THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A COMMUNITY GONE CORPORATE

The trials and tribulations of a community gone corporate:

1.      Corporations are notoriously non-democratic and are operated from the top down.

2.      Generally, a board of director’s is for show. I’m not sure why they waste their time with elections. First Electric recently had an election with one candidate. I’m sure an acquaintance of the CEO. That’s how our board is acting: like they were appointed, not elected. By us. For us. Maybe this will change with the new board. Maybe they will finally take charge.

3.      Corporations are always top heavy with administrative types. Generally speaking, the more people you see filling in the gaps, the more inexperienced the CEO. We clearly see this in Hot Springs Village. A financial CEO short on experience to run a community. So we have a place-maker, a restaurant director, and now, chief of resident satisfaction. A lot of administrative overhead that they don’t want us to know about, even though we pay their salaries.

4.      Secrets are the hallmark of corporations. They want to keep everything secret. And what do we have? A pile of secrets growing faster than the weeds in my yard. What do we pay Troon? What do we pay the CEO? The next five highest paid employees? Why rush to get things done before the new board members took their seats? They don’t seem to understand: secrets are the poison of any organization. And a secret never remains a secret, not as long as humans are involved.

A corporation or a community? Which do you prefer? I didn’t move here to watch someone try to urbanize the Village, or to be led by a CEO who bought a book of corporate fantasy for $500,000. I like what we have, and with good leadership, the potential for what we could become.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I DON'T MAKE JOKES. I JUST WATCH THE GOVERNMENT AND REPORT THE FACTS."

Will Rogers

Impeach His Sorry Ass Now

Impeach His Sorry Ass Now



AMEN

THE LAST WORD IN LONESOME

THE LAST WORD IN LONESOME

“The clearest way into

 the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”

John Muir

                                                                     

 Abandoned.  Solitary. Irrelevant. Isolated. God forsaken.  A shadow. Obscure. An apparition.  

A hallucination. Nothing worse than feeling alone. Well, almost nothing. Right at dusk, walking down a path in the Woods, things come to your mind. Coyotes. Wild dogs. Zombies. Crazed hunters. Chain saw massacres. Run away convicts. Terrorists. Always at night. Under the veil of darkness. The dark breeds fear. Shadows look fierce. Vicious. Savage. Like they are ready to engulf you. Chew you up. Spit you out. Still, I walk at night. Better to face these demons than to let them simmer in the soul. Sometimes I scare myself stupid. Other times I can remain calm. Complacent. At ease. Content. Satisfied with life.  With the cedars. The owls. The stars. The nightingale, with its eerie cry.  I venture into this Halloween nightmare not to prove my bravery. Or stupidity. Or loneliness. Or anti-social side. Or machoism. Or really not to prove anything. I go to walk alone. To feel the solitude. To face the dark side. To arrive home safe. Ecstatic. Enraptured. Spellbound at the wonder of it all.  Shaken just slightly.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"GOVERNMENT IS A TOOL, LIKE A HAMMER. YOU CAN USE A HAMMER TO BUILD OR YOU CAN USE A HAMMER TO DESTROY."

Molly Ivins

Tax day: A thrill... or a chill? • Hightower Lowdown

Tax day: A thrill... or a chill? • Hightower Lowdown: How thrilling was tax day for you? I refer, of course, to the thrill of getting that big juicy reduction in your taxes, thanks to the $1.5 trillion tax



LIES INCORPORATED.

Sorry Trump, Say Experts, You Can't Just 'Head to the Supreme Court' If Impeached

Sorry Trump, Say Experts, You Can't Just 'Head to the Supreme Court' If Impeached



THE DEMOCRATS WILL BE LUCKY TO GET THE JOB DONE. A BUNCH OF INEPT WIENIES LED BY PELOCI AND THE ENTRENCHED OLD DEMOCRATS OF THE PAST.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Initially, the purveyors of racism need no more than the silent acquiescence of the public ... [I]t is never too soon to confront bigotry and racism whenever, wherever, and in whatever form it raises its ugly head. It is incumbent upon all people to confront even the slightest hint of racist thought or action with zero tolerance.”

Hans J. Massaquoi, Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany (America)

EASTER

EASTER IN THE VERY BELLY OF NOTHINGNESS

DEATH WILL BE ALL RIGHT FOR US WHEN IT COMES.

     BUT DYING IS ANOTHER MATTER---

                SO SLOW,

                SO PAINFUL,

                SO HUMILIATING.

    

DEATH WILL BE A QUICK TURN,

         THE WINKING OF AN EYE

   BUT DYING TURNS AND TWISTS AND WAITS AND TEASES.

 

WE HAVE NOT DIED,

     BUT WE KNOW ABOUT DYING:

         WE WATCH THE INCHING PAIN OF CANCER,

                 THE OOZING ACHE OF ALIENATION,

                 THE TEARS OF STORED-UP HURT.

 

WE CAN SMELL THE DYING

         OF BOMBS AND SHELLS

         OF DIRECT HIT AND COLLATERAL DAMAGE

         OF NAPALM SPREAD THIN AND EVEN OF CITIES TURNED CRATERS

         OF AGENT ORANGE THAT WAITS YEARS TO SHOW,

              AND LIVES TURNED TO EMPTY STARE.

 

WE WATCH CLOSE OR DISTANT;

    WE BRACE AND STIFFEN

       AND GROW CYNICAL OR UNCARING. 

AND DEATH WINS---

    WE, ROBBED OF VITALITY, BROUGHT LOW BY FAILED HOPE,

                 LOST INNOCENCE,

                 EMPTIED CHILDHOOD,

                 AND STILLNESS.

WE KEEP GOING, BUT BARELY;

      WE GATHER AT THE GRAVE,

                WATCHING THE STING AND

                THE VICTORY OF DREAD.

BUT YOU STIR LATE SATURDAY;

    WE GATHER EARLY SUNDAY WITH BALM AND EMBALMING,

           CLOSE TO THE BODY.

           WAITING FOR THE SMELL BUT NOT;

           DREADING THE WITHERED SITE....BUT NOT;

           CRINGING BEFORE LOVE LOST...BUT NOT HERE.

                         NOT HERE...BUT RISEN,

                                                GONE,

                                                AWAKENED,

                                                ALIVE!

THE NEW CREATION STIRS BEYOND THE WEEPING WOMEN;

     O DEATH...NO STING!

     O GRAVE...NO VICTORY!

     O SILENCE...NEW SONG!

     O DREAD...NEW DANCE!

     O TRIBULATION...NOW OVERCOME!

 

O FRIDAY GOD---EASTER THE FAILED CITY,

                                SUNDAY THE KILLING FIELDS.

    AND WE, WE SHALL DANCE AND SING,

                    THANK AND PRAISE,

        INTO THE NIGHT THAT HOLDS NO MORE DARKNESS.

 

Prayers for a Privileged People, Walter Brueggemann

           

           

          

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”  

Martin Luther King Jr.

Pentagon Spending Set to Hit Near-Record Levels, But 'Establishment Says We Can't Afford' Progressive Policies

Pentagon Spending Set to Hit Near-Record Levels, But 'Establishment Says We Can't Afford' Progressive Policies



THIS IS THE REASON WE CAN'T AFFORD MANY OF THE PROGRAMS WE NEED. DON'T YOU FEEL SAFE? IF CUT IN HALF, WE WOULD PROBABLY STILL HAVE THE LARGEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD.

CHRISTMAS, GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER

CHRIST THE REVOLUTIONARY

Born to raise hell

                                                                           

     Born into the working class, Christ’s story has been one shrouded in mystery and intrigue. From the very beginning, Jesus’ life was recorded by writers as divine: A virgin birth; declared “King of the Jews”; the Savior of mankind. It was clearly not a royal birth, having taken place in an out building of an inn in Bethlehem. And immediately, the Roman government was worried about this birth.

The gospel’s give us the only accounts of Christ’s birth, life, and death. The first book was surprisingly not Matthew, but was Mark. * (123) Mark was written some 35-70 years after the death of Jesus, by an anonymous writer. * (67) The writer was more than likely sitting in Rome, using stories that had been transmitted by oral tradition. There were no firsthand accounts of Jesus life. Josephus, a prominent historian of the time, mentioned an apocalyptic preacher who was roaming the countryside at the time, but there were numerous preachers doing so. It remains unclear who he was referring to. No one was there, standing next to the writers, telling them what they saw. They relied on orally transmitted stories.

The facts surrounding Jesus life has been argued for the last 2000 years, and will no doubt be argued the next 2000. For me, it is not the facts that are as important as the story. The story highlights what Christians should be striving for: Revolutionaries for the poor, mistreated, sick, and forsaken.

(to be continued)

·        “Introducing the New Testament.” Achtemeier, Green, Thompson. Eerdmans Publishing, 2001

     Mary and Joseph left Nazareth to be counted by the census being taken by Rome in Bethlehem. They arrived to find that the Inn they had planned on staying in was full. The innkeeper, seeing that Mary was pregnant and about to have a child, allowed them to stay in an out-building, which has been described as a stable. He supplied them with blankets and linens to make their stay as comfortable as possible.

     Herod hired the three wise men to see what was going on with the birth. The baby was being described as “King of the Jews.” The word King upset him. They were basically hired as spies for the King. When the shepherd’s arrived, they were overcome with joy and thanksgiving. Rather than report back to the King in Rome, they fled to the country-side, never to be heard of again.

     In apparent response to the wise men not providing a report, Herod decreed that all first born male children were to be killed. However, there is no historic evidence to suggest this was ever carried out. Something that dramatic would definitely have caught the attention of historians.

     At his same time, another miraculous birth had taken place. Elizabeth, wife of Zackerius, was a cousin of Mary. It is reported that they actually spent about 2 together while they were pregnant. Writers of the gospels described Mary's pregnancy as an “immaculate conception,” and Elizabeth’s a “miraculous conception.” Elizabeth’s child was named John. He would come to be known as John the Baptizer, (Baptist), who would eventually baptize Jesus.

     Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus left Bethlehem and fled to Egypt. They would eventually return to Nazareth. From that time until Jesus was approximately thirty-three, there is little information available.

     It is widely believed that Jesus was a Zealot, one of the Jewish sects of Jesus’ time. The Zealots were advocating revolution against the Roman government. Christ intentionally broke many of the Jewish customs and Roman laws. It seemed clear he was not happy with the Jewish hierarchy or the Roman government. At his death, he was found guilty of sedition. Hanging on the cross was reserved for the worst of the worst. Always in public, primarily for humiliation. On the sigh hanging above his head: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."The persons hanging to his right and left were thought to be Zealots.Bandits. Fellow revolutionaries.

     Christmas and Easter are important times in the Christian faith. For me, Christ’s apocalyptic message represented a new beginning, perhaps in your life/faith. Regardless of our understanding, he clearly started something of a revolution. It would become known as Christianity.

·        “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth,” Reza Aslan.

THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A COMMUNITY GONE CORPORATE

The trials and tribulations of a community gone corporate:

1.      Corporations are notoriously non-democratic and are operated from the top down.

2.      Generally, a board of director’s is for show. I’m not sure why they waste their time with elections. First Electric recently had an election with one candidate, I’m sure an acquaintance of the CEO. That’s how our board is acting, although we are still wasting money on elections. Maybe this will change with the new board. Maybe they will finally take charge.

3.      Corporations are always top heavy with administrative types. Generally speaking, the more people you see filling in the gaps, the more inexperienced the CEO. We clearly see this in Hot Springs Village. A financial CEO short on experience to run a community. So we have place-maker, a restaurant director, and now, chief of resident satisfaction. A lot of administrative overhead that they don’t want us to know about, even though we pay their salaries.

4.      Secrets are the hallmark of corporations. They want to keep everything secret. And what do we have? A pile of secrets growing faster than the weeds in my yard. What do we pay Troon? What do we pay the CEO? The next five highest paid employees? Why rush to get things done before the new board members take their seats? They don’t seem to understand: secrets are the poison of any organization. And a secret never remains a secret, as long as humans are involved.

A corporation vs a community. Which do you prefer? I didn’t move here to watch someone try to urbanize the Village, or to be lead by a CEO who bought a book of corporate fantasy for $500,000. I like what we have, and with good leadership, the potential for what we could become.

THE WORKING POOR

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORK EXTREMELY HARD FOR THE MONEY THEY TO LIVE ON. TRYING TO IMPROVE ON THAT IS DIFFICULT. CHANGING $150 DOLLARS INTO $200 TAKES HARD WORK AND SOMETIMES TWO JOBS. FOR THE RICH, TURNING ONE MILLION INTO FIVE IS INEVITABLE.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"THERE'S NO MORE CENTRAL THEME IN THE BIBLE THAN THE IMMORALITY OF INEQUALITY. JESUS SPEAKS MORE ABOUT THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR THAN HE DOES ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL."

Jim Wallis

THE NEW BEATITUDES

• GOD COMES TO THE HUNGRY IN THE FORM OF FOOD.
• TO THE HOMELESS IN THE FORM OF SHELTER.
• TO THE SICK IN THE FORM OF HEALTHCARE.
• TO THE POOR IN THE FORM OF REBELLION.
• TO THE COWARD IN THE FORM OF COURAGE.
• TO THE LONELY IN THE FORM OF COMPANIONSHIP.
• TO THE GUN LOVER IN THE FORM OF NONVIOLENCE.
• TO RIGHT-WING CHRISTIANS IN THE FORM OF BIBLE STUDY.
• TO THE IGNORANT, IN THE FORM OF AWAKENING. (THANKS TRISH)

THINGS MY FATHER TAUGHT ME:

1.      Hold the door open for anyone older then yourself or a woman.

2.      Never fault a working man for wanting as much as he or she can get for their labor.

3.      Always, without exception, say thank-you.

4.      Never, under any circumstance, believe what a politician tells you.

5.      Big business is something you have to view with a lot of skepticism.

6.      You can become a Republican if you like, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

7.      Be respectful of everyone, regardless of color, social status, or disability.

8.      If you ever get the notion that you are better than anyone else, discord it.

9.      Not many things appear as they are.

10.   Never cry over spilled milk. Either slurp it up, pour another, or drink water.

11.   You can do whatever you want in life, but you can’t undo it.

That’s about as far as we got. My father died when I was 18.