Moderation Dept: when a pipe and a scotch converge...

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 10:24 am

Today was just one of those days...

Scotland closely lost a truly impressive bid to become free and independent, a sad day and not just for them. Ralfy's been on a bender over this and who can blame him really. I cry for Scotland and despise the massive corporatism that set loose massive amounts of last minute fear-mongering money and all their usual spokeman to keep the natives quiet. And it's not just Scotland. It's Australia, the US, Greece and well, everywhere.

The mega-elite, the few hundreds who control wealth, government and politics run the show. Even the massive and undeniable climate change that soon will reach a tipping point - the infamous hockey stick - is brushed under the doormat.

Now lately I've successfully cut back my tobacco, will kill you, right? But then Sue Sea bent over me on the couch, looked square into my eyes with her huge heart of true love and said "We only go around once love - if a cigar or a glass of Islay please you - well, have one and don't whip yourself with guilt. This is our life - enjoy it, and enjoy it today".

Wow. Of course she's right.

So this morning, and mourning the narrow loss of Scotland's independence, I pulled out my restored Falcon (Ralfy's and da'rum's favorite), filled it with some good old and classic Carter Hall, and pulled out my new $15 close out Black Bottle (a blend of 7 Islays), and watched a Chris Hedge's video speech, and an article by Naomi Klein on our common human and corporate driven dilemma.

Loaded it magicly using my own, developed on the spot method - just adding little pinches and gently pressing each until the bowl was filled - lit it, a few very gentle tamps here and there, and alternated a series of gentle, just keep it burning tokes, with a dram the lovely, easy drinking Black Bottle. Then another, and yes, another.

I thought of the sad state of our world, the near miss of the Scots, of our children and of all of it - the state of our world today.

Flat Ass Bottom Line.

Sue Sea was exactly right. We all owe ourselves a bit of pleasantness and joy - not as an escape - but reminding ourselves that we are all good and valuable human beings (except for the Preacher, of course lol). Even on the battlefield, surrounded by the fears, sounds, sigst and smells of battle, we deserve those moments.

It keeps us centered and in touch with ourselves and with one another who together somehow will survive or die trying. Ralfy's and da'rum's Falcon was brilliant. My invented packing worked brilliantly. The simple and classic Carter Hall was brilliant. And the classic Black Bottle, just the same.

It was good. God bless Sue Sea, god bless us all. I feel blessed to know you all, my friends...

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http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/ch ... n_20140917
http://www.truthdig.com/arts_culture/it ... s_20140917

Hassouni · Post by **Hassouni** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:20 am

It was not close at all.

da'rum · Post by **da'rum** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:39 am

Good on you Jimbo. Cheers to you!

Hass 10 odd percent is reasonably close.

The scare campaign worked a treat on the older Scots that hadn't voted in a decade and the fear generated about them having to live on cat food and spiderwebs motivated them to shuffle down to vote.

So the English win and escape a bloody nose. The Scots lose because they were scared.

Fear it will be the ruin of us all.

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:10 pm

It has been well said...

That a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich - and - massive corporate money can buy the vote. At first the referendum included three options: no, yes, and devolution. The early polls showed that the "yes" vote would be very small, so the powers that be caused the referendum would simply be a yes/no decision, expecting a very easy win.

But less than two weeks ago the "yes" votes showed a disturbing gain, in fact with the "yes" side leading. What ensued was major corporate and elite panic, and the expenditure of amazing amounts of fear mongering corporate money, and paid off spokemen.

This massive outpouring managed to shift just 5% of the vote, but enough for Hass' misinterpreted "not very close" result. When you consider that many of the "no's" were actually those who supported the initial enforced devolution process, this result remains frightenly close for the properly panicked corporatocracy, who even with their squeaky close, money-induced "win" will now have to deliver on their late hour "promises" to devolve.

This is far from over, and when they fail to make good - count on that - there'll be quite another vote. But I digress...

This post was actually about a good pipe, a good tobacco and a pleasant Islay blend...

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:42 pm

Hassouni wrote:It was not close at all.

Yes it was close. The difference was 10% but they only needed 6% or just over 5% or more to have won, remember only need a majority 50.1% would of done it but sadly they only got 45%. So it was closer than was portrayed in the media which was very biased towards retention of the union. After saying all this the Scots were mad because, if they had won they only wanted to go and give there sovereingty away to the Europeans anyway.

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:48 pm

Capn Jimbo wrote:It has been well said...

That a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich - and - massive corporate money can buy the vote. At first the referendum included three options: no, yes, and devolution. The early polls showed that the "yes" vote would be very small, so the powers that be caused the referendum would simply be a yes/no decision, expecting a very easy win.

But less than two weeks ago the "yes" votes showed a disturbing gain, in fact with the "yes" side leading. What ensued was major corporate and elite panic, and the expenditure of amazing amounts of fear mongering corporate money, and paid off spokemen.

This massive outpouring managed to shift just 5% of the vote, but enough for Hass' misinterpreted "not very close" result. When you consider that many of the "no's" were actually those who supported the initial enforced devolution process, this result remains frightenly close for the properly panicked corporatocracy, who even with their squeaky close, money-induced "win" will now have to deliver on their late hour "promises" to devolve.

This is far from over, and when they fail to make good - count on that - there'll be quite another vote. But I digress...

This post was actually about a good pipe, a good tobacco and a pleasant Islay blend...

They wanted Devo max on the ballot which they are getting anyway by the looks of it. Jimbo they already have devolution, now they shall be getting even more powers to add to it. So will Wales and Northern Ireland but not as many as the Scots, whish is a pity and the English are getting screwed as usual under devolution.

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:56 pm

Not to mention that "no" wasn't really "no"...

Why? Because the Brit's - realizing the horrible mistake they'd made by not offering a "max devolution" option, managed to convince the 5% that if the Scot's would only, pretty please vote "no", that they'd make good on the devolution.

Apparently the 5% - scared out their wits by the threats of mass extinction - bought the promise. The Brits won by losing and will now have to make good...

Or else!