troubles, a gigantic terror attack on American soil would seem to be inevitable. We can only hope that they will hesitate to pull the trigger until it is too late for them to do so, in the event, by the grace of God, that time might come." -- excerpt from Nation in Peril, 7/12/05

When a girl has too much time on her hands...

So I've been home the last few days alone. Kids are gone for a couple of weeks. And to get my personal vacation off to a great start, I came down with a UTI. I only have one kidney, so any infection in that system is alarming and the docs have me on strong antibiotics, which have made me feel worse than the damn UTI did. Lovely. I'm sure a good ole yeast infection is next on the agenda.

Today, I've been watching the destruction of Dennis, sad and worried about what is happening in Pensacola. My nephew lives there and got stuck, riding out the storm in his house. He didn't decide to leave in time to get his car filled up with gas - all the stations were out by mid-afternoon yesterday. When he finally found a station that still had gas, they were charging over $4 a gallon. Price gouging is illegal and my nephew phoned in a report as he filled up. Then, roads were already closed or clogged, so he decided to stay put. I hope he is ok. Pensacola hadn't recovered from Ivan a year ago and Dennis was stronger, although it went through the area faster. Maybe the damage won't be as great as feared.

I have to say I had sick little fantasies all afternoon of seeing Anderson Cooper - CNN reporter/entertainer/let-me-show-you-how-macho-my-wimp-ass-is-
by-standing-in-the-middle-of-a-hurricane-idiot -
be blown off his feet and disappear into the swirling storm clouds of Dennis just like Doroththy's house in Wizard of Oz.
Just once, I would like to see this happen.

To pass the time I began looking for new ringtones for my cell phone. I lost patience with the process and downloaded "Who Can It Be Now" by Men At Work rather than searching for a really amazing song clip that would impress all my friends. I wanted to make my own sound clips and use them as ringtones, but had no luck. Just image this being the song that announces someone is calling...

Download artist__track_5.mp3

Good huh?

If only I could have pulled it off...

Then. I found Ringbacks. You can assign songs to your phone for your callers to hear! Sounds like a great and simple idea right? Just choose a song you like, and your callers hear it, rather than a beeping noise. And, you can choose specific songs for specific callers. Now... the complexity begins.
How would you feel if the song you heard was...

Download Scar.mp3

Red Hot Chili Peppers singing "Scar Tissue":
Scar tissue that I wish you saw
Sarcastic mister know it all
Close your eyes and I'll kiss you 'cause
With the birds I'll share
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view

Compared to this song...

Download Linger.mp3

The Cranberries singing "Linger":
But I’m in so deep
You know I’m such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger

See... you have to be very careful in planning who gets which song!

So for now, everyone hears this:

Download artist__track_3.mp3

HAAA!