Whilst perusing an in flight magazine, I couldn’t help but notice it filled with all white folks except for one advertisement from Cirque De Soleil featuring a man of color as some wild beast for their “KA” show.

Then another ad with a dark skinned brother jumping in jazzy Gregory Hines fashion.

Another ad with football, so of course, there were ‘black’ men playing sports.

Three ads of women in scantily clad clothing, airbrushed bodies beyond nature, selling food and drink from various pubs.

People of color are here to entertain while women are here to serve.

Thank you white male hetero-normative dominated culture for yet another lesson in who we’re supposed to be.

The System isnt always the Women in the Red Velvet dress Its all around us and hidden from us.

The System is for us to know and you to follow.

See there are two systems : The first System is self progressive its how we maintain ourselves

It can be classified as what works for your story.  What helps you in your arena to perform

The second System is people Progressive its how people work with you and how you benefit from people. 

This can be hard to Classify, simply put being that most Systems with people are well versed and hidden in a Social Class and or Social Language.

The way these Systems work is every person fits a role in making the Vehicle Run like a well Oiled New Model Car.

The look, and feel of the Presentation, and Commercial used as a brief 15 – Sec Orientation to create interest and Association all work as one Body.

This is Called Systematic Protolization being that all prototypes in a system are working together like cells I’m organisms would in, “One Body.”

In a The System people draw all Traffic of different cultures to one Highway and that highway becomes Business.

What! Oh You don’t believe me well look at This metaphor: ” Business is busy at certain hours” and a Highway gets traffic in the Morning and the evening at certain hours. 

High Traffic is good Business somewhere and The System always always is one that runs well under pressure.

What people won’t tell you is that the System people use is kept hidden so others can advance correctly for the benefit of those running it. 

So we have two Systems.  Now most successful people are successful off of the Self Progressive System “simply because it assures your success and keeps you ahead of the traffic.”

However most Multi Million Dollar Companies make money by selling you the Peoples Progressive System
- meaning you get a social club monitor program to build up your trust, you get people to look to like a pastor or mentor of your faith in succeeding and this community has church on their politics and work as though they are all building a system to assure everyone’s Success.  When truth be told they have a system already a theirs is again – The Self Progressive System.

See the People Progressive System just creates traffic and keeps everybody happy while the Self Progressive System is on top that System. 

So am I selling you a system, yes
But see Systems don’t work for everyone you want to know why?

Because Every system has a Formula, and without the formula the system won’t produce.

For instance Car will stop working eventually because in order to keep it Running it has a formula.

A formula is key variables in a equation that are responsible in getting results and affecting the systems performance.

So for a Car Key variables could be Tires so the system runs smoothly and balaned, Break Pads so the System doesn’t crash or move to fast and get out of Control. 

Or its First formula Could be Major Components Such as: Gas, Oil, for the Engine, Water Coolant for ….and so on.  

So to End it here .. What system are you on?
Self Progressive or People Progressive…in other words in a system or over one?

Or do you get tossed back and forth by both when things in life Happen ….God bless Jesus is Lord I pray you Take this into consideration
Let this be your
- Peculiar Inspiration , Thankyou

Sometimes the nicknames are creative: The Crusader (super religious with a wild side in the bed), HGB (short for Hot Gym Boy), and The Meatball (round, stubby, and Italian). One woman told me, “one of my favorites is the guy my friend is dating now—he was formerly a bit of a slut, so we call him TRW, for The Repentant Whore.” Then there’s the self-explanatory: Hot Hat-Wearing Balding Guy, or Formerly Fat Chris. And the more generic ones that still serve their purpose: The Writer, The Brit, The Professor, SoCal.

I always thought it was because we’re all so secretive about dating, even when we’re oversharing. But I guess it’s not a Frumgirl thing.

I don’t have a nickname for every guy. To get one you need to stand out and warrant future referencing. Like Bowtie Guy and Pilot Boy.   There’s also Philosopher I, Philosopher II, and Philosopher III (no more philosophers!), Google Guy, Math Man, Poker Backer, Knucklehead, The Guy Who “Lost” My Number, Jerkface, Hot Yaakov, Surfer Dan, Macher Shimon, LA Dude, Hat Guy, Dr. Jekyll, Everyone’s First Date, Anti-YU Guy, Tuna Beigel, Fisherman, Nonstop Networking, MIT I, MIT II, NSA I, NSA II, & Prosperous Merchant.

Some people have formulas for naming their exes. O says she usually references her by location, though she also has Raussie, Barry Bonds, Machmir, and Lawyer Dude, and PC in her list. She must date across a more diverse geography than I do.  I’d have them listed up to V in locations like LA, Baltimore, and Queens if I stuck to home town.

So, what are your best nicknames?

It is considered rude in our system when we reply with something other than “I’m fine” because really, people do not want you to tell the truth! We are selfish creatures, always have been! We have been taught – and are teaching others – to feign ignorance, to pretend we care, when we really want to hear what we expect to hear. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Because this is the dark yet simple truth about humanity, and their manners and their so-called ‘politeness’. We are told to ask these questions as a sign of greeting, and to expect others to lie. Because deep inside, even years ago, we hope others would not tell us what bothers them. We are afraid of feeling hurt, of feeling pity for them – sympathy, pain. We’re afraid of spoiling our own goddamn fine day by caring. Because caring is not an advantage.

We are taught – and are still teaching others – to lie and say “I’m fine” because we are programmed to think that it is rude to spread your negativity to others, even to friends. Why do you think it is so hard for people to open up? Why, do you think, do people open up only to their closest friends? Why can’t people just make eye contact to the stranger beside them and start ranting about their relationship problems?

Because we are selfish. We human beings, we shy away from our troubles, we cover the sides of our faces with our hands, to look straight, to not look at the people who need our help. Because we are taught to help ourselves. 

So often are we told nowadays that one does not need company as you walk along the road of life. It had never occurred to us that there are those who can help us better, yet we have shunned them away. 

It is this very reason that love is so hard to find. One has to look deeper before one can earn a stranger who will care for one’s well-being. It is this very reason that makes caring such a rare trait. Maybe this is not such a bad thing after all. But let me remind you that you could have saved a life, or made one even better, if only you allowed yourself to break your walls and lend a helping hand. 

You can start by changing the system. “Hi, how are you? And don’t just tell me you’re fine. Don’t lie. Don’t be scared. I just thought you might need someone to talk to. You looked kind of sad. Is there anything wrong?”

I’ve tried to be the model recipient.    Doing all the paperwork, visiting job opportunity websites, reporting all the facts, being totally honest–even when it costs me benefits.

THE POSITIVES

Networks!   I’ve been networking and have already found temporary, half-time employment.    There’s this “people who know other people” dynamic that gets amazing results, and just last night my wife found another strong lead.

Online Resources!    I’ve been very pleasantly surprised at the power of the unemployment office’s online resources.    Their web-based resume building and career/skills matching tools have amazed me.

They showed me I have more skills than I realized,  and showed me how to discover hundreds and hundreds of open positions within a 20 mile radius of my home.

Kind Reps!   Another pleasant surprise is the professionalism, competence, and genuine concern of the folks down at WorkSource Oregon.

Instead of dull, apathetic workers who do the minimum, I’ve met motivated, eager people who actually help.   I didn’t expect that to be true.  Even the claims rep I spoke with on the phone was super helpful and made things clear.   I didn’t expect that either.

Confession:   I don’t know why, but seeking unemployment, answering all those oath-bound questions, and dealing with people with the authority to issue or deny a check, has been nerve-wracking for me.

I feel quite vulnerable and small.    It’s not my comfort zone.    And being treated with kindness and respect by these employees has been a great gift.

Many Jobs!    Even if few of them match my own experience, it’s surprised me how many jobs are out there–quite a few of them paying well.    Most of them require very specific degrees, certifications, and, especially, prior work experience.    But there they are!

THE NEGATIVES

The system!    The hair-splitting, inflexible, rule-obsessed decision-making on the part of some has been maddening at times.    Whoever my claims rep sent my information to is no friend of mine.

I was out-of-town helping my aged parents with elder care during my “waiting week”, so I checked the “away from area” box.

When they denied benefits, I had a nice chat with my claims rep where I pointed out to her that, through networking, I had made positive job contacts while there that then actually led to a half-time job.  Success, in other words.    ”I’ll send it to adjudication,” she replied.

No word.  No answer.   Then a paper arrived today telling me that my waiting week was the next week, not the first.    Here I am, leveraging even a necessary elder care trip to find a job, and they deny the week.    If I was gone, then that’s that.   To quote Napoleon Dynamite, “Idiots!”

Instead of reinforcing honesty and good faith, they penalized me for it.     Rigidity, inflexibility and the failure to distinguish fraud from the complexities of real life–it’s everything I hate about bureaucracy!

The Employers!     Job seeking is now an online affair, and job seekers have to have the exact amount of work experience in exactly the right fields to make it past the computer filter software.

The result:    Not only are a lot of mismatched job-seekers weeded out (which is fine), but a lot of otherwise qualified people are, too.    It’s efficient in a mechanical sort of way, and yet it’s ineffective in a human sort of way.

Everyone wants to hire the person who’s already done it a whole bunch, which reduces the chances of landing one of the vast majority of posted jobs to nil.

You need that job to get experience, and experience to get that job!      Oh please.    That’s such a lame way of doing things, don’t you think?

Even an over-qualified person with a doctorate, like me, can review hundreds of leads and find few, if any, are jobs I can realistically apply for, something’s not right.   Heaven help the American employer who thinks outside the box, or who has the imagination to see life-skills as transferable across careers and professions.

So there you have it.

I know my experience has been far better than most, and I think God for providing for my needs.     But it’s a trip I’d like to cut short.   And a system I’m eager to leave as soon as possible.

I see you expectations and drift away from them, knowing they are not right for me.

I am trapped however, to agree to partake in some of your demands, for I lack the self discipline to develop on my own.

I am spirited in mind and soul, with little action.

I feel the tight grip choking me from my life, leaving me with no options.

It is not your fault, it is the system, it is wrong to expect, when it cannot provide

I have bent to your will for so long and you have offered me little

I have chased my dreams, gaining step after step up the ladder

But you keep dragging me down back to graze on the lower rungs like a sheep.

I long to be free of your tyranny but I lack the focus drive, the determination, your system sucked it out of me

This is why we all falter, this is why we all suckle at the teat of desperation.

You made us this way, so don’t blame us

I should like to give credit to my friend Gilgamesh who is the creator of this theory and also in this process am attempting to set him up with any women who read this (only because thats how he leans though I think guys should try too).

So the theory goes like this –

Most things in life are like a bus stop.

You wait at the bus stop for ages and forever, but there wouldn’t be any sign of the bus. But suddenly, after forever, 3-4 buses come together one after the other, and confuse you about which one to take. If you board a bus, can you get off before the final destination? How committed are you expected to be to the bus? Can other people board the bus? Will the bus get moody and break down on the way? What if the bus isn’t going where you want to go?  Would you do best to leave all the buses and take your own private vehicle even if that means cycling alone for miles?

Or do you take a chance?

Its in your hands, your mind, your heart. It is in you.

EXplore, Dream , Discover

Anyway, the point was that as Gilgamesh has profoundly pointed out, Life is like a bus stop. Whether you apply it to work, education, passions, love lives, oppportunities, or anything that might not even matter at all. Are you taking a chance?

Are you boarding a bus?

I have read Dorner’s entire uncensored manifesto. Some parts of it I have read several times. Had I relied on the mainstream media I would have been left with the impression that Dorner was a rambling maniac and that he had snapped for no reason. I found the manifesto attributed to him was neither rambling nor illogical. Though I know without a doubt that Dorner snapped, his manifesto was logical, cogent, and heartbreaking.

I sympathize with Dorner. To the best of my knowledge the only things the police seem to know for sure is that he wrote a manifesto, and seemingly, they can link the shooting of two San Bernardino Sherriff’s Deputies on February 12, 2013 to him. However, I don’t know how they determined that Dorner is responsible for the deaths of Quon, Lawrence, and Riverside Police Officer Michael Crain, or the shooting incident involving Los Angeles Police Department officers in Corona, CA on the evening of February 7, 2013. This is not to say that it doesn’t look like he did it, only that circumstantial evidence is not proof. I am sure the various law enforcement agencies will state their cases against Dorner in the near future, though that doesn’t mean we will learn the truth.

Let me state explicitly that I don’t agree with his decision to murder anyone. It is my view that physical violence is always the last option and worst possible action to take. Dorner’s own words seems to prove this point:

Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil that I do not enjoy but must partake and complete for substantial change to occur within the LAPD and reclaim my name.

When I heard the news that he was trapped in a house in Big Bear, CA or thereabouts, I knew how it was going to end:

#Dorner betcha they burn him out!—
Leo (@leorbar) February 12, 2013

As Dorner’s story has unfolded I have recognized in his struggle several instances of information asymmetry and adverse selection; I have been able to watch an asymmetrical power relationship in action while watching the system move to protect itself. I have watched as an individual did indeed bring asymmetrical warfare upon the system, using both techniques of information warfare and guerrilla warfare.

Over the next several posts I am going to explore aspects of the story to illustrate these principles. I will use the story of Dorner’s firing from the LAPD to illustrate information asymmetries and adverse selection. Next I will use the period that Dorner fought with the system to review how both sides used information warfare against each other and explore how Dorner used asymmetrical warfare against the system. Then I will analyze the aftermath of Dorner’s death to explore the idea of asymmetrical power relationships and whether or not he achieved his goals.

To first encounter someone and ask them “intrusive” questions, may not do well in your favour. So, without thought, we engage them in “small talk,” but that’s besides the point.

It’s 3:30am, forgive me if I sound nonsensical.

When someone asks “What do you do for a living?”, why is it that most people don’t take a moment before answering that question, to question it.

Asking what someone does for a source of income is entirely different.

But it may be just me who think so. 

Hear me out.

When you’re going to work at a 9-5 job are you really “living” as you so much are “slaving”?

Why is it that we have to work these typical 9-5 jobs, and put ourselves in a mundane lifestyle that is oriented around a time consuming life hungry activity?

Money. That’s what you may say, right? That’s what most people would – I suppose.

 

Why is it the harder the workers, the lesser the pay?

Singers, Big Time TV Host, etc. don’t do that much work and they get top pay.

Why?

Why is it that the people who are the main source of our entertainment is being funded more than the people of this society?

 

Not enough people question things like this it seems,

Not enough care,

Not enough think.

 

Those who can step outside of the norm and think for themselves are really “freed” from the harsh whips of bosses, corporations, and the typical 9-5.

 After answering that question with a horrid answer “Call centre,” (or really, anywhere where you’re in a cubicle of some sort) not very many people aks the follow up question, “and what would you like to do?”

Like, really like to do.

If there were no thing as money, or standards, what would most people say? I can make no assumptions here, as I am no pretentious ignorant foreseer. but I do believe that most people would say something along the lines of just doing what they want to, and helping those who they come across that need it.

Where is humanity?

“Today, as we speak, the U.S., and perhaps China and India, are involved in a battle for control of the resources of Africa. Thousands of U.S. troops, as well as death squads, are being sent into Africa. The “Yes We Can” president has expanded the war from Afghanistan into Pakistan. There are drone attacks killing children on a regular basis there.” ~A. Roy

Most of the government’s back to work schemes have been declared illegal by the court and no-one can now be forced to do unpaid work until new regulations have been enacted.  In addition, any sanctions against claimants who failed to participate in forced labour will now have to be repaid by the DWP.

The DWP has, however, already indicated that it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court and that it will refuse to repay any benefits until all legal avenues have been exhausted.

Tessa Gregory, solicitor, Public Interest Lawyers states:

“Today’s judgment sends Iain Duncan Smith back to the drawing board to make fresh Regulations which are fair and comply with the Court’s ruling. Until that time nobody can be lawfully forced to participate in schemes affected such as the Work Programme and the Community Action Programme. All of those who have been stripped of their benefits have a right to claim the money back that has been unlawfully taken away from them from the DWP.

cited in http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

This crucible is exaggerated by the fact that astronomical averages can be bought at private schools, affectionately termed “marks mills”, by students who are known to their day school teachers not to have the skills and abilities to attain them via conventional public schools where teachers feel some moral duty to uphold academic standards.

Ironically, it was the Canadian Universities who fought for Full Disclosure Transcripts of students coming out of high school, which provided them with not only the top 6 marks of the student, but all of their marks from grade 11 and 12 as well as the number of times they have retaken a course to improve their average.  However, these same institutions have continued to accept the marks issued from dubious institutions, further perpetuating this situation.

Moreover, it seems that completion of a post secondary program does not mean what it used to.  Recent grads face staggering unemployment and underemployment.  CBC Doc Zone aired a documentary entitled “Generation Jobless” where they investigated the fact that Canadian post secondary institutions continue to graduate students despite the lack of demand.  This is most apparent in the number of Ontario graduates from Teacher’s College.  Perhaps the colleges and universities simply are not interested in what happens after their program ends, preferring to enrol students, put asses in seats, and laugh all the way to the bank.  The result is a population of young workers deeply in debt, under experienced, over educated, and dissatisfied with their job prospects.

Such a system does students a great disservice.  Marks are not the end goal; skills are the true target.  Marks are theoretically the communication of how developed a students skills are.  However, when students focus only on the marks, and ignore developing their skills and understanding, they have missed the point.  And perhaps they are not the only ones.  What is the purpose of the education system if not to equip our youth with the abilities to succeed in the world?

Given what we know about the prospects of getting a job in today’s current market, it almost seems advisable for a high school student to drop out of school, get a job apprenticing or volunteering in a particular industry when they don’t have any financial burdens, gain valuable hands on experience,  and either work their way up or start their own company?  This way at least they are free from debt, have some money in the bank, and are seemingly no worse off than if they had spent all that time in the education system.

Evolutional retardation.  Language is dying, being degraded, much like our credit scores.  A nation of zombies is easier to keep than a nation of thinkers.

Debt and big government pharmaceuticals, 21st century slavery.

There is nothing new in the news, just people repeating the same mistakes over and over. A broken system, breeding broken people.

A system in which military spending surpasses education spending is not a system in which I am interested in thriving in.  

If you feel inclined to chalk this up as the ramblings of a people-hating, nihilistic lunatic, then I ask you to consider the possibility of desensitization.  

Yet, I feel as if I’ve hit a wall.  There’s been no more growth, no new experiences.  A general stagnation, a malaise of the soul.  

I desire to pen a novel, or some great work of short fiction.  I desire to partake on some dangerous adventure.  I desire so much to break from these chains of a dead imagination.  Those with a dead imagination are doomed to suffer the daily grind of corporate slavery.  A dead-end lifestyle, dying for the profit of others.

I choose to be free of it.  I choose to determine the fate of my own life.  No cubicles, no 401 Ks, no loans, debts, or credits.  No bank statements, no fees.  I work for no one but myself. I am the abolishment of 21st century slavery.

I choose to break the cycle of the pre-determined life of alarm clocks, work, suffering, debt, and want.  

Something great will be done.  Something will finally be accomplished.  

It must be known, that this lifestyle that I desire is dangerous to the group.  It can be considered as detrimental to society.  Indeed, if everyone joined me on my quest, then society as we know it would collapse.  

Yet, something beautiful may rise from the ashes; the iconic Phoenix, or the blooming of a lotus.  

These ideas of utopia are silly, even childish.  The machine is so powerful, too hard for most to escape.  The minds of the weak subconsciously activate all sorts of complex defense mechanisms in order to protect the ego, forever entrapping them in the system.  

A way will be found.  Something great will be done.

Until then,

-Mitchell Ryan

I started working at a locked psychiatric acute treatment unit a few months ago. I’ve been working in psych for years. Five years I think. I’ve been in some pretty funky situations with people threatening all sorts of things, people out of control, and people acting out against others. However, I’ve never really been in a situation with someone who is not just actively planning suicide, but acting out on it.

Well, tonight that changed. I was just getting ready to leave work. Grabbing my purse and going out to grab my jacket and all that good jazz when one of the room call lights goes off. Since there were only two other staff in the facility and one wasn’t in the office I went out to see if they needed some help. Turns out the counselor found one of our patients in her room trying to hang herself with a part of her blanket that she tore apart and was trying to loop around the door handle. She had tried to block the door from opening with her body (why the doors open into the rooms and not both ways is still beyond me) but luckily it’s hard to block a door with your body if you’re not propped against something.

I think the thing that stands out to me the most is that she had written a suicide note and had it right there on the desk. This wasn’t a call for help, this was an outright attempt. A pretty good one too. I’ve had patients threaten to hurt themselves and declare they were actively looking for ways to do it, but they never actually managed to do so. This gal, she planned it well. She waited until right after a check (every 15 minutes due to risk) and tore the blanket, tied it, and arranged everything. Lucky for us, the counselor went to talk to her earlier than the patient had expected.

The good thing is that we worked well as a team. The RN took lead and the counselor and I were able to act on directions calmly and without tripping over each other. The other patients remained safe and most didn’t seem to even realize something funky was going on. I don’t know if that speaks to our handling of the situation or to how low functioning this particular group is.

I hung around until our program manager could come in since I have to be back in at 6 am and didn’t really get much of a debrief. I guess this is probably it for now. I don’t feel that I need it as much as the counselor does (did?) as she was the one who found this patient and interrupted her. I can only imagine the emotions associated with that, the number of questions, “what if…” that would come to mind. I’m sure she’ll get the debriefing she needs – our program manager made sure to ask how she was doing during their first phone conversation.

Regardless, I’m bringing some chocolate in for both of them and my manager. They deserve it for how well everything was handled and for remaining calm and collected while still at work. I already have my chocolate so it’s only fair that I make sure they get theirs too.

Certainly the very core beliefs of Capitalism is that consumers should have the right to choose.  The result of this approach is that it creates a consumer driven democracy in which purchases are the ballots by which votes are cast.  In such a system a great responsibility lies in the hands of the consumers, though this power may be largely unrealized.

Social conscience, therefore, doesn’t rest in the hands of the companies.  This responsibility has also been downloaded onto the consumer–if the consumer didn’t agree, they wouldn’t vote for it.  At least this is what basic economic principles hold to be true.  (One must remember, however, that such theories also presuppose that consumers have “perfect knowledge” of the choices they are making, that is to say they are fully aware of all of the factors involved in their choice.  I dare say that is not the case)

Choice can be debilitating.

Consider chewing gum.  Likely we have all deliberated over the bevy of choices laid out near the cash register.  For discussion let’s say that there are 64 different flavours to choose from. Consider what choice you would make?  To make a truly informed decision, you would have to have tasted all 64 flavours.  Assuming you could distinctly recall what each one of those flavours was, you would now be in a position to decide.  It is likely, however, that you haven’t tried all the flavours and so can’t possibly know what you want.  So you guess.  After you have made your choice do you reconsider?  Do you wonder if there was another flavour which might have been even better?  How many other choices are made and then tinged by regret at the possibility that a different choice would have been more satisfying.

Consider the possibility that there were only three flavours of gum:  Blue, Green, and Red.  The choice would be much simpler and the likelihood of dissatisfaction would be drastically reduced, unless you’re like me and always choose blue despite the fact that green is a more pleasing mint flavour.

Chewing gum is a relatively simple task with only one variable: flavour.  Other decisions about more valuable purchases are much more complex with multiple variables and greater consequences for poor decisions.  It is overwhelming to try to make an informed decision about something like a camera and a computer if you are not already an expert in that area and fully understand all of the applications required for your use of the device.

Recently I bought a winter sleeping bag.  It took me nearly a month to reach a conclusion about the bag for me, and there were only three variables to consider: price, weight, temperature rating.  Agonizing over the decision consumed me.  How many hours did I spend pouring over websites and reviews?

This type of preoccupation with choices really inhibits our ability to act decisively.  It impairs our ability to move forward.  It is a modern mental paralysis.