Saturday, April 7, 2012

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Graphs For The Weekend

And continuing with a well-liked (mostly) weekly theme...The Weekend Graphs fit nicely for today's letter "G".

It's a fast read, a little humorous, and fun to spread around the water cooler (like the next batch of flu).

Now go out there and be agent zero for this epidemic of laughs!

Enjoy...

funny graphs - Forever Negative

funny graphs - An Endless Cycle

funny graphs - Fighting Crime Fills the Void

funny graphs - Perfect Posture


And my dog(s) fit this one to a tee!

funny graphs - He's Just Trying to Help

funny graphs - Universal Management Flow Chart

Hurry on to H >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Friday, April 6, 2012

Today's Apocalypse Sign: The FDA

Does this symbol make you feel warm, fuzzy and reassured?



Does this one let you sleep at night knowing virtually everything you ingested today was deemed okay to do so by a government agency?




Is it reassuring that the FDA's process is redundant and thorough so no chance of any dangerous drug getting through to the public exists?



Yeah, me either.
Why has the FDA forced the cigarette industry to include all manner of warnings (graphic and otherwise) yet stopped short of banning smoking for carcinogenic poisoning of the public (including kids)?


And why do they approve only 3 methods legally allowed to be prescribed for the treatment of any form of cancer? They are: Surgery (traumatic and debilitating), Radiation (something that causes cancer to treat cancer? Is this Dr Suess medicine), Chemotherapy (see Radiation above).


MONEY

That is the answer. Big Pharma money, cancer research and oncology medicine money, money thrown at the FDA by the same companies that seek their approval. My God, in this economy, what kind of hit do you think the nation would take if all cigarettes, cigars, and pipes were declared illegal tomorrow? Add to that, what would happen if all-organic and natural cures for virtually every disease were allowed to be openly offered to every patient as a legitimate alternative to side-effect laden drugs and crippling treatments? The ripple effect of this being grants for research drying up, institutions of higher medical learning rendered unnecessary, etc.

Society as we know it in the USA would be in total chaos. The economy today would look like the biggest boom ever compared to the next few weeks. Worse yet, in an ironic twist of cruel fate, too many people would continue to live. We need a certain amount of death to occur as this planet grows a population out of control every year. Right? Soylent Green is people.

More sinister than that, what if THAT is the real reason behind the FDA? Seriously, a government agency that has the power to STOP gruesome smoking related deaths and they do nothing but make it a choice for the public. Yet this same agency will not allow a doctor to refer me to the Burzynski Clinic for proven cancer curing treatments. In fact this clinic has been targeted on numerous occasions for illegally prescribing unauthorized treatments. It is now "FDA approved" for Stage III clinical trials (must meet criteria). The criteria is "DND"...Damned Near Dead from radiation, surgery, or chemo first.

As my only politically opinion-laced post of the Challenge (I hope), I ask you to write your senator and congressman and plead with them to disband the FDA. For some of us, they have already killed family and loved ones in the name of greed and profit. If or when you receive any medical diagnosis of some seriousness, please do your homework and do not be talked into anything. That is the medical community's biggest weapon. Fear and urgency. Resist. Research. Nothing is going to kill you in two days.

Unless you give the doctors the chance.

Thanks for listening. On to G.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Edgar Cayce - Seer Or Nut Job?

For those of you who have never read any of his works, Edgar Cayce was a writer/psychic who lived from 1877 - 1945. For over forty years he induced himself into an out-of-body state of consciousness and sometimes did this mutiple times a day (like me at work). It is said while is this hypnotic state, he gave over 15,000 "readings" for people in his lifetime.

circa 1910 (from Wikipedia)


Cayce wrote dozens of books on everything from dream analysis to past lives to health remedies. His books on Egyptian civilization are really spellbinding reading. Once I started his books (when I was much younger) they kind of shaped my open-mindedness of thinking about things beyond the normal senses. I could close my eyes and imagine all these fantastic things he talked about from his "readings".  I would guess I have read approzimately 20 of his works.

This was no commercial stage act or cash generating sleight of hand, it makes a good case for real psychic abilities to actually manifest themselves in normal people from time to time. It is in a word...believable. Much of what Cayce saw, said and felt during these reading in fact bore out his statements. This was not generic "interpret it how you like" generalizations. Much of his information was very detailed and specific. Many of his predictions came to pass.

He had readings on aliens, Mayan's, Atlantis and even how the New Age that is coming on 12.21.12 would unfold. Less a world destruction and more a rebirth.

If you have any interest in this subject matter I strongly recommend taking in some of Cayce's literary works. At the very least it is fascinating to read.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Double Dose

Today you will receive not one but two D words.( I chose Double Dose as the title rather that Double D, you can understand why.) They go hand in hand, that is to say they are related.

1) Disaster Kits

2) Doomsday Preppers (the series)

We'll go in reverse order here, Doomsday Preppers front and center...



I LOVE this show on NatGeo. Cannot get enough of it. These people may seem wacked out to normal people but since I am not normal I think they are simply exercising the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared". Sometimes to the extreme, but that's why I like it!

Each episode follows 3 separate Preppers in various parts of the country as they describe what they do daily, what they stockpiled, what they are preparing for (reason for the doomsday), and then an analysis by Prepper Experts (no kidding, they exist) as to how well each has prepared and recommendations to better their prepping. All wrapping with a final word from each on what they have done regarding the recommendations.

To let you know how serious this shit is, the first episode was about a family who already has stock piled a food cache to last 15 years for their 20 people band of survivors! They have built a compound out of 9 shipping containers, have two school buses converted to "bug out" vehicles, practice drills on loading and evacuating their compound (should it be compromised), and fire arms practice. And these people live just 35 miles outside of San Antonio. Not too far from me should I need to form a marauding group to hijack their supplies.

Some of these people have bought everything from an old missile base in Kansas (cost the government $4 million to build in 1960) bought by this hippie dude and his wife for $40K. This place is HUGE. Another guy bought 42 old school buses and buried them under ground in a complex. Covered them with 18 inches of concrete and like 20 feet of dirt. He can house 500 kids to rebuild the world!! Name of the place? Ark Two. Catch a few of these on youtube or NatGeo and you'll be hooked...AND you'll go out and buy SOMETHING prep related I promise. (I did)

Wouldn't you like to be a prepper tooo!

DISASTER KITS

Here are a few cool links to pop into your Favorites list to visit after the A-Z is done and you're ready to relax.

Nitro-Pak Survival Kits - Everything from MRE's to potassium iodide tablets. This site is the shiz.

Emergency Essentials - Mostly a large variety of food stuffs. One cool thing is the little map where you can click on your state and see a customized list of things to prepare for...not all are end of the world.

Kits4Disaster Survival - Mostly medical kits for various needs from pet survival to portable hazmat stations. Don't you love this shit!!

Emergency Kits for Groups - To keep your friends from killing you off first...be the one with the group kit. Smaaart!

SKO - Pre-made kits or customize your own. Single or family of four. 3-day post disaster kits. Shop til you drop.

Ready Gov - And finally a planning site for everything including the Indian Country plan. Ironic that when disaster strikes, NOW we think of the native Americans. We've come a long way from Plymouth rock. Nice.

Now I need to go add to my food stockpile...see you on the E side.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Chains, Alice In

During the early 90's my musical taste received an upgrade. I was mostly a classic rock kind of guy. It wasn't quite as classic then as it is now. Zeppelin, Stones, Pink Floyd, Clapton, etc. dominated my radio station and CD (do they even make those any more??) collection. Most were 20 years or so beyond their heyday. Now the DJ's playing the classic rock music are 60-yrs+. Does it boggle anyone's mind that a 70-year old could be jamming to Zeppelin this very minute?? It does me.

Anyway,

Around 1992 my future wife and her friends introduced me to the "new" music. It all started with Hunger Strike by Temple Of The Dog. It was the first exposure to Eddie Vedder and the "Grunge" era. It was a quick progression to Pearl Jam, STP, Soundgarden, Nirvana et al. Something about the music was right in my listening wheel-house. I was now officially a grunge/alt rock devotee.

One day I heard Rooster on the radio. It seemed like a time warp song. Nineties music with a Vietnam theme...it made me sit up and listen and then immediately I needed to know who that voice was. It turned out to be Layne Staley and the fantastic band Alice In Chains. (More changed than just the classic music, band names became head-scratchers at times as well.) This song was about guitarist Jerry Cantrell's father's Vietnam experience (he was the Rooster in the song). I needed to hear more from this band.

Alice In Chains produced four studio albums. My favorite was their second album Dirt. This album had no "sophomore jinx". It reached number 6 on Billboard and went 4 times platinum.The album was released in '92 and spawned 5 powerful singles from '92 to '93.  I have included two of the best at the end of this post. The backstory of the album is typical of the times and the industry.

Layne's vocals and guitarist Cantrell's searing riffs and vocals were an experience to listen to. Their 1996 MTV Unplugged performance is one of the best if not THE best unplugged set ever recorded. I played this CD into the ground when it came out. I could have gone and watched them perform this live every week. At the top of this site there is a page with all the videos from the show. They are HD and if you have any fanship of this genre of music, you will not be able to stop watching until you have seen them all. At least that is what happened to me and inspired the page in the first place.

Then of course...Layne Staley died of a heroin/cocaine overdose on April 20th, 2002. The band broke up for three years and then reunited with a new lead singer. As good as Cantrell is...it's not as good as Cantrell and the mercurial Staley.

RIP Layne, you selfish bastard!

This is a great song, listen when you have time.



Down In A Hole lyrics

Bury me softly in this womb
I give this part of me for you
Sand rains down and here I sit
Holding rare flowers
In her tomb...(in bloom)

Down in a hole and I don't know if I can be saved
See my heart I've decorated like a grave
You don't understand who they
Thought I was supposed to be
Look at me now a man
Who won't let himself be

Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, losin' my soul
I'd like to fly
But my wings have been so denied

Down in a hole and they've put all
The stones in their place
I've eaten the sun so my tongue
Has been burned of the taste

I have been guilty
Of kicking myself in the teeth
I will speak no more
Of my feelings beneath

Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, losin'' my soul
I'd like to fly
But my wings have been so denied

Bury me softly in this womb
(Oh I want to be inside of you)
I give this part of me for you
(Oh I want to be inside of you)

Sand rains down and here I sit
Holding rare flowers
(Oh I want to be inside of you)
In her tomb...(in bloom)
(Oh I want to be inside)

Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, losin' my soul
Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, out of control
I'd like to fly
But my wings have been so denied

Another great song.



Little know fact: the members of Metallica were in the audience for this show and the writing on the bassist's guitar was a reference to the fact that all of the Metallica had recently shorn their locks before making their epic monster album - Load.

C you tomorrow for D!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Belize It, It's True!

Belize. Sun Dancer Live Aboard. Life is good.


For one week in June this will be home for my wife and I. The 138-foot luxury live aboard Sun Dancer II. Click the link above to take a virtual tour of the boat. It is amazing!

Belize is located just south of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and borders Guatemala to the east and Honduras to the north. The cayes off the coast of Belize are where much of the diving takes place, but several dive spots are a little far out for a comfortable day trip, therefore...the live aboard.



My wife is leading a dive trip of 20 people and gets to travel for free...making the cost of my trip to join her, doable. Every couple could take a vacation like this if only one person had to pay!! This is similar to what we did last year on our trip to Fiji (see page tab above for the exciting Fiji story and it was also my F post for the A-Z last year). And the bonus is once again we will be celebrating our wedding anniversary in an exotic locale! AND everything including alcohol is paid for!! Sweet!

A live aboard is just like it sounds, we will be living aboard this boat (hell, it's a yacht!!) for the entire trip. We arrive in Belize city on June 16th and board the boat that afternoon. It will sail out from Belize to several dive sites over the week we are there (including the famous Blue Hole, which is so large it is actually visible from space. My wife dove this site a couple years ago and has wanted to return ever since, have a look...

Hence the name...Blue Hole!

The Blue Hole is roughly 1000 feet across and over 400 feet deep. It is actually a sinkhole that developed thousands of years ago. It formed off the shore of Lighthouse Reef atoll which is about 43 miles off the coast of Belize. You can see why at that distance the live aboard option is best. Plus the boat will visit other sites that really are only accessible via live aboard so the diving will be exclusive.

Since I am not a diver I am looking forward to some lazy days. Snorkeling, sunning, napping, eating, drinking, repeat. No cell phone, Internet, TV...just actually talking to people and photographing the experience. There is also an older lady going who is not a diver and she was on our Fiji trip so when all the others are under water for their dives there will still be someone to talk to...if I want to. I predict an overall relaxing, decompressing week.

Please check out these two links (videos) and tell me this is not going to be great!

http://bcove.me/ml8n8eas  Belize background and diving (3:44)

http://bcove.me/rhfnkviu  Tour of the Sundancer by the captain (5.04)

The last day before we head home the boat will land and a day of cave tubing will finish off our trip before we board our flight home. I am also hoping we will be close enough to the Mayan ruins that are in Belize to at least see them and get a few photos.

Yeah, you wish you could be there, right? You can bet I'll be reporting in when I get back.

Happy B day!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Apocalypticus...Beginning Or End?

Welcome one and all to the opening event of the A-Z Challenge! Brought to you by those famous doomsdayers Mr Koolaid himself, Jim Jones and Reverend Sun Yung Moon. I hope you enjoy this ride through the month of April.



The Apocalypse. End Of Days. God's Do Over.

Whatever you want to call it or whatever you might believe in...this is the magical year it is said to occur. Who said it? Well, the Mayans of course. Those zany ancients with the wacky calendar and sense of humor to go with it. To whit...


December 21st, 2012 or if you like...12.21.12. Ahhhh, I remember my first concert was Rush's 2112. Was that a precursor of the Apocalypse? Or was it simply Geddy Lee getting his nuts crushed not unlike the grapes of wrath? Those high notes in Temples of Syrinx speak to the latter.  I believe I have wandered a bit off course (which to those who frequent this space is nothing unusual).

Okay, more on point, the debate over what may happen on that date is ranging from the pessimistic "nothing" to the optimistic "zombie apocalypse". All those who loved Zombieland (and Bill Murray specifically) raise your hands. You may sit down. There are many streams of thought in between. Solar flares (brought to you by the new rap group EMP). Social unrest (so Egyptian). Nuclear war in the middle east (damn you ahmadinejad!). Financial collapse (Buffet would kill for a Cheesburger In Paradise about now). Or mass suicide via the demise of Facebook ("can't update my status, oh life's not worth living").

If you are on the "nothing" side of the fence then you are missing out on a year of fun that you will never see again...no matter what happens (or doesn't). This is a great time to get creative. Wrap your head around this concept...money making opportunity abounds for those shrewd enough to go for it. Then if everything goes to hell (or not) it will have been a complete waste of time...yet those who believe the end is here will spend the most freely!! Kind of blows your mind when you get right down to it. Better take a break and get it together...


There, feeling a little better now? Good. Let's continue...

Throughout this A-Z Challenge I am going to interject apocalyptic posts with some abstract material. Mainly because I can't make up my mind and get distracted real easy...and I like weirdness from time to time.

I don't know what is going to happen in December. If I were still a betting man (and used waaay fewer parenthesis) I would say my trip home for Christmas is not in danger. But there's that little irrational voice in the back of my head saying, "yeah, but what if the Mayans really were visited by aliens?"  Wha - What?? Yuup, thoughts of the Alien Apocalypse are now dancing in your head, am I right? Now this is a possibility. Edgar Cayce has always scared the shit out of me with that stuff. And it seems there is plenty of evidence when you read his works. Who knows...maybe THAT'S the end.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my humble contributions to the A-Z Challenge. With so many great and articulate writers in the mix I'll be gald if you just make it to the end of my posts!

I know one thing...I am not going to any partys this year that feature Koolaid! Any flavor...

May the force be with you...til tomorrow.
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