Prison Economics

I came across something/someone... not even recalling if it was text or vid at this point... Anyway they listed a number of things currently made in prisons and the associated market shares. All military uniforms for instance, and much more day-to-day military equipment. The stereotypical example of license plates got mention as well.

It struck me that almost everything on the list was stuff that it would be politically prohibitive to defer to an offshore company. But were all items of the sort which in other circumstances often would be outsourced. I can't imagine folks tolerating contracts for Army uniforms being given to a sweatshop in Bangladesh. Or license plates being subcontracted to a firm in Mexico. Yet, these very same items are being produced by incarcerated individuals paid sweatshop wages here at home. A few dollars a day.

Perhaps a prison labor movement is needed to draw attention to this. In areas in which prison labor accounts for more than 50% of production strikes would be immensely powerful. And the situation lends itself to a strong 'two pronged' approach as well in that groups outside the prisons have direct economic interests involved as well. Having low wage prison workers suppresses jobs and deflates wages for those on the outside. And deprive external entrepreneurs and corporations an opportunity to freely get a share of the respective markets.

It may be effective to focus on motivating Americans to give more attention to our prisons through addressing the money issues first and foremost. Other moral concerns would piggy-back on such attention. Much simply by sharing the spotlight of increased focus and wider awareness.

Reflection

I've heard that 'world as a mirror' is a favorite metaphor of Sufism... hmm, Something to RUMInate on perhaps... ;-)

911 Musings

I remember tiring of the media blitz and walking the bike path along the river with two friends and a frisbee.

The uninterrupted sky—devoid of air traffic—cast a layer of serene peacefulness over the urban greenspace below.

And over us as well.

The wanderers who made their way through tree shadows and sunny grass fields.

Alive.

----------------------------------------------------------------

A little while ago a friend posted [on facebook]...
"i just saw "let's start a new kids game, cowboys n muslims" ugh. please take 3 steps back mankind."[sic]
...on another thread.

hmm, ...
"let's start a new kids game, cowboys n muslims"
...is a doozy.
Multifaceted in its reflections upon the American zeitgeist.
As it brings to mind the range of xenophobia, self interest, and generally warped impressions that shaped the conflicts leading to that which it references. i.e. 'Cowboys-n-Indians'.

I've heard it said that those who are aware of history are doomed to watch those who aren't repeat it.

It's interesting, to me, how despite regularly tacking on rational qualifiers what carries through to most—through the jingoism that's been swirling around for over a decade—is 'cowboys-n-MUSLIMS'. Not 'cowboys-n-Al Queda' or any such more specific version. Details and fine distinctions seem to be a challenge for mass minds. The original 'Cowboys-n-Indians' lumped a quite diverse range of peoples into one convenient target as well. [Funny that I don't recall ever hearing any major news outlets refer to "the SAUDIS who attacked the World Trade Center..."]

It's so much easier to avoid introspection when an amorphous 'them' lurks in the shadowed corners.

I'm imagining a movie scene in which a despot's regime hires caricature artists to draw life size paper images which are then placed in front of people as they are brought before a firing squad. Defendants made to wear masks throughout a trial. And so on. [hmm, could be a blank mask and then have the competing attorneys take turns drawing features upon it... but I digress...]

Sigh...

It's sad that many lives were intentionally destroyed simultaneously September 11, 2001. It's sad that many lives have been intentionally destroyed before and after.

It's encouraging that there are heroes willing to rise to the occasion—often risking life and limb—to pull survivors through the aftermath of tragedy.

Would heroes exist without tragedy and villainy? Or are they two sides of a single coin. Inexorably bound?

Sigh...

I don't know...

I don't know...

Do you?

Peace y'all.

-Kev-

Land Lines & Ether Nets

'We're all connected...♪ ♫'
Info injections
And trans-fusions
Meta memes
And transhumans
Brilliant sparks
And Mass confusions
Literary devices
And delusions
Silly bits
And allusions
Race on squirrel tracks
Supported by woody protrusions

Serpentine Serenity

Serpentine Serenity

A moment to unwind

Coils of Mind

A serpent tangled upon itself

Strain only tightens the knots

Relax and breathe

Loosen the nots, unweave

Gentle wills, rippling ungualations

Withdraw from dead ends

Shed the dead skin

To catch't the light anew

The scales wait impatiently

Itching to greet the sun.

Dream Mantra

Dream Dream Dream drea-ea-ea-ea-eahm...

Watching Ursula Le Guin's 'The Lathe of Heaven' made as a movie (circa 1980?). Rather liking it. Kinda' surprised that I was previoulsy unaware of it.

"The PBS version of the Ursula K. LeGuin novel "Lathe of Heaven" last aired in 1980." (from 'About' notes on youtube)

"Dream we are at peace with everyone. EVERYONE!" —Dr. Haber

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna, Krishna,
Hare, Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama, Rama, Hare Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna
Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama
Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna
Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama
Hare, Hare

Hare Krisna, Hare Krisna
Krisna, Krisna
Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama
Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Ram, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krisha, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krisna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare

'mornin...

Baltering With Keys

Tickling the ivor... well, plastic stubs with letters printed in their corners. Splayed beneath my fingers in a pleasant ergo split. Aging almond beige showing hints of yellowy-orange hues as skin oils, sweat, light and atmosphere take their toll upon the plastic shroud. The housing extends beyond the keys as a wrist rest. Not padded, just a curving molded plastic extension, but it's quite nice to have... here on my lap... I'd not previously given credit or taken full note of it... beyond it's added bulk that is. A Microsoft branded keyboard. I like it in spite of my prejudices. : }

The Music of GhoslyCast has been nice. Pretty much all up tempo w/ pulsing bass until now. Now is ambient ...and pleasantly so.

I forget what actually drew me to the site in the first place. Perhaps I'll check... ah, fancy digital (desktop) wallpapers, mostly colorful intricate geometries.

Geo metric trees... I saw -- read that is -- an article... well it did have pictures... hmm, methinks the language may be lagging behind or skipping the timescale aspect it seems inadequate at times like this. Perhaps it's my command of it ... perhaps it's both. Sprechen Sie...? Nur ein bischen... A weak American excuse... mea culpa... Mea Culpa , I think it means not what I think it to mean or more accuately not what most others are likely to understand it as. I suppose a word alway means what I think it means—in a sense—to me. In a way Lewis Carrol might enjoy riffing on.

What does the web, the mighty net, a google search have to say about it? Let us journey hence... "Mea culpa is a Latin phrase that translates into English as "through my fault"." via Wikipedia's preview on the search results... I was thinking "I'm not worthy" but "I'm at fault" actually fits the usage quite well. Better even.

"ENIGMA " Mea Culpa" (platinum version)", the youtube video offering...

Ambient with a slow bob. Gentle beat and 'tink'.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa, I can see a usefulness to it. Not taking blame for the death of Christ... although metaphorically, allegorically, I can grasp something there as well... breaking with the spirit through 'mea culpa' our, my, lusts and desires. Impatience and greed. A shadowy screed. wandering need for rhyme and poem to roam through my fingertips and little gray cells bound within a wall of skull and arogance. My feet used to prance when I was more into movement and less concerned with dance.

Tummy grumbles and knees itch to move. vid lays silent... oops shut off the groove... perhaps timely, I hunger and it's likely safe to come out of this room. I'll tip toe and listen like a thief in the night, like a hunter, like a fugitive, like an escaping slave trembling scared to travel and scared to get caught in swirling thoughts hears the belly speak once more. Naught to do but peer around the door with sense and senses...