I forget exactly how we got on the topic, but I guess Andy and I let slip our exuberance at earlier in the day having held a baby black vulture. Mr. Rancher dude had a story he needed to share with us about those "black buzzards" which I'll paraphrase for you here. It's priceless.

him: Them turkey buzzards are OK; I don't bother them. But those black buzzards, they're mean. They come up from Mexico or someplace and they're no good. Sometimes when a cow is, you know, taking too long with a calf, they'll come up and peck the eyes out on the calf.

me: Mm-hmm. Even Audubon knew about that.

him: Yeah they're no good.

What follows is about a 10 minute build up to the heart of the story, with Andy and I hanging on every word. Here's the climax.

him: One of my hands called me and said his truck was broke so I went down there on the 4-wheeler. I was coming down there and I seen this group of about 20 hogs, you know. So I floored it on the 4 wheeler to run right through them hogs.

me: You ran over hogs on your 4-wheeler?

him: Yep. I remember thinking right before I hit 'em "I wonder if this is such a good idea?"

me: [peals of laughter]

him: So I did it, and I took four of 'em out that way. One was stuck under my tire and I dragged him on his back a ways. Then I backed up and hit a couple more. So in the end, I think we put a pile of about 10 dead hogs down there.

Then a couple of days later, it was really windy, and I had been in a shooting competition so I had my guns in my truck. Me and my hand went down there and we seen about 40-50 of them black buzzards around the hog carcasses. They was so full they couldn't even fly. So I got my gun and I shot every one of them bastards, cause they couldn't get away. I shot every one of 'em.

me: I bet the local Audubon folks were wondering why their numbers for black vulture went down that year - it was all you.

him: Yeah, I shoot any one of them damn black buzzards I see, cause they peck the eyes outta the calves if they's taken too long, you know? But I leave the turkey buzzards alone cause they don't harm nothin'.

me: Wow. So how many calves do you think you've lost to the black vultures down through the years.

him: [hesitates, because obviously no one had ever asked him that question]

[wait for it . . . ]

"Well, just the one."

me: [peals of laughter, again]

There is no further commentary needed on the story, nor any unifying pearl of wisdom that I can impart about hearing it firsthand. Just let it sink in and reflect on it as I've been doing for over a week now. I can't tell if it fills me with hopelessness or if it's really OK to have guys like this out there. I really can't. so let it sink in and ultimately affect you however it will.

The question is an important one because funds for capital cannot be used for general operating. Capital funds go to capital (building) improvements; general operating funds are to keep city operations going. Operating funds go to pay for salaries, for example.

From our research here at ES Folk, it doesn't look like the city has 1% of tax collections coming in to pay that general operating. That means we have only property taxes, ambulance fees, and various miscellaneous, amounting to a little over $1 million for general operating. That's not going to cover payroll, let alone anything else. All the rest looks to be dedicated to capital funds.

Let us look first at Ordinance 1386.

Enabling Legislation for 1386 Is for Capital Improvements

It has been argued that Ordinance 1386 provides a one cent tax for general operating expenses. Whether or not there was a vote of the people is not the issue here. There evidently was a referendum as called for in Ordinance 1387, which set up the required special election.

The issue is that Ordinance 1386 was not authorized under legislation that permitted the tax revenues Eureka collects to be used for general operations. Nor was it authorized under any kind of general, non-specific, legislation.

Ordinance 1386 was authorized under capital fund legislation. Nothing more, nothing less.

As stated in the ordinance itself, 1386 is based on "authorizing legislation" from Title 26, Chapter 75, Subchapter 2. It is a subchapter based solely on Capital Improvements.

To be more specific: Subchapter 2, 26-75-203, notes in detail what is covered. Referred to as "capital improvements of a public nature," the list comprises 35 facilities, including waterways, dams and lakes. Nothing listed comes even remotely close to operating expenses, not even for the facilities noted.

Under its authorizing Subchapter 2 legislation, it is clear that Ordinance 1386 does not provide for any general operating revenues whatsoever. It provides only for capital improvements.

Is There Authorizing Legislation for General Operating Expenses?

Taxing authority for municipalities belongs to the state. Municipalities have no authority to tax unless the state (or the feds) have enacted tax legislation that authorizes it. We do not address federal legislation here.

The State of Arkansas has set up authorizing legislation that allows cities to assess a tiny percentage of the sales and use tax so that small cities like Eureka Springs might be able to cover capital costs. Our search of state statutes suggests that the state allows cities to tax no more than 1%, an indication of how little the state has been willing to allow municipalities to impose their own taxes.

We also believe that the state has not authorized municipalities to impose other, more general, taxes. In our search of state statutes, we have been unable to find any authorizing legislation that would go to general operating expenses-- or any kind of general or undesignated purpose for that matter. In that, the state of Arkansas is only following a more general pattern. It is rare for any state to give over very much at all of its taxing authority.

Given this situation, we would ask that the administration provide any authorizing legislation under which Eureka Springs might levy a tax for operating expenses, or for a general, or undesignated, purpose.

The administration should provide it not only to us, but to the Council and the general public.

If there is not such an authorization, the City needs to take immediate action. To continue to use capital funds for general operating expenses would be what is called an illegal exaction-- and that is a serious matter.

Illegal Exaction Suits Defined in the AR State Constitution

Under the state constitution, and subsequent rulings by the state Supreme Court, a city can be sued for illegal exaction. Immunity does not obtain, and cities are liable.

Moreover, any one suit is considered a class action suit brought in the name of all affected. That means damages can be awarded to all those who paid taxes illegally exacted.

If Eureka Springs were to have mixed capital and general operating fund tax assessments, it could be liable to a great many people, particularly if it does not take steps to remedy the situation.

Past Errors Are no Excuse for Present Foundering

As a result of past actions taken at least 30 years before this Mayor and this Council were seated, there has been a confusion of laws that need to be straightened out. It was only one small, minor, confusion that led to the administration's recommendation at the last regular Council meeting, that several ordinances be repealed, back to Ordinance 1120, which was rightfully understood as authorized under capital funds.

It has, however, been erroneously argued that the City can collect a 1% tax for general operating expenses under Ordinance 1386. That would seem to be, for two compelling reasons, wrong.

Moreover, it begins to look like the City cannot enact a 1% tax for general purposes at all.

The upshot is that the administration and the Council must act responsibly and quit foundering in half- researched opinions, and inadequate knowledge.

Action needs to be taken immediately to redress the issues in ways even more serious than those recommended by Chief Municipal League Counsel Mark Hayes.

Without that, we cannot know how to plan on bringing in the revenues the city needs to cover the operating expenses of the departments that have been budgeted for, including payroll.

Give Us an AG Opinion and an Independent Audit

The first essential is that the city seek an Attorney General opinion on the exact nature of the taxing authority we have; and what legal options we have open to remedy the situation. The questions need to be straight- forward and honest, not pussy-footing and protective. The administration and the Council need to say it like it is. Too much is otherwise at risk.

The second thing the administration needs is an audit of what has come and gone under what vote of the people. The auditor needs to double-check with the Department of Revenue, which has a list that does not correspond to the ordinances the Council repealed, and differs in other respects. In short, we need to know what the state is collecting for us, under what authority.

The auditor needs to be a CPA of course. Even more important they need to be entirely independent of the city, its elected officials, or its employees; and they need to have a deep background in municipal law.

Good speed and good luck to us all.

We liked this tree however looking back it wasn't the best choice and was extremely hard to light with 3 small flashes! I'd love to reshoot with a tree thats more in the open- hopefully we'll get a chance.

Thanks go to Ellie & Hannah for being so patient with us and for all your help.

Here is just the first photo I opened to have a play with. Many better shots and i'll upload when i have time. let me know what you think !

]]> http://moderninho.wordpress.com/?p=237 Sun, 11 May 2008 22:07:26 +0000 moderninho http://moderninho.wordpress.com/?p=237

Coregrafia a fost perfectă, decorul somptuos, spectacolul fără cusur. Pe piatra cubică din Piaţa Roşie au defilat vineri, pentru prima oară după 18 ani, tancuri şi rachete. ”Baletul” militar rusesc a culminat aşadar cu revenirea pe scenă a unei Maya Plisetskaia puţin ruginită, dar la fel de eficientă şi spectaculoasă: artileria grea.

Prim-balerin a fost însă cineva care nu a făcut nici măcar o piruetă pe scenă şi, culmea!, a mai stat şi printre spectatori. Vladimir Putin a fost personajul principal şi, în acelaşi timp, muza spectacolului. Rusia întrezăreşte din nou, pentru prima oară după mulţi ani, statutul de putere mondială. O putere clădită pe petrol şi gaz dar şi pe retorica triumfalisto-naţionalistă a lui Putin.

Pregătirile şi repetiţiile pentru defilare s-au făcut în timpul mandatului său de preşedinte şi întru mărirea realizărilor sale. Dmitri Medvedev putea să stea liniştit acasă în timpul paradei de pe 9 mai. Oricum, deocamdată nimeni nu-l percepe ca pe un politician care stă pe propriile picioare. Îi va lua ceva timp şi foarte multă pricepere ca să nu rămână, ca preşedinte, un purtător de cuvânt al prim-ministrului său. Mai ales că Putin şi-a pregătit cu minuţiozitate mandatul de premier. A inclus printre prerogativele executivului numirea guvernatorilor de regiuni (deci şi-a subordonat atotputernicele autorităţi locale) şi a preluat conducerea celui mare partid din Rusia (adică şi-a subordonat şi parlamentul). Preşedintelui îi rămân însă atribute extrem de importante, cum ar fi ... demiterea premierului.

Iar în politică, de altfel ca şi în artă, nimic nu e sigur şi nimic nu e obligatoriu. Deocamdată, Putin şi Medvedev dansează în tandem, iar ultimul pare să se lase condus. Dar cum se va termina duetul lor, nimeni nu ştie. Maestrul va fi depăşit şi trădat de elev? E prea devreme de spus. Dar dansul va fi cu siguranţă captivant.

Alina Petrescu

I read with great interest Archbishop Wuerl's column on the controversy surrounding the reception of communion by pro-abortion politicians.  It is a serious question for Catholics in the U.S., where civic and religious life are inextricably bound together.  Archbishop Wuerl argues "the decision regarding the refusal of Holy Communion to an individual...should be done...in the home diocese where the bishops and priests, the pastors of souls, engage the members of their flock in this type of discussion. In the case of public figures who serve in Washington as representatives of other parts of the nation, this dialogue and any decisions would take place within their home diocese."

Archbishop Wuerl essentially says pro-abortion Catholics should not receive communion, but it isn't his place to do anything about it.  I am glad he moves the debate beyond whether or not those who flout church teaching should receive communion.  The primary question now becomes "Who is responsible for deciding whether or not someone is worthy to receive communion?"  Archbishop Wuerl argues this is the duty of the bishop as teacher and pastor.  Opponents of this understanding say the duty belongs to the Ministers of Holy Communion - usually clergy but sometimes laypeople - to deny communion to those "who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin" (Canon 915). 

However, if Archbishop Wuerl is correct in his interpretation of Canon Law, this seems to be an abdication of duty because in refusing to take responsibility of the situation through delegation of a duty to brother bishops, Archbishop Wuerl does a disservice to the individuals who receive communion unworthily (cf. 1 Cor. 11:27-29, CCC 1385, 1457), causes scandal to the faithful who follow the example (or non-example) set for them by their local ordinary and prominent Catholics, and, lastly, subjects the Most Blessed Sacrament to sacrilege.  Archbishop Wuerl is one of the most prominent bishops in the U.S. Church and his actions have great impact on the attitudes of his brother bishops across the nation. 

In sacristies around the Archdiocese, there are signs notifying visiting priests of the requirement to contact the Archbishop's office prior to celebrating the Mass.  It is my understanding this is done to protect the integrity of the Eucharist by prohibiting fraudulent celebrations of the Mass and by preventing priests who have been inhibited from circumventing the disciplines imposed upon them by their bishops.  If such attention can be paid to visiting priests, can't the same due diligence be given to visiting faithful, especially notorious Catholics who publicly flout Church teachings?  Additionally, programs for every major diocesan event include a description of the Church's teaching on reception of Holy Communion.  It explains the proper disposition necessary for Catholics to receive communion and the inability of non-Catholics to present themselves for reception.  Couldn't the Archdiocese of Washington begin including language specifying its position on pro-abortion Catholics?

Archbishop Wuerl should write a pastoral letter to the faithful of the archdiocese reminding them of their obligation to follow Church teachings on matters of faith and morals.  In this letter, he should explain that those who publicly oppose the Church's teaching on abortion, especially prominent Catholics holding elected office, should not present themselves for communion.  The final point Archbishop Wuerl should make in his letter is that he is open to meeting with prominent Catholic politicians who are actively pro-abortion, even in conjunction with their local bishops.  After this process has taken place, the Archbishop should issue an instruction to all ministers of Holy Communion informing them of the individuals to whom they should deny communion.  I hope Archbishop Wuerl will take this or a similar course of action in order to help those who are misinformed about their faith, uphold the faithful of the Archdiocese, and protect the Most Blessed Sacrament.

A little background: The GF is kinda in the middle ground between casual and mid-core I guess. She has a DS and plays that often enough. She doesn't own a TV console tho, but then again, since I OWN THEM ALL, I would reckon she has little reason to. She plays a decent range of stuff: Mario Kart, Guitar Hero, puzzle games, and she'll watch me play the occasional RPG if the story appeals to her enough I guess. On the other hand, she does give me shit for playing videogames for hours. So overall, not to bad, but it could be better. Then again, I'm sure a lot of you out there would say that I am trippin' and you wish your significant other would even be half as interested. Plus she's smokin' hot. Seriously.

Anyhoo, so I run out and snatch up my copy of Boom Blox last week and it turned out to be everything I thought it would be. Not going to go into review mode here, but let's just say trying to knock everything down in one throw quickly becomes an obsession...even if the goal for that level does not require it. My GF and I really only get to hang out on the weekends, due to work schedules mostly. So she comes over yesterday, and after the pre-requisite haven't-seen-you-in-a-week hanky panky and post coitus nap that immediately follows, I went in the TV room and fired up some Boom Blox.

'Oh great. You're gonna play a game?', she groans as I hand her a Wiimote. She's topless by the way, and it is beautiful (for the record, I am fully clothed, so you can give your imaginations a break). 'You're gonna like this one.' I say, and without further ado, I sit her down to create her profile. I tell her to play through the training levels to unlock everything else on her profile. Plus it'll get her up to speed for multiplayer. Then I leave her alone and go into the computer room to dick around on the net.

That's when IT happened. Usually, if I try to get her to play something she does not and will not like, topless or not, she will cut it off as soon as I turn my back. Not the case with Boom Blox. I timed her. She sat there knocking over virtual blocks with virtual balls for a good 45 minutes without a peep. That's when I knew it had her. So I gave it another 15 minutes for a nice round hour for the 'crack' to fully kick in, then I casually strolled out to where she was and attempted to take her Wiimote. She actually resisted, which she usually wouldn't do. Time for multiplay!

Long story short, 4 hours later and we were still playing Boom Blox. Amazing. She never once complained or noticed the time flying by. She hates to admit when I'm right, and I usually have to corner her verbally to get it out of her. She gave up the goods easy that day, freely admitting that it was a 'fun cool game'. The best part of course was when I casually pointed out that she had been playing for the better part of 4 hours, and I saw the light come on. I have a feeling the complaints of me playing for hours will begin to drop off dramatically from here on out.

So to you fellas out there trying to get your girl to 'get' your favorite hobby, try Boom Blox. Same for you gamer girls with the those manly, manly jocks you have to drag around. Spielberg has struck gold with this gem of a physics based puzzler, and if 3rd partys keep on pushing the envelop with games like this, the the future for videogames continues to shine very brightly indeed.

It's just pure, undistilled fun.

Las estadisticas indican que entre los 20 y los 40 podes hacer grandes cosas, y luego de los 40 a la muerte más aun. Lo que hace que alguien sea alguien es saber que es uno mas, pero es un SUJETO no un predicado, NO LA MAZA sino un individuo. Puede sonar o parecer peyorativo, PERO NO LO ES. Es la diferencia entre el que grita en barra y solo es un moco.

Muchas veces, conviene apelar a la persona, seguro ALGO DEBAJO DE TANTO PERSONAJE ARMADO habrà, se supone, o quizà a la inversa serà peor, pero todo parte de individualizar a los sujetos que somos, y darnos cuenta, de que si somos algo o alguien, o no somos nada.  Yo personalmente no creo que el destino de los veinticinqueños es ser nada, por negarse a ser lo que podemos ser. Lo que ocurre es esto, ciudad gris con gente gris, pero mas cobarde ciudad que gente gris. El mote de loquito duele aparentemente. Vean, yo creo el que da un primer paso da todos, cuando nadie lo dio. 25 socialemnte no està mal. Politicamente es una cagada porque desvarian, hacen su negocio y se los publicita en un unico medio. Lo triste de esa chatura, es que HAY UNA METACULTURA que va lejos y no se sustenta solo en lo que publica la mañana o algun blog local. El grito del imbecil abrio puertas, y ahora parece que no fue gritar al pedo.

Personalmente, le dirè al que tiene entre 20 y 30 que posiblemnte tenga 21, 22, 23, 24,25, 26, 27, 28 o 29, PERO LO MAS IMPORANTE, es que no se dejen tomar por lo que no son. Estupidos son los que llegaron para llegar en donde empezaron.

El que no hizo nada, tiene una ventaja, PUEDE HACER TODO.

No esperemos milagros porque muy posiblemente 25 de Mayo sea uno, no son los que salen en fotos los que cambian algo, SON LOS QUE NO SALEN EN LA FOTO y que por fortuna destino o chatura SOMOS MUCHOS.

Las luces puede cegarnos, y las sombras tambien. Conviene cerrar los ojos y los oidos para ver y oir bien. Las luces del alma siempre alumbran, mas en las sombras. Cuando todo esta oscuro, hay que mirarse adentro para alumbrar y alumbrarse, y por ahi con un poco de suerte, veremos que las estrellas tambien brillan de dia,  en definitiva, que pedorra loq ue estoy diciendo, pero se traduce facil, EL TIEMPO ESTÀ DE NUESTRO LADO. Los viejos fueron cagados por otros peores, y como son resentidos, no conciben NO REPETIR LO QUE LES HICIERON A ELLOS. Primer cosa a saber, y segundo, SON TODOS PEORES y ninguno mejor. Que cobren y hagan su curro. Nosotros, giles vivamos la vida y que nos arreglen los quilombos, los iluminados, hablando de luces lucecitas, y asi de sencillo por 3.000 mil mangos que cobran, bancarse la forreada. En cuanto a la gente, MENOS LOS QUE NO SIRVEN, EL RESTO es getne sana aun. Lamentaran muy profundamente no poder amargar a la gente, lo que mata a los grises, y los tibios, ES LA RISA, Y LO CLARO.

Nota. cualquier relacion con religiones y otras cosas, es pura coincidencia, nunca confien en un cura con la pija parada, ni en una testigo de jehova que tiene 25 y es virgen, y esta que se parte.  LA pavada es siempre pavada.

A vivir, que se acaban los viejos de mierda vinagres de mierda. Lo mejor es saber que tienen hijos, lo mejor es saber que nosotros tambien tenemos los nuestros. Lo demas es facil muchachos, los guapos se achican de a uno. No le sigan el juego. Peguen donde duele. No donde tiene callos.  El voto es la piña mas dura y la puteada en la calle, EL MEJOR ESPEJO, aunque pongan cara de "soy una roca no me llega" quedate bien tranquilo SON UNA MANTEQUITA.

Pues mayo viene con buenas llovidas, así que esperamos que algunos privados tengan unas buenas caídas.
Nos han llegado unos correos que esperamos confirmar para poderlos publicar. Uno de ellos nos lo mandan desde Don Benito y es una copia de un mensaje de la Asociación Extremeña de Informática Sanitaria y dice así:
Asunto: Cuando se quiere se puede
Buenos días.
Y es verdad "cuando algo se quiere simpre se puede hacer", y una vez más esta casa y sus responsables lo han demostrado. Para ello no existe mejor ejemplo que el siguiente:
* Por primera vez se convoca en la categoría de "Técnicos Titulados
Superiores" perteneciente al grupo de "Gestión y Servicios" antes
"Personal no sanitario" 2 plazas para personal con titulación exclusiva
de "Licenciados en Medicina y Cirugía". Curioso que no se utilice la
categoría de "Personal Sanitario".
* Son admitidos definitivamente un total de 21 aspirantes.
* No existe temario concreto como en el resto de categorías del grupo de "Gestión y Servicios" y la prueba de oposción se califica como "apto" o
"no apto" consistente en la realización de dos supuestos prácticos que
versarán sobre: "...organización y prestación de servicios de
mantenimiento de los catálogos y sistemas de información del Servicio
Extremeño de Salud, que aseguren su interoperatibilidad, valorándose
también los conocimientos que de la organización y estructura interna del
Servicio Extremeño de Salud tengan los aspirantes". (ver documento
adjunto)
* La fase de oposición sólo la superan dos personas. (ver documento adjunto)
* Y sus puestos ya definidos en la Orden de Retribuciones del 2008. (ver
documento adjunto)
Y ahora surgen las dudas:
- ¿Tendrá esto que ver con la falta de especialistas en medicina?
- ¿La composición del tribunal nos dice algo?
- ¿el objeto de la prueba de oposición no es significativo (catálogos y
sist.de información)?
- ¿por qué no se ha seguido el mismo criterio que en el resto de
categorías del grupo de "Gestión y Servicios", es decir, con un temario
perfectamente definido (de entre 35 y 80 temas) o al contrario?
- Y los informáticos ¿son o no son tan importantes ahora para el
sistema?, ¿por qué no se ha hecho lo mismo con ello, es decir, oposición
a plazas de la categoría de "Titulados Técnicos Medios" con título de
Diplomados universitarios en informática?
Que cada uno saque sus propias conclusiones.
La nuestra es que si esto es beneficioso para la administración bien hecho
está, y así, todo lo expuesto aquí no es, ni mucho menos, una crítica, ni
a la administración ni a los implicados, y es evidente que con esta
actuación no se está incumpliendo ninguna norma con ello.
Saludos.
--
Asociación Extremeña de Informática Sanitaria
secretaria@aexisa.es

Nosotros seguiremos todo el asunto y lo publicaremos íntegro si no nos gusta el asunto...

Later edit : Iata si marul discordiei http://www.jurnalul.ro/articole/124112/despre-bloggeri-

So I never got around to writing that mid-week blog about the Disney attraction that really struck a chord with me and brought me right back to childhood, and I'm sorry about that. I'm going to try to bang that out for you for the upcoming week.

Now that the boys have reunited with Robot and he's back to normal proportions, we thought it would be fun to turn the spotlight back onto our favorite comedic duo, Caveman and Diogee. We haven't seen these guys in a long time and I think we (and you readers) definitely needed a change of pace after that long storyarc. Having characters like Caveman and Diogee to play around with is a nice option after a long Ben and Devin run, but writing strips for these two is really tough. Marc and I toiled over seven or eight different Diogee & Caveman concepts during our meeting this past week and the final verdict was still up in the air when I left! Ben, Devin, and Robot have a theme of game-playing, imagination, space exploration, and a plethora of established childhood activities to draw upon for strip material, but when it comes to writing stuff for an un-frozen Neanderthal and a loveable, intelligent mutt to do, it's tough stuff, believe me.

One of the challenges in writing Diogee and Caveman strips is keeping their unique relationship consistent. Though Caveman has only been around for a short while, we've established a sort of reverse "pet/master" dynamic with Diogee and Caveman where Diogee is the master and Caveman is his "pet". This all seems to stem from Diogee's lack of a traditional dog/master relationship with Ben. As I explained in Diogee's character bio, he longs to do more "normal" things with Ben, like play fetch or catch a frisbee or go for walks, but more often than not, Ben puts him in non-traditional roles such as crew member on space adventures. So, when Caveman showed up in the backyard, and displayed a distinct lack of intelligence, submissive behavior, and a willingness to "play" , Diogee immediately saw a way to transfer some of what was lacking with his relationship with Ben over to Caveman and develop it into this new, funny dynamic.

This week we return to that dynamic and we get to see more of that trademark Diogee cleverness as he uses his "pet" Caveman to help him get some service at the "Carr & Vore" butcher shop (*chuckle chuckle*). Incidentally, this strip marks the first time that a Boxcar Astronaut comic has left the friendly confines of the backyard/house area. We've seen the backyard of course, the inside of Ben's house, and the front yard/street, but we've never seen any other part of the neighborhood until now, which I think is pretty neat.

Boxcar #61 is an absolutely beautiful looking strip (a fact that is made even more astonishing given the enormous time crunch this one was under), with one of the funniest visual gags that we have ever had in that final panel. There's just so many little things to love about this comic that it's hard to even find a place to start. Diogee's look of pure doggie desire and happiness in the first panel is terrific, as are all the tiny details Marc crammed into that tantalizing butcher shop. Diogee is so bummed out in that second panel and I love that stocky butcher! I want to see what he looks like, don't you? (The broom gag is classic slapstick stuff). Then we see that Diogee wit going to work in the third panel and ol' Cavie is more than happy to contribute to whatever his "master" and best friend has in store. And finally, the coup de gras, the old "ride on the shoulders to look taller and older" gag, one of the most classic and hilarious visual gags in the history of comics/cartoons. I was rolling in laughter when I saw Diogee's smirking face under a fedora and Cavie's stubbly stick legs peeking out under the trenchcoat! (One has to wonder, where did they get that trenchcoat, anyway?).

This was a truly funny and refreshing change of pace after the long "Where's Robot" story. We hope you got a big kick out of it. See you soon! Oh, and to all the Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!

Uma indagação perturba o geógrafo atento: Porque a geografia sempre permanece como disciplina no currículo escolar, apesar de várias mudanças nos currículos ao longo do tempo.Mais, raro observa bem Ruy Moreira são os geógrafos críticos que conseguem ver que por trás dessa aparente sobrevida da geografia escolar encontra-se a ordem estatal.A geografia através de uma categoria sua por excelência, o espaço, remete a ordem, a organização, uma ordem tópica onde tudo está dividido em camadas hierarquizadas.O espaço e sua natureza topológica, lugar, distância, extensão, etc.

Assim a geografia dos bancos escolares através de categorias como a de espaço, funda e passa as noções elementares de estrutura, organização e ordem.Ensina-se nas escolas a organização espacial das sociedades, chegando até a existência daqueles que a condicionam como uma ciência das organizações.

Essa dimensão topológica do espaço acaba por ajudar a construir um imaginário da organização,das ordenações das coisas que extrapola o plano topológico,da geometria.Em função disso acaba por servir a um discurso de hierarquização das coisas,das pessoas,em grupos e categorias específicas.

Ensinando a noção de ordem em uma sociedade já em si mesma,socialmente estratificada,hierarquizada,dividida em classes sociais,como a que vivemos,a geografia ensinada em sala de aula acaba por servir como ferramenta da manutenção dessa ordem.O arranjo espacial da sala de aula é em si a reafirmação dessa mesma ordem,visando servir a legitimidade do poder do professor sobre os alunos.

A ordem econômica do capitalismo transforma a sala de aula em um espelho da sociedade,baseada em uma tecnologia industrial de produção padronizada,em massa e em série,a escola é uma linha de montagem,sendo a relação professor e alunos uma reprodução dos processos industriais.O aluno é habituado a uma ordem em sala de aula, que não passa de uma fotografia das mesmas relações de exploração presentes na sociedade capitalista.

A formação do capitalismo industrial brasileiro não se dá de forma isolada em relação ao capitalismo global dos países desenvolvidos da Europa ocidental e dos EUA.O Brasil, assim como, diversos países da América latina, áfrica e sudeste asiático têm uma história marcada por um forte atraso estrutural, decorrente de anos de forte exploração colonial pré-capitalista.As desigualdades no desenvolvimento entre os centros metropolitanos e suas colônias, entre diferentes continentes e países é fundamental para compreender o desenvolvimento da acumulação primitiva capitalista brasileira bem como as relações econômicas presentes nesse sistema muitas vezes contraditório, dialeticamente moderno e arcaico.O escravismo, enquanto modo de produção já houvera desaparecido, na Europa, contudo, foi fortemente introduzido na América.

O escravismo praticado na América, primeiramente vinculado à monocultura de cana-de-açúcar para a exportação em nosso país, as relações feudais desenvolvidas na Bolívia correspondiam ambas as necessidades da nascente burguesia mercantil européia.A desigualdade é a “lei mais geral do processo histórico” (história da revolução russa, pág.5), essas desigualdades sustentam nossa base de análise do desenvolvimento do capitalismo brasileiro, suas relações contraditórias de progresso social e de uma dialética do caminho da humanidade.

O capitalismo é um sistema econômico mundial, que ao longo dos últimos cinco séculos se desenvolveu em todos os países do globo, passando por diferentes fases: capitalismo comercial, capitalismo industrial, capitalismo financeiro e capitalismo estatal monopolista.Cada país, mesmo que atrasado foi levado pela roda da história a estabelecer relações estruturais capitalistas e se viu sujeito a suas leis de desenvolvimento, mesmo com suas relações arcaicas internas persistindo.Cada país entrou na divisão internacional do trabalho sob as bases de um mercado mundial, jogando diferentes papéis na formação e desenvolvimento desse sistema.

Os primórdios da formação do capitalismo nacional brasileiro já datam do período de seu ‘descobrimento’ em 1500,assim que Cabral e suas caravelas colocaram seus pés em solo brasileiro o país foi introduzido na divisão internacional do trabalho.Dezenas de caravelas,portuguesas,francesas e holandesas,saiam abarrotadas de Pau-Brasil de nosso país,madeira essa extremamente valiosa nessa época histórica,pois dela podia extrair-se um pigmento usado para as artes e a costura.Todo esse montante de madeira era cortada e armazenada por um verdadeiro exército de nativos,superexplorados pelas relações de escambo,trabalhando por horas a fio em troca de bugigangas manufaturadas como tecidos e bijuterias baratas trazidas da Europa.

O processo de nascimento de uma elite rural local,ainda que umbilicalmente ligada à elite metropolitana avança no Brasil a passos extremamente lentos e desiguais.A alta concentração de terras,decorrentes da campanha de distribuição de terras promovida pelo governo central, como com as capitanias hereditárias,etc,favoreceram o surgimento de grandes latifúndios escravistas exportadores de cana-de-açúcar para a metrópole.A elite local acabava por tornar-se a sócia menor de tal empreitada,pois a metrópole detinha o monopólio comercial em relação à produção da colônia,comprova barato uma matéria-prima valiosa como ouro.As manufaturas eram desencorajadas e perseguidas no Brasil,nosso país desde cedo se desenhava na lógica do então nascente capitalismo a ser fornecedor de matéria-prima,exportador de capital para o desenvolvimento do capitalismo industrial europeu.

O ciclo mineiro do ouro possibilitou uma relativa melhoria na infra-estrutura,pois o ouro e outros metais precisos da época precisavam de um sistema mais complexo de escoamento para a metrópole, o metalismo desenvolvido ao extremo na América espanhola chegava ao Brasil e com ele o surgimento de pequenas manufatoras,que parasitavam os restos de capital que permaneciam nas mãos de uma elite local,ainda demasiado fraca.É nesse período que surgem,ainda que extremamente minoritários figuras pequeno-burguesas como os médicos,os advogados,os professores,anteriormente só encontrados na Europa ocidental.

Porém,a partir de 1808,com a chegada da família real portuguesa que fugia de Napoleão,e com a abertura dos portos,o capitalismo nacional tem mudanças qualitativas e quantitativas,que se por um lado aumentaram ainda mais a exploração,miséria e dependência econômica do país,por outro enfraqueciam as relações já arcaicas de pacto colonial,incluíam o Brasil de forma mais efetiva na divisão internacional do trabalho,desenvolviam-se as manufaturas ainda que de forma intermitente.A falta de mão de obra livre,a incapacidade da burguesia local em competir com os produtos das grandes potências européias,e principalmente a pressão burguesa para transformar o contingente de escravos negros em consumidores,forçou o regime monárquico a uma política de eliminação gradual da importância produtiva do escravo

O cultivo do café tornava-se a principal atividade econômica do país, uma burguesia cafeeira nascia, e apesar de essa ter toda sua produção, por mais de um século baseada no sistema de produção escravista, sua força e necessidade forçou a melhora na infra-estrutura,surgem nesse período grandes ferrovias no sudeste do país e o porto de Santos torna-se o principal do país.O excedente de capital passa a ser investido em outros ramos da economia,começam a aparecer no Brasil também as médias e grandes tecelagens,etc,destinadas a bens de consumo não duráveis,de pequeno valor agregado.

Por uma concepção etapista dos processos históricos e econômicos, o Brasil até 1930 é um país pré-capitalista com relações semi-feudais,afirmando que o país passa por um período de revolução industrial nessa década.Com a crise capitalista mundial desencadeada pelo racha na bolsa de valores de NY,e a subida de Getúlio Vargas em 1930,O Brasil passa a desenvolver uma política de industrialização,que contudo não abandonava o setor mais forte da economia nacional o agro-exportador que enfrentava uma crise sem precedentes.O êxodo dos trabalhadores do café e do nordeste faz despertar aos poucos uma importante classe operária,concentrada nos centros urbanos que começam a crescer de forma vertiginosa.O governo investe em infra-estrutura produtiva,surge a indústria de base Nesse período histórico nascem grandes companhias então estatais como a CSN,a Petrobrás,a Vale do Rio Doce.

O deputado federal Paulo Pereira da Silva (PDT-SP), o Paulinho da Força Sindical está sendo acusado pela PF de participar de um esquema de desvio de recursos provenientes do BNDES (banco nacional de desenvolvimento econômico e social), descoberto agora pela Operação Santa Tereza, da polícia Federal.

Os financiamentos concedidos pelo BNDES que estão sob suspeita da polícia federal somam a incrível bolada de 350 milhões de reais e foram feitos à prefeitura de Praia Grande em SP, e as Lojas Marisa. Um dos presos na operação é o advogado e conselheiro do BNDES Ricardo Tosto. Indicado para o cargo pela Força Sindical, ele era responsável pela intermediação ilegal de recursos. É evidente que Ricardo Tosto não agia sozinho, com ele estava o deputado federal e presidente da Força Sindical, Paulo Pereira.

Paulo Pereira é presidente da Força Sindical, uma das maiores centrais sindicais do Brasil, na qual está de forma burocrática há muitos anos. A força Sindical nunca foi uma central combativa, como a CUT dos anos 80, ou a Conlutas atualmente, a força sempre esteve ligada aos patrões, e sua direção se preocupa mais em manter as direções dos sindicatos e confederações não para defender os trabalhadores, mas sim para defender seus privilégios enquanto burocracia sindical. A Força e seu presidente, Paulinho, são capazes de tudo para manter seus privilégios e padrão de vida, como trair a classe trabalhadora permitindo que a patronal siga suas práticas de super-exploração e atacando os trabalhadores. No Rio Grande do Sul, por exemplo, na última eleição ao governo do estado, a Força Sindical apoiou no segundo turno a candidatura de Yeda Crucius, do PSDB, governadora que depois de eleita ataca os trabalhadores, atrasando pagamento de salários, não concedendo reajustes e endividando o estado ainda mais através de empréstimos com o Banco Mundial.

A CUT e a Força Sindical não defendem os trabalhadores, mas sim o governo LULA, por isso tal denúncia contra Paulinho é apenas uma de muitas que envolvem essas centrais sindicais, verdadeiras amarras na luta dos trabalhadores. O que o governo quer com sua reforma sindical, é dar ainda mais poder a essas duas centrais sindicais chapa branca e corruptas, tornado assim a tarefa dos grandes capitalistas de explorar ainda mais a classe trabalhadora brasileira em uma tarefa bem mais fácil.

O roubo de dinheiro do BNDES, envolvendo o principal dirigente da Força Sindical, é apenas mais uma modalidade que o governo do PT e seus aliados desenvolveram para assaltar os cofres públicos, governo esse que já roubou mais do que os governos Collor e FHC juntos.

]]> http://ocavirtual.wordpress.com/?p=108 Sun, 11 May 2008 01:42:06 +0000 ocavirtual http://ocavirtual.wordpress.com/?p=108 Justiça proíbe a Marcha da Maconha em 9 capitais e acirra debate sobre a legalização das drogas

Marcada para o domingo 4 de maio, uma mobilização pela legalização da maconha ocorreu em diversos lugares no mundo inteiro.

Conhecida como Marcha da Maconha, foi criada em 1999, em Nova Iorque (EUA), com o intuito de reivindicar a legalização da planta. Os membros desse coletivo defendem a legalização enquanto uma alternativa para combater o narcotráfico.

Cerca de 220 cidades no mundo inteiro fariam manifestações a respeito, envolvendo países como Uruguai, Portugal, Ucrânia e Grécia. Neste, inclusive, as manifestações acabaram em confronto com a polícia.

____Houve repressão também no Brasil, mas através de uma determinação da Justiça que proibiu a marcha em Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasília (DF), Cuiabá (MT), Curitiba (PR), Fortaleza (CE), João Pessoa (PB), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Salvador (BA) e São Paulo (SP). As marchas se mantiveram confirmadas para Porto Alegre (POA), Recife (PE), Florianópolis (SC) e Vitória (ES).

A justificativa de juízes e promotores para a proibição é de que a marcha caracteriza apologia ao uso de drogas - o que é crime perante a lei brasileira-. No Rio de Janeiro, em contraponto à marcha pela legalização que iria ocorrer, foi organizada uma “Marcha da Família”, que é contra a legalização das drogas, e conta com o apoio de membros de Igreja católica e da vereadora carioca Sílvia Pontes (do Partido dos Democratas, antigo PFL).

O Movimento Revolucionário entende que as drogas, assim como qualquer substância que crie dependência química e/ou psicológica, são prejudiciais e devem ser evitadas. Porém, cabe a cada um que decida sobre a sua utilização ou não. Esses “produtos” são cada vez mais consumidos na sociedade capitalista em função da vida que se leva sobre esse sistema. Enquanto a classe trabalhadora sofre com longas jornadas de trabalho para poder sobreviver, muitas vezes desdobrando-se em mais de um emprego, a burguesia desfruta do ócio permitido àqueles que vivem do roubo da riqueza produzida pelo trabalho alheio. A pequena-burguesia, no meio disso tudo, é uma classe sem perspectivas, que sonha em tornar-se burguesa, mas que se vê cada vez mais próxima de tornar-se trabalhadora.

Assim, as classes dentro do capitalismo sofrem, ainda que de diferentes formas, as doenças resultantes do capitalismo, desde a falta de dinheiro para o básico e a falta de tempo para o descanso, até o excesso de dinheiro e tempo disponível e o desconhecimento sobre no que gastá-los. Portanto, para todos, as drogas acabam sendo uma espécie de refúgio dos problemas que parecem não ter solução dentro dessa realidade, assim como uma fonte de prazer e divertimento em uma vida tão vazia e sofrível.

Logo, sabemos dos problemas causados pelo uso freqüente de drogas, mas compreendemos a sua utilização, sem vermos isso enquanto fonte de prejuízos para o capitalismo. Na verdade, o uso e o tráfico de drogas são uma conseqüência do sistema em que vivemos, que gera um imenso lucro para uma gama de mega-empresários que se escondem sob empresas de fachada, utilizando os traficantes dos morros enquanto empregados que assumem os riscos perante a polícia e grupos de extermínio mandados pelo governo.

Portanto, a legalização das drogas acaba sendo, sim, uma forma de evitar o tráfico e as crescentes mortes de crianças que trabalham para ele ou são vítimas de seus enfrentamentos com a polícia. A legalização, não ocorrida até hoje no Brasil, é em função de proteger os esplêndidos lucros dos traficantes, que ao não terem de pagar impostos, só vêem aumentar sua riqueza.

Condenamos os governos (como o de Lula), falsos moralistas, que deixam as pessoas sem emprego, sem comida e sem atendimento médico de qualidade, enquanto ficam criando liminares de proibição a manifestações legítimas e desviando dinheiro em cartões coorporativos.

]]> http://shbadr.wordpress.com/?p=307 Sat, 10 May 2008 21:40:03 +0000 shbadr http://shbadr.wordpress.com/?p=307

Ghost Proxy (Do what you mean what you say)
by Sarah Badr, 2008
150 x 80 cm high gloss print

Editor's note: My artwork featured in the Gallery portion of this site will no longer come under the former name in use, Genesis Gallery. In dropping the Genesis tag, my aim is to no longer be bound by an older collection of work, no longer sufficient to describe recent pieces and their presiding themes.

The heart of the word genesis, however, will forever continue to hold very important symbolic relevance to me. Derived from the Greek génesis (source, origin), it is important to me both in terms of artistic connotation (creation) and spiritual value (בראשית).

The Courier-News notified Mr. Spain that they "decline publication" of his letter.

I am making the full text of the letter available because editing by the Daily Herald changed a portion of the context of Mr. Spain's letter. (Portions edited/removed by the Daily Herald are in bold italics.)

Let me introduce myself. My name is Nathan "Nate" Spain. I am a member of the Audit & Finance Commission of the Village of Carpentersville.

In the local press I have become better known as one of the "truant" members of the Commission inasmuch as I elected not to attend any Commission meetings so long as the convicted wife beater Trustee chairs this committee. I made this decision as a matter of principle and conscience, attributes that seem to be sorely lacking by the gang of five Trustees.

As an example of the gang of five's total deficiency of conscience, morals, and ethical principles; the following language was contained in one of the ordinances sponsored by Trustees Sigwalt and Ritter, to wit:

"that Humpfer's March conviction on four counts of misdemenor domestic battery was not an offense that required him to give up his seat".

Citizens of Carpentersville, WAKE UP! This quote, if correct, reflects such depravity of common morals by Trustees Sigwalt and Ritter, and their enablers of the gang of five, that it defies immagination! In the future I suspect this gang of ethically challenged Trustees will seek to enhance their control of the Board by urging the citizens of Carpentersville to vote out Trustees Sarto and Ramirez-Sliwinski in the next village election. I may be wrong, but don't be surprised if this gang of five support a slate of candidates for these Trustee seats that are pedophiles and rapists. I put wife beating right up their with these acts of social deviancy!

Oh, by the way Trustee Sigwalt, I am not intimidated by your proposed ordinance to oust we absent and truant Commission members if we miss 3 consecutive meetings. I relish the thought of being ousted for following my conscience. I know this is an old fashioned concept to you and your fellow gang of trustees.

Further, as a substitute teacher in D300, I am concerned that two of your gang are employees of D300. What kind of signal does this send to the students and teachers of D300 that two employees of the District feel wife beating is a minor offense. Does the Superintendent of D300 follow the politics of Carpentersville? SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!

Sebenarnya bukan perbincangan dan narasumbernya yang membuat saya tertarik. Namun bahasan yang ditampilkan yang membuat saya berkeinginan untuk lebih banyak mengetahui. Sempat juga mengambil skrinsot dari acara tersebut. Kualitasnya memang kurang bagus karena hanya menggunakan N3650. :mrgreen:

Pada saat telepon interaktif dan sms respon pemirsa, banyak hal yang dapat diperoleh. Sebagian besar isinya adalah ungkapan kekecewaan atas institusi pemerintah. Sebagian di antaranya adalah sebagai berikut.

Apakah DPR masih diperlukan? (Hamdi, Sintang)

Yang mengusulkan KPK dibubarkan harus diusut juga, dan nomor urut (calon anggota) tidak perlu digunakan lagi. (Indra, Batam)

Sementara SMS yang masuk juga tidak kalah menariknya. SMS yang masuk lebih banyak berhubungan dengan parpol. Sebagian besar juga menyatakan kecewa dengan parpol. Apakah ini nanti akan berpengaruh terhadap perolehan suara? Wallahua'lam.

Meanwhile the Extraordinary General Conference met, deliberated and voted.  At thirty minutes past midnight of today, May 10, 2008, the MLP Electoral Commission, having completed the counting of the votes and duly reconciled the results, announced that an overwhelming majority of Delegates had chosen not to approve the motion.  'Labour in labour' was the first to go online with the results!  Our reading is that the Delegates were principally concerned with the timing of the proposed changes to the Statute and not with the substance of the proposed amendment. We have no doubt that in different circumstances, the overwhelming majority of delegates would have been delighted to agree to the direct election of the Party Leader. We have also no doubt that, in different circumstances, all of the contestants of the coming election for the post of Leader, would have wholeheartedly agreed to the proposed changes. We do not exclude that the future Leader of the Labour Party will, in due course, herself or himself propose such a change. What greater sense of democratic committemnt could be expected from the 'Kap' of the Nationalist Party Lawrence Gonzi if, at that point, he were to propose the same changes to the Statute of the Nationalist Party?