Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Capitalism - Feudalism without the Kings
Tax the Rich

Website Wednesday 

Until an hour ago, PSE&G (our electricity provider) was the center of my darkest thoughts. Then an hour ago, power was restored after 30+ hours and PSE&G is my BFF. 

OK, I've had worse hardships such as both flooding and no power. But this one pissed me off. We're a 14,000 home community and some houses got back on line after a few hours. I must not have been the only one shouting: Not Fair! because the police sent an e-mail saying all of the township was without power, even the police station, except for a few homes. That made us all feel so much better. Not!

But no more grousing because we dodged the bullet with flooding while some homes in NJ did have biblical-type damage done to them.

Which doesn't mean I'm not going to grouse about our inability in this country to get our infrastructure modernized so that such natural disasters are far less damaging. For example, DH was watching a show on Europe where the narrator said much of western Europe has no above ground electric wires. Then he went to a remote village in France via Google maps and sure enough there was a lonely road near a farm house touting a lit street lamp with no above ground wires going to it.

And here in the USA, the best country, ever, ever, ever, to grace a map, I could knit a scarf long enough to wrap the globe with all the above ground wiring we have. Above ground wiring which of course loves to crack and snap when hit with high winds and falling branches.

Wow! A long term government sponsored project to help prevent more billions of lost dollars when future natural disasters strike. (And strike they will.)  What a new idea, you say? Just travel around this country and look at some of the projects like the Hoover Dam, Lincoln Tunnel and Overseas Highway built as government public works during the 1930s Great Depression.

The NJ Gov, Chris Christie, is praising President Obama for his promise of federal help to our state. Which may be just good manners (Obama has really been "on top" of this disaster) or great political instincts. Romney didn't choose Christie for VP. If he had, Christie might eye the top job - Prez - in 8 years. As it stands now, if Romney gets in (No!, No!, NO!), Christie is looking at perhaps 16 years to fulfill his ambition (8 years of Romney; 8 years of Ryan -  No!, No!, NO!) However, if Obama wins, Christie has a chance in 2016, only 4 years away.

OK, on to websites: http://triggerpit.com/

The first one is pictures because I just can't help myself. The above page will take you to some fabulous pictures of natural scenes, beautiful horses, etc. And then go to Bansky's art:


for some very worthwhile, thought-provoking graffiti art.

Triggerpit says of itself: Triggerpit.com is the result of our passion for photography and events that makes us go WOW. We will try to cover all that we find and consider grandiose, fascinating, uplifting or even sad. We will do our best to make you think “this is nuts” or “I didn’t know that”. We will also try and cover stories not so easily attained. Like give backstage imagery on moviemaking, concert preparation and other similar events. Among the areas we cover you’ll find: Science, Space Exploration, Nature, Environment, Urban, Urban Decay, Religious Events, Exotic Places, Entertainment and much more.

What's not to like? 

http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/ 

Shakespeare. But I'm a math and science person myself, you might say. (As the girl would say as she plods through world history.) But as I understand it, all you math and science geeks usually need at least one humanities course in both high school and college.

I'm not saying that you must scurry into a course on Shakespeare but take a long look at this site and you'll get a valuable understanding of how to read his sonnets, and more than that, you'll get an insight into how poems work.

I've lost track of all the times as an English major that I had to read, re-read, and then re-read again aloud to get any understanding of some poems. Don't get me started on the romantic poets!

This site will not be an easy read for many but do take a look. To quote Sam as he entreats Frodo to hold on above the boiling lava: Stretch!

See you next week.

Final note: Remember that $100 bet DH and I had on the hurricane? Well, we finally agreed on terms: I would win if the two town trees weathered the storm. Only one did so I see this as I owe him $50. However right now, I'm keeping a very low profile.







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