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musings of mark since 2001

The difference between the money rich and poor in the world continues to grow, and it’s being spoken about more. As someone that owns very little in the way of things or money, it would be obscene to even think of being as monied as those on the latest Forbes top 25 list. With all the poor and downtrodden in the world, my conscience would weigh too heavy to not give the $ away to help those less fortunate than myself.

Having lots of money must be like some sort of addiction, seems to be many parallels there. Money is free as a child until you get hooked on it while your parents teach you that it’s the way to get food and shelter. Growing up, all types of reinforcements from the media and elsewhere confirm that having lots of things that can be bought with money is good for you and everyone else. Mostly though, it’s good for those making the money that are selling you the things that you may or may not need.

But there’s millions of people out there that aren’t getting enough money for the things they need and the gap between those that are and those that are not is getting wider. What are the super rich to do with all their money if they aren’t going to distribute it with the rest of the world like Sarah McLaughlin does? It’s not really doing much good just being a number in a Forbes magazine article listing the top 25 money makers in the world. Sarah isn’t among the top of the profit heap, but she’s probably a lot richer for not being listed.

The Indian Summer has finally come around, with the fog lifting to a crisp fall morning and warm sunny afternoon. Here and there the reds are showing through on the maples and my little chipmunk is busy storing everything possible for the winter ahead, don’t know if it’s more or less than normal, but if the trends continue it will be a mostly snow free winter with not many days below freezing.

Our Tacky Shop (just some examples, our isn’t listed) is closing for the year, another sure sign of winter ahead. I bought an old non-working electric blanket to hang over the door to my room to keep the heat in. And another for the upstairs doorway stair opening, just keep clothes in a closet up there, an unused floor. Inefficient electric baseboard heaters and no wood stove, so closing off the rooms not used (the rest of the house practically) lets me keep the room I’m in all the time warm, and still keeping the electric bill lower.

Harvest Moon in a few days (28th), living so high up with such a huge view, the arc of the moon lasts a long time and should be especially spectacular from this aerie. The light reflecting off the expanse of ocean usually makes my cheap web cam unable to handle shots in that direction, but should check to se if the quality of light might make it work for that evening.

Something new is instant publishing where anyone can have their paper book done and for sale in about 24 hours.

Just testing a bug, seeing if it’s fixed.

Yup, looks like it.

The war train and Iraqi civilian body count is now over 12,000, the US count over 1,000, all people killed for the love of money and power. And it’s getting worse, the US TV doesn’t show it, but last night in Baghdad was like the Gulf War all over again with tracer bullets and mortar rounds flying through the night air, even a helicopter shot down, it isn’t over yet by a long shot.

Talk about your Christian Crusades all over again, Yusuf Islam was flying over from Europe and the plane got diverted to Maine where they questioned him, put him on another plane to Dulles and sent him home. Not quite like calling Ghandi a terrorist, but close; Yusuf is seriously a peace loving man. At least that’s what I thought until reading this article.

Then I went to this one that’s saying all that is behind him and he’s even visited with top Washington brass recently: ‘But recently Yusuf Islam broke with Muslim militants, condemning extremism and pledging proceeds from a CD set to 9/11 families. Jewish leaders in Britain praise him as a moderate and say an Islamic school he set up in North London teaches a peaceful brand of Islam. “All indications are that his move away from extremism is entirely genuine, and he now concentrates on his school and his music,” said Michael Whine, a spokesman for Britain’s Jewish community.’