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Below are the most recent 25 friends' journal entries.
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| Saturday, October 11th, 2008 |
nebris
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10:44p |
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nebris
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10:24p |
Her Prophet Rambles On A Bit.... ~I wrote this in a fevered rush a few days ago at around one in the morning. It's 'semi' Stream of Consciousness in that I did start off with an agenda of related items I wanted to address. I do veer all over the map, but I touched all the bases I wished to. I suppose I should re-title it "Her Prophet Rambles On A Hell Of A Lot". lol
( ~Ever successful guru I've ever encountered was a con artist and a hustler... ) Current Mood:  loquacious |
nebris
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1:18p |
MAGPUL Masada / Bushmaster ACR - Adaptive Combat Rifle (USA) 
..yes, this is a 'civilian' weapon.. Current Mood: cheerful |
nebris
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1:17p |
Sun Tzu's Six Principles Win All Without Fighting [how to achieve the objective without destroying it]
Avoid Strength, Attack Weakness [strike only where the enemy is most vulnerable]
Deception and Foreknowledge [how to win the information war]
Speed and Preparation [moving swiftly to overcome resistance decisively]
Shaping the Enemy [selecting and preparing the battlefield to your advantage]
Character-based Leadership [leading by example]
[The basic text of Sun Tzu on the Art of War] Current Mood:  contemplative |
nebz_rytz
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12:07p |
"Prelude on The Evening of a Harlequin" [unfinished] ~This is a novella I started a few years ago that has since stalled. It is only in the last few weeks that I realized why it did so.
Like almost everyone in this culture, I am an Individual, First and Foremost.
E pointed out that as I am functionally an Only Child [ten and half years older than the nearest sibling], largely grew up among adults, and lived in books and fantasy worlds for most of my childhood, I am even more an Individual than most.
But the society of these women is based upon The Trikona, the 'bond group' of three Sisters first made in childhood and replicated throughout all important relationships.
That is my challenge as a writer, to reset my mind and feelings toward the Trikona, to show how it permeates everything in their lives. And also how they are each still individuals while being so deeply bonded to their Sisters.
I finally realized that “Prelude” is based upon an Individualistic view of the world and therefore fails to truly represent this society, so I am setting it aside.
However, it does have a lot of good material to work with and, while it is now 'on the shelf', it has been an important laboratory in experimenting with this universe. ( So, here is what I had done with it so far... ) Current Mood: contemplative |
nebris
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12:06p |
"Prelude on The Evening of a Harlequin" [unfinished] ~This is a novella I started a few years ago that has since stalled. It is only in the last few weeks that I realized why it did so.
Like almost everyone in this culture, I am an Individual, First and Foremost.
E pointed out that as I am functionally an Only Child [ten and half years older than the nearest sibling], largely grew up among adults, and lived in books and fantasy worlds for most of my childhood, I am even more an Individual than most.
But the society of these women is based upon The Trikona, the 'bond group' of three Sisters first made in childhood and replicated throughout all important relationships.
That is my challenge as a writer, to reset my mind and feelings toward the Trikona, to show how it permeates everything in their lives. And also how they are each still individuals while being so deeply bonded to their Sisters.
I finally realized that “Prelude” is based upon an Individualistic view of the world and therefore fails to truly represent this society, so I am setting it aside.
However, it does have a lot of good material to work with and, while it is now 'on the shelf', it has been an important laboratory in experimenting with this universe. ( So, here is what I had done with it so far... ) Current Mood: contemplative |
nebris
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10:25a |
Out-of-state Mormons pouring millions to defeat gays in California. And they're succeeding. From America Blog
"Please join our campaign to raise money to defeat Prop 8 in California. It's a religious right/Mormon initiative that would repeal the marriages of thousands of gay couples in that state. The latest news reports show that, while we were winning, we're now losing. Folks working on the battle tell us that it's all a matter of money. The bad guys have $10 million more than us (thanks to the Mormons). If we can only raise enough on our side, we can win."
Go there to read the rest and to donate! Current Mood:  aggravated |
| Friday, October 10th, 2008 |
nebris
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11:24a |
"In Other News..." Current Mood:  cynical |
nebris
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10:39a |
Quote of The Day "I sit there and I look back and I'm like, 'I'm a smart person. What the hell was I thinking?'" ~Britney Spears Current Mood:  really |
nebris
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10:38a |
Even Political Whore Gergen Is Worried Current Mood: cynical |
nebris
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10:37a |
Spam Name of The Day Cullen Clutterment Current Mood: calm |
nebris
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10:36a |
Five From McClatchy This Morning American heartland is suffering from Wall Street's woes
While all eyes are on Wall Street's plunge, the snowballing financial crisis is sending an already weak Main Street economy into decline. Dispatches from McClatchy newspapers in 30 U.S. cities make it clear that Main Street America is suffering from the deteriorating health of Wall Street. Banks are unable or unwilling to lend amid the growing crisis, and that's deepening the downturn.[Read All]
China's sitting on piles of money. Why won't it help?
China sits on a huge pile of money, and its policymakers crave global assets. So why doesn't China spend a little and save the world from global financial meltdown? Economists give a number of reasons why China prefers to sit on the sidelines of the global turmoil, focusing instead on protecting its economy and maintaining growth powered by consumers at home.[Read All]
For legions of lawyers, bad markets are good business
As the corporate victims continue to pile up in Wall Street's great financial collapse, that flapping noise coming from the skies over Manhattan isn't the pigeons circling, it's the vultures. With personal fortunes, retirement savings and institutional assets evaporating each day, swarms of attorneys from some of the nation's most prestigious firms are positioning themselves to cash in on the escalating misery.[Read All]
Struggling KC area food pantries issue plea for help
If hard times have found you, you're likely to find they've hit area food pantries too. An Excelsior Springs pantry is completely out of cereal. A midtown Kansas City pantry no longer gives out snacks or juice. Another has no hygiene products. Many pantries are in a double bind: More people are coming for help, but donations are down.[Read All]
Sacramento voters displaced by foreclosure can still vote
After the bank took Amanda Moore-Stevens' Sacramento home last year and her husband died of a heart attack, changing her voter registration to her new address was not a priority. "It wasn't something I was thinking about," said Moore-Stevens.[Read All] Current Mood:  quiet |
nebris
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1:07a |
Now We're Getting Down To Brass Tacks  [Spread The Love*]
*some Deep South shithole of course Current Mood:  U Tel, 'em, Rufus! |
| Thursday, October 9th, 2008 |
nebris
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4:47p |
Writer Specific Article @ io9 Current Mood: contemplative |
nebris
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4:46p |
No On 8! Current Mood:  militant |
nebris
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3:48p |
I'm Thinking About It  Current Mood: amused |
nebris
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3:47p |
Gordon Brown considers legal action against Iceland "" Current Mood:  harder, deeper, faster |
nebris
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3:46p |
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nebris
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2:12p |
Alaska Supreme Court won't halt 'troopergate' probe From McClatchy
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Alaska Supreme Court today rejected an attempt by a group of six Republican legislators to shut down the Legislature's investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin.
The ruling means that Steve Branchflower, the investigator hired by the Legislative Council, will release his report as scheduled on Friday.
Branchflower is looking into Palin's dismissal of her public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, and whether she improperly pressured him to fire a state trooper divorced from her sister.
The state Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Texas-based Liberty Legal Institute and Anchorage attorney Kevin Clarkson, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Alaska Republican state legislators opposed to their colleagues' investigation. Current Mood: cheerful |
nebris
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2:06p |
Wall Street Lays An Egg  Current Mood:  ouch |
nebris
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3:33a |
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| Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 |
nebris
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5:20p |
Just Read It! Current Mood:  cranky |
nebris
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4:10p |
Battle of Angamos: October 8th, 1879  "The Naval Battle of Angamos (October 8, 1879) was an important struggle in the War of the Pacific, where the Peruvian ironclad Huáscar was surrounded and captured by the Chilean Navy. The captain of the ironclad, Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau, was killed in the combat. After this battle, the Peruvian Navy was unable to prevent the invasion of its territorial sea. The seas were cleared for the invasion of Peru and Bolivia."
Battle of Angamos Wiki
War of the Pacific Wiki
Huáscar Wiki
~I expect most of you have never heard of The War of The Pacific. I knew about it tangentially for about thirty years because of my study of British warship design, but didn't know much of the details until the last few years and that is solely because of the Internet.
It is very important to all of the former combatants, so much so that the Huáscar herself still exists. And she is a Steampunk dream come true.
( Mas Huáscar Aque... ) Current Mood: cheerful |
nebris
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2:04p |
In Which Her Prophet Gets A Message Straight Outta DreamTime ~Early this morning, just after I posted those two “The Economy Is Globally Fucked” entries, I had a moment of Deep Despair. I was thinking about The Temple, about working on the rest of Her Prophet Explains, and feeling like I was on an utter fool's errand.
I suppose all the Recent Drama had also contributed to that state of mind...along with our personal finances.
In that moment I could not see how the thing could ever be made to happen. It was pretty bad, so I just took a really hot shower and crawled into bed.
And I had a dream...an extremely vivid dream, and that type of vividness is always a Sign for me to Pay Attention!
I'll not go into all the details as it was rather complex. But the overall completion of the thing was roughly 'Harry Potter as written by William Faulkner.'
It clearly was taking place in an 'America' of some sort and I was part of some extended Majickon Clan. Even the Rents were in it, but were actually supportive, which is most amazing.
I was a child in the beginning, five or six, but seemed to grow quite rapidly. The key event was a gathering of my Clan. There was a meeting about the Hows and Wheres of our future and there was a division between two camps. I was in my late teens by this point.
I spoke in an aside to a few of the Elders while the leader of the other faction was expounding upon his ideas for our future. He was younger than them [early forties?] and very full of himself.
I do not remember exactly what I said, but it was about how he was totally ignoring Instrumentation in favor of Majick and I said that, without a blend of the two, Instrumentation would consume us.
I also said outright that I was certain it would consume him, as if I saw it in a Vision....which I did.
The Elders were very impressed with this insight.
And then I woke up...because I had to pee.
I lay down again for an hour and a half, but did not sleep. Instead I drifted and reexamined the dream as best I could.
What was utterly clear was that the 'Instrumentation and/or Majick' issue was clearly about The Second Valance, The Pentavalent Is An Adaptive Metaphysical Operating System . [click on link for details]
And the entire dream was about 'the Elders' telling me that I am upon the Path I am supposed to be upon. And that The Temple will come to pass, even if such happens after my life time.
I also noted that the most personally supportive members of my Clan were all women. Even my mother was kind and understanding. Like I said above, most amazing.
I feel much better today. I even realized that the Recent Drama could have a somewhat positive effect. By making me and mine look ridiculous, certain parties have made us appear less of a Threat. And that allows us to fly 'under the radar' for just that much longer.
Life can be funny like that... Current Mood: content |
nebris
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3:05a |
$2 trillion in retirement savings wiped out From Chris in Paris on America Blog
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
I realize that the much larger problem today is that the lending system is shut down but long term, losing $2 trillion (and likely a heck of a lot more) is unthinkable. We have friends who have lost 20% since opening an IRA at the start of the year, though that was the figure three weeks ago. It's surely much worse now. Will the market bounce back? Probably, but how long is it going to take to recoup those losses? How many lost months, possibly years will it be? Americans rely on the success of Wall Street for their retirement much more today than in the past so whether we like or dislike Wall Street, we're stuck with the results.
I started my business career working with Japan so I've always had the bubble stuck in my head and today I can't help but think about the Nikkei peaking at almost 39,000 at the end of 1989. Today the Nikkei fell over 9% and is sitting barely above 9,200. Japan has never bounced back from the 1980's bubble. The economic dynamics of the two countries are obviously different but even Wall Street stagnated in a tight range of trading for most of the 1970s, offering little growth.
Now that this is very much a world problem, central banks are all offering plans to rescue their system. A global coordinated effort would be ideal though in such a climate of panic, this will be a challenge. This morning the British government announced a new $350 billion plan to back up the banks and (in theory) force them to lend to consumers and small business. The banks will also have to slash (or cut completely) dividends and "take into consideration" executive compensation, for whatever that's worth. Remember, the UK population is only 60 million, so these are substantial figures.
European markets are falling hard out of the gate (5% to over 6%) so we may be seeing the next round of emergency action in the US very soon. Current Mood: shit |
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devious