Turk's Blog (9)

In a post on one of my groups, I asked about the Fair Tax model of economics. The privatization of essential services to corporate entities was a tangential topic that drew some interest. I would like to reintroduce this topic here.

I live 50 miles north of Boston and there has been much ado about the Big Dig and the poor job done by private contractors during the project for many years now. It seemed to indicate a definite drawback to privatization. So, I decided to look at one of the… Continue

Meanwhile, back home, FEMA awarded a no-bid trailer contract to the Bechtel Corporation and made them responsible and the hauling and installing of more than 35,000 trailers and mobile homes for Hurricane Katrina victims in Mississippi.

Seven months after the storm, 2/3 of the requested FEMA trailers (designed for short term emergency housing immediately after a disaster) had been delivered. Many of these trailers, however, could still not be occupied or, if occupied, were not properly… Continue

Approximately (allows for pinching):

28 grams = 1 ounce (or O.Z.), which, in turn, = a Lid.

a Lid = 4 Fingers, each Finger about 7 grams.

Old Hippie's Money Conversion:

a Nickel = $5 Old School = a Finger at the going rate for a Quarter or 7 grams.

a Dime = $10 Old School = two Fingers = 14 grams = a Half.

a Quarter = No such thing Old School. The term Quarter only refers to a single Finger, 7 gram Nickel.

Matchbox (cleaned) $5
… Continue

I went on a Thumber's Vision Quest looking for answers to questions not asked.

It was an experiment in cognitive random experience: I intentionally took off without a destination in mind. It was my hope that a Greater Spirit would "guide my ride" and provide appropriate insight at whatever climax ensued. Where ever that might be.

It was in that frame of mind that I embarked, allowing the rides to determine my destination.

Imagine the conversation: "Where are you going,… Continue

November 11, 2007
Manchester, NH

If we are to promote the use of English as the "Official American Language" then, I would have to insist that a line declaring grammatically correct English (in conjunction with proper spelling and punctuation) be required of all patriotic Americans. Spelling and punctuation tests would determine social status (rather than, for example, material possessions, beauty and physical strength), and the degree of Americanism a citizen possesses. Our politic… Continue

Based upon the fossil record and prenatal disposition we can see the development of the human brain from the basic reptilian complex, the most ancient part of the mammal brain, evolutionarily speaking. This segment of the brain controls autonomic systems; involuntary functions such as breathing, heart function and soon.

In more complex animals such as mammals a second brain stage develops. This mammalian brain structure exists in the most recently developed sphere of the brain. It is th… Continue

I propose a Dickensian approach to the problem of child welfare. I say employ children. Put them to work for wages to offset their own requirements and upkeep.

There are benefits to be derived from extracting labor from children. A lower overhead, for one, since it takes less to feed and house these labor assets. They are strong for their size, quick, nimble, gullible. As they mature there will be more labor to be extracted from them. Being "home grown" they would probably work for less… Continue

My kid brother lived near Lake Alvarado. He and a couple of buddies would pull up on the road where it slopes off and down into the lake at night. He would turn his headlights on and expose all the snakes, cottons mouths and what not on the shore.

He and his buddies would shoot anything that moved. He described the scene it as if Bosch had rendered it. Hideous, but fun. (Has anyone ever called Bosch that before?)

Anything ugly and dangerous within the established perimeter of h… Continue

Yesterday I attended rehab. It's an exercise class. A varied age group of
both sexes. Some people overweight, some not. There are two types of us: Open
heart or not. I'm certainly not the oldest. I can exercise well. I'm strong
and flexible from the gym and yoga. But yesterday something chilling happened.
This was the third time I had attended. One of the open heart people there
had a coronary episode. They call heart fuck ups coronary episodes or events.
He c… Continue