Black and White Photography of New York

2/25/2006

Predictions

I now have bronchitis. Visited the doctor yesterday and was told the lungs are clear but he doesn't know whether its viral or bacterial. That's perfect because the coughing has made my back worse.

Maybe, all these evil spirits that were supposed to come out during that yoga class and enter the floor through the third eye got caught on the way out and are embedded somewhere in my body. 55 days into my new health program - this is where I've wound up. Things will go as they've got a mind to go.

The reason that I ask for predictions on the political front is that they give us a chance to question our beliefs, and what we think we know. In other words I like to try and bring some little bit of scientific principle to what is often a blank screen that we toss our own prejudices on.

I tried to give President Bush the benefit of the doubt before he went into Iraq by saying that if this didn't turn into a civil war with house to house fighting - then the President understood what was going on better than me.

I try to get a gauge on how political the president is by asking for predictions about whether he will stand up to the congress about the port issue. Would he really risk it all for something he says he believes in. In fact, if he did - I could at least say he really does stick to his principles and core beliefs.

It is tough to know what's going on inside the white house because secrecy is critical to their operations. It becomes clear that President Bush has turned off a lot of conservative republicans with the Iraqi invasion - but now I get the feeling just because the true conservative doesn't want to get involved in this foreign policy nation building business - but also the money involved.

That brings us to what I think is the heart of the matter - is the war good for business? On the one hand - there are chants from the left that the war is enriching the pockets of (fill in the company name here) and that the secret owners of society are getting richer. The cry is that this is all about oil.

On the other hand, prominent conservatives are decrying the fact that the surplus has been squandered and that the combination of tax-cuts and more spending has become dangerous.

Follow the money.

There are other theories floating around that the Bushes are tied in some way to the UAE. So what is their prediction?

Lester has supplied two possible endings: one that Iraq does go into, or perhaps is already, in a civil war and that the President will be forced to withdraw.

Two: that the factions will unite against the U.S. and force the U.S. out.

At the bottom of these predictions is a question about the will of the United States, the purpose of the war, whether Sunnis and Shiites can get together, and even more interesting what will happen when and if the U.S. leaves.

My own hunch is that this is some world domination attempt that was dreamed up when the USSR went kaput. And that the christian fundamentalists also see it as a worthy crusade. The problem is that this "feeling" doesn't lead to a thought experiment or prediction. It doesn't tell you what the world domination powers will do next. They seem to back down if the Americans turn against them? How many times can you fool the people?

Yes, the media did a bad job going in the build-up to Iraq. They were like little kids waving flags and playing inbeds with no idea of what the consequences of all this would be. Now where do they stand? I don't think they know much about what is going on from their bunkers.

Now they're following the next story which is how the emperor has no clothes, how the whole thing is falling apart. That's just as good a story to them as playing soldier was. There two stories they love: the rise of an idol and the toppling of an idol. In that respect they're neutral.

Anyway - predictions. According to my theory president Bush and his companions will never pull out of Iraq. Never. No matter what. This is a part of their religious, moral, and empire-building plan. It cannot be undone.

Now the people may get sick of it all and elect someone who promises to end the war, but that's another story for another time.

2/24/2006

history of the world 2006

Okay - now for some politics. You see Iraq tottering on civil war. Question: what next? What does el Presidente do if Shiites and Sunnis really go at each other. Is that it? End game is get the hell out? End game is bring in more troops to try and control civil war? (Has that ever worked?) The world spins out of control.

Bush's mantra (read the books by the disgruntled insiders) : I don't try to doublethink myself. I don't question myself. I know what's right and what's wrong. But how does he know? What is it based on? From what I can see it's based on what he's told by his cabinet.

It might have worked - the big idea - the Iraq invasion - but he grabbed hold of the wrong end of the bull and now the bull is turning. And all the republicans and all the advisors can't put him back together again. He's finished.

On the Town

2/23/2006

Grand Central, Morning

Grand Central, Morning

I know -- a cliche subject done to death. But man, I can't resist this - especially with the beautifully blown highlights.

Health

I've been in a lousy mood the last few days. Probably caused by my aching back - I definitely pulled something - and I've had to give up the excercise routine for a while. But I also am faced with medical expenses (routine but expensive) that have to do with my medicine for Crohns disease, and a routine colonoscopy that's coming up and a doctors appointment. In case you are reading this for the first time - I've had Crohns for about ten years. It's been in remission for about six or seven years. But I am on expensive medication and I have a high insurance deductible and I have to go through a colonoscopy every year as a preventive measure. The medical stuff hits me this time of year.

The insurance I have is quirky. I need to lay out the money first and then - eventually - I get reimbursed for what they think whatever it is should cost. Anyway - it ain't great, but the insurance is specific to the laws of New York and only costs me $250 a month. On top of that, I need to get some dental work done - and I have no dental insurance.

So that's where the rubber hits the road. If I didn't have health expenses, and if I hadn't bought all the new equipment - and if pigs had wings - I'd be perfectly solvent.

Oh - and about writing this stuff in the blog - who cares anymore. I made a deal with the devil. Bottom line: I put myself on display to sell pictures (years ago).

Kafka has a great story about the artist as a circus freak. Now I can't remember the name of the story. Oh, was it called "A Hunger Artist." Did it have anything to do with what I'm blabbing about? I doubt it. I'm in the mood for some Kafka though.

* * *

But you see - that's why it doesn't pay to really get too worried about this crap. I went to the pharmacy a little while ago to pick up my medicine. Last year, this cost $1200 for a 3-month supply. The pharmacist sees me come in and smiles. "I have good news for you," he says.

He pushes the receipt for the drug in front of me and it is only (being relative) $850.

Wow, say I. That is good news. It went down so much since last year.

And yes - it did. He doesn't know why, but I'm not asking. So I'm starting to feel a little bit better.

* * *
And received two emails about the cause of Crohn's being discovered (The Lancet) and the use of Viagra to stimulate blood to the colon. There's a joke in this somewhere - but I don't know what it is yet.

2/22/2006

Espresso Bar

Fine Art B&W Printing

"Last time I checked my bankroll,
It was pretty thin,
Sometimes it seems like the bottom,
Is the only place I been." - John Prine

I'm beginning to wonder whether I shouldn't branch out at this point and take on clients that I would do personalized b&w inkjet printing for. You give me the negative or the digital capture, I'll do the photoshopping as necessary - or you do it - and output with the 4800 on paper of your choice (more or less).

How do you figure out how much to charge? I'll try and work that out.

The Amazings

The story about the UAE taking over a couple of ports, including one in New York - is amazing because it has actually caused politicians from both sides of the aisle to unite against the president. However - the theory that we want to give contracts to our friends - whether they be Arab or English - makes good sense. In fact, an unnamed source has told me that Pres. Bush's first idea was to give control of American airports to the Iraqis to prove that we took care of our friends, no matter their religion or nationality.

President Bush argued that this was not as crazy as it sounded since Iraq was now a democracy - and that we wanted to show our support for democracies in the middle east.

The president, though - will explain why this move makes sense - and since this is not a political issue, but an issue of national security - the president will not back down from this no matter who is agin him. That is amazing.

The Met players have shown up for Spring training - and I have to believe that this is the year they will make it to the division playoffs. And to make it better, they have their own t.v. station in New York.