Oh my, Musk

Musk says he's going bankrupt with tw*tter, and honestly, it's not a surprise but we're talking 44 billion. Do you know how many homeless, hungry, sick could have been helped with that money? Or how about puppies for kids? Parades for veterans (Happy Veteran's Day, btw) or maybe a spa day for cancer patients?

That has to be the fastest money bleed known in history. And why? Why . . .

Well, you know how I feel. I think the whole thing went down right before the Midterms on purpose and now that they're over, well, he doesn't need tw*tter anymore. Poof. He's done.

He probably thought he'd have fun with the $8 blowhard blue check scheme only to watch it explode like an entire fireworks display on the 4th. People were buying the blue checks with false accounts then spoofing high profilers who had earned their checks previously. Like I said, the star-bellied Sneeches didn't know whose belly had stars from the start. Total romper room chaos, and he is the babysitter. 

Pretty sure he's out of here and going back to Starlink because . . . he's selling Tesla stock too. Hmm. 

Look, I don't mean to get on the guy every darn day, but let's face it, he does some fairly SUS shite and I don't like it (or him) at all. He didn't even invent Tesla. That was another one of his purchases. 

What do you think of,  um, M*sk? Be nice and don't cuss too much. 

*these are only my opinions and not fact. the above is for entertainments purposes only*

It's all good

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Many are sad here in the US that we did not have a blue wave or that the Robert Kennedy-ish Beto O'Rourke and amazing, strong Stacey Abrams did not win their states, however I think what we are seeing is actually really, really good (though I am truly let down they did not win). Tr*mp's picks, which toured the land with Q music and all sorts of strange antics like blood-red lighting and crazy fireworks, LOST. Now he is the uncool kid at school--everyone is calling him out and telling him not to run in 2024. He's lost his power. He's bellbottoms in 1985. Even if a few of his picks get in, they will turn from his influence and go to the winning side. And as for us blue folk, we gained seats and also have independent newbies who will be allies. That's a huge relief. So, I am not crying, I'm actually super thrilled about these events and what they mean not only for democracy but for certain document stealing ex-presidents to be held accountable at long last. 

It's like, you can cry over not getting a white cake with yellow flowers, but what's the use if it's a yellow cake with white flowers? You still have cake. It's still good. 

Let's enjoy the cake and not shed any tears. Things look good.

Musk we?

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As soon as Elon M*sk began saying he'd buy twitter I logged off. Then when it looked like he wouldn't be able to, I came back. That meant losing my list of followers and having to start all over again. But I don't breathe the same air as fascists or use the same social media. It was easy to see what the outcome would be if he bought the app--and indeed my fears were correct: I saw Musk allowing hate speech (not free speech) to take over. From what I've heard it happened instantly. 

Here's what gets me, and I've probably written this exact same thing but bear with me, WHO allowed him to buy Twitter, WHO gave him the money, WHY was he allowed to do it? My guesses: money-hungry losers, R*ssia/S*udi/Ch*na, money. 

Musk was on my radar back before P*tin invaded Ukraine. I saw that he was about to do something and began alerting everyone, but no one listened. When he offered Ukraine the use of his Starlink satellites, I got a bad feeling and went on *twitter* saying, "DON'T USE STARLINK--if you do it will find your location and P*tin will use this information." Indeed, time after time groups of people inside apartment buildings, hospitals and schools were blown up. Now, did Musk know this? Or was he/is he being used by nefarious forces? His track record of abuse and bullish ways tells me that doesn't matter--what matters is he isn't to be trusted. 

Disclaimer--the above was my intuitive opinion. 

When he admitted he works with R*ssia and got in trouble for it, he backtracked and went on a new revenge to buy Twitter. And it happened. Then he lets antisemitic K*nye back on (who started a GOFUNDME to get his 1 billion status back--good luck). M*sk doesn't really care about twitter, or you or me. He wants money and control. He doesn't like the word no and will do stupid, foolish things out of revenge. He's a tool for the GOP. Twitter will go down the sink and all that money too.

The White House and President Biden used Twitter and that's where I see this all as an act of war against Democracy right before the midterms, just like DeJoy was used (and is still being used) to slow down the post office. Wouldn't want those darn paper ballots to get counted in time--but guess what? All ballots are paper ballots. Duh. People, if you are mailing or dropping one off at a box write the date in bold letters on the envelope. Check your voting location. Be wise. Every vote counts-- especially yours.

They are saying the red meanies are ahead--but that's because they polled Betty in the middle of nowhere MIDWEST, USA. Betty answered he landline because she thought it was Paula calling about the church dinner. The polls aren't accurate, but the massive number of pre-ballots are. Still, vote. 

What if it does come down to a 100 vote difference for your candidate? That means you truly do make a difference. Andy Warhol said every person has five minutes of fame, well, maybe this is yours. Get out there and do it. 

Lastly, they are saying things like, "Tiffany doesn't care about abortion rights, she cares about how expensive everything is!" Wrong. Tiffany cares about herself, her mother, her sister, her daughter, her neighbor, etc. And despite what Tiffany has told you, she's going to vote the way she feels. She's voting for women in America. Don't f*ck with Tiffany. Get out of the way and let her vote.

People have died in wars so we can vote. Never forget that. 

The Beatles in India

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Last night I watched the documentary The Beatles and India which describes the band’s time with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi that stretched from the London Hilton Hotel to a retreat in Wales and then across to India. A string of other well-known figures in England and beyond were part of the entourage of seekers who followed along, but The Beatles clearly were used to advertise and confirm the Maharishi's burgeoning influence as well as the transcendental movement as a whole. The film is well done, highlighting a specific event that changed each member of The Beatles forever.  

Not a lot has been known about that time as much of it steeped in the mystical experiment which was to be kept sacred, but the film does a good job of not only providing details of what the Maharishi thought of each Beatle, but where they slept and meditated, as well as moments that provided songs in the conclusive ‘While Album,’ which we all know was heavily influenced by events of that time. We also get a soundbite from an unearthed interview with George Harrison where he explains the frustrations of being famous when all he wanted to do was travel and blend in like any human. He was on a spiritual journey and wanted no part of the press ruining for him. 

Sadly, in a short span of time The Beatles went from child-like devotion to bitter rebellion with the TM movement, and well, the Maharishi. To be fair to him, he gave them a gift they desperately needed—a way to break from addictions—including toxic people and situations. They were heavily into LSD and some members had begun to dabble in heroin, so meeting the Maharishi was a healthy alternative. TM in general is meant to teach self-dependence, to go within without seeking outside authority.  In a few years’ time, the music scene would lose both Hendrix and Joplin to drugs, and you can only guess Lennon would have followed suit . . . if not for TM and the Maharishi. Think of it, the world would have never heard “Imagine.”

The Maharishi himself, a childlike joyous creature, was human and people forget that. He had a test as we all do at some point in our human existence, and he failed momentarily. It would be hard to be around the brightest and all that fame, and not fail at least a little. Yet it is said that he provided them with a great tool—to elevate and go within. To deal with life on a simple basis. To be organic and clean, and vulnerable. That’s a beautiful gift. As far as I know, the Maharishi went on to serve many in the same humble way, without failure. Did he proposition Prudence Farrow (Dear Prudence) or was it all a lie? Without a yes or no, because none of us where there and the movie does not provide an answer, I think it’s fair to say that anyone who followed the Maharishi to India was there for some-thing. Was he unethical? Certainly not on the level of a Jim Jones—which is how many psychopathic cults end up. I don’t think he was anything near that level of cult. It was a movement and a teachable era. It was healthy for The Beatles to be part of it, and also to end their association. If TM teaches you anything, it should be how to think for yourself.

I loved how The Beatles and India showed how much they learned and how the process affected many. Sadly, manager Brian Epstein died within that process, but the experience can still be felt. Two vignettes in particular which I find touching: John going up in a helicopter with the Maharishi (hoping to get “the answer”) and being shown that the people in the valley would wish for them to crash because they were poor and someone like John crashing into their world would equate a falling star coming to earth. John said to the Maharishi, “If you don’t move your ass on the seat, their prayers will be answered.” Typical John. Another time, a young woman was shivering inside the group during a nighttime gathering and sweet George offered to share his shawl to keep her warm. She expressed great sorrow in having said no to him. What could have been?

We all know the events, but we do not know the fine details. The Beatles and India does a good job at providing the answer.

If you are a die-hard Beatles fan or even a lukewarm lover of the band, give it a watch. It's well done and shows an important part of rock and roll history.

 

November 8th

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In just a few days we vote in America, and though the thought of permanent fascism being part of our landscape I'm more than ready to end the endless run of political ads and chaotic fodder which has spread worse than a virus. In Kansas we voted to preserve a woman's right to choose and I suspect that will end if the wrong candidate wins next week, yet honestly I can't see this happening--Democracy has a bigger chance of winning because it is the thread of this country and always will be. You'd have to call us the UNunited States, the Fascist States, or worse, Tr*mp Nation. Yikes. I don't care if you like him, but this is a democracy fought and won from King George. No more tyranny, thank you very much. Land of the free and all that . . .

The worst part of this election cycle is the deniers--those running for office who have already claimed "they won." Like a sore loser at a baseball game, "I'm going to win!" Well, catch the ball then. Do something to win. Show us what you're capable of, how you'll serve and then hold tight to those promises. I remember playing baseball one summer season and I was terrible, horrible. the worst. That's what made the one time I hit a ball to third base so fantastic. People congratulated me, cheered, patted me on the shoulder--the memory is happily frozen in my mind for eternity because I earned that applause. I knew that most of my time in the game was low level stuff and so that one Victory was well enjoyed. My ineptness was real, and a reality. How do you win if you can't or won't play? These candidates who won't debate, won't say how they'll represent ALL THE PEOPLE, won't show signs of being able to work with others, and worst of all who won't concede . . . should they be running? I say no. It's tiring. Let the best man or woman win, if they'll WIN. Lose if you lose. And if you do lose, you concede and let us move on. 

Unfortunately, we are bound to spend the next month or so with back-and-forth results, lawsuits, and headaches of the political kind. I can't stand the thought, but this is a game after all. Freedom is hard fought and preserved. At the moment we have armed men at voting stations, threating and intimidating, and on the news they paint a doomsday picture of loss. It's all done to make us apathetic. No. GO OUT AND VOTE.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS. Every single one.

This is your ballgame and you can win, but you have to play.

This is Halloween