Rage Against the Machine

From where it comes, and where it goes is unknown

you can hear it, but never see it

you feel it, and know that its there

you may sometimes reach for it, and

someties it slips right between your fingers

If you catch it just right, it can take you places

Beyond your wildest Dreams!

And when its gone, nothing is ever the same as before.

It's always there and irreplaceable

Life is like a gentle breeze,

And it's unmistakeable!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is so often in this life, that there exists at least 2 perspectives, 2 realities if you will. What is fackt and what is perceived. Of these two, what is perceived is more often the popular viewpoint in society. Things perceived: "Thought to be true", "commonly understood", or "mob rule", and is often in stark contrast to what is factual. What is factual can be charactarized by "practical reality", or " The way things actually are", or "the real world". An excellent example of this duality is in the American System of corrections. There is, of course, "what really happens", or What it's really like" (factual). Then there is the perception of what people "think goes on", or "what they believe it's all about."

 

Most people who have never had any dealings with the "system" really have no "factual" idea of what its about in my point of view.  Many people will say, "They are criminals, addicts, and/or low life's", and think that people convicted of crimes need to go to jail.  Because our prison system is often referred to as a "correctional system", the percetion is that people will go to jail, and will hopefully learn something there which will help them stop being or doing the things that got them there in the first place (and/or re-offending).  These assumptions about the guilty are usually correct, but the assesment of what will happen to them in "the system" is a "perceived notion" and not "factual".

 

In jail people have almost no "corrective" programs or activities. People are confined, secured, and left alone among one another 95% of the time, with very little to do. Most jails have very few (if any) programs available to inmates. There is no counseling, no self-improvement or enrichment services, no substance abuse programs, and no plan for the inmate once they are incarcerated.  The only "plan" that there is really, is a sentence, and a date of eventual release or parole. Other than the law library, cheesy romance novels, and church services, all other programs/services are discretionary.  Since jails have been designed to be as cost effective as possible, there is little room in the budget for such "extras". And if a jail system is privately owned and is expected to be profitable (like TDC), the bare minimum is all that generally will be provided (in terms of inmate services) to maximize the systems bottom line profitability! This is the "factual reality" of American Correction systems.

 

How does this compare to what you think or your "percieved reality" about our system of corrections? To get a unique perspective on jail in America, watch the program "30 days: jail". (Google) In this program, a man goes to jail for 30 days to get a first hand account about what life is like behind bars. It runs on "FX" (Cable tv), and should be available on "shoutcast" (web-tv-streaming), or on videos.aol.com. 

 

JJ

 

 

 

 Sometimes in life one must loose something important, before a full appreciation for that thing can be claimed.

 

In my lifetime, I have lost just about every material possession that I have ever possessed.  I have lost friends, relationships, and  plenty of opportunites along the way.  And with regard to all of these things I have many good and bad memories to remind me. 

 

So as I continue down this new path, almost affraid to acknoledge that maybe the worst of the hard times is really over, and happy to have a job.  Who knows what the future holds, but atleast from where I am things appear to be going in the right direction.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to keep all 4 cylinders firing at once long enough to actually get somewhere instead of nowhere.  It's frustraiting to feel like you are repeating the same things over and again.  But I guess that's how the cookie crumbles.

 

Wow, I just downloaded the new version of IE, and I must say I am impressed.  I have been a die hard firefox fan ever since I started using it 2 years ago, but IE 7.0 is impressive. And I am a Microsoft Fan, BTW.  Anyway, if you have not downloaded and installed IE 7.0 for some reason, I highly recomend that you do.  That is if you can, since the validation requirement for IE 7.0 will make it very difficult if you are one of those people (and I know a bunch) who have used 'Reg Keys' from sites like www.serialz.to  LOL

 

Check it out.

 

Dueces

 

I wonder if it has occured to anyone that perhaps our so called hi-tech society is not everything so many of us like  to think.  No instead what if our technology is, atleast in  some circles, astoundingly more advanced then anyone ever dreamed of.  I would argue that if that is/were indeed the case, simply by controlling what of that new science is shared with the rest of the public domain, one could therby control everything and everybody almost effortlessly.  For instance, if a group of scientist were able to device a means to prolong human life indefinetly, then instead of sharing the discovery they kept it for themselves. in time they would through length of life and experience become the ultimate masters of humanity, having developed their personalities and understanding of human psychology to a point that they could dominate the rest of us through charisma and deception.  Then imagine that these same people were extremelly wealthy.  They would eventually dominate the finacial systems of the world with their infulence.  With their extreme wealth, they could then finance themselves into the top leadership roles of the major world governments, militaries ,universities, and corporations. Finally, they would be in a position to dominate all of the technological breakthroughs that is brought about by these institutions.  Having that in thier control, no one could question their dominance or challenge their rule.  Nothing would be desimminated to the rest of us, that was not first approved first by them.  All the while, these institutions could preach the propaganda to us all glorifying our so called advancements, all the while ignorant of the things that are invisible all around us in the way of real advancement.  I know this all seems far fetched, and it probably is pretty out there.  But are there any examples of seemingly mysterious phenomina that have been witnessed by many, that Government and People who should know about  those things have dissmissed, but continue to occur with an increasing rate of frequency?  I can think of many examples.  And I am not suggesting that what I stated earlier is indeed something that has/is going on.  I said all of that to paint a picture about control, to inspire someone else's imagination to think outside of the box for a second, and to see things from a different point of view.  to be continued......

Well, a lot can change in a year, and then again things don't ever really change.

If that makes any sense, lol.

 

I am really hopeful that things will work out in a positive way.

That would be great, really great.

 

 

 

Well the elections are over, and the results are in and it's good news.  Except the Rick Perry got relected as governer here in Texas,

Almost everything that a lot of us had hoped for came true.  In dallas, particularly, every Republican judge was voted out of office, including

Henry Wade jr! 

 

Well that is some damb good news.  I guess only time will tell the tale, as what these newly elected officals actually do with their new posts really is what matters.  But all in all, I think today we are better off now, and for those of us that voted we should feel good that we live in a democracy.  It's obvious from what we are seeing across the country, many of us are fed up with what we have been getting from our elected officials.  And it shows....

 

And its amussing to see how little coverage fox news is giving to the real story of the day.  Fair and balanced, my big white ass!!!