The Tribune Online, 51

America's Precursor?

Many of us who studied "Western Civilization" are familiar with the fall of Greek and Roman societies and wonder if this could be America's fate? Today, while I was visiting one  of my printer's offices, I requested the desk copy of a book by "Time Magazine" entitled "100 Events That Changed the World".

Chapter 18, page 21 reads: "A Great American Civilization Collapses"

"The Maya culture of the central Americas reached a glorious apogee while Europe was struggling through the Dark Ages, only to experience a dramatic downfall around 800-900. The society's decline was so sudden scholars call it the Classic Period Collapse. At its height, the Maya empire, a coalition of loosely related city-states, reached from southern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula through much of Central America.

Maya scientists were advanced in the areas of astronomy and mathematics, though they never developed the wheel. Sadly, much of Maya art and history was destroyed by Spanish conquistadors eager to snuff out native culture, but the stone carvings that remain reveal a bustling, complex society. Maya religion is less appealing to modern minds; their rites included human sacrifice and cannibalism.

Scholars continue to study the reasons for the sudden collapse of this fascinating civilization, and a consensus is starting to form, based on historical climate research; a major drought, lasting many decades, sent Maya society into irreversible decline. A few islands of prosperity continued to thrive, but to the rest of the world, the Maya subsided as they had risen; unknown, unheralded and unmourned."

Industrialized Corn...the Great American Killer?

Last night, I watched the film entitled "King Corn" available from "Netflix". I have to continue to sing the praises of this history movie archives, for it has so far been my most comprehensive film source of history, conveniently accessible 24/7.

The movie traces the steps of two individuals who returned to the land of their birth, Iowa, to discover the growth and use of corn in today's American diet. The term to describe this saga food source is nothing other than ubiquitous...for it's in virtually every food and drink we consume...excepting water.

The industrializiation of corn has had one major benefit and that it's lessened the cost of feeding the nation to almost a fraction of what it would cost otherwise. The downside is that it's used in everything from beef, poultry, pork, breads, sweetners in juices and soft drinks, flavorings, and spices. Chemicals are used to advance its commercial growth, such as anhydrous ammonia along with pesticides to protect the growth.

What's a body to do...starve as people do without this convenience of modernity? The downside as referenced, is that this process has cheapened the nutritional value of the foods, and consequently increased the overall unhealthy consumption; thus diabetes, obesity, and an earlier death from cancer-related diseases? Although, the consequences are not as dire as a quicker death due to starvation, resulting from famine as shown in undeveloped nations. A small price to pay...I would say.  It does afford the consumers the option of limiting intake as opposed to digging their graves with their mouths.

I am wealthy...but far from being "rich"

Well, it's tax time again, and I am going over my receipts for my returns. I sit back and breathe a sigh of satisfaction, for this fiscal year says I am wealthier than I have been in my entire life...I thank God. However, I am no richer for it and you could say I am less rich than I was ten years ago.

Ten years ago, I personally made almost three times as much money as I did last year, while working for a major healthcare corporation.  Today, I am financially poorer, yet I am wealthier than ever before...a paradox? You see being a small business owner, I am my business...my business and I are one. I have not seen any personal profit worth mentioning since 2006. My business in healthcare has promoted a concept that's gaining recognition around the world, where it is an issue. My concept is only one premise or approach to this particular issue, and that's saving a client's money that they would otherwise have to pay out of pocket. That leaves me, my consultants, and my clients with the good-all-over feeling, which I'm feeling right now.

Last night, on "60 Minutes" there was this feature on a gentleman, who is rich and I mean "rich" with a capital "R". He simply invests but personally produces no products or services, but rakes in tons of cash...like playing the stock market, although he does it with online gambling. You see the correlation? He even went so far as to say that "ethics" in Vegas were higher than those on Wall Street. History bears him witness and confirms his assessment. He also donates to certain charities. However, is he wealthy? You decide...

Dan Casey and the impact of Parkinson's

Dan Casey, the blogger for the Roanoke Times, described the impact of Parkinson's to his mother's life...quite severe. He went on to describe Rush Limbaugh's belittling the dread of the disease pertinent to Michael J. Fox's appearance at some political event.

I asked why is it that the people of the Roanoke Valley tolerate the likes of Limbaugh? I decided to call the GM of WFIR Radio Am to get some "authoritative answers". Mr Leonard Wheeler is the GM and the radio station is a family owned operation, of which his family inherited the Limbaugh show when they took over.

He said that he tried to run other people in the Limbaugh spot such as Dr. Dean Edell and a few more, and the response was underwhelming to say the least. From a business and practical standpoint, he had to continue with Limbaugh because it kept the revenue going, to pay the people, to keep the doors open, and the records spinning.

Conclusion: Rush Limbaugh is a product of the Roanoke Valley's listeners...therefore, the Valley brews its own poisoning...bottoms up.

NBC's "the grio online"...

Yesterday, while reviewing the various celebrations of MLK, Jr across the nation, I decided to visit NBC's "the grio online" which turned out to be what I thought it would be...more misdirected "negro news." It might be considered, if you will, Time's version of Ebony magazine. It is similar to this "William Monroe Trotter" news arm closely associated with the "White House" often attended by Valerie Jarrett, composed of so-called educated Negroes, of whom I won't name because of their insignificance.

Anyway, the grio online had a link featuring the 25 most influential blacks in American History, with the usual faces including Jesse Jackson, Sr. (aka Rev. Nutscutter) and Al Sharpton (aka Al B. Conked) and even goes so far as to ask if Sharpton is the closest leader to MLK? My reaction...what a bunch of hogwash. If Negroes can't see these con men out of Chicago and New York  for what they are, then Negroes are as blind, deaf, and dumb as ever since 1865. 

It did mention Marcus Garvey, who was unmentionable a few years back, even by Ebony magazine, as a reputable black leader...for he spoke with such brilliance representative of a truly free-thinking black man. They had to shut him down, and I mean in a hurry. The same could be said of King about the war in Vietnam and his march against economic deprivation for minorities...for his message had transcended "social acceptance" for the Negro.

The grio did mention Malcolm X, but failed as the white news media will continue to do, to mention who made Malcolm X...Mr. Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X eventually became what Judas was to Jesus Christ...just didn't get away with it.