Groupthink, The Thought Police, and Future Article in Need to be Published for the 99%

In 2004, the documentary The Corporation was released and featured in some indie film houses and later, through the now obsolete video rental stores and Netflix. It paints a broad portrait on how the corporation is structured, its mindset, and how information is filtered and tightly controlled with a unifying message. In short, this is the film of all films for why we're seeing a building movement of protests worldwide who are uniting to stop the wealth disparity.

Consumer capitalism's funadmental core message is simple: You're not o.k. and never will be o.k. There is this mythical, imaginary image given to you for how one day you could live like -- the 1 percent. And what's worse, this land is just down the road from where you live. The messages are fragmented -- anything from purchasing a reverse mortgage in conniving someone to believing they could earn money on their homes which usually the opposite occurs to an expedient, convenient way to earn a degree and become employed right away with plenty of time to spend with the family. So, how is the message created and who is behind it?

For the most part, psychologists and sociologists work to provide a better understanding and way of life for diverse individuals. However, there are many who abuse this profession for their personal gain. Corporations hire these people to begin the messaging process. What will visually attract someone the most? Who are you targeting? What is the most effective means to make someone feel insecure? And finally, how can someone be convinced what I'm selling is a necessity? Inevitably, ideas float around based on these types of questions and they ultimately end up in front of our faces, enticing us to live a lifestyle beyond our means.

The corporate stamped message is delivered to the masses. This is when it spreads like wildfire. Unknowingly, people begin a word-of-mouth process, convincing themselves they need what was just offered. Someone purchases from the message, creating envy among others. Profits begin to soar, as people rush to keep up with "The Joneses." It's everything from the free new toy in the cereal box on the bottom shelves at grocery stores where they're easily accessible to children to the latest cell phone device packaged with the fastest download speeds for all Internet, applications, and games features (I guess making a phone call is not what a cell phone is intended to do nowadays).

The People vs. The Thought Police

Around 1 a.m. a few days ago, protesters camped out in tents at Zucotti Park in New York City were abruptly interrupted by a policeman on a megaphone demanding everyone leave immediately. Take all belongings with you. Many had little to no time to react. Police set up barricades, dressed like storm troopers with heavy-duty bullet proof gear and shields over their faces waving batons, stormed into the park. Video footage shows the New York City Police Department senselessly beating individuals who were trying to move to a less congested area to those who were simply sitting on the grass saying their encroachment is wrong. After the chaos subsided, all the tents and personal belongings were tossed into dump trucks and likely sent to the nearest landfill despite claims people could pick up their items with verifiable state issued IDs at the santiation department's office.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg effectively united and reignited what was recently reported as a fractured community in Zucotti Park. Many were becoming frustrated with how donated funds were being dispersed. Some believed their demands were being ignored, while others continued receiving first dibbs. Now, all those who had their differences are likely to be more focused and determined to renounce the mayor's bogus claims that too much violence and sanitation concerns were reasons for staging a military stealth-like operation overnight. More support and even greater numbers coming out to protest will certainly be encouraging to see, but we can expect to see more resistance from officials.

The irony is this: The U.S. supports the resignation of Syrian President Bashaar al-Assad for the horrific actions he has had his military impose on the Syrian people -- actions that have resulted in numerous civilian casualties who are simply exercising their universal right to protest. We now see what our so-called blind allegiance to symbols like our flag have done to us. Whenever unpopular speech arises that questions and/or challenges the status quo, authoritative figures will inflict harm. This isn't just a U.S. problem right now. It has occurred throughout our violent history.

Adbusters, a Canadian ad agency who promotes anti-consumer messages, helped to form the Occupy Wall Street movement. We've already seen some great acts of humanity: sheltering and feeding localities homeless population, providing medical care at the encampment that doesn't require a referral or an outrageous co-pay, and most importantly, building solidarity and community with one another. This certainly is a movement in the right direction where perhaps one day, stereotypes about what we wear, the color of our skin, how our hair looks, and political correctness dictated by established institutions will erode away.

Future article idea

My girlfriend is experiencing the same frustrations I went through for 13 months -- finding a job. In this day and age of outsourcing, we typically view it as jobs being shipped overseas. There's another outsourcing problem we face -- staffing and temp agencies. Less and less employers in the Atlanta area are hiring for permanent, full-time employment. More and more staffing agencies are used as vendors to help companies trim costs on employee pay and costs of benefits. This is a growing epidemic, as Georgia was one of seven states to lose jobs in 2010. In the meantime, the Georgia General Assembly seems to feel issues like putting "In God We Trust" on all license plates and eliminating immigrant workers from doing what very little to any would do is more important than doing one thing -- presenting a jobs bill. To date, there has been none issued by Republicans at the state level along with the national level.

I would like to explore just how many of this area's top employers use these staffing agencies. How many of this area's workforce, particularly top employers like Home Depot where she worked before they saw it wasn't in their budget to hire her on permanently with the company, use these fly-by-night staffing agencies? What is the staffing agency's selection process? Is it based on merit or like everywhere else, on who someone there knows? How much of an economic impact have these agencies had on this area and state? All these questions really express the frustration all of us in the 99 percent continue to experience.

Is the recent uprising after 'The Arab Spring' about more than just class warfare?

Since 2001, we've seen more and more tax cuts passed that've greatly contributed to an unprecedented wealth disparity. The "Occupy" movement started in New York City and now has made a global impact. Naturally, independent observers and critics have questioned the organized efforts, claiming there isn't a goal or coherent message. The message is very clear: End the corporate crime and corrupt influence that has directly impacted so many lives. As former progressive Congressman Alan Grayson has repeated, There hasn't been one arrest made or trial conducted over those who continue to rig the financial game.

Yesterday, the United States along with the United Kingdom, were the only two nations who voted against accepting Palestine as a member of UNESCO, a humanitarian arm of the United Nations. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland dodged a direct question posed by a reporter. She was asked what "serious harm" has Palestine done that has outweighed its good to the global community. Nuland continued to persistently say the United States supports Palestine, but she never directly answered what "serious harm" the state has done. This vote should come as no surprise.

Each year, the U.S. and Israel have a strong business relationship worth billions for the U.S. in arms supplies for Israeli defense. Since Israel's independence and despite our mainstream press reporting, it has perpetrated numerous hostile aggressive actions in Palestine. The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. So, who shoulders the blame?

The Oligarchy and Oligopoly System

Political dissident Noam Chomsky said democracy always comes at the expense of others. So, one can argue Israel's democracy comes at the expense of the Palestinian people. And our democracy also comes at the expense of the Palestinians. Are we truly looking after this region's best interests or our own? It appears the defense contractors and our Pentagon have the gold and make the golden rule.

The "Occupy" movement has inspired many to come out and have their voices heard -- voices silent for too long by those with deep, deep pockets. Oligopolies like the financial industry are being targeted for criminal behavior -- setting up a manipulative system that will vastly enrich their own pockets at the expense of others; others who have had their homes foreclosed on by shady mortgage practices, going bankrupt from health care bills, long-term unemployed who view themselves as useless to society, and unions who ask for a fair shake at the bargaining table where they can still retire with dignity and security.

Canesha and I have been to a General Assemby and marched to Capitol Hill with Occupy Atlanta. Both events were peaceful. We heard stories from individuals who have personally experienced the aforementioned effects from our olygarchy structure. The message is clear: We want democracy for all and not to the corporations, for the corporations, and by the corporations.

Many of us have been through hellish times, but we shouldn't discount all those times we've had with those who truly love and support us. Canesha and I have had unique journeys. Famed author Paulo Coelho wrote: "We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to think you're on the right path, but it's another to think yours is the only path." We seemingly have too few in high places who feel their path is the only one. If you can't get on that path, then you will be stripped bare.

Old habits die slowly and painfully





I have a bumper sticker slogan on my Facebook page: WORK HARDER! Rich white people want more tax cuts. Unfortunately, this is neither hyperbolic nor sarcastic, it's become the new norm. Along with a growing number of Americans and fellow citizens of the world, I've grown increasingly frustrated and tired watching my tax dollars support the very few who set out to inflict distress and harm on others. The slices of pie have gotten thinner and thinner with each pay check.

Yesterday, commondreams.org reported that the top 10 percent of the wealthiest Americans own 80 percent of all stock shares. That's just the beginning of this looming myth that if we work hard and harder than the average person, we can live the "American Dream" and live a life of luxury. Well, then again these are stocks they're talking about. Isn't it well known rich people have always been the ones to invest? That's not all.

Data across the board from Congressional records to thinktanks to academic institutions tell us the top 2 percent of America's wealthiest earn more than the bottom 95 percent of us combined. WTF? So, isn't this something we see from those other dirt poor third world countries? Not anymore. The status quo has been accepted.

The average person may look at the tone of this article and say, "He's got a negative attitude. Why is he so down on everything?" No, I'm by nature an optimistic and passionate person. There's nothing wrong with putting passion out there with pragmatic solutions. So, here's a parting thought.

My Grandmother passed away late Monday evening after a difficult 23 months where she had little to no appetite and dementia progressed. She was one of the most selfless human beings I knew. If I could be half as selfless in my daily life, I know I can deliver more love and joy to others.

You or I can't force someone to be a nice person. There are many factors that contribute to someone's worldly view or lack thereof: socioeconomic status, nurturing, and environment, to name a few. People also get inundated with crazy, corporate-controlled ideas like ones guised by The Tea Party to blame their problems on minorities. My father said it best, "The data will lead the way." Right now, we need to collect this data and steer it in an entirely different path than the one it's on.

Grandma's Gifts

Grandma's home was open to everyone. A small, quaint two-story blue wood panel home with white trim, oak tree limbs looming next to it, an old, rusty swing set used by my father, his siblings, and their children in the backyard next to a wooded area, and a white barn with orange painted bars for fences where different livestock roamed -- pigs, horses, and cows were a staple of this woman's selfless life. All of us would enter the house with hands, feet, and ears frozen from the stinging cold to the warmth of a black iron coal furnace and sweet smells of desserts cooking in the oven for the evening meal. While our feet pounded the wood flooring and voices carried through the home, Grandma continued preparing the meal. She would rarely raise her voice or reprimand us for simply behaving like kids. Grandma symbolized that Midwestern unpretentious woman who was inviting to anyone of all shapes, sizes, color, and socioeconomic status.

Today, my Grandma's life is about to come to an end. We tend to all selfishly want that loved one to survive and never leave us. However, this post is dedicated as a celebration of a long, full life one tremendous woman lived.

My Grandmother was born and raised in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It was a time when those who didn't have much money did what they could to survive. She was an outstanding student and someone who was a voracious reader throughout her life. In her later adolescent and young adult years, a beautiful thick and wavy dark-haired woman would attend many social events. She was a bit of a partying woman with that Gaffney rebellious streak to her. Many women viewed it improper to drink a Manhattan, but not Grandma. She ended up meeting a tall, slender Irish-American man who worked at the time as a playwright critic for what is now known as Q Magazine.

Approaching an imminent threat by psychopathic dictators, particularly Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin, my grandfather enlisted in the U.S. Army as a foot soldier. Along with many brave young men, he stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day. This turned out to be a life changing event.

While facing gun and mortar fire, a piece of shrapnel sliced through my Grandfather's leg. He was carried a few miles to a camp by his fellow infantryman. At this camp, there was mass confusion on who my Grandfather was. His dog tags were broken, he was barely conscious and incoherent, and medical staff on hand initially identified him as a German soldier. At one point, a priest walked by where the wounded men lied. My Grandfather asked if his Last Rites could be cited to him. The priest replied: "I'm sorry. I only have time for the living," and continued his hasty walk past the camp.

Eventually, my Grandfather was airlifted to a nearby Air Force Base. Doctors inserted a prosthetic wooden leg. This would lead to a life where he would always feel shame and embarassment "as a cripple." However, he still managed to attend my father's academic and athletic events.

After the war, my Grandmother inherited farmland out in central Nebraska from an Italian-American relative, Angelo. They agreed and moved to Nebraska where neither knew anything about farming. Eventually, both worked to understand more and more. They raised cattle, chickens, and crops. Children came along and helped with the day-to-day chores, often waking up around 4 a.m. before school started.

My Grandfather was diabetic and suffered from bouts of depression. After moving to Nebraska and the horror still lingering from WWII, he became a heavy smoker and drinker. When my father was a sophomore in college, assistance provided by the G.I. bill, my Grandfather died suddenly from a heartattack. With one older sibling and two younger ones still in primary school, my Grandmother was left to raise her children on her own.

All four children graduated from college. They went on to have successful careers and great parents. The values my Grandmother instilled were never forgotten: always remain humble, love and respect all those you meet, forgive those who have done you harm, and respect and love all. Those values were passed down to me. I'll never forget two talks I had with Grandma.

One day, I cackled and mocked a grungy garbage man who used to pick up trash at our home in Niles, Michigan. She reminded me every job out there is important and added if we didn't have someone picking up garbage, think of the messes left behind. My attitude quickly changed. She finished by telling me all jobs out there are important and people work hard to provide for everyone. It was on this day I had a respect for all of our workers.

There was another occasion when my Grandma was discussing major American historical events. I asked an innocent question at the time about people of different color. She responded, "I see no color." This reminded me how the color of someone's skin by no means makes up what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once famously said, "the content of one's character." Even though to this day, we see ugly racial divisions in certain areas of our country, I hold those values Grandma instilled in me to respect everyone with mutual love and respect.

It was just a few years ago my Grandmother attended her first caucus meeting. She probably didn't think in her lifetime a woman had a real viable chance to be elected President of the United States. Her second youngest and only daughter who was a delegate at the time brought my Grandmother along. At one point, my Grandmother, quiet and reserved mainly among strangers, proudly stood up and voiced her support for Hillary Clinton.

She still has a Hillary Clinton sticker on her door at the nursing home and probably is the only Democrat in the building. Her selfless life she lived will always be remembered. Before responding in conversation, you would see her take a pause before speaking. Her gifts to teach us how to provide joy and love for others will always be remembered.

A long overdue review for the ghetto fabulous hotel my girlfriend and I stayed at over Memorial Day Weekend

If you ever plan to stay overnight in Savannah, Georgia, stay far, far, far away from the Savannah Suites hotel. I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about this place. If you ask anyone, I'm one of the last people to be concerned about hygiene and overall cleanliness. However, I didn't dare to even step into that bathroom's shower. You'll find out why after reading this "fabulous" (Canesha likes to use this term to describe herself) review.

I would like to have our next vacation destination be New England during the Fall season. The changing foliage in New Hampshire (been there) and Vermont (heard from others) is breathtaking. One day will be devoted to Boston and possibly taking in a game within the hollowed grounds of historic Fenway Park.

Canesha's spot-on review

My boyfriend and I had the misfortune of booking a hotel under a certain website that won't give the hotel name til after you book, taking a chance because they'd never screwed us over before. Somehow we ended up with Savannah Suites, and they weren't even the cheapest. The reviews already on here are spot-on, and though I'm not sure they're still doing it, the Savannah Suites off Memorial Drive in Atlanta used to rent by the HOUR. This is the kind of classless establishment we're dealing with here. So our expectations weren't high as we went to check in.

Whoever said that people -- people who look like they just got out of jail and are stil adjusting to see normal people in the real world -- like to stare down people going to and from their room was right. I'm a pretty attractive female, so that didn't help. The last day there, there was this crazy wild-haired woman sitting outside of one of the rooms with trash bags filled with junk (evicted?) and she joined in on the looky-loo parade too. She also tried to talk to my boyfriend about Mary Kay products (??) but he brushed her off quickly before she'd really have the opportunity to bring out the crazy.

The first room they reserved for us was actually a handicapped room. As soon as you walked in, you were hit by a musty smell. Imagine going into an old building that hasn't been cleaned properly in years -- it was that kind of odor.

The "carpet" was this thin, cheap grungy material that looked like felt. The little furniture that was inside the room was comprised of pressed wood and chairs that looked like they'd come from the '70s. The tv was at least 15-20 years old, a piece of big bulky junk. Everything just looked cheap, cheap, cheap, as if the greedy owners of this rat trap have never renovated it and bought a bunch of second-hand items that didn't even look good when they were new. The last straw was the shower in the bathroom -- we'd never seen anything like it in our lives! It looked like something out of the movie "Hostel." There were weird bars and contraptions in it, the shower floor was literally flush with the bathroom floor -- meaning there's no way to keep the water in the shower. And there was no shower curtain. Basically you're just supposed to stand there and let the water go through a hole in the bathroom floor.

We asked for a non-handicapped room, and this one was only slightly better. The shower had a curtain (imagine that!), but the funky smell was still ever-present, along with crap-quality furniture, pencil-thin mattress, "flimsy" pillows, and 20-year-old thin comforter. We spent as little time in that room as possible, and purchased sandals at the K-Mart across the street to wear while showering and walking in the room. When night came, so did a couple insect companions, including a baby roach on the wall. The ceiling and walls are thin, so when some wonderfully intelligent person inexplicably thought that it would be fun to stomp on the floor upstairs, it came through loud and clear.

The staff is comprised (with the exception of one) a few bitter middle-aged women who couldn't care less about keeping hotel guests happy. One was a bit snappy when we requested a room without a torture chamber in the bathroom. Another seemed agitated when we had to go switch key cards when we changed rooms (and to echo another reviewer, the key card didn't work when we tried to use it, and the staff member acted surprised and got maintenance to come try to fix it. I glared at their charade from the side, astonished by their "eff effort" attitude.)

The frauds who own this particular Savannah Suites should be forced to spend a night there, AND use the shower without flip-flops. Oh one last thing, the coffee machine didn't even work, somehow the water for the coffee spurted upwards, creating a mess.

In summary, I wouldn't wish a hotel stay on my worse enemy.

Room Tip: For the love of all things Holy DO NOT RENT HERE.

Ahhaha!! Yes, this was worse than a Griswald vacation hotel stay. There are just two omissions here. First, all the air-conditioning vents outside the rooms were bent. Finally, we accidentally left a few articles of clothing in the room (yeah, we wanted out). Guess what happened when we tried to have the hotel send us those clothes via UPS? Yep. We're still waiting on them to this day.

An alternate review of 'The Human Centipede': How far have we evolved or not?

Where do we as human beings rank among other species? One recent controversial, gratuitous horror film, The Human Centipede, could be viewed as a parody of the human condition. The film is set in present day Germany with a deranged surgeon known for his work on separating conjoined twins. At some point, he withdraws from his professional work to focus on an experiment: artificially conjoining animal and human subjects to create a centipede.

As the film opens, two American female tourists decide to travel to a nightclub. While driving down a secluded rural road, their car hits a bump that leaves them stranded with a flat tire. They finally see a light through the dense wooded region and see a house. Upon arriving, they meet a stoic, expressionless man who shows no interest in their accident.

The viewer can be quickly alarmed by the doctor's aloof behavior, as the women become more uncomfortable amid his presence. As expected, the uncomfortable, awkward conversation leads to a series of bizarre events, leaving the women completely helpless to the psychopath's actions. They're drugged, shown a slide show presentation on how the human centipede is formed, have their tissue surgically removed where bone and tissue can meet, and eventually are conjoined as a human centipede along with a young, Japanese man.

This dark, lurid film is shot with dim lighting. Camera shots zoom in on the surgical procedure, showing the doctor stenciling an outline around the jaw and knee cap areas and cutting open skin with a knife. His nervous anticipation to finish what appears to be a long awaited experiment for him can be seen by sudden, involuntary body quivers. Once the experiment is completed, he revels in his masterpiece and has his subjects treated akin to dogs.

Although the film's grotesque nature can easily be viewed by the average critic as over-the-top nonsensical violence, how does this relate to our condition? What do we really want to see in our everyday lives? Does tragedy and horror fascinate our imaginations? According to the corporate-owned media, yes it does.

Turn on a cable news network on just about any given day, and it plays out like a horror film. Segments feature inferences on what could happen if polticians vote a certain way and how that vote could leave us penniless one day, natural disasters, protests turned violent from excessive police or military force, a suburban child suddenly has gone missing as family, friends, and authorities frantically search to find him or her, mangled vehicles after a car accident that leave those involved seriously injured or killed, and a murder mystery quickly catches the audience's attention to play it out for the next few weeks. We kill more of our own than any other species on the planet. So, one can question how a film like this really taps into the deepest recesses of our primal instincts or has us rethink how our voracious vicarious appetites for death and destruction can be tamed.