Electric Phoenix

Images: Arizona Rain Man

The Bird of Paradise—renewed each century—

born in flame, ending in flame!

- Hans Christian Anderson

Several months ago I followed a link on a discussion forum to a website devoted to enterprise corruption, and a lot of things came together for me.  Here is my abridged version of the site, but if you follow the link at the bottom of this post  can see it for yourself.

What is enterprise corruption? Enterprise Corruption is savage form of capitalism, the way the Powers That Be typically deal with industrial revolutions. I think TPTB even call it “The Enterprise,” but don’t quote me because I don’t remember where I read it. I never read Shock Doctrine, but I suspect Naomi Klein included among her case histories an enterprise corruption or two. Or five or ten.

Why is enterprise corruption not in the history books? Because enterprise corruption is formulaic and you are not supposed to learn the formula. TPTB are to profit from it. You are to be burned by it. They need you to be willing to work for cheap during the rebuilding phase.

What does enterprise corruption look like? Globalization, war, white collar crime, currency collapses, nation building, and the exploitation of cheap labor for profit.

Where are we in the industrial revolutionary cycle? Right on the edge of a new one. Do you want to know ahead of time how it’s going to play out?  Me too. So here we go:

What will be the basis of the new industrial revolution? This is just my guess:  The “new electrics,” or the electromagnetic quantum vacuum.  I don’t think it will be wind or solar power; rather I think we’re going to jump over those technologies in favor of something a little more efficient. The new system will keep the U.S. population subject to smart grid control and surveillance. I suspect the Enterprise will find a – let’s say creative destructive -  way to bring down the heart of our present energy distribution system so that it may be reconfigured/rebuilt in accordance with a grand vision.

Public transportation will play into the new electrics infrastructure in a big way:  Warren Buffet just invested in a major U.S. train company and I assure you he didn’t do it because he’s a train collector.  Mr. Buffet gets inside information on the way the future is likely to pan out, and he’s positioned himself to profit from it. Perhaps in exchange for his “foresight” Mr. Buffet will receive a little creative-destructive help in paving the way for a new electromagnetic transportation system. Or at least a taxpayer-funded subsidy, yes?

How will I know when the new revolution will begin? When the paper trail from the previous enterprise is destroyed, usually by war or terrorism. For instance the events of 9/11/01 destroyed much of the paper trail from Enron, Iran-Contra, and the S&L crisis. The events of the next catastrophe will likely destroy any paper trails remaining from the financial and covert dealings related to 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Guilty parties will never be prosecuted because all the evidence will be “destroyed in the fire.”

To build the new, first you have to dismantle the old

But sometimes it’s cheaper for business to just blow it all up.

Historical pattern of an industrial revolution (in order):

1. appearance of a disruptive and revolutionary utility, technology, science, or discovery
2. measurement of its effect on wages
3. identification of out-sourceable nations
4. closed-door task force convened
5. securities regulation lifted
6. quiet waivers and exemptions from previous white-collar crime legislation
7. corporations re-located off-shore
8. book-cooking commences
9. moral/ethical diversion(s)
10. foreign infrastructure upgrade
11. foreign infrastructure goes “online”
12. book-cookers quietly confess
13. book-cookers withdraw holdings
14. rumors spread of inappropriate accounting methods
15. share value debased
16. book cookers publicly confess
17. public receives invoice <——-YOU ARE HERE
18. war turns attention from book-cooking to life’s more important issues (life & limb, individual safety, sheer survival from enemy du jour)

Black Swan, my ass. This latest enterprise was by the book.

“May you live in interesting times” is an ancient Chinese curse. We’re at an interesting – and potentially very deadly – time of our present industrial revolution: The blow-it-up and cover-it-up phase. Something was supposed to have been accomplished by now, but for the life of me I cannot figure it out: What was our upgrade this time? Maybe Iraq got the free upgrade. I’m sure they’re thrilled.

Knowing this and suspecting it to be true, what can we do? There is no stopping enterprise corruption. If you have not yet noticed the ears of our supposed representatives are plugged to our voices.  All we can do is try to protect our assets and our asses and get out of the way.  Presuming we aren’t completely wiped out by the upheaval we may even find a way to benefit from an electromagnetic future.

Enterprise Corruption

Lazy Day

This isn’t me, but it might as well be. I spent some time out and about in the sunshine, then came home and fell asleep on my sofa.  How many years has it been since I’ve  wasted an afternoon asleep in my livingroom?  I think I was married, before I had Bunny, who by the way is out this Saturday night with my car. So that means at least seventeen years.  I think I need to do this more often.

Friday Cat Blogging: Basement Kitteh in Training

Half Nekkid Thursday: Natural Born Cynic

I’ve been doing maintenance on this blog for the last few days and I’ve noticed something: Most of my posts are very cynical. There is definitely a pre/post PMS split:  During my “bad” times of the month I go into conspiratorial political rants, but even during my “good” times of the month I put a negative spin on things. Even my happy/cute/sexy posts  contain little barbs at this or that.

I wonder why that is. I never really thought of myself as a negative person, but maybe I am. Then again maybe not: This blog is not a full picture of the real HPS. It’s only half a picture. When I’m happy I’m off being creative and social, hedonistic pleasure seeking being an active avocation and all. I write much more when I’m suffering, and with premenstrual dysphoria I really, really suffer. I also fixate, which means my butt sticks to this chair for hours and sometimes well into the night.  At least my writing is good, especially when I’m just a little bit drunk. I think it’s because I just let-er-rip.

It’s probably a good thing that I went back on the meds.

Hump Day Special: Sing Dirty to Me

I can’t remember whether Michelle Pfeiffer was singing dirty here . . . It was just a sexually charged scene. Classic.

I thought this post over at Popeater was cute:  Britney’s ‘3′ and the Most Blatantly Sexual Pop Songs. But why did they put Britney’s song in as Number 1?  Because it’s about threesomes?  YAWN! Go look at it and tell me if it isn’t the most sterile thing you’ve seen since . . . Well, since the last time you saw a Lady Gaga video.

I think the all time sexiest song/dance act goes to Prince. But maybe it’s because I was barely out of high school when Purple Rain hit the airwaves. I just can’t figure out why that little man is so sexy. Is it the androgyny?  Or is it the look on his face?

Kittyprint Tuesday: Wine and Baseball

Scorpio has kittyprints here and there around his house too

OMG that was so CLOSE!  The Phillies won; it was do or die. We’re going to New York!  I’m normally not a fan of baseball – I’m more a football girl – but this is great: Phillies have gone to the World Series two years in a row.  Besides, watching sports with Scorpio has its  fringe benefits.

“Hey I’ll make you a deal.  I kiss you on the strikes and you kiss me on the balls.”

(I roll my eyes) “Oh shaddup.”

Survival Instinct

This chipmunk is getting ready for winter and I can relate: I’ve been prepping for the Financial Apocalypse since 2007.  My dear Duke, who is in a position to know, has been reassuring me for at least that long.  Scorpio continues to tell me I am crazy, but I’m good in bed so he still calls. Actually they both do. I don’t mind:  Duke gives the best financial advice, and Scorpio is a professional chef with a few grocery stores, so you know that when TSHTF I’m gonna eat well!    Everyone else but my dad thinks I’ve lost my freaking mind. Mom won’t even discuss it.

This pantry did not exist a year ago.

Prepping:  It’s in my DNA. My paternal ancestors were hoarding for the Apocalpyse before it was cool. I’m the product of two Calvinist families steeped in Dispensationalism, Dominionism and Millenialism; ergo my  family has been more or less rapture-ready since the 19th century.

To the hardcore faithful being a good Christian involves prepping for a seven-year Tribulation. I have fond memories of raiding my aunt and uncle’s pantry because they kept several years’ worth of cherry and grapefruit flavored hard candies in 50lb lard buckets in their basement, along with boxes and boxes and boxes of elbow noodles and Hamburger Helper. My own parents don’t feel this urge but prepping is in my blood and I’m only just learning how to mentally deal with it. I had no idea what a survivalist maniac I’d become once I clued into the real reason for pretty much every “armageddon” in history: Currency collapses.

Nobody is going hungry in this house! I have multiple food allergies and am not taking any chances at not being able to find my favorite gluten free/organic foods when I need them.

Here’s how I’ve dealt so far:  I built a pantry and purchased long-storage foods and paper hygiene products to hedge against inflation.  The trunk of my car is a contingency planner’s dream. I don’t worry about social unrest because I live in the boonies and I do not own a firearm. For contingencies such as disruptions in power supply or municipal services I bought water purification supplies, a backup power source, and some camping equipment. I keep most of it in my attic.

This is not my garage!  I am not a hardcore prepper. THIS is hardcore. And THIS. I could not devote my life to prepping for an Armageddon that may not come during my lifetime.  I mean, what if the Jeebus doesn’t show? Downer!

Prepping is not just about eating. I put my financial house in order, moved Bunny’s college fund into precious metals, and squirreled some cash  in my house (shh). I made backup copies of birth, marriage and divorce records, stuck them in waterproof holders and hid them in my car. Grandma and Grandpa bought Bunny her first passport and I updated mine.

I still need to buy a shovel and some freeze dried snacks for the car, but otherwise I think I’m done. More prepping simply does not make any sense.  There comes a point where hoarding becomes a sort of mental illness:  I figure, if one goes through a year’s hoard without finding alternative sources for vittles and gear it’s time to MOVE.

So let-er-rip, this financial Armageddon. Let’s get this party started already because I’ve got a ton of food and booze to share with my clueless neighbors. Apocalypse party at my place!

My wine cellar: Mostly hooch, Pellegrino, and three year old beer. And a little wine.

Jen Says HI

Ees my loco seester.

A Single Candle

Halloween.  Samhain. It’s a special time for me, when I light a candle and rededicate myself to my Path. Typically this entails my trying to find it first.

My psyche is at peace this season, so much better than this time last year.  I had  the entire U.S. financial system on deathwatch last October and had worked myself into a lather over it.   I am most psychic during those times of the month when I’m the least able to deal with my insights, and Autumn’s descent into darkness drags me to a morbid premenstrual place.  I knew something deadly was about to happen and it did:  During October 2008 one bankster faction struck at the jugular of another and the United States’ central banking system found itself within 24 hours of collapse.

However, this discontinuity was not the economic death blow I (and many others)  feared it would be: The Fed threw a TARP over the carnage, courtesy of the American taxpayer, and performed triage on the banking system where no one outside the System could see the blood. We muddled through the seasons, our economy on life support, and the world did not end. Lesson learned: Never underestimate the tenacity of a room full of German banksters.

So here we are again, watching the passage from All Hallowes Eve to the Day of the Dead. The Grim Reaper still stalks the Dollar, the bags of candy are half the size and twice the price, but the trick-or-treaters are still adorable.  Autumn still smells and feels the way it always did, and now  I remember where I dropped my talisman. I’d forgotten all about it.

Cornucopia

IT’S DECORATIVE
GOURD SEASON, MOTHERFUCKERS.

BY COLIN NISSAN

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get my hands on some fucking gourds and arrange them in a horn-shaped basket on my dining room table. That shit is going to look so seasonal. I’m about to head up to the attic right now to find that wicker fucker, dust it off, and jam it with an insanely ornate assortment of shellacked vegetables. When my guests come over it’s gonna be like, BLAMMO! Check out my shellacked decorative vegetables, assholes. Guess what season it is—fucking fall. There’s a nip in the air and my house is full of mutant fucking squash.(continued . . .)

Wine Flu

I got  fall down drunk last night. I shared a bottle of wine with a neighbor watching the World Series. It was really good wine, a 2005 Russian River Valley pinot noir, the kind that makes one say outrageous things and throw off one’s clothes. But no, I didn’t get naked.  It’s really not such a good idea to be drunk and naked and away from home. At least not all at the same time. Besides, God says something about how you’re not supposed to ply your neighbor with drink so you may see him nekkid, and it’s wise to leave before someone shows a foreskin . . . Or something like that. Sorry, but translating Bible verses is not my forte. Especially when I’m drunk.

Have you noticed that one bottle of wine is all that is necessary to get two people in trouble? I can’t believe only just figured that out last night, fortunately in time to beat a hasty retreat because I do NOT wish to see that neighbor nekkid. I got naked when I got home instead, and slept on my sofa.  Somebody please tell me why one chooses to be drunk on one’s sofa when one’s bed is available. Is it the support from the back to keep the bedspins at bay?

Anyway: One treats wine flu the same way one ought to treat any kind of flu:  Plenty of warm liquids, an anti-inflammatory or two, and lots and lots of sleep. So went my day off from work.

WANT!!!

I have nowhere to wear these. But I want them.

Was this right before she fell?

I believe these are 2007 Valentino

Half Nekkid Thursday: Housefrau

Bunny had the computer tonight so I played housekeeper instead. The house needed it.

But did she call him?

A Brazen Cheek

A BUSTY shopper was stunned when her mail-order bra arrived with a sleazy request for a “private show”

So did she dial that number? Why yes. Ohhhhh yes she did! I would not have had the chutzpah.  What would one say? “Who the hell do you think you are?”  Or “I don’t date men who can’t spell,” or maybe “Heerz yer show that’ll be ten thousand dollerz OKTHXBAI”

Weird. And the guy couldn’t take what he dished out anyway. Typical.

I actually get the Bravissimo catalog, even though it’s in the UK and I can’t really afford to pay the exchange rates.  Sometimes I just like looking at pretty bras that actually come in my size.

Kittyprint Tuesday: Leopard Print Love

Scarlett Johannson is always a fashion DO

Leopard print, made famous by designer Norman Norell, has been a symbol of luxury and glamour since the 1940’s.  As you may have noticed, I’m addicted.

Like polka-dots, leopard prints frequent fashion runways, but they are also risky to wear.  I’ve covered this subject in detail before but given that kittyspots are in fashion this season a quick review is in order. Follow these general guidelines and you can walk on the wild side without looking like a fashion victim.

The suit on the left was someone’s expensive mistake. The dress on the right is prettier.

1. Small, tight and natural-looking kittyprints are better than big splashy ones. Big fakey spots, like big fakey polka-dots, will make you look like a clown. Which is fine if you are a clown, but you are not. You will leave the big kittyprints to the runway models, who are paid to look ridiculous.

2. Limit your leopard spots to accent pieces if you’re shy. Only wear kittyprints all over your body if you’re feeling very bold, because you WILL be stared at!  You will want to be stared at in a good way. Which brings me to . .

.

One of these women is making a terrible mistake.

3. The more wild the print, the more conservative the cut, no exceptions. Stick with the classics!  A wild leopard miniskirt will make you look like a Las Vegas hooker, while a knee-length pencil skirt will make you look elegantly chic. Avoid too much cleavage, and if you’re not wearing a dress for god’s sake put on some pants. Look to the photo on the right: Lady Gaga is always a fashion don’t. Take heed lest you walk out the door looking like an overexposed hot mess.

4. Only mix leopard patterns with plain neutrals or, if you’re going for fierce elegance,Valentino red. Don’t even think of mixing leopard spots with bright colors! Leopard+Neon+Metallics=Fashion Fail. Ditto colored kittyprints; leave them to the children.

NO NO NO NO NO DO NOT DO THIS

5. A good rule of thumb is one leopard print item per outfit, per day.  Anything more is kittyprint overkill. Do not, repeat not, mix your kittyprints or you will come across as a crazy tramp. Which is fine, if you’re a crazy tramp. If you’d rather be an exotic lady let one precious piece be your calling card.