3am NYT

How can it be 3am and I canget the NY Times. At least I think I can.
Oh, Detroit is in East coast time. Still raining, as it's been in
Portland for 6 months straight. The airport is quite upscale and I
hope helps the local economy: they even have an oxygen bar, martini
bar..

May 21, 2011

Judgement Day, so the billboards say. Some people are taking this very seriously.

Well, we've had the tornadoes, earthquake, tsunami, nuclear meltdown, wolves running free since they are no longer endangered. So maybe this is IT.

Well in a global world, there are already people who've come out on the other side (May 22) to say that the earth is still whole, no one has gotten raptured away. But only some are supposed to be raptured away this evening - the rest of us will suffer for 5 months till the end of the world as we know it.

Why is a graduation ceremony called a "commencement". Had to look that up when I was reading regulations that used the term "commence", does that mean begin or end? The dictionary definition is beginning.

So a graduation is a beginning (though it seems like an ending, of one chapter, in any case). Middle East peace, something we've never seen. Will we see a commencement of Middle East peace in 5 months? October 21, 2011.

I am optimistic. Not that any words from Obama are more than words, but its something. There is much hatred in the world. People unwilling to see beyond the entrenched view they've held for ever, and generations before that.

Today I realized the real meaning of Leviticus 24. The full passage reads (Lev 24:19-20): "If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him. Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him."

So its not about revenge, but about people getting their just desserts.

http://bit.ly/kcEtyV
In case you want a glimpse of the world after..

Snow in the Mountains Today

Outside of Portland. All the rain we have had, spring, has led to snow in the mountains.

In some countries they have had a different spring. An Arab spring. Obama spoke to this today. He was eloquent. He was masterful. I was excited the Commander in Chief spoke to the actions of a foot cart vendor in Tunisia as kicking off amazing change in the region. The actions of one person, technology, continued repression, all coming together to spark the biggest change in the world in decades.

Tying it to Israel and Palestine. Wow.

Yesterday it was all about diplomacy and stability in the region. Today we woke up with new eyes. It is about democracy and freedom.

A politician will capitalize on change that is happening, and jump on board. Like jumping onto a merry-go-round, grabbing hold, pretending you are making it happen, or at least have a hand in it. Fine, whatever.

But it does matter. Your tax dollars at work. Your connection to the countries in MENA (Middle East North Africa - did you read the memo?) If they are engaged building a country, maybe they won't turn to terrorist training camps.

It is not easy. Money is something. Prayer is something. Dictators leaving or being forced out is one thing. People realizing for the first time, they can voice their opinion. They can create a society.

They can wake up with new eyes.

The Grown Ups have Left the Room

Today, the U.S. government ran out of credit limit! And, at $14 Trillion and change, I guess Capital One is not sending them daily solicitations for new lines of credit (like they send to me, and each member of my family, even the ones that no longer reside here..)

So failing that, our Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has said all along he could prolong the "absolute end" by shuffling money around between accounts. So everyone went about their merry way, and today is that day, and the shuffling begins.

I wish he had told me what this means earlier, cause it sounds like a crime. Or like the U.S. Treasury is being run like a stock market or a giant slot machine or something.

http://1.usa.gov/lK7vnD
To get the actual statement he wrote to Congress. Basically the shuffling consists of borrowing money from the Civil Service Retirement Fund. And diverting interest that would have accrued to that fund. And other related measures. To keep the OPERATIONS of the government funded. Like those salaries of federal employees. Like I suppose keeping the heat on and the electricity on at the White House. Like paying social security benefits to retirees, widows, orphans. Basic operations.

Now, if this were an actual stock market, and you had a chance to invest in the U.S. government, or, say, the biotech startup in Silicon Valley. You might look at things like - what products have they actually brought to market? What is their return on equity? What is their profit to earnings ratio. And are they actually making money on operations? Or are they living on credit from some wealthy Chinese investors?

If you looked at the portfolio you would never place your bets on the U.S. Government, or as they say in Wikileaks speak, USG. Not sustainable, you would say, and move on.

Here we are. Federal employees, speak up - do you want your pension fund raided? The money has to be paid back to make the fund whole, says Mr. Geithner. How exactly is that going to happen?

The Portland Experience

I wonder how Portland cement is named? But this is not that tale..

Yesterday, the perfect Portland experience. Which of course means East side experience.
Time for a new futon. No matter how many times we flipped the monster futon, it was past its useful life, and no longer provided restful sleep. I tried life support for it by placing a comforter under me - this did keep it alive for a few more weeks.

But alas. There are exactly 2 futon shops in Portland. Not wanting to mess around with Trendy-Third street, we opted for easier parking on NE Broadway. As the sales clerk of the woman-owned store was telling us, the cotton inside the futon we were eying was from Texas, the wool was Willamette Valley coop grown (humanely), the foam - well my eyes were glassing over. I didn't catch that part, already feeling like I was in an episode of Portlandia. The one where they research the living conditions of the chicken on order at a restaurant. They have nothing over this store, I mean I didn't even ask for the etymology of the futon innards.

Changes along the Boulevard (Hawthorne). Bridgeport Brewpub, where we planned to lunch - closed. How could they be closed? Is this a sign of recession finally hitting people with money to spend? Alas, no wilted spinach salad with champagne walnut dressing for me. We found Bread & Ink cafe down the block. Used to be one of my favorite places! And yes, they had riesling vinaigrette dressing for my salad, and bacon/provolone/toasted como sandwich with basil tomato dipping sauce. Food heaven. Though their espresso, tasty as it was, did not pack the same punch as Starbucks.

For some things, I am surely institutionalized. Espresso may be one of them. I like consistency. Of course my desire for vinaigrette of some kind may be some other sort of habit that I'm not aware of (yuppy food habits).

The Safeway at 28th and SE Hawthorne is literally in crumbles, like a war zone. Huh? I hope this is not a sign of Walmart or something. Hawthorne already has Subway and I think a video store (does anyone go to them anymore? I thought we were the last people on earth..)

This will keep me for awhile, till I am again able to visit the East side :)

Watchfires

The red watch fire
The blue watch fire

Red - waiting for the right candidate, to release a puff of smoke into the air..
Blue - waiting for Obama, to show he's still got it..

I want to build my own watch fire. It will have flames of red, blue, purple (purple might be the Dennis Kucinich and Rand Paul flames). Taking the best of fire technology to build a new fire.

p.s. Thanks to Jefferson Starship and Lightning Rose
http://www.lyricsdepot.com/jefferson-starship/lightning-rose.html

Intel and the 400

There are cranes on the horizon. Not the flying kind, or the commemorate-Hiroshima kind, but the tower kind (which come with new safety instructions..) As many as 5, all in one place.

Intel is expanding! Hey! And towards that end (or maybe completely different, they don't share their state secrets with me) 400 kids showed up in local school districts, while their parents will be attending training.

The letters to the editor of our fair Oregonian mostly are negative. We don't want your state secrets, this is a real imposition! How can we squeeze room for 400 kids in this budget environment! They all cry out.

Well hey, that is a problem I like to have. Expansion. A chance for cultural exchange. A chance for these kids to get to know American kids. And their parents to be trained here. A chance for all of them to contribute to the local economy for their time here.

What is the alternative? For companies to shrink up and dry away like fallen leaves on an October day?? Give me the 400. As the story of the loaves and 2 fishes which fed 500, with leftovers for tomorrow, well somehow we shall find a way.