Comment: The “Yellow Shirts” Protests – heading towards Revolution?

In just over 6 weeks the French middle class have been on the streets of Paris, and elsewhere in the country, protesting everything from imposed fuel taxes, road tolls, low wages and a flagrant inequality between the common person and so called 1%. President Macron, like Trump in the United States, gave excessive tax breaks for the wealthy and introduced further taxes on the middle class. Thus the “Yellow Shirts” hit the streets, ensuring the French be heard, that this type of Neo-Liberal behavior will not be tolerated, asking President Macron to step down.

Macron's response to the protests, at the start, was in a word, arrogant, calling the “yellow shirts” thugs, criminals, and even suggesting that the Russian government was behind the violence. This arrogance was noticed around the world, as social media lit up in support of the French protests. In fact, polls reveal that the majority of French people are supporting the “yellow shirts”, as well, causing Macron's administration to twitch around in their seats, and offer bred crumbs, like freezing the fuel tax, but it was too late. More people hit the streets, erupting in higher levels of violence. And the police are certainly responding in kind, with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Admittedly of course, they're vandals and violent instigators among the “yellow shirts”, but the vast majority are middle to lower middle class workers – teachers, retail assistants, truck drivers, carpenters, and retired people in their 60's, 70's and 80's in the streets, risking injury for economic equality in their country.

But as one French woman explained, though she does not approve of the violence, it was the only thing that got them “noticed....That is terrible to say, but also necessary”, she said. There are instances where the police are showing solidarity with the people, but as another protester said, “The police have families too, and need to keep their jobs.” However, observers in Paris have seen that police action, in terms of violence, is escalating, Police response is way over the top, where only last week, a fifty year old grandmother was shot with a rubber bullet, intended for her. Tear gas fills the city streets, people are being shot, but how long will the “yellow shirts” hold out against such governmental aggression?

It is well known that the French people are revolutionaries. When the people see and feel an injustice, particularly, when it is the common French citizen, the people's voice begins as a whisper, ending with the guillotine. How far will the French people go to correct the obvious Neo-Liberal agenda of the Macron Government? Well, as a good (French) friend who lives a mere thirty minutes by train from Paris, told me, “The violence from the police is getting worse, but we will never give up to save our so-called Republic.” Sounds to me like a true French person.

Whether President Macon is ousted or not, the policies much change; that is real policies, truly representing the common people's interests, and not the interests of the wealthy few.

The world should take heed from the “Yellow Shirts”.

Last 2018 Rant: Has America become a full-blown Fascist Regime?

After following reliable journalists on social media, including private citizens with knowledgeable insight into Geo-politics; listening to old friends in the US, as well as friends around the world, my view of my home country is growing darker. Why?

For one, the US has the largest most daunting military-complex the planet has ever seen: Army, Navy, Marines, Air force, Special Forces; add the alphabet agencies – CIA, NSA, DOD, FBI, HLS, ICE; Border Security and the TSA. America also has the most pervasive police force, state by state, more so than any other country on the planet. The country also has a special prison in Cuba, Guantanamo, housing suspected “terrorists”, that have been refused Due Process, and languish in 3 by 5 cells, for years, contemplating who knows what. And lastly, the US Private Prisons. America has more of its citizens behind bars, per capita, than all countries on this planet. Does anyone see a pattern here?

Since the rise of the Trump regime, hate crimes are hitting record levels. Police brutality and shootings of mainly minorities, has gone through the roof. Actual fear and loathing of immigrants, due to the unrelenting propaganda of the Trump administration and its affiliate, Fox News, has enabled unnecessary fear in particularly the elderly. Folks from as far as Washington State, rail loudly on social media, to “build that wall”, thousands of miles from the border. Although President Obama built the cages, Trump has filed them with children, separating them from their mothers, and losing count, as their records, are dubious at best. The cruelty and lack of empathy for human beings fleeing violence from their countries, in order to build a better life, is astonishing, as children are dying while in custody.

This is not the space to elaborate the “regime change” activities and violent deaths in many South American Countries instigated and enabled by the US government. Because of a false “war on drugs”, among other issues, most of these SA little countries have become unlivable. The US created the problem, the people flee, and their treated like criminals. No responsibility, no idea of basic integrity or simple ethics. Yet currently, the American president has called a government shut down, because (he) wants his WALL.

The US is the only country among developed countries, that does not have medicare for all its people. After living in a country that pays for its citizens health issues, I can say with certainty, that I would be dead right now; and, to be sure, I have never paid for any doctor's visit in the 30 years living in this country. The American people deserve better, my friends deserve better. Health should never be a “political issue”, it is a Right.

America has been at war, more or less, since its inception. That said, America is currently bombing 8 countries without congressional approval. To be honest, I don't think many Americans are aware of this fact. Trump pulling out of Syria, and the response from the neocons and politicians proves that America's economy is based on war. Most of these politicians are bribed by weapon manufactures.

Human life never matters to sociopaths, it's always about their personal agenda.

Finally, what do I mean by “America is Fascist?”

Currently the US gives Billions of $ to Israel. Why? Israel is a “new” nation. Israel has not been

recognized by the UN as a true “State” in over 50 years. Israel has been condemned by a majority of States around the planet. Israel is currently committing systematized genocide on the Palestinian people. Most intellectuals, historians, activists and people of conscience, understand that Israel is an Apartheid Regime. Yet the US plants its Embassy smack in the middle of Jerusalem. An occupied territory. Recognized by most of the world as Palestinian land.

Now we come to the anti-#BDS movement.

In Texas a few weeks ago, the Education Dept. fired a teacher, a linguist teacher, for not signing, as part of her contract, a anti-#BDS clause, meaning, she would never support any boycotts, divestment or sanctions against the State of Israel. Because she refused to sign the contract, due to her own political beliefs, was fired from her position. This is unconstitutional. America began its revolution on boycotting British tea. But somehow, through clever machinations, Israel has infiltrated American government, defying our Constitution!

And the main stream media blame Russia?

#Russiagate is for another screed.

Fascism is rife in America. Watch, listen and read all the main stream news outlets.

A few years ago, writing a book about Catholicism, I wrote the following about fascism:

“Fascism is a political philosophy. Its central notion, its foundation tenet of absolute power over its people – educationally, politically, economically and perhaps, spiritually, in every aspect of its individual member’s lives. The authorities will go to great lengths to prevent the population under its control from educating themselves. All information must run through the government, and is highly censored. Ideally the government would prefer zero outside sources of information. A fascist government’s purpose is to ensure all its population to think the same: same politics, same ethical values, beliefs, and total obedience. The Nazi regime in the 20^th century is the closest to the core tenets of fascism, a well-run totalitarian regime.”

We may have not reached this extent, though 2018 has certainly made many of us, think about it.

Gustave Klimt & 'fin de siecle' Vienna.

The two paintings above, one a portrait of the famous philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein’s sister, Margarete Stonborough-Wittgenstein and a devilish and quite alluring painting of Salome, the young woman who danced the dance of the seven veils for King Herod in exchange for the head of John the Baptist, are two of my favorite paintings by the Austrian, Gustave Klimt, (1862-1918) then founder and president of the Wiener Sezession (Vienna Secession) in 1897.

The Vienna Secession is considered by most art historians as the first “Art Noveau” movement at the turn of the century. (Some would argue this point)

Klimt was academically trained in the “realist” or “neo-classical” style thus his later work in experimentation as part of the “Vienna Secession” revealed a sophisticated technique. (The traditionalists’ of the time labeled his work “pornographic”)

The so-called mandate of the Vienna Secession, (although they claimed to have no mandate) was to provide the opportunity for new artists with varying styles to get their work shown. Preceding German Expressionism, the artist moved from “artisan” to “artist”, no more dependent on rich patronage to merely paint “portraits” of the wealthy, but brings art forward away from neo-classicism, so prevalent in pre WW 1 Austria at the time.

Pre WW1 Vienna has had a revival of fascination for academics and historians over the last twenty years. It was a the centre of “culture” in Europe, or as the journalist and radical, Karl Kraus wrote during this period, fin de siecle Vienna was the “research laboratory for world destruction”. Vienna was a hot bed of innovation: the birth place of Zionism and Nazism; Sigmund Freud developed Psychoanalysis, (Margarete shown above was one of Freud’s patients) and architecture, planted so firmly in neo-classicism or the neo-gothic style brought the art form into what is now called modernism, led by a friend of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Adolf Loos.

The reason these particular paintings have a strange attraction for me is that they reveal, although subtly, Art’s radical change just prior and after WW1. The world changed drastically after WW1, and fin de siecleVienna was at the centre of this change in artistic sensibilities and overall “culture” across the board.

Karl Kraus’ words, that Vienna was a “research laboratory for world destruction” in retrospect were certainly prophetic.

Artists, writers, philosophers, architects, poets and scientists moved forward during a time Europe experienced two world wars which could have led to the destruction of the entire planet with the introduction of the Atomic bomb.

For me, history irrevocably shifted in fin de siecle Vienna – and the artist, Gustave Klimt was a major contributor to this radical change.

Notes on Fascism, Genocide & the Catholic Church

This era in the history of the Catholic Church cannot be justified by any church apologist or biased historian. It can only be filtered and denied - because the blood of so many and the lonesome cries of the innocent can still be heard by those who have ears to hear …

The term fascism is often categorized as a political animal. Once we focus on its rules and dictates, the Catholic Church, transcends any totalitarian regime, far ahead of the likes of Alexander the Great, Roman politics at its worst, and the twentieth century copy-cats of Nazism or post WW2 North Korea, to name a few - the Catholic Church is the bench mark or template that all followed, but have never reached their level of success. Once combing religion and politics, anything goes. The Inquisition is a prime example of Machiavellian political philosophy to the 10th power, following through, maintaining absolute dominance over all – cunningly deceiving all and sunder.
 
Considering the term fascism is thrown around and aimed at any authority (usually by the ignorant or children) we will attempt to define it, to contextualize its major tenets in relation to the Catholic Church.

What is fascism?

Fascism is a political philosophy. Its foundational tenet is the pursuit of absolute power over its people – educationally, politically, economically and perhaps, spiritually. The authorities will go to great lengths to prevent the population under its control from educating themselves. All information must run through the government, and is highly censored. Ideally the government would prefer zero outside sources of information. A fascist government’s purpose is to ensure all its population think the same: same politics, same ethical values, beliefs, and total obedience. It was once believed that the Nazis in the 20th century were the closest to following the core tenets of fascism, a well-run totalitarian regime. More so, however, the Catholic Church is the greatest, thus the most successful totalitarian institution in the history of the Western world.

Fascism’s most effective tool is Fear. Through fear and the threat of death – eternal damnation – followers will blindly act inappropriately, like killing for the “cause”. It is essential in a fascist state to have an enemy, a “scapegoat”, the cause of all suffering or economic woes. In the Nazi movement, the scapegoat was the Jew. For the Catholic Church it varied: heretics, Jews and women. The result of the Church’s “scapegoats”, millions were tortured and executed. - All in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.     

A prime example of Church applications of fascism came in the form of a comprehensive handbook for Inquisitor’s in 1578. This instruction manual provided the purpose for Inquisitorial penalties for the convicted heretic.

“…for punishment does not take place primarily and per se for the correction and good of the person punished, but for the public good in order that others may become terrified and weaned away from the evil’s they would commit.”  (Emphasis mine.) 

This proven method of control over a conquered nation in war time goes back as far as antiquity. It is often referred to as “head on a pike”. Those religious and political leaders of the occupied country town or settlement, would be decapitated, their heads put on long pikes, and strategically positioned throughout the area like well-placed advertising billboards, for all to see. This assuredly imposed great fear in the population, a deterrent against rebellion. The Catholic Church understood human nature, applying this well tested method of control. That said, however, the sheer number executed, during this “seek and destroy mission” reveals a blood-lust, the Inquisitors murdering more heretics than required for Church control. The Catholic Church’s own “Final Solution”, similar to the twentieth century Nazis, in their efforts to attain absolute power. 

To be continued...   

Wittgenstein - A Critical Biography.

Considering there has been two essential biographies written on Wittgenstein, that is Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius (1990) by Ray Monk, and Young Ludwig: Wittgenstein's Life, 1889-1921 (1988) by Brian McGuinness, both award winning texts, another biography of the famous philosopher seemed to me to be a redundant exercise. What new information has come to light regarding the great philosopher and what possibly could be added to what has already been expertly covered in the above said texts?

Edward Kanterian has done something essential and quite extraordinary with this new biography, and that is he focuses on Wittgenstein's religious sensibilities, revealing the philosopher's strong convictions to keep his spiritual concerns separate from his philosophy. The author also spotlights Wittgenstein's four love relationships, their intenseness, their joy and the deep suffering the man experienced when they ended, two of which, tragically.

The reader should also consider that Wittgenstein has become an industry for academics and journalists comprising to date over 10,000 secondary sources (including a feature film) on the man's work and his life. Kanterian also examines this phenomenon and proposes possible reasons for this plethora of interpretation and interest for Wittgenstein and his work.

Wittgenstein's first true relationship and closest personal friend in the early years before WW1 was the young David Pinsent. Pinsent was a brilliant undergraduate in mathematics, (and a descendant of the famous 18th century philosopher, David Hume) who assisted Wittgenstein in certain experiments. He was also the philosopher's travel companion: very sensitive and a good listener, tragically the boy died in an aeroplane accident in 1918.

Frances Skinner was more than likely the most important person in Wittgenstein's life. He was a mathematician of great potential, a student at Cambridge to become a Wittgenstein "disciple". Wittgenstein told the boy to drop mathematics' and academic life and work with his hands. He followed this advice against the wishes of his parents and other friends. Unfortunately after some years of working and living together, Wittgenstein required distance from the relationship however received word that his beloved Frances died of poliomyelitis in October 1941. Wittgenstein never truly recovered from this loss.

The third important relationship was with an Austrian high society woman by the name of Marguerite Respinger. There is a diary entry included in this book that really expresses Wittgenstein's feeling for her. Of course they never married but remained good friends.

Ben Richards was the fourth intense relationship and Wittgenstein's last. Richards was a strikingly handsome lad, studying medicine at Cambridge. He is described as kind, sensitive and considerate. Wittgenstein felt a selfless love for Richards and when the boy (40 years Wittgenstein's junior) moved on from the relationship, Wittgenstein's letters and diary entries reveal a man with a broken heart - all very moving.

What these diary entries about his relationships reveal is a man capable of a deep kind of love, a joy and suffering simultaneously felt, as only a deep love can create. What I found extraordinary was that Wittgenstein was so cerebral, a master of logic, an accomplished engineer and architect, however was capable of such intense feeling in his relationships and music. I found Kanterian's book to reveal this aspect of the philosopher more so than the other biographies.

To Kanterian's great credit, his expositions on Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico Philosophicus and Philosophical Investigations are more than likely the most clearly explained interpretations I've ever encountered, making these notoriously difficult works, clear and comprehensible - a pure joy to read.

Ludwig Wittgenstein by Edward Kanterian as part of the Critical Lives Series is a notable contribution to the life and works of the famous philosopher and a text useful for someone thinking about embarking on the Wittgenstein Quest.

O’ Henry and the Spirit of Giving. (A re-telling)

After teaching for some years in Australia, it is only after the reports are completed that I can at last breathe a sigh of relief and look at the festive season. It is only tonight that my list was made for gifts, although rather slim under the circumstances, (less cash than usual) lack of $ somehow turns Christmas into a more meaningful event. Why? One needs to really put thought into the gift because we want the gift to “mean” something for the receiver.

This reminds me of an O’Henry story.

I cannot remember the title but recall reading it as a teenager, and it having a significant affect on my basic outlook on Christmas and the world.

It has been many years since reading this gem, so bare with my sparse and general prose, at least, hopefully the basic theme, the “message”, will be made clear:

Around the 19th century in grand old London, a couple lived in a very small flat on the East end, but a flat was only large enough to cook their breakfast and dinner, and sleep together in a single bed. Their home was humble yet clean as the wife ensured their home remained spotless, their sheets crisp and white; their windows clear, ensuring what little sun they captured, would shine through…

Unfortunately the husband lost his job as a clock maker because times were hard and people could not purchase fine crafted time pieces. But it was Christmas, and the season for giving, acknowledging life’s miracles and the birth of a true Man of God.

In only a few weeks all their money had evaporated, not from frivolous wants but from basic needs.

One thing you should know about this special couple is that they were wonderfully in love. Fine home, beautiful clothes, objects of beauty made no difference to them, as long as they had each other.

She had the longest most beautiful hair in London. In fact people on the streets, both gentleman and lady, would stop her and comment on its colour, sheen and magnificent appeal.

He, though dressed in an old suit, managed to maintain an air of respectability. His most prized possession was a gold pocket watch that had been given to him from his father, which had been given to his father from his grandfather and so on. The watch had been in his family for many years.

Carelessly, as a young man, he lost the gold chain that was attached to the watch. From that day on, he kept the watch in a special box above the fire place, fearing he would lose the object that represented a long and important family tradition.

Christmas meant so much to both of them.

Because of the intense love they had for each other, both felt a need to give each other a gift at this most important time of the year. But with no money, what could they do?

On Christmas Eve, both ventured out into the city determined to find the most perfect present.

Christmas morning arrived and they rose from their single bed to the chilling cold of their flat.

Excited he opened his present first to find a gold chain for his most precious gold watch.

She looked at her lover’s face to find disappointment. Why would he not want a gold chain to wear his precious watch?

His lover opened her present to find the most beautiful ivory comb for her lovely long hair.

They looked at each other and the truth had become clear to both: She removed a string from her hair to reveal that she had cut her beautiful hair.

“I am sorry my love! I had to cut my hair to sell it to buy the gold chain for your watch!”

He smiled though felt a pang of guilt.

“I am sorry my love! I sold my gold watch to buy this ivory comb for your lovely hair.”

To them it did not matter.

It was Christmas and they had each other.

This is a wonderful story about the true spirit of giving.

I’ve never ever forgotten this beautiful tale and seem to remember it at this time of the season.

A Literary Document of Great Worth.

A Review and comment on "Jack Kerouac Selected Letters 1957 - 1969".

For any biographer or historian the original letters of the subject is a valuable and extremely important source of information in order to gain insight into the time period, and/or the person under study.

In part 2 of Kerouac's Selected Letters, the text truly gives the student or curious, a penetrating look into this enigmatic and ultimately tragic American author. For many, Jack Krerouac represents an important shift in American literature but also a significant historical (literary) mark of an entire generation. Ann Charters, (Kerouac's first biographer) editor of this volume, has done a pain-staking and beautiful job with this book - we come to know him as a man, the artist and his concerns; generosity, relationships; his struggle with the demon drink and, most importantly, the development of his unique prose style, leading to his now iconic status.

The letters begin in the year (1957) when "On the Road" was published. At this stage of Kerouac's life, from the tone and content of his letters, he is excited, finishing incomplete manuscripts, organizing "get- togethers', writing his publisher and working on new projects. As the years progress, sadly, his drinking accelerates, he becomes more and more misanthropic and, in the end, paranoid. It is true - it was the booze that killed his body but it was fame as an author that murdered his soul. More than likely, it was both.

Ann Charters suggests that these letters were experiments in style and possible new ideas for future projects, his friends perhaps 'sounding boards' where the reader can see his development of what is famously known as "spontaneous prose".

Kerouac was also a prolific poet. Some call his "novel", Mexico City Blues, one long, epic poem. This particular book, for me, was difficult to read, until viewing the piece as poetry - it was then the penny dropped and the book became much easier to read.

An example of a little poem written for Stella Sampas to Gary Snyder from Japan:

"A poem to Stella Sampas?"

"After the shower,
Among the drenched roses,
The bird thrashing in the bath

After the shower,
my cat meowing
On the porch"

It has always been my opinion that Jack's poetry is underrated, but that's neither here nor there.

Kerouac wanted his letters to be published thus he kept copies in neat files by year.

Close to the end of Jack's life just prior to writing and eventually publishing "Vanity of Dulouz" (1968), he narrates that by day he would write like a demon possessed, and by night, almost akin to some strange ritual, burn his day's work, page by page, only to start again the next morning. One can interpret this action in many ways: the Art for Art's sake sensibility; a process of purification as an artist or perhaps an experiment with the creative process itself. Who knows? However, the images in my minds eye of this action, are strong with an unidentifiable meaning.

Anyone interested in American literature, pursuing a research project or wanting greater insight into the man, these letters are an invaluable historical document revealing the inner workings of the "Beat Generation" that continues to affect most modern writing to present time.

A Short Comment on Writing.

A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

George Orwell

Orwell did not write his two master pieces (Animal Farm, 1984) until close to the end of his short life; leaving the planet at 47 from a severe lung disease. But he often said that to be a writer that does not write at least 50,000 words a day should give the task away.

What was he saying?

To be a good writer or perhaps a great writer, like all the arts, practice and hard work are the sure fire paths to success. (The term "success" is another topic altogether.)

Orwell did not decide to be a writer until he was in his late 20's. But once the decision was made, he tackled the task like a man possessed. He wrote thousands of letters and articles, commentaries, novels, treatises and, for the most part, was politically minded. (Anti-fascist, Anti-communist) Many, many political pieces...

Apart from his novels and political articles, his favorite subject was the Art of Writing itself.

If one scans his books and articles will all too often come across a few words of advice about his method, his system, his philosophy on what makes good writing.

Paraphrased: have a clear topic and contention in mind; know exactly your audience; avoid unnecessary "big" words when a more familiar one will do.

As another great writer said (Dostoevsky), write from your heart, believe, write with passion, and the reader will connect...if only for a moment.

Writing is like all the arts, practice improves, but like all creative en devours, discipline is the key.

The other night at a night club, or more a late night bar, I played the guitar for the customers, one song, and after the performance, had a few pats on the back. Then, later, a young university student asked my age, and appeared to be impressed with my so-called "experienced" life, and asked, "What is your PASSION?"

He expected me to say music, then I said, writing, to write a good piece is my passion, no matter a BLOG, letter, essay or novel. I've been DRAWN to write for the last twenty-five years; mostly crap, but it's my crap...and I simply continue to do it.

In the end, really, I desire my work to be read, but it is the act itself that gives me the most pleasure.

Orwell lived a short life though his body of work is still being sorted through by academics and historians, because writing was his passion, and he wrote every day...and the pages go on and on.

Writing is a passion.

I believe to have a passion in one's life is important; somehow passion gives us Meaning to our lives in this huge universe.

Melbourne's Real Estate Renting Rort. 2008-2018. (It's about greed)

You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.Albert SchweitzerFrench philosopher & physician (1875 - 1965)

If memory serves, not more than five years ago, renting a place to live was a fundamentally elementary exercise. One would find a flat or house that filled their wants and needs, front up to the real estate agent, grab the key, (usually handing over a small deposit of not less that $20) and personally inspect the property, to return with a decision: “I like the place. When can I move in?” Processes would be followed, that is, application, references etc. If one's references proved worthy, approval usually would come back, at the latest, in a week. Deal done. Now, this has all changed for the worse.

Needless to say, the world economy has fallen into a recession.

As the United States, the centre of the world's financial global network, has taken a nose dive, due, I expect, to greedy corporations and the billions of dollars spent on the destruction and occupation of one of the oldest civilizations in recorded history: Iraq. It is the opinion of many, that the current U.S. President, G.W. Bush, has not only destroyed the land of the ancients, but also his own country, due to personal gain and his incestuous relationship with Arabia and Israel.

What has this war really accomplished? Absolutely nothing. (Accept for the elites).

As has been happening since people have been documenting history, war and exploitation, always, the rich simply get richer and the common man, woman and child fall head long into poverty. This reminds me of what my father used to say. “There's a white elephant standing in the middle of the room, yet no one will talk about it!”

Which brings me to the current rental real estate market.

There are three major stresses that an individual must withstand: divorce, death and shifting premises. What is currently happening in the Melbourne real estate market, is a mirror reflection of the world economy. What does this mean?

Five to ten years ago, the economy was apparently in a boom. People with desposable income began to invest in “rental properties”, with the goal of getting rich. All was going great for a few years but currently these “investments” have become a burden because of growing interest rates and the price of land dwindling. Now the word is: sell! sell! Sell!

Unfortunately, as a renter for the last two years, my landlord and her incompetent real estate agent gave me 60 days to vacate the premises because she needs to SELL!

What is diabolically ironic, is the real estate agents are creating a FALSE scarcity, that is to say, the only way you can see a property is by “open for inspection”, where, at times, 30 to 40 people show up to find a place to LIVE. We submit our applications, and may the best person win. This is rorting in the extreme. Despite it being damn against the law: a punter will bid above the advertised weekly price, and, of course, they will obtain the property.

Example: I was “promised a property” because of being asked to vacate. The estate agent said, “Don't worry about anything, if you want the apartment it's yours – fill out an application just so it's on file.” “Thanks, XXXX, we'll take it.”

I stopped looking for places to live stupidly assuming I had the apartment. No call from the agent. Just over four days later, thinking something must be “rotten in Denmark”, called to be told the landlord gave it to another punter! No call, nothing. Back to square one.

These agents are playing a game; in some cases, there is no “open for inspection” times advertised, thus I ring them up and the response is usually, “Give us your number and we'll get back to you.” For example, I made 10 calls and got one call back!

My point is that there is NOT a scarcity of homes for rent. One only needs to drive the city streets to see “For Lease” signs every where or peruse the paper or the Net to find literally 100's of property's but the agents, in their greed or will to power, are making it almost impossible for your average Joe to have what all of us need most – a roof over one's head!

To be honest, this is downright appalling if not bordering on fascism.

Out of pure luck or divine intervention, found a place in the hills from a PRIVATE OWNER!

If anyone with authority reads this, please investigate, and the “white elephant”, hopefully, will be revealed.

A favorite essay: "Date a Girl..."

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.


Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.


She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.


Buy her another cup of coffee.


Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.


It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.


She has to give it a shot somehow.


Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.


Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.
Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilightseries.


If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.


You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.


You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. 

You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.


Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.


Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

by Rosemarie Urquico.

LEONARDO DA VINCI - Flights of the Mind. A review.

This is has to be one of the most thorough biographies about Leonardo ever written. The most widely read biography, Leonardo: The Artist and the Man"(1988) by the Florentine, Serge Bramly, first translated by Jean-Claude Lattes into French, then later translated into English by Sian Reynolds, and published in England in 1995, was highly considered to be the definitive work on the quintessential renaissance man. Having read Bramly's work in 1996, I considered it to be rough going, strangely dense throughout; due, I expect because of its two translations from the original Italian. Reading translations and not knowing the original language can be a dubious experience for the ignorant reader, as particular words and phrases at times appear out of place. That said, reading Nicholl's passionate and adeptly written life history of Leonardo, combining historical investigation with literary speculation, one would have to admit that this work far out shines its predecessor in terms of its accessibility, detail and style. This is a formidable study of the great man and his work.

Nicholl's certainly did his research on his subject, pouring over Leonardo's Codex Atlanticus, that displays much of da Vinci's multi-varied interests, ideas and doodles, which reveals the linear and non-linear flow of his mind. The master had so many thoughts and ideas endlessly flowing that it is no wonder that he failed to complete many of his projects and paintings. Nicholl, unlike so many speculators before him, refrained from psychoanalyzing this great genius. His method was more to submerge his consciousness into Leonardo's native environment, walk the paths that he walked, and emotionally submerge his soul into the paintings, sculptures and sketches. 

Nicholl spent years physically, mentally and spiritually with Leonardo, sometimes peering at a particular work for hours on end, to possibly catch a true glimpse into the master's mind. Nicholl's approach was to combine scholarly methodology with literary imagination - and reading his work certainly proves that he has paved new insight into the character of this renaissance genius.

This is what makes this work special: Nicholl seems to have left no stone unturned in his analysis of da Vinci's life and work. As he places many of Leonardo's works in the chronological context in which they were created, speculating on da Vinci's stage of "maturity" and the social and political events manifesting at the time, we get a real sense of the man, and the developing stages of his work, ending in his self-imposed exile and dignified death with the French king, Francois I.

The text includes well-produced mono and color images of da Vinci's work. Nicholl's Notes and Bibliography are relatively extensive and valuable for the student of the master, and the renaissance as a whole.

This biography is an entertaining and gripping study of one of the most fascinating artists in history.

Disturbing though Important Revelations of World Situation.

John Perkins' ground breaking expose' of the economic machinations and collusion of multinational corporations, high levels of government and the international banking institutions and their brutal exploitation of third world countries in his popular text Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, sent a ripple of concern through this highly corrupt elite community, however mainstream publishing and media chose to ignore these disturbing confessions, wanting proof other than Perkins text. As Perkins states in his introduction in this sobering and informative text, A Game as Old as Empire,

"Eventually a courageous independent publisher, Berrett-Koehler, took the book on. Confessions success among the public astounded me. During its first week in bookstores it went to number 4 on Amazon.com." (P.2)

Despite being on the New York Times best seller list for 25 weeks, The Times refused to review it. (Much later the book was featured in the Times Sunday Supplement) The fact that the book implicates the highest echelons of government and corporations, including the IMF, WTO, World Bank, U.S.A., Britain and the "G8" countries deeply involved in money laundering, tax evasion and environmental disasters that turns one's stomach, never mentioned in the main stream media, reveals the appalling extent of this corruption.

A Game as Old as Empire is a collection of essays by investigative journalists, EMH's, academics, practicing lawyers, scientists and writers exposing the extent of corruption in the exploitation of developing countries; for example lending billions of dollars, raising debt, knowing full well that particular regimes were pocketing the cash, opening off shore accounts, while the regime's country falls further into abject poverty, then to lend more money, raising debt further...

These essays are terribly disturbing as the greed, destruction and waste is so vast, crippling small countries, causing poverty to become more entrenched to fill the pockets of a Global elitist few and their cronies.

One would logically assume that because of the billions of dollars poured into some third world countries for their development, one would see the benefits of such huge investments. In actual fact, there has been no benefit, because in most cases, the poverty has worsened. Why? Money is loaned to known corrupt regimes that pocket the money and make the money clean through tax loopholes and off shore accounts.

Other reasons are presented such as the trade agreements of the World Trade Organization which makes it impossible for developing countries with debt to produce and export because developed countries, per the WTO agreements, import products into the local market under-pricing them, thus making it impossible for the developing country to rise out of debt, let alone make a living.

In this review I've chosen not to write specific examples of this high level corruption as this format, does not allow the space. However, in order to understand the extent that these so-called elites go to... including genocide, crimes against humanity and all out war and occupation in order to ensure access to resources such as oil and other natural resources, read this text because it will make you wonder how and why it has gone on for so long.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man started the ball rolling in terms of more awareness of the waste and destruction that neo-liberalism and globalization has wrought on developing countries; A Game as Old as Empire is the confirmation and the quintessential wake up call to actually do something about it.

In the last chapter, Global Uprising: The Web of Resistance, Antonia Juhasz writes a compelling piece for all concerned individuals around the globe to do something about this entrenched elitist corruption. The bibliography is extensive and worthy, including a list of important web sites to enhance your knowledge.

Even if you haven't read "Confessions", A Game as Old as Empire will inform, disturb, shock and hopefully stir some of us into action before these elitist corporations, banks and exclusive, corrupt governments go too far...