Category: #history

Stupid Shit I Did

jamie

Back in the 70s, we lived near Buffalo. I had a Canadian friend who used to get us all into a lot of trouble. I recall we smuggled fireworks and beer back from Canada one time. Stuff like that.

One such time found us in Fort Erie, Canada, right across the Niagra River from Buffalo, the Peace Bridge connecting the two countries there.

International Railway bridge to USA, Fort Erie Canada

Just north of the Peace Bridge there’s a railroad bridge, crossing the teeming Niagra River several miles above the falls. That one summer day, I found myself in a parking lot just downstream from the bridge, drinking beers and probably smoking weed. I had no idea what was about to happen.

This isn’t a story of tragedy. No one was ever hurt. All the more reason to say, specifically to my kids, but also to yours, Kid’s don’t try stupid shit like this.

Now, I won’t draw things out, I’ve embellished enough.

Before I knew what we were doing, we found ourselves walking out into the railroad bridge, our Canadian guide assuring everyone he’d done it many times before. When we reached the appropriate spot, he started climbing, up above the track level, where we all stood watching him climb.

A good 20 feet over our heads, he suddenly stopped, yelled something I don’t remember, and threw himself off the girder, into the wind above the rushing current, his curly blonde locks trailing behind as he flew through the air.

He seemed to fall forever, and I remember him doing a flip about halfway down. I’m not sure if that really happened, or if it’s just an embellishment that grew into “truth”, as I retold this story over the years. What seemed like a couple minutes later, he hit the water and disappeared under the dark green rushing waters.

A couple of guys immediately jumped from the platform right after he hit the water, taking them slightly less time falling before disappearing beneath the dark waters.

They all came up eventually, after what seemed like a lifetime. They reappeared above water about half a football field downstream from where they hit, and started swimming hard towards the breakwall, and the ladder to safety. Miss that ladder, and who knows where you would be able to get out of the river, before being washed downstream towards Lake Ontario. Over the falls.

This is a story about peer pressure. There was no going back. Accept the fear. Then jump. They made it to safety. We all figured we could too. And we did. I swam harder than I’ve ever swam before or since, to make sure I caught that ladder.

I told myself it would be ok. Then I jumped. The fear was gone. So we’re the excuses. Just me against the river. Cliche I know. But those moments where you MUST succeed. Do or do not, there is no try. Those moments change you. Forever.

When I finally hit the water, I remember wondering, “How deep will I go?” as the momentum carried me deeper and deeper. For a second I wondered if I would make it back to the surface. I’m not the most buoyant person. The water was dark, green and cold, and I started swimming across the current, toward the ladder even before I eventually surfaced.

I swam so hard that I reached the wall way above the ladder, I had to tread water and wait to drift downstream to it. Some of us went for a second round, and a couple people tried the higher perch to jump from. I remember walking back onto the bridge, watching them jump, and then walking off the bridge again, to dodge a train coming through en route to Buffalo. I guess I didn’t want to tempt my fate twice.

I think about what would have been, if I had chickened out, and never made that leap of faith into that river. Maybe it gave me confidence later in life. Or perhaps it just made me more cautious. Either way, every big decision I’ve made since has probably been affected by this one moment.

I find myself reflecting about it, not to encourage myself to cheat death, but to remember to live. To be not afraid to leap into destiny, with enough faith in ourself to come out the other side better for the journey.

I’m pretty sure it’s also one of those moments that remind me not to be such a dumb fuck.

If I was a Simpsons character…

[Disclaimer: The Bridge is only 22 feet above the river, and the shipping channel is pretty deep so, perhaps my memory embellished the experience and potential dangers just a tiny bit).

Boulder, CO. Where the Hip Meet to Trip.

jamie

That was title of the 1979 Time Magazine article about Boulder Colorado. Naturally, I decided to go to college there. Mostly to get as far away from home and my Goldwater Republican parents as possible. I stayed in Boulder over the summers, to avoid conflicts. It was a different city when the college wasn’t in session. I think we met Morris the first or second summer.

They called it Guyana Punch, and the Guyana Parties at Morris’s place on The Hill were legendary.
Everyone brought a bottle. Liquor, any kind was acceptable. Everclear, 151 rum and vodka were the foundation. Water, KoolAid and assorted juices and fruits were added, and the party was off and running.
Somewhere during the evening, sheets, tabs, and assorted microdots always found their way into the punch, and everything got colorful and weird.

Music. Usually Grateful Dead tapes from some show someplace that was “the best trip ever”. Great times. Great people. Great music always makes the scene.

When the punch eventually ran dry, and all the places to buy real beer were long closed, literally hundreds of people tripping their balls off wandered off into the Boulder night on their own psychedelic adventures.
I remember one night after Morris’, we ended up smoking weed with these girls at this witches coven house down the street. At least I thought they were witches.

At some point, my buddy Adam turned into The Devil during the Stones Sympathy, and I wandered off, caught up in one of those trips, where facing one’s own fears turns into battles with demons and dragons. My roommates spent hours looking for me. I spent hours looking for me, too. Eventually I wandered home I guess, because I woke up there the next afternoon. Nobody remembered and dragons or witches but me.

All things must end. Eventually, the Guyana Parties did too. Morris, the Cat who threw the parties (and probably always dosed the punch) moved on to who knows where. Times changed. We grew up.

The Boulder scene changed a lot when the cocaine started rolling into town. Coke and acid really don’t mix. It changed the party. The whole scene, and not for the better.
You don’t threaten to kill people to get more acid or mushrooms, but with meth and coke, lots of liquor…you never know.

Things melted down. People ended up in jail. Everyone was a narc. Nobody could be trusted. Eventually, I was glad to be out of the hip-meet-to-trip delusion. Every trip ends, I guess. Everyone I knew got out alive, so I figure it’s a win.

I’ve stumbled into a lot of crazy party scenes since, and sooner or later the mood always gets heavy. It’s all fun and games. Then they change the meds, some new people change the mood, and everything changes with it.

Not usually for the better.

Who do YOU blame?

jamie

Why is our government STILL occupied by treasonous traitors? Why is there a bill in Congress that gives the President power above and beyond the reach of the Supreme Court?

Democratic Enablers. The Status-Quo Dem Leadership is aiding and abetting the coup.

So far, the Dems are going with “strongly worded letters” and political posturing. That’s the entire reason why this bullshit is continuing. Democrat negligence.

The military can end this.
MPs can retake the Whitehouse, arrest the Traitors and put them on trial for Treason.

The regular rules no longer apply when the highest court of appeals has been corrupted. Every legal challenge will end with a Pro-MAGA outcome.

An objective, military tribunal MUST replace the authority of SCOTUS until the coup is neutralized.

The military, under the authority of The Constitution, must intervene to preserve that authority. Military force must be an option, to retake the Whitehouse from the traitors, and put ALL of them on TRIAL.

A public trial, on television and the web, for all to see, must be IMMEDIATE and fully transparent, FREE on every network and news feed for the entire nation to watch.

That’s how it ends. Well, one possible way. It’s also the way that the LEAST NUMBER of innocent Americans are injured or killed.

If the troops have to burn down the Whitehouse, to uphold our Constitution and prevent the harm that is happening to millions of innocent Americans, it’s worth it.

If we have to turn his Mar-A-Lago McResort into the 19th hole on his golf course, it’s worth it.

Dems need to think beyond the normal scope of political obstruction. Which, incidentally, the Dems aren’t even really doing. How does Pam Bondi get confirmed? How does she even get a vote? Hegseth. Kushner. The fucking Genius Act?

Complicit Democrats are almost a worse problem than MAGA Republicans. Almost.

America is Coming Out

jamie

At least now the United States will have a President who accurately represents the American Republic. Trump is not a symptom of American decline, but the result of it. A criminal. Mobster. Abuser of rights. Plunderer of resources.

He personifies all the worst things America does. No filter.

America has been an imperial power since WWII. Buying or taking whatever we want. Under cover story of stopping communism, we’ve invaded Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and more. If we can’t win using economic warfare, like tariffs and corporate invasions, we send in the marines.

All of it “to protect vital interests”.
Like big oil and gas profits, and ensuring infinite future profits for the weapons industry.

Sold to the highest bidder. Everything is for sale. Except for peace. We sell weapons to both sides to ensure that unrest continues in the world, because a world without warfare is much harder to exploit for profit and power.

All the unrest and violence in the world also enables a nearly $1T per year military budget, further ensuring the profits and stabilty of weapon manufacturers…and their ever growing stock prices (=huge profits for the rich and shameless).

But good news…we’ve finally come out as a country. Now, our president will be a mob boss. No more hiding, pretending to do good.

Hey world: It’s who we really are. The Home of Monopolies and Organized Crime, The Land of the Deceived.

All that “protect the peace” and “promote democracy” BS is just the cover story. Again and again we make the rest of the world “an offer they can’t refuse”. Our words are backed by aircraft carriers, stealth bombers and nukes. Who’s gonna argue? Who’s gonna be the first next to get fed up, and decide to fight back?

I guess we’re gonna find out. And soon.

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

Self Care

jamie

For the record, if it sounds like I’ve lost my sense of humor, I have. There is nothing funny about any of this, and I’m keeping my head down and remaining on full defense. Call it Self Care. It’s not paranoia if they ARE out to fuck you. Trust me, they are out to fuck us. Most of us.



The next few years are going to be unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. People we know and love will die. Women. Children. Trans kids. Refugees. Journalists who dare report the truth.
All Unnecessarily.

People are going to lose their freedom for standing up for what is right, against a completely corrupted government with zero tolerance for dissent. There will be protests in the streets, and violence when Trump sends the military against the protestors. I’ll keep speaking out, like this. Until it becomes too dangerous, or they come for someone I know. Then it’s war.

Simply put, if you aren’t on the right side of history, I don’t need you in my life. On social media and real life. Friends. Family. ANYONE. If you’re still cluelessly sitting on the fence, YOU ARE on the wrong side. I might try to school ya, but only if it doesn’t cause me too much stress and pain. It’s easier to block and ignore.
Like I said: Self care.

This is a hill I will die on, figuratively, but also literally if they come for people I care about. If you didn’t vote, voted 3rd party, voted for Trump, you are on your own. Because you voted to hurt people. This isn’t just about political party, it’s about morality. It isn’t just politics. This is basically America’s moment of Truth. Our own little custom Armageddon, and ironically, the Church is on the wrong side. Maybe it’s because they aren’t reading their Bibles. Or maybe they are, and they’re actively working with the Orange Anti-Christ to make it a reality…to force Jesus to come back or some dumbass bs.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not getting all religious. I do believe in a greater power, but i don’t think Jesus is coming to save us. I think we need to save ourselves. I’m just pointing out the obvious similarities between Revelations and Reality here, while knowing there are other, more tangible explanations for them.

Look. Above all, this is about defending myself, the people I love, and all the good people who value the Truth, from harm. Keeping the pain as far away as possible.

It hurts to talk to certain family members. So I don’t. I won’t.  That’s the simple truth. They’ve become immoral and represent everything I detest about America. About Humanity. I may love them, but I have no room for that negative energy in my life. No room at all. It just brings me pain. And right now, I’m not looking for that in my world.

You know what I’m about to say.
Self care.

In The Beginning…

jamie

In the beginning, man created God. And in his image he created Him. And when man had learned to use his God as a power to control and exploit the fears of his brother’s and sisters, he looked upon his creation and decided it was good.

In later days, Jesus came out of the desert, and tried to show people the path to inner freedom, free from the slavery to a false god and it’s creators. The same church people who created this God, put Jesus on the cross to shut him up.

Now, as we stumble blindly into the apocalypse, Jesus has come back many times since, an archetype for a stubborn world that never learns. Each time, the Church, or King or council of elders, or right-wing political party, uses their influence and power to silence His voice. Before He can get people to listen. To wake up.

The ‘religious elite’ have learned their lesson about making martyrs though, so they no longer have public trials and executions of people for heresy and witchcraft. The modern church has evolved, and secular government has replaced many of the functions previously served by religion. Now they work together.

The faceless elite, churchy or not, now know it’s much easier to ruin reputations with baseless accusations, or imprison their critics for crimes they didn’t commit. Or for treason or terrorism.

Another Jesus silenced. The power struggle continues. With Them on top, because They control everything. Except our thoughts, though They are trying to do that too, using the mainstream and social media to spread propaganda.

The voice of the next Jesus may be crying in the wilderness already. Somewhere nearby, a ‘faithful Christian’ is planning to ‘shut that heretic up’, any way possible.

(Authors disclaimer: for any MAGA moron who might read this and think, I’m talking about Trump, you are wrong!)

This is not a Christian nation. It’s a nation in which you are free to be Christian.
For Now. Keep pushing this unconstitutional bullshit, forcing your beliefs upon the rest of  us at your own risk. Fuck around and find out how fast we start crucifying your hypocrite asses.

You Dirty Commies!

jamie

They want you to be afraid of Socialism and Communism because they would hurt the 1%. The ones who make the rules. Our owners, as George Carlin would say. Because the answer is simple. They would have to give up some of their wealth to make the system more fair.

They pulled a switch on us.
They took our legit fear of certain autocratic Communist and Socialist regimes, and turned it into a fear of communism and socialism. The Cold war fears of Russia, China, and Cuba, thanks to the valid threat of nuclear annihilation, became a fear of Communism and Socialism.

They told us to be afraid of corrupt autocratic governments that took away the rights of their citizens, who might lob nukes at us. They used those fears to make us afraid of the economic theories that attempt to redistribute wealth more evenly, and make things better for the common folks. Why?
For One Reason:
To protect their wealth, power and control.

But it’s not the appropriate-ism that was ever the problem with China or Russia. It was the autocratic part. The corruption. Because corrupt autocrats seek to limit freedoms and take away rights.

And the nukes. Don’t forget the nukes. We now know that Communists ALL want to nuke everything good.

Socialism and communism are actually about social justice. They are about ensuring basic needs for people as human rights. They are about freedom from hunger and disease. Equitable distribution of wealth and goods. For all people, not just the ones who can afford it. Nothing to fear from, unless you have WAY too much and you’re worried someone will take it away and give it to someone in need.

You could actually make a better case that Capitalism is humanity’s grand problem, because of the inherent inequality and exploitation. Greed without controls or conscience is a recipe for mass cruelty. Capitalism is out of control in America, and Congress is complicit.

They want you to be afraid of Socialism and Communism because they would hurt the 1%. The ones who make the rules. Our owners, as George Carlin would say. Because the answer is simple. They would have to give up some of their wealth to make the system more fair. And THEY are the insatiable rich, who thirst for more no matter how much they already have. Gluttony. Greed. Capitalism. All one in the same thing.

Democratic Socialism is just capitalism with a conscience. Let the rich get rich. AFTER the rest of us are out of poverty. AFTER everyone can see a doctor and not worry about the bill. The important things that everyone needs must be a available to all. Owned by all. Not profit centers for the rich and shameless.
You can still make a killing selling people shit they don’t need…after we guarantee that everyone has the shit they DO need. Science says if you end poverty, crime is virtually non-existent, while productivity and knowledge increase…along with happiness.

Increased happiness goes a long way to solving social problems of all sorts. From shoplifting to school shooters. Happy people with their needs met (physical and psychological) don’t do that shit.

Yes, this is the picture I chose. #selfie

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.