Fall is in the Air

I've been busy, but have found plenty of material to chew over between work projects. Well, you know, political conventions and all. And the Fogust lull; finally broke this last week, first predicted as an internet swell - then the real thing arrived. The weather started to go off too. Great combo, but you can't always get what you want - it's high tide all day. Nevertheless, the swell got big enough to hold it. I've jotted it all down in a random sort of way, but first a short science fiction tale.
Imagine a visitor to our planet who has seen it going through the changes wrought by man and nature - mostly man. This vistor was also witness to cultural changes. He saw us lock animals away, he saw us lock each other away, he saw hope in the cultural revolution of the 60's, and saw that hope fade into the vacuum of the 80's and 90's. He saw the advent of global warming and its effects. In the end he recognizes the whole process is just that - a process. With the end of one phase, he was ready to witness the birth of another. Here's the story.

I just want to talk to you
I wont do you no harm
I just want to know about your different lives
On this people farm
I heard some of you got your families
Living in cages tall and cold
And some just stay there and dust away
Past the age of old.
Is this true?
Please let me talk to you.

I just wanna know about
The rooms behind your minds
Do I see a vacuum there
Or am I going blind?
Or is it just the remains of vibrations
And echos long ago?
Things like love the world
And let you fancy flow
Is this true?
Please let me talk to you
Let me talk to you.

I have lived here before
The days of ice
And of course this is why
I'm so concerned
And I come back to find
The stars misplaced
And the samell of a world
That is burned
A smell of a world
that is burned

Well, maybe,
Maybe it's just a change of climate
Hmm,
Well I can dig it
I can dig it baby
I just want to see

So, where do I purchase my ticket?
I'd just like a ringside seat
I want to know about the new mother earth
I want to hear and see everything

Might go well with some music.

I got an idea for the next generation surf contest - the Sharks replacement. PleasurePointSurf Virtual Surftest - The contest is to be held in one day. Contestants can surf wherever they wish along Pleasure Point. In exchange for the entry form and nominal fee for a tee and prizes, each contestant will be given a score form. After a contestant surfs a heat, or heats - wherever and whenever the heat takes place - the contestant must fill out his or her score form and submit via email. The score form will have three sections. In the first section, the contestant will score their best three waves - honor system. In the second section the contestant will provide a narrative regarding their best wave - nothing would be over-the-top. In the third section, the DYSM section, validation of the contestant's surf session, or particularly great wave, will be provided - give witness to your greatness. Once the forms are in - a judging panel will review the forms and rank the first four places. All contestant will be mentioned, and good narratives and DYSM descriptions will get posted. The prizes will be distributed at a groovy surf gig somewhere - we never really need an excuse to have a groovy surf gig - Lance - I may need your help here. I've scrapped together the all important logo - the all seeing eye - the virtual judge - above.

Now - Notes from the Field.
A new government study shows most corporations pay no income taxes in the United States. According to the Government Accountability Office, 72 percent of foreign-owned companies went at least one year without paying taxes over an eight-year period. 55 percent of US-based companies also went at least a year without paying.

Thursday, August 7, 2008 - Georgian forces and separatists in South Ossetia agree to observe a ceasefire and hold Russian-mediated talks to end their long-simmering conflict. Hours later, Georgian forces launch a surprise attack, sending a large force against the breakaway province and reaching the capital Tskhinvali. South Ossetian rebel leader Eduard Kokoity accuses Georgia of a "perfidious and base step".

A week later, Rice regarding situation in Georgia - "Georgia, whose territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty we fully respect, must be able to go back to normal life," she said. And, "The United States of America stands strongly, as the president of France just said, for the territorial integrity of Georgia. This is a member state of the United Nations and its internationally recognized borders need to be respected. The provisional ceasefire must go into place."

But a year ago;
"At least 372 Lebanese, the great majority civilians, have been killed during the conflict, which is now into its 13th day. Thirty-seven Israelis have been killed, about half of them civilians. An estimated 600,000 Lebanese have now been forced out of their homes. The Israeli offensive began after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on 12 July. Israeli bombardments devastated Hezbollah strongholds in south Lebanon and southern Beirut, but also targeted civilian infrastructure including roads, bridges, the international airport and power stations."

Rice was not interested in Israel ceasing hostilities in the Lebanon case. "We all want to urgently end the fighting. We have absolutely the same goal," Rice said. But she added that if the violence ends only to restart within weeks, "then all of the carnage that Hezbollah launched by its illegal activities — abducting the soldiers and then launching rocket attacks — we will have gotten nothing from that."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters July 18 that “a cease-fire is imperative and we have to keep working to reach that objective.” When asked if a cease-fire should take effect immediately, Rice responded, “We all agree that it should happen as soon as possible when conditions are conducive to do so.” Body count?

Essentially, because it served their purposes, the USAdmin allowed the Israel-Lebanon conflict to continue – no pressure. On the other hand, regarding Russia and Georgia, an immediate cease-fire is being called for. In one instance you have Ossetian separatists attacked by Georgian troops, who in turn are attacked by Russian troops backing the Ossetians. In the other instance, you have Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon attacked by Israel after Hezbollah kidnaps two soldiers– where Israel takes license to destroy much of Lebanon’s infrastructure, although they aren’t directly involved. This is a perfect example of why the globe considers the US biased, self-absorbed, hypocritical, inconsistent, confusing, and just plain untrustworthy.

And the hypocrisy doesn’t stop:
The US state department has said recognition of the two provinces' independence would be "a violation of Georgian territorial integrity" and "inconsistent with international law". No way – “… it was the United States that set an example after it invaded sovereign Iraq and overthrew the local government. It later separated Kosovo from sovereign Serbia.”

All right - can we stop the bullshit and actually act as a fair arbitrator that the global community can trust for just, noble, and humane positions? Leadership that moves away from violence – But how can we be motivated to stop violence when we are the largest suppliers of arms on the planet? What would the market say? MilitaryIndustrial Complex and peace don’t mix.
Let’s get real - Stop?

Once the propaganda machine kicks in, there is no stop. Public opinion is polluted and uninformed, and given politics for what they are, the leadership on all sides just steps to the propaganda stomp – even if they know better. And then there’s the Western Media Outlet – overpowering all other information channels so that even the globe is swayed – at least those whose ear is cupped toward the West. The Russian/Georgian conflict and the Israel/Palestinian conflict are just two examples. If you’re willing to put the time in, you can develop a full-blown story and come to a more informed opinion. After that - dismay that the rest of the voting public doesn’t want to be bothered. United Macho States of America.

A US District court has ordered former White House counsel Harriet Miers to testify and White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten to turn over documents related to the firing of federal prosecutors. The Bush administration indicated it would appeal but Justice Department lawyers said Wednesday that they will ask the court to step in quickly and temporarily put Miers' appearance on hold while the appeal plays out. If the appeals court refuses to temporarily block the testimony, it would essentially be endorsing Bates' ruling against the Bush administration. Miers likely would have to comply with the subpoena, setting a precedent that would give Congress new teeth in its investigations and weaken future presidents. What’s wrong with this outcome? I don’t understand the part about weakening the president and allowing Mier’s to skip testifying. I can’t say it enough – transparency in government is essential to our understanding of government for the people and by the people. The president or anyone of his advisers need to be honest about what they are up to. Period. It’s not a matter of presidential power. It’s about our involvement in government – if we don’t like what’s going on, we should have the ability to change it. But if the workings of government are hidden from view – How do we know if changes are necessary? Why are those in leadership positions trying to hide their actions? – Actions taken on or behalf, and supposedly for, our benefit. Get over the power trip and advocate transparency – so we are all involved.

Most of August – small south pulses at first bowl and second bowl only rideable at the right tide before tide goes to low and the kelp takes over.

29, 30 August – waist to shoulder high northwest swell with wind swell components second bowl.

2 September – buoys just showing south at 175; internet swell predicted, maybe tomorrow some strays will sneak around the corner and beat the internet.

3 September – no ‘gar – buoys still show a steep swell, and as of 2:30 pm, not much was making it around the corner.

More God talk:
• Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a "task that is from God."
• "Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God," Palin said. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God's plan."
• Palin also urged ministry students to pray for a plan to build a $30 billion natural gas pipeline in the state, calling it "God's will."
• Palin even told God how to get it done - "God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that,"

4 September - south swell has arrived and the masses attend the alter. Unfortunately, I was stuck in Watsonville when the evening session was about to kick off. The Harvest Platform buoy shows 3.5 feet from 180 at 14 seconds. Tomorrow.

5 September – swell still on, it’s Friday, and throngs have made their pilgrimage. The buoys show 2.6 feet from 185 at 14 seconds. My surf check validated the buoy report, and confirmed that the beautiful weather continues. Regrettably, high tide is a factor until this evening – when the east wind may take over – I must chose the worst of two evils. I had fun at the Steps - but where did the wind swell mix come from?

Back to Palin and God. This “God’s will” thing is not good. It takes the place of hard decision-making and relieves responsibility for decisions – a perfect facade for a politician. Let’s consider an example – Palin’s fifth child. While the country is swooning about the fact that Palin is caring for a child with Down Syndrome, no one is questioning the decision to have a fifth child at 44 years old while her husband works and she ambitiously serves as governor. Decision. The decision not to practice birth control - the decision to load more human ecoprints on the globe – the decision to take a significant chance that a physically or mentally impaired child will be brought into existence – weighed against? Maybe there was no decision. Maybe it was “God’s will”. What other decisions will be left up to chance – oops, I mean “God’s will”. My take - You have free will, not God’s will, so use it wisely.

6 September – swell still on - 2.3 feet at 14 from 190. Surfed the Steps with an east wind building the easterly wind swell. Scalloped face made for a difficult session. Got a few, but didn’t feel just right.

7 September – swell actually picked up. On the buoys, it shows that it wasn’t the swell as much as the direction that kicked the swell up. Out at the Bay buoy, the swell registered 2.6 feet at 17 seconds form 210.

Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace. -Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president (1890-1969)  ¶ 10:20 PM