SO YOU THINK YOU LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY
May 18, 2015
You think you live in a democratic society are you right or wrong? Democracy means you get a choice as to you government officials by elections. But are you really being given a choice. Now before you all start yelling at me let me say this. On paper it’s a great form of government with freedoms that aren’t found in other forms. But you freedom comes with a price and that price has been rising steadily for years. If you’re not in the top ten percent of income your freedoms start to get restricted. Oh you can still vote and complain about your government and how unfair your taxes are. But here’s the catch nobody’s listening to you and nobody cares. Because the people in power know you may complain but your too busy worrying about terrorists attacking your kids school or guns in the classroom to really worry about say the water shortage out west or the quality of education your child gets. We my friends live in a world controlled by capitalism that means you need money to have a real voice and those that have it have no intention of letting you get too much of it. Let’s you get a raise at your job and say great maybe you go on vacation. Then you come home and find you kids tuition just went up there’s an egg shortage which is causing baked goods to go up along with chicken prices and the next thing you know is not only is your raise wiped out your paying more just to survive. But those people in the top ten are still making the same if their salaries dip a little they just raise prices and thing get a little harder for you. I read some place a long time ago that some politician had once said that on paper Communism might just be a better form of government then Democracy. Now we know that all the so called Communist countries are really Capitalists except maybe North Korea. Just look at how their leaders live because they’re part of that top ten percent. Well I would love to keep talking on this point but I have to help Jeff with his book so this is Flounder saying CIAO from Medellin, Colombia.
THE WORLD OF MUSIC LOST ANOTHER GREAT ONE
May 15, 2015
Music legend BB King died last night and the world got a little lonelier. People have said that there is this great band up in heaven. Well I’m not a religious person but I would like to think that somewhere all these great musicians are have a great jam session. Could you imagine Frank Sinatra singing along with BB king on the Thrill Is Gone? Wouldn’t that be great? Then you could have Hendricks, Albert King, Stevie Ray, and oh so many others in the Guitar Jam of all time. Some of those musicians up there went before their time like Buddy Holley, Richie Havens, Richie Valens, Stevie Ray, Janice, Keith, Jim, Mama Cass, Otis Reading, John Lennon and the list goes on. I’ve often wondered what music would be like if they had all survived to a natural end. Would psychedelic still be around would Curt Corbain still be depressed or would he be sing happy songs with Janice. What about all the great Jazz people in that band what would be there influence on music if they were still around? These are all unanswerable questions. But one thing is for sure they’ve got one hell of a band up there. This is Flounder saying CIAO from Medellin, Colombia.
WORRY ABOUT THE IMPORTANT STUFF
May 14, 2015
One of the big stories around is the punishment the NFL is handing out to Tom Brady and the Patriots. Now I know what they did was wrong but to say they were the first to do it is just a little bit naïve. It’s like when Nixon got caught tapping in the Oval office. He wasn’t the first and definitely wasn’t the last. His fault like Brady’s was in getting caught there by embarrassing the powers that be. It happened to Clinton I mean everybody knew Kennedy was doing Marylyn Monroe they just didn’t want to see it on the news. So Clintons fault was? Right you guessed it getting caught. And really folks there are a lot more pressing issues out there than how much air was in the football. I wonder what’s next having them blown up with a helium mixture or placing them on a heater. Hey people there’s no water in California or Arizona, the Venezuelan economy is officially in the toilet, thousands need help in Nepal. So I don’t think how much air is in a football means jack shit. This is Flounder saying CIAO from Medellin, Colombia.
THE GRASS AIN’T ALWAYS GREENER
May 11, 2015
Have you noticed how communists or socialists are always saying we need to stop the elite from running the country? Have you seen how they live ever see the apartment the Russian leaders had or how Fidel Castro live as compared to his people. How about the leaders of Venezuela they aren’t suffering for lack of anything. These people all live just like the rich and famous. Here’s one that pisses off a lot of people but look at Priests, Cardinals and the Pope they’re bot exactly living up to the vow of poverty. When you look at how the leaders of any revolution live as compared to the people actually doing the fighting. And then if they win they live just like the people they just got rid of. I don’t expect equality in the world but blatant lies are something I just can’t believe people endure. The people in these countries that watch as these people live so great are usually very high up in the party or members of the military. Leaders of poor countries always make sure their Armies don’t want for much if they are there will be another revolution. I’ve always been amazed how people always think they’re going to enjoy the results of a revolution or election only to be disappointed by the results. This is Flounder saying CIAO from Medellin, Colombia.
CAN COLOMBIA SURVIVE THIS MAN
May 4, 2015
Well I hope you liked my Sunday post. Today’s post is mainly for Colombians but I think American will see some correlation to American politics. Those of you who follow me a lot have seen articles on Colombia’s President Santos and the peace process. Well last week a new set of polls came out and it claimed that about 60% of Colombians aren’t happy with Santos. It seems people aren’t as concerned with the Farc as they are with Corruption in the Military, Government and the Police. It would seem they’ve tired of being taxed and seeing no results. It’s like buying a product and finding out it does the opposite of what you paid for. Three years ago right across the valley from where we live Santos dedicated an apartment complex for low income families. It was about 90% percent done at the time. Well it’s still not done and not one person is living there. in the mean time several other high rise buildings have been completed and apartments sold. Now president Santos wants to build more and when you look at his plan there is no grass or trees in the picture. Colombian politics reminds me of the rural south in America where you know if you want something done you have to bribe someone. The only problem with that down here is that the people that are the neediest can’t afford to bribe anybody. So they elect people they think will help them only to be disappointed again. I have wondered in the past why Santos is so dead set on these peace talks that he continues to make concessions to the Farc while they continue to kill soldiers, police and civilians. Corruption in the police is evident when you look at the life styles of the commanders compared to the ordinary citizen. The commander of the National Police does one thing very well and that’s show up when there’s a photo opp. lately there have been several arrests of government officials. Now these guys are bad people but they also are not members of Santos party and in a lot of cases don’t agree with his peace proposals. Extortion seems to be the price of doing business in most towns making success a hardship rather than a blessing. Sections of towns and cities are ruled by gangs of very violent youths making venturing out after dark a dangerous deal. I offer no solutions for these problems as I am only a cat but if I wasn’t and I was a citizen I’d be really pissed and would demand change or the removal of the President. This is Flounder saying CIAO from Medellin, Colombia.
FIGHT OF THE CENTURY MY ASS
May 3, 2015
Well it ain’t Monday its Sunday and Jeff kept me up last night watching what had to be one of the greatest rip-offs in a long time. Not since Roberto Duran said no mass have paying customers been so ripped off. I’m not the only one who feels this way check the internet out. There are already excuses being made Pacquiao’s shoulder was hurt. If that was the case and this was the fight of the century don’t you think it would have been prudent to wait till he was 100% healthy? I guess Manny walked away with $100 million dollars and should really have to give most of back to the people that sat through this joke of a professional fight. Jeff says he’s seen some really great fights including the greatest 2 min in boxing. He has watched the Greatest ALI, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy “the hit man Hearn’s, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Hands of Stone Roberto Duran. So if he says that this fight couldn’t even make the top 20 I have to believe him. I think it’s time boxing just sort of faded away. I know it’s been part of the culture and has history attached to it but it’s just time to bury it. This is Flounder saying CIAO from Medellin Colombia.
LOOK A LIKES
April 27, 2015
Here we are again Monday and I have a post. Actually I might have more than one this week something’s have been pissing me off. First let me say we should all say a prayer for the folks in Nepal. Ok now this will be more for the people in New Jersey and the East Coast but it does have National significance. I’m talking about the possibility of Chris Christie Governor of New Jersey running for President. Now this would be a good thing for NJ they would be getting rid of him, but it would be bad for the nation. You remember Richard Nixon who left the presidency in disgrace don’t you? He was an egotistical, arrogant paranoid individual. Well look at Christie a man who is arrogant, egotistical, arrogant and vindictive man. Both these men thought they knew exactly what the country and the world needed. Now I won’t say that they didn’t do some good but I think it was by accident more than design. The differences between the two are on got caught and the other doesn’t have a lot of will power. Tricky Dick got busted and the only way Fats could stay away from food was to have stomach surgery. Christy thinks his is the only opinion that counts and if you disagree with him you will be yelled at or have traffic delays on a major bridge in you neighborhood. Some people admire Christie’s outspoken demeanor. This is fine for State politics but could be disastrous in an international setting. Nixon on the other hand was much better at the international level then national. Unfortunately Fats exhibits all the things Nixon was capable of. The fact that he gets away with so much will not be good for the country or anyone that should question him if he should be President. I’m hopeful that his attitude will prevent him from getting elected to anything ever again and he can go beck to be McDonalds best customer. This is Flounder saying CIAO from Medellin, Colombia.
POLLS AND STATISTICS
April 20, 2015
Well another Monday is upon us and with that comes the politicians declaring they want to be President. There is also baseball and all its fantasy leagues to deal with. What do these two topics have to do with each other not a whole just that there both sources of statistic and polls. Poll now we all know about them they’ve been called the most influential form of Presidential politics. How do you say; Well some believe, and I’m one of them that people like to be on the winning side. So if so and so is leading the polls he must be the best and is going to win so I’ll vote for him. Others say that since according to the pools he a shoe in so why should I take time away from my life to go and stand in line to vote after all he going to win. The people that are for the other guy say, why should I waste my time that guys going to win no matter what I do. That was the reason they wanted to stop exit polls on TV while the voting was going on. Sadly this is very true in every case and even sadder is the fact that it’s fairly easy to manipulate poll results. How you ask; by asking questions in a certain manner or going to an area where you will get a result that suits you. The next time you’re going to vote or buy a product and you the words seventy five percent of voters or users say this stop a minute and ask yourself what was my first reaction and as free thinking as you may feel you are I bet you would of gone along with the seventy five percent.
Now statistics are even worse, and this will piss off all the fantasy players and mathematicians out there, but statistics can be manipulated to say whatever you want. Again it’s where you get your information from and the fact that pure math doesn’t take the human factor into consideration. So when you say statistically this player has a ninety percent probability of getting a hit in this situation you’re not taking luck into the equation. Now scientists will tell you there is no such thing as luck but call it what you may it exists and can either make or break your day. People write books on gambling using statistics as a guide. They say if you follow what we say you’ll be a winner. The problem with this is they forget about random events that some of us refer to as luck. Just think if it was as easy as they say it is the casinos would be out of business in a week. Well I barely touched the surface of this topic but I’m already bored and ready for a nap so I will say this is Flounder saying CIAO from Medellin, Colombia.
MISCELLANEOUS STUFF
April 14, 2015
Sorry about no post yesterday Jeff was a little under the weather but he’s OK today and we’re back. Let’s do some miscellaneous Stuff today shall we. First up today is tax day I the US that means all the hardworking folks have to pay the government so the rich don’t have to. I don’t want to get into this because even the IRS can’t really explain it, so we’ll move on. There’s a 65 year old mother with thirteen kids that is now pregnant with quadruplets. This just makes me want to cry those kids will never have a normal life. Then we have the San Diego police department detaining a baby sea lion for trying to break into a school. This Stuff just keeps on getting weirder and funnier. A cabbie got fined 15,000 dollars for telling two women to stop kissing in his cab. He should have videotaped them then put it up on YouTube and he might have made 15,000 instead. Some guy attempted suicide in front of the Capital Building now that’s really being upset with politicians. Here’s an upsetting one a mom abandoned her quadriplegic son in the woods. This is why they need to bring back flogging as a punishment and I volunteer Jeff to handle the flogging. We could go on and on with all this weird Stuff that really is nothing more than a distraction from the real news you know where people are getting killed and politicians and banks are trying to see who can do the best job of screwing the ordinary folk. Boy I have to find some happier topics to start the week off this is really bumming me out. Well this is a depressed Flounder saying Ciao from Medellin, Colombia.
MOTHER NATURE TAKING ANOTHER HIT
April 11, 2015
Well this is a first in a while a Saturday post but I couldn’t help myself. There was an article about some developers wanting to build mall and luxury hotel at the Gran Canyon. Now Jeff was fortunate to have gone the canyon back in the sixties before they started turning it into a tourist trap. What they are now planning will is to turn it into an elitist playground for the rich. That means if you want to take your kids you’ll have to max out your credit cards and cut back on Christmas presents. The canyon is a beautiful spot and just as other National parks are being turned into tourist traps Mother Nature gets the short end of the stick. I don’t think Teddy Roosevelt or Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, or FDR had luxury resorts in mind when they pushed for National Parks and a National Park Service. The strange thing is the Navajo people seem to support the mall of course the majority of them will get screwed just like they do with the Casinos. It seems in the world today much more than in the past if you’re not rich your vacation will consist of a six pack of cheap beer and cold chips watching a ball game on TV because you can’t afford the two hundred or so dollars it casts to go see it. You won’t be able to go to the shore because of all the Mansions built near the beach and signs saying private property stay out. It’s as shame when some ass hole sees something beautiful in nature they decide right away to build something to make money. This is A thoroughly pissed off Flounder who has had his Saturday ruined by that article saying CIAO from Medellin, Colombia.
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