Stop Pulling the Wagon

 

Seven plus years ago (Feb. 2012) I wrote a “spoof” article on this site titled: Mark of the Beast – The Club Card. It is still available on this site (use the search box) and I included it in my book “Boiling the Frog” – available on Amazon.com or order a signed copy direct from me for $10 (see right hand column), The point of the article was that these “Club Cards” and other methods of tracking our purchases are being advertised as ways to “Serve Us Better” but are really only vehicles to monitor our lives for the sellers purposes and potentially for the government to control what we can buy, sell or consume. All, of course, “for our own good” because they, the government, know best how to manage our lives. “Scared yet?”

Now I see on television that Insurance Company’s are “offering” an “App” to monitor your driving habits in order to offer discounts on your car insurance if you drive the way they have decided you should. This, and similar “Apps” can also track your movements, i.e., where you go, What you do, how long you stay and other morsels of personal data to be harvested by Google, Facebook and other entities.

Goodbye, private get-a-way weekend with your loved one. Your Cell Phone companion is a “tattle-tale” to all those companies and Government Agencies who want to monitor your life. “Scared yet?”

Facebook is offering a handy “Portal” to install in your home so that you can always be “on camera” for whoever has access to your “Portal” “on the other end”. Family, Friends, Facebook, IRS etc. Can you spell “hacked”? I am thinking of ordering one of these “Portal’s”, putting it in our house, then hanging a picture of a horses butt in front of the lens just for fun.

Google (and others) have “Algorithms” – no this is not a “hot” Latin Dance – that can monitor and predict your nearly every move, voting habits, purchases, favorite foods, character flaws, weaknesses etc. etc. Now, are you scared?

Our day to day world is filled with cameras, everywhere you go and no matter what you are doing. More and more of these cameras have “Facial Recognition” software. Not to mention listening devices and “other ways” to track our every activity.

We live in a fish bowl.

Hmmmmm! On the other hand, maybe this could present us with an opportunity to have a little fun? Want to trade “Apps”, identity and habits for a while?

Since the “Apps” and tracking often seem to depend on our Cell Phones, perhaps we could do something creative with said phones. Like using “disposable” phones purchased at Walmart while in disguise, using them for a short time and then slipping them into the pocket of non-English speaking tourists at the airport or duct tape them inconspicuously to a local commuter bus. That could keep the Fed’s busy for a while. Lots of possibilities!

Bob Bandy – September 2019

 

Recently while watching a documentary on prisons and prisoners, I saw a prisoner with “MOMMA TRIED” tattooed across his chest.

It got me to thinking. And, no I am not talking about the unfortunate homeless living on the streets.

I am talking about the City Administrators of these cities, like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland and, yes, sadly Sacramento and too many others.

Yesterday, I heard on the news that San Francisco was going to provide elevator operators in buildings because the “homeless” have been using elevators as public toilets.

I am ashamed to admit that in a moment of anger I would like to take these so-called “Administrators” and “Guardians” of their citizenry, and have “MOMMA TRIED” tattooed across their foreheads.

Their first duty is to provide the citizens of their city with safety in a clean, healthy environment – not hold meetings and talk about grandiose plans which will cost a gazillion more taxpayer dollars and in the end not produce the desired result. I have heard on the news that the State of Washington has spent a Billion (with a “B”) Dollars on homeless plans and the situation on the streets of Seattle are, if anything, worse.

Here is a two step plan to clean the streets:

First, provide Charter Buses to relocate these poor, miserable people living in filth and degradation to new, clean and prosperous locales. May I suggest places like Marin County (home of Nancy Pelosi), Malibu, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood and other places filled with those smart, politically connected folks who believe they have all the answers for all problems. Be sure they arrive with a nice box lunch, map of the area of their new “home” and a crisp new $100 bill.

Second, using scrapers, loaders and dump trucks, remove the debris and trash from the streets. Then Fire Hose the remaining human waste and filth into a containment location (similar to the ones required on construction sites) and have it “sucked” up and disposed of in a sanitation facility. Preferably one in Marin County etc..

After completing these steps put up signs (in multiple languages) that henceforth the streets will be water-blasted on a regular basis for public health and safety reasons on an unannounced basis as needed. Then do it.

Problem solved at far less cost than all those “solutions” provided by those “Administrator” meetings.

Sorry about the “MOMMA TRIED” tattoo crack. Most of those Administrators foreheads are probably too narrow for it anyway.

Bob Bandy – August 2019

I have often received requests to create a book from many of the articles presented here on this site over a number of years.

The above photo is of my just published book in an effort to do this.

Paperback – Format is 8 1/2 x 11 inches – Large Print

My desire was to create a book that can be left out for eye catching access and is an easy read in most any lighting. I also wanted something that can be picked up, thumbed through and offers a quick read on a variety of articles for casual reading and sharing. Books like this are sometimes referred to as “Coffee Table Books”.

I also had a goal of keeping the cost down to make it affordable for gift sharing. At $9.95 offered on Amazon/Amazon Prime, It is an attractive large size that should be well suited for this purpose.

After you read it, I believe you will want to share it with others.

It includes 63 Articles/Essays/Blogs from 2009-2019 in four categories:

Your Government at Work

Something to Think About

Mostly Just For Fun

Clowns, Criminals and Lunatics

Many of the chosen articles could have been listed in more than one category.

It finishes with a personal story.

Published just last week I have had limited feedback but it has all been positive and enthusiastic.

Please forgive this seeming “commercial” but it is my effort to share this with as many readers as possible. I think you will be pleased.

PLEASE NOTE FUTURE POSTINGS AND NEW ARTICLES WILL CONTINUE ON THIS SITE!

Thanks for your consideration.

Bob Bandy

I am often asked where I get ideas for the articles I write. If there is a problem, it is that too many ideas come my way. The media and daily news are an “Opportunity Rich Environment” for writers like myself.

Especially now, with next year being a Presidential Election Year, we have every “wannabe” trying to outdo every other “wannabe” by going farther and farther into the fringes to try to gain attention.

Just a few examples:

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At last weekends Democratic Socialists of America Convention attendees were instructed to wave “Jazz Hands” because the sound of clapping could be offensive to some. Likewise, attendees were instructed to address others only in “Gender Neutral” terms. They were also told to not use “Aggressive Scents” and not to talk to “Outsiders” or “Cops”. There was more.

Reminds me of the College Students in the news a year or so ago. The ones needing “safe” places on campus because they were “fragile”. I think many referred to them as “snowflakes”.

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In the last Democratic Presidential Debate, Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang stated that it is already too late to reverse Global Climate Change and we should be moving the population to “Higher Ground”. This in addition to his plan to provide a universal income of $1000 per month for everyone. He says his plan will be paid for by a new “Value Added Tax” which will return the money to Government.

Want some cheap beach front property anyone?

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Following the mass shootings at El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio our Nations Flags were ordered flown at half mast in the Nations Capitol. In an interview following the announcement, a former “FBI Assistant Director”, Frank Figliuzzi told “Tabloid News Media” MSNBC Anchor Brian Williams, “The numbers 88 are very significant in the Neo-Nazi and the White Supremacy movement. Why? Because the letter ‘H’ is the eighth letter of the alphabet, and to them the numbers 88 together stand for ‘Heil Hitler.’ So we’re going to be raising the flag back up at dusk on 8/8,” (August 8th – the 8th day of the 8th month).

National Enquirer, eat your heart out.

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If I tried, I could not create better material, you just can’t make stuff like this up. The inmates are taking charge of the asylum.

Bob Bandy – August 2019

Originally posted in October 2018, This piece was one of the most liked, most commented on and most shared over the last year. After numerous requests I am re-posting it below.

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Many years ago, twenty or more, I remember reading about a time in the future when the writer believed the United States might very well “Balkanize” itself.  That is turn into a fatally fractured land and people, where reconciliation into any kind of unity becomes impossible.  Or, in other words, goodbye “E Pluribus Unum”.

A people who become so divided along ideological as well as cultural, religious, political, and ethnic identities that a unified effort for the “greater good of all” becomes impossible.

 A time when our national diversity, instead of being our unifying strength, is instead used as a weapon of destruction.

Elements within our previously “United” government and society become fortresses of non-negotiable demands.  These elements threaten the total destruction of our way of life unless their specific demands are granted.  They will use any means to achieve their goals.  Violence, fear, intimidation, destruction of families, corruption on a national scale and any other means to get their way. 

Following the leadership of writers such as Saul Alinsky and funded by anti-American zealots such as George Soros, these elements seek to impose a society which is in direct conflict with the values and institutions envisioned by our Founders and treasured by most.  For their agenda, co-existence is not an option.

In the process they are planting a garden, the rows of this garden contain the seeds of Lies, Hate, Anger, Rage and Bitterness.  Tell me, what do you harvest if these are the seeds you plant and cultivate? 

They have also infiltrated and corrupted many previously thought incorruptible government agencies and departments like the FBI and Department of Justice, just to name two.

These, and other Agencies and Departments have become populated too often by self-serving unelected demigods wedded to the principle that they are entitled to lifetime pay and benefits and are not answerable to the taxpayers.  What is now being referred to by many as the “Deep State”. 

If the average citizen did the things these bureaucrats are allowed to do, the citizen would find him or herself in prison while the government employee or elected official seems to have an endless “Get Out of Jail Free” card.

Cross them in any way and they have the power and the taxpayer paid for resources to hound you, bankrupt you and ruin your life just for the fun of it.

I don’t think of Washington D.C. as a Swamp.  It is better defined as a “Cesspool”.

Bob Bandy – August 2019

The Congressional Robert Mueller Hearings – Takeaway

After watching and hearing most of the Congressional testimony with Robert Mueller and spending some time in review I come away with some thoughts.

1. Robert Mueller was recruited to “head up” the Russian Collusion investigation. With his history of Service in the Marine Corps (1968-1971) including duty in Vietnam, Service as United States Attorney, Homicide Prosecutor, acting United States Deputy Attorney General and former Director of the FBI, Robert Mueller had the deserved reputation of both service and integrity to make him the head of the Special Counsel Investigation.
2. Robert Mueller did not want to go to these hearings and tried very hard not to go. He only attended after he “retired” and as a now private citizen could not evade the Subpoena requiring him to appear in front of the Congressional Committees. I am thinking that Committee Chairman Jerold Nadler and Committee Chairman Adam Schiff might not want to expect Christmas Cards from the Mueller family this year.
3. Robert Mueller was not familiar with details of the report that bore his name. Stumbled over much information, replied he was not familiar with Fusion GPS and its founder Glenn Simpson – The firm hired by the Clinton Campaign – (a key component in the investigation) and was unable or unwilling to answer more than 100 other questions about his own investigation.
4. Robert Mueller, by his own testimony appeared to have little to do with the day to day process of the investigation; i.e. when asked how many of the interviews had he participated in, his answer was “Very Few”.

If I were a suspicious or conspiracy inclined person (which I have been accused of), I could easily believe that it was never the intent that Robert Mueller should be an active player in the investigation, just a very credible cover name/figurehead and face of legitimacy for it. A kind of “Stalking Horse” for the group of politically motivated Lawyers and Investigators who ran the day to day operation. Or, as one commentator put it less kindly, he was the lipstick on the pig.

The real players behind the investigation were a group of “pit-bull” lawyers, led by Andrew Weissmann who has a record of being overturned by Appeals Courts, including one case where the Supreme Court voted 9-0 against him. Andrew Weissmann was an attendee at Hillary Clinton’s ill fated “Victory Party” the night of the 2016 election.

Most of the other members of the investigative legal team were Democratic Party supporters and contributors. Hmmmm.

Their methods were often unscrupulous and included intimidation with tactics such as orchestrated, often untrue leaks to the media and bankrupting those being investigated through spiraling legal costs plus threats to go after and bankrupt family members of those being investigated. Couple that with actions like early morning “Swat Team” led home invasion searches coordinated with CNN, etc. etc..

The Special Counsels Group legal fees (salaries) were paid by our Government, translation we taxpayers, while those accused had to rely on their own financial resources (until they were bankrupt).

Again, if I were a suspicious person or a conspiracy inclined individual I just might be persuaded to believe this whole thing was put together as a “fishing trip” in hopes of finding something for Impeachment Proceedings. If so, at a cost in excess of 25 Million Taxpayer Dollars it was a pretty expensive fishing trip.

But, it is all probably just co-incidence. Right?

I honestly wish I could feel sorry for Robert Mueller. He seemed a former American Hero type and now an almost pathetic figure adrift at the end of years of service. Wish I could but I can’t. A number of totally innocent people had their lives and finances ruined in his name.

Bob Bandy – July 2019