dreamdancer

We've been getting an overload of bunk in recent weeks from a gaggle of Fox-brained Republican Congress critters. They've been flapping their gums to demonize and destroy a grassroots group that has offended them by--get ready to be outraged--organizing and helping to empower thousands of Americans who live in low-income and working-class neighborhoods all across the country. ACORN is this grassroots group. For four decades, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now has been going door to door, neighborhood to neighborhood, to extend basic democratic tools to people who've been dissed and dismissed by the political system. What ACORN's effort amounts to is civic education. Few members of the local chapters have ever been active in community decision making. After all, that process is usually held in the tight grip of moneyed interests who reside and work in distant, much tonier zip codes, and regular folks rarely are welcome. Through ACORN, however, these powerless ones get an immersion in self-help democracy, learning how to operate in the public sphere to become both political and economic players. They form their own neighborhood organizations, elect officers, and choose a set of issues to push--from bank redlining to better garbage pickup, from rip-off utility bills to enforcement of antipollution regulations. They soon discover that working together, they have actual power to get things done through direct actions, group negotiations, and voter participation. This democratization process is the essence of self-government, and ACORN has been remarkably successful at it. Having organized half a million members into 1,200 neighborhood chapters in 110 cities and 39 states, the group has become our nation's most effective voice of, by, and for modest-income families. As a Texas ACORN member put it, "Once you get involved, you will never be satisfied with grumbling again. After getting organized and making change happen, you can never go back to doing nothing." http://www.alternet.org/story/145371/acorn%27s_real_crime%3A_empowering_the_poor stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

‘Correct,’ Cedric said defensively. ‘We are very small compared to some of the giant Asian enterprises. We are however the largest New Age bank in Western Europe, with over one hundred thousand workhours deposited, and offering a range of highly competitive worktime products and services.’ ‘The bank has commissioned the building of a fleet of airships?’ ‘Two airships, the ‘Patrick’ and the ‘Quiet Swan’, both of which are about to complete their first commercial flights.’ ‘Entirely manufactured from within the Urban Peasant economy?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘What inspired you to go into banking?’ ‘When I was a boy my dad participated in all the neighbourhood barter schemes. He would exchange gardening work and produce from our allotment for all sorts of things. When I was eight or nine I spent several weekends helping him out, building up enough workhours to trade for an electric bike. Though the gardening itself never inspired me the idea of the market certainly did. In college I worked on simulations of large scale barter markets. There was, of course, the central mathematical problem that the more goods and traders brought into such a market, the harder exponentially to maximise the satisfaction of everyone’s wants and needs. The anyon quantum processors that were becoming available at the time seemed as though they might have the processing capacity to solve the problem, but the algorithms I developed were never sophisticated enough to prove viable. The simulated markets they produced would break down very quickly with fiat money, time and again, being forced into creation to bridge the gap. The Announcer appears in the meantime to have solved the problem. Its market shows no sign of breakdown, in fact quite the reverse. Which leads one to the question is the Announcer inevitable? And if it is, shouldn’t we just do our best to live with it?’ Anna didn’t seem much interested in his speculations. ‘After university you joined NatWest International?’ ‘Yes, I spent several years with them in Beijing in the early twenties watching the crisis there unfold as the Chinese public finances ran out of control. When the Announcer appeared and I realised what it was up to, I quit, came home and set up Ogden & Partners.’ ‘What do mean by ‘what the Announcer was up to’?’ ‘It was obvious to me at the time that it was preparing a safety net for the crash and depression to come.’ ‘The Americans argue that the actions the Announcer took precipitated the crash, redirecting vital skills and energy away from the global economy with pernicious edicts and wasteful misdirection of resources when they were needed the most.’ Cedric spread his hands. ‘Look, we’ve been over this already. We can argue over specifics but I believe that were it not for the Announcer there would have been complete social breakdown throughout Asia, and much of the rest of the world. Remember that at one point over a hundred million Chinese and Indian workers were unemployed, with no welfare structure of any kind in place except for that assembled by the Announcer.’ ‘You think not only is the Announcer self created but that it saved us from ourselves?’ ‘I think the Announcer was forced into acting to stabilise the world economy after a disastrous blunder by the trading blocs of the time, who had allowed enormous sums of credit currency to accumulate in the system. Once it had decided to act the Announcer sought to re-assure us, through its First Universal Edict, that it had no malevolent intent. It transparently laid out its plans for all to see; fifteen hours of individual worktax paid weekly would provide access to the basics of life; food, accommodation and a health service, wherever you were in the world. If people didn’t like what they saw, they could opt out. The Americans of course didn’t like what they saw at all. Nor the Nclickers,’ he added. stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

Anna, having completed her assembly of her recording equipment, seemed, to Cedric’s wary eyes, a little more relaxed. She poured herself a glass of wine and took a slurp. ‘Very nice.’ She gave him a first proper smile, enticing him with its broad cheekiness, the tight lines of her concentration momentarily melting. She sat down onto the opposite chair and brought out a compact mirror and makeup from her backpack. With deft strokes she applied lipstick. ‘Rather than speculate on the arcane workings of an inanimate machine Mr Tucker, I would prefer to concentrate on the survival of what little remains of our humanity.’ She mushed her lips. Cedric was tempted to try a flippant remark, as he had done with Dancer, along the lines of, ‘The Announcer can save you all this palaver and produce broadcast quality footage at no charge. It’ll even digitally edit and apply makeup for you’, but didn’t. Underneath her businesslike style he sensed that she was more harrassed than she appeared, and she was after all, Jenny’s friend. ‘I’m all yours,’ he said, ‘fire away.’ She put on a petite pair of reading glasses, taking a few seconds to view her notes. Cedric waited patiently, watching her red lips murmering the odd word as she meditatively brought her focus to the planned flow of the interview. Finally she set the camera and microphone running. ‘Ogden & Partners, New Age Bank. New Age? We see that description more and more. What exactly does it mean?’ ‘As you will be aware the Urban Peasant economy organised by the Announcer consists entirely of barter transactions and worktime money, and contains none of the traditional fiat monies printed by the central banks.’ Anna gave a brief nod. He continued, feeling comfortable with his familiar customer presentation. ‘This alternative economy initially formed to provide a safe haven for those left destitute by the Asian hyper-inflation and urban breakdowns in the twenties, leading of course up to the China Missile Crisis. At first small and localised, steadily, through the mediation of the Announcer, these tens of thousands of communities have been brought together into a worldwide trading web, a near perfect marketplace. New Age is merely the generic title for the many new types of enterprise now operating within this expanding market.’ ‘Many, the majority, would deny the existence of any sort of human freedom within an economy so closely controlled, and dependent upon, the Announcer.’ Cedric shrugged, reluctant to be drawn into a familiar argument, but willing to stand his ground. ‘Others argue that the Announcer is a physical, emergent manifestation of the freemarket’s ‘invisible hand’, initially envisioned by the father of economics, Adam Smith, back in the eighteenth century. And now that the economists and politicians have what they predicted, and are largely redundant, they rebel.’ ‘You see the Announcer as self-created then, a force of nature?’ ‘I have seen no evidence to the contrary.’ ‘Yet you also believe the Announcer is here to help us?’ ‘Many forget that the first action of the Announcer was to clear out all the accumulated viruses and spyware of the TIA wars that clogged the system. In the same way I believe it is currently removing all the old monies that distort the trading system.’ Anna smiled wryly. ‘You have a very generous view of the actions of the Announcer. Most would say a delusional view.’ She checked her notes. ‘Ogden & Partners is not a large bank.’ stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

the machines won't take over - the universal announcer will (who will then control the machines)

the ultimate nightmare would be that the enemy didn't just jam the controls - but gained control of the robot entirely

harlan ellison - 'i have no mouth and i must scream' - brilliant

CHAPTER THREE ESCAPE ‘Jenny will be here in a few minutes,’ the Announcer whispered in his ear. ‘Thanks,’ Cedric replied. He flicked the buzzing arrowfly away and began to remove himself from the intricacies of survival on the planet Altameera, where, in a frenetic hour of swordplay (fending off several brutish Tarqa assaults) he had managed to explore much further into the woods. But he had found nothing significant. Some of the charging Tarqa, he now noted as he exited, had taken to wearing bulky armour plates. Others had lengthened their horns with spiralled metal spikes. They had changed tactics too, attempting to encircle him and wear him down rather than rush fruitlessly at his shield. He had lost a lot of health in the last encounter and he calculated he would have to upgrade his weaponry or change his own tactics, and soon, to get any further in the game. He picked up his glass of wine and shifted, stiff legged, to the front door of the secluded country cottage the Announcer had booked them for the night. From the porch he watched the taxi-carriage wind its way along the private driveway, finally crunching to a halt on the soft gravel in front him. Jenny and friend stepped out – he had almost forgotten about the friend she had mentioned bringing with her. She was taller than Jenny, almost his height, smartly dressed, with dark green eyes and an assured manner. Jenny hugged and kissed him. ‘You’re on all the news you know.’ He hugged and kissed back, not quite sure what to do now that his plans to take her immediately to the master bedroom had been sabotaged. ‘I know. It’s been a very strange day. And who is this?’ Jenny laughed mischievously. ‘This is Anna Border, my landlady from my student days.’ Anna held out her hand. ‘Thankyou for the interview Mr Tucker.’ ‘Interview?’ ‘I work for the Nclicker Times, I arranged an interview with you, via the Announcer, this afternoon,’ she replied crisply. She began to pull her luggage, comprising a weighty backpack and several silver cases, from the carriage. ‘I approached Jenny when your name came up.’ Jenny picked up one of the cases. ‘As you know the Nclickers won’t acknowledge the Announcer directly, so I did all the talking.’ Cedric picked up the last of the cases. ‘Hello Anna,’ the Announcer trilled. ‘Shut up Machine,’ she replied coldly. She briskly led them through the cottage to the verandah, her short heels clik-clakking on the wooden boards. She appreciatively surveyed the back lawn, enclosed within a copse of sweet chestnut and silver birch. ‘There should be enough light here.’ She stood on tiptoes. ‘Is that a river bank?’ ‘Yes, the water’s a bit sluggish though,’ Cedric said. ‘I skipped a few stones there earlier.’ Jenny flitted back into the cottage. ‘I’ll get my bags, and a drink.’ Anna had already opened one of her boxes and was busy checking an old fashioned – a very old fashioned, Cedric thought briefly, recording device with a grotesquely large microphone. When Jenny returned, bottle and glasses in hand, Anna passed the microphone to her. ‘Give me a few words Jens.’ ‘Peter piper picked.’ Anna rewound the tape and checked through the headphones. ‘Set to go.’ She placed the microphone on a stand on the rickety verandah table and opened up her next case. From this one she brandished an antiquated video recording camera the size of a brick, two bricks. ‘Mistress Anna takes her Nclicker lifestyle very seriously,’ explained the Announcer. ‘All of the equipment she uses dates from pre-1990, well before I could possibly have corrupted it.’ When Anna called it a machine again and threatened to cancel the interview the Announcer withdrew. ‘I’ll leave you to it then.’ She ignored it, continued her camera check. ‘Thanks,’ said Jenny, who though pretty disdainful of the Announcer generally, took this moment to be conciliatory. ‘We’ll leave these two to finish their business. I hope you’ve got the fridge well stocked. See you later.’ She patted Cedric’s bottom and disappeared into the cottage. Anna, with practised ease, unfolded a tripod, mounted and focused the video camera. Cedric finished his wine and put his empty glass onto the table next to the microphone. He took his tie out of his jacket pocket and put it on. ‘Out of all the agencies, don’t you find it strange that the Announcer would choose you for this interview?’ He sat down in one of the cane seats. ‘There’s usually some method in its madness though, don’t you think?’ stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

they're behind you! http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/22-1 stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

they could also join a union (think about it)

let me guess - it was obama's fault the banks collapsed? stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

There will be societal breakdown and infrastructure failure in the US. It's just a matter of when, and how well we'll recover. Any efforts to stop that should really be aimed at minimizing the impact, maximizing the recovery, and preparing the infrastructure. From a personal point of view, are you ready to go 2 weeks without electricity? part of the critical infrastructure being universal health care

he should of done this the first time around. he has just enough time now to get this sorted then back to universal healthcare

at last... http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/21/uk-considers-obama-banking-rules stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

marijuana is not cocaine and alcohol is worst of all. stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

some good news... http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-waves-white-flag-in-disastrous-war-on-drugs-1870218.html stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

its ok if it's a secret

what sort of libertarian are you? stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

Who are they? Is this like the "True Christians" thing, where each group says they're the only ones who've got it right? I've never identified myself as a Libertarian. Are you, though? Do you refuse to accept gifts? there are many, many different strands to libertarianism. i would call myself a left-libertarian. what about you? stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

except mooching Says who? true libertarians

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/06-6 stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding

And this has *what* to do with: A. Limited government interference in one's life. B. Freedom to do what one chooses. knowing the difference between a gift and a contract is useful for a libertarian

except mooching and looting

A) Why can't a gift be it's own contract? you're just talking nonsense now

A) Why can't a gift be it's own contract? you're just talking nonsense now

you motivate them by continually giving them free gifts? - sounds like mooching to me