Darling Pet Monkey

October 16, 2008

Obama/Biden vs McCain/Palin, what if things were switched around?….. think about it.

Filed under: election — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 8:13 am

This came through my email inbox this a.m. – thought it made for some great “pondering.”

A Question of Perspective :

Obama/Biden  vs McCain/Palin, what if things were switched around?…..  think about it.

Would the country’s  collective point of view be different? Could racism be  the culprit?

Ponder the following:

  • What  if the Obamas had paraded five children across the  stage, including a three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?
  • What if John  McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law  Review?
  • What if Barack Obama finished fifth  from the bottom of his graduating class?
  • What  if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?
  • What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe disfiguring car  accident, when she no longer measured up to his  standards?
  • What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was  still married?
  • What if Michelle Obama was the  wife who not only became addicted to pain killers  but also acquired them illegally through her  charitable organization?
  • What if Cindy McCain  graduated from Harvard?
  • What if Obama had been  a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)
  • What  if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent  speaker?
  • What if Obama couldn’t read from a  teleprompter?
  • What if Obama was the one who had  military experience that included discipline  problems and a record of crashing seven  planes?
  • What if Obama was the one who was known  to display publicly, on many occasions, a serious  anger management problem?
  • What if Michelle Obama’s family had made their money from beer distribution?
  • What if the Obamas had adopted a white child?


You could easily add to this list.  If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

Educational  Background:

Barack Obama:
Columbia  University – B.A. Political Science with a  Specialization in International  Relations.
Harvard – Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum  Laude

Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware –  B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law – Juris  Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

John McCain:
United  States Naval Academy – Class rank: 894 of  899

Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University –  1 semester
North Idaho College – 2 semesters –  general study
University of Idaho – 2 semesters –  journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College – 1  semester
University of Idaho – 3 semesters – B.A.  in Journalism

Education isn’t everything, but  this is about the two highest offices in the land  as well as our standing in the world. You make the call.

September 21, 2008

Forward: Astrological Forecast for Oct/Nov/Dec 2008

Filed under: Astrology — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 9:05 pm

Forwarding the forecast for the next few months from my good friend (and mentor) Rev. Marcia George…
She’s pretty darned right on and consistent….

SEVEN DESTINY ASTROLOGY NEWSLETTER OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER    2008
By Marcia George, Professional Astrologer    304.258.3860

www.sevendestinyastrology.com

My goodness what startling events that have transpired in these past 2 months, since the last Newsletter.  I said I would write about 2012 but I think the current events nix that topic this time.

“Watershed moment. A Crossroads. Things will never be the same again. Is anybody awakening to the fact that there is a new reality at hand?” Wednesday night, Sept. 17, CNN Lou Dobbs

In the last newsletter I mentioned that the astrology patterns are very similar to the astrological aspects in 1929.  Top International Financial Astrologers have suggested the world would experience another depression.  The good news is that these aspects are difficult for about 2 ½ to 3years, not 7 to 9 years as in the 1930’s.   The Full Pisces Moon conjunct Uranus, Sept 15, revealed the illusion of our supposedly stable financial system and brought revelation to the  public of this fact. Pisces is the karmic filter for the zodiac.

As I write this the Stock Market lost 500 points then the next day lost another 400 points, but yesterday, Sept 18, the Market rallied. Now, as I write this the President is talking on the TV about an emergency plan to secure the financial infrastructure  of the USA. So, this is causing the Stock Market to soar up right now. However this bailout, (Think Enron, World Com, Fall of Arthur Andersen Accounting) is on the Taxpayers. They will bear this horrendous burden as government now owns the financial institutions.  Is this socialism? Or Fascism?

Lehman Bros. with 16,000 financial advisors, is the biggest bankruptcy in the history. (WorldCom held this dubious position until  now)  Lehman CEO Dick Flud takes home 466 million!  What’s wrong with this picture that the CEOs of these failed intuitions walk away with huge compensation. Are they being rewarded for ruining the corporation so the government can own it? AIG bailout 85 Billion with Government taking 80% of their stock.  And not to leave out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. As of last Friday, Sept 12, bailout total was 900 BILLION and that was LAST WEEK!

And just a reminder this administration’s lies prosecuted an unnecessary war that is costing us, taxpayers 12 BILLION A MONTH, this money is being borrowed from China primarily. Tragically 4,000 soldiers have died, are dying every day, and thousand maimed for what? Lies, Oil?   And Vet‘s benefits are diminished by Republicans and Bush and thugs…and so it goes.

The spokespeople for these events are putting an “it’s going to be just fine” spin on a lot of this incredible crisis that the market will soon be functioning in a more stable manner any day now.

There are many stock brokers who use astrology to track the market.  The stock brokers that sat on the front row at the International Astrology Conference I attended in May, 2008, commented that all was in the toilet and not to believe what was being reported via the news media.  They were sitting on the edge of their chairs as the financial astrologer speakers outlined the financial outlook facing the world.  Their take on it is that we are passing through a paradigm, and moving into a new type of financial infrastructure.  What has worked for the past couple of centuries is no longer feasible.  Thus this crisis.

So Rock and Roll, but as we approach 2012 and 2013, the astrological influences indicate resolutions are beginning to come into manifestation.  As I said in the last newsletter, the positivity of this New Era will depend on the “motive” of those in power. Greed, selfishness, indifference to the common person, will obviously give us a very trying, perhaps communistic/fascist  type of financial distribution system for those of us not in power.  For leaders who truly are working for the benefit of humanity with intelligence, compassionate,just, common sense governing, then we can expect it to be difficult but serving the whole more equably.

Our part is to participate by using common sense, keeping our minds, speech positive/constructive.  We are not to be  pollyannas, but it is a Universal Law that what  we do, think and feel creates our reality.  Try to know your own truth, not to react in fear, but rely on our inner spiritual guidance.  My first teacher always told me that anything that is fear based is NOT coming from the LIGHT.  Confucius was asked if harm is done, are we to respond with kindness? His answer was “no, respond with justice.    I like this answer and believe in calling a spade a spade, and let the pieces fall where they may.

Here is what is being stated by astrologers on Pluto entering Capricorn.  I will be paraphrasing. Pluto will bring cascading changes that reshape the structure of society on every level.

“Pluto entered Sagittarius 1995 and the Chinese economy exploded with a record 11.4 % growth. (China is  Sagittarius) And now Pluto is leaving Sagittarius with the result in China of  horrible pollution, record outstanding bank loans, shortage of oil and coal.  When Pluto passed out of Sag and entered Capricorn during January 2008 China was hit with the Sichuan earthquake on May 12 that left hundreds of thousands injured and dead.  This was not just another earthquake in China. This earthquake damaged 391 dams, including nuclear power plants.  Jupiter concurrent in Sag with Pluto in Sag means the Chinese are seeing their peak.  So when Pluto retrograded back to Sag we had the spectacular Olympics in August.   The boom in China will soon begin to slow, as it will also occur in Vietnam.  Pluto arrived at the Galactic Center (conjunct Tibet)  and  the Dalai Lama announced that he will appoint a successor in a break with tradition, after China had ordered the approval of spiritual leaders.

With Tibet located in Capricorn, one can expect Sagittarian China to lose more control over this region. In November Pluto leaves Sag to enter Capricorn for the next 15 years.   One astrologer thought China may threaten Taiwan with their thousands of missiles to take over their island.  This would occur shortly after the inauguration of the next USA President.  Taiwan may become China’s Vietnam.  With Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn  India could receive an economic windfall, possibly at the expense of China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan (Russia’s space port), and parts of Iran are in this zone of Capricorn.  Perhaps Iran may see a fortunate change of government between November 2008 and 2023 to pursue a direction of prosperity.

The day of the USA Election, Uranus is a prominent influence. Uranus is a planet of the sudden, unexpected, chaos, revolutionary energy. So, the astrologers looking at this election usually state that it will be a dramatic, close election.  Also, they voice the thought that the individuals running currently will not be the person Inaugurated in January 2009!  So expect the unexpected.

Palin is an Aquarius with 5 planets placed in this constellation. She has transiting Neptune conjunct her Sun.  This can bring hidden secrets to view. She was picked with this troubling aspect.  Her aspects are difficult. Aquarius is a fixed sign and making one inflexible, stubborn, my way is the only way.  Fixed Aquarian ideas and views are the only ones.   Scorpio is in this chart giving a lot of secrecy in her professional and family  life activities.  What you see with her, is not what you get.

Aquarius is electric, can be charismatic but from my research of her time as a mayor and governor these past 20 months is chilling…as she used her power for revenge, manipulation and she makes statements that are absolutely untrue.  For example:

1) Alaska provides 20% of the USA oil supply, NO it is 3.5%.

2) She did not, does not take ear marks, wrong again, she has lobbied and obtains millions in earmarks.

3) And she worked hard for the bridge to nowhere, until there was such a ground swell against this, but she took 200,00 million of tax payers’ dollars that was allocated for this bridge anyway!

She is bathed in scandal, and I think only more will be exposed.  As now, she refuses to cooperate with the Trooper Gate investigation. Why, if there is nothing to hide?  I think McCain will rue the day he choose her for his ticket. Yesterday, at a talk she said “the Palin-McCain ticket! Hello! Watch out McCain, She will rule you with her Aquarius Might, used negatively. Fixed signs often are very controlling. Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius are fixed signs.

Quotes: Lou Dobbs, Eric Francis, Bailout information;  Alex Walker, Pluto in Capricorn information;  Jagdish Maheskri, PhD Election day info.

Next Newsletter, we will know who is elected as President…YIKES  !

And, you may want to have an astrology update with the potent current aspects that are now occurring.  My fees have increased, due to high cost of everything.

New Astrology Chart:        1 ½ hours                $ 165;   update 1 hour  $85

Intuitive consultation using Tarot       ½ hour   $  50  1 hour  $85

September 6, 2008

Deja Vu: Of Hurricanes, Hospitals, Louisiana & FEMA Incompetence

Filed under: Gustav, Healthcare Nightmares, Hurricanes, New Orleans — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 11:19 am

My dear friend, Mary Matthiesen, director of Conversations for Life, “Teaching Healthcare & The Public How to Talk About What Matters Most”, has forwarded me an on-the-fly message from “barefoot doctor” Michael A. Kaiser in New Orleans (from Sept 4th). Borrowing a shared computer running an aircard (no Internet access, and due to lack of power/resources), this is a front line report about aftermath of Gustav on LSU health care facilities in Baton Rouge, Houma an NO. Please forward at will…

—-

Good morning…

Just a brief, or maybe not so brief, update.

Larry in New Orleans.  Quarter apt with power and he’s staying there.  8002 Cohn, not easy to identify damage (broken windows,  water leaking, trees through roof), but no power.

Here… Mike and Victor without power.  The admin of HCSD [Health Care Services Division - LSU Baton Rouge] remains working out of our day surgical hospital, which is operating  on generator power. That means, there are some lights, and anything that needs electricity must be plugged into a red plug, designed for critical life support systems. Therefore, there are many red plugs in some places and very few in others. That means you need a flashlight to use the bathroom at all times or to enter a patient room (where we sleep) after dark.  We’ve become very good at using the few red plugs for multiple purposes from charging blackberries to running the microwave to setting up our twice/day videoconference with all our hospitals.

Like Katrina, I’m struggling for an analogy in American History.

Before the storm we fully evacuated three hospitals and mostly two others. Then after the storm (with no gas and with communication failing) we moved just about everyone back and evacuated fully a fourth hospital.

Where has this been done before?

Of our 7 hospitals…two remain closed.  EKL [Earl K. Long], here in Baton Rouge is still without power.  When power finally got back to the hospital, key switches were so hot and damp that the power arced and blew shit up. Estimates for repairs range from “by tonight” to 6-8 weeks. Nothing, NOTHING, happens faster than the estimates or anywhere near the early estimates.  I’m thinking a month.

Chabert in Houma essentially took a direct hit.  We are still figuring out all the damage, but replacement of all the elevators alone are estimated to take 8-12 weeks.  (See comments above about time estimates).

It’s impossible to accept that we will be starting a new round of FEMA negotiations and interim solutions for healthcare.  We are still negotiating with FEMA and revising interim solutions in NO three years after Katrina.

In Houma, we are already working towards a military supplied facility (DMAT-have no idea what the letters stand for) to be located in an empty grocery store.

Some of the Gustav vs Katrina differences are huge, (for example one hospital vs all impacted this time) but some are so similar.  No matter how much thinking and money we’ve put into improving communication (and lots of money has been spent with clear measurable benefits), communication remains a barrier.  We are running the hospital system mostly off laptops with aircards as we have no real internet access.  Most cell phones are useless (I have a voice mail from at least 48 hrs ago that I cannot connect and listen to).  And again, in the United States of America, lack of fuel is significantly hampering our efforts.  An example, a huge truck delivering medicines ran out of gas and sat on the side of the road, while we figured out how to get him fuel.  I would go tomorrow to Houma and see for myself the condition of the hospital, but I’m not sure where and how long it would take to get gas.

Another, example, I spoke to Mike Sanders last night:

Mike S:  I stopped for gas on the way home tonight.  (He hadn’t been “home” for a week)

Me: How long did it take?

Him: Oh, it wasn’t bad at all.  I only had to wait an hour.

Hmmmm.  I haven’t seen or heard three minutes of the Republican convention (did hear three very funny minutes of Dave Letterman making fun of our new VP candidate), but I know the response was better, but Federal help was and is mostly missing.  If we had to rely on the Federal government instead of our own planning, patients would have died in both Houma and Baton Rouge in our hospitals.  And when the real story of the medical evacuation of NO comes out (I know only pieces), there are definitely deaths that resulted from Federal government incompetence and inability to deliver what they planned and promised.  Geaux Obama!

(The above paragraph morphed out of control.  I started to write about the lack of media attention, once “the story” of the levees breaking in NO again didn’t pan out.)

OK… other folks are waking up so I need to pass on this computer with its air card to others.  I’ll go take a shower (still cold) and start another day.  For those of you who believe in the concept of “barefoot doctors”, I do everything in bare feet, which I truly believe keeps me grounded.

Thanks for all the e-mails to me, and all the calls and e-mail to family and friends to check-in how I did and am doing.

Feel free to forward this on.  I’m hoping that this e-mail alone leads to more Obama votes in November,

love,
mike

July 22, 2008

Digestible Tweets for 2008-07-22

Filed under: Austin, Texas — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 11:59 pm
  • “I am, as it were, an eye that the cosmos uses to look at itself. The Mind is not mine alone; the Mind is everywhere.” – Rudy Rucker #
  • @Epiphany23 Sorry to miss Todd Rundgren – busy hiding out at Round Top – and loved the cell phone photo you took! #
  • Saw Todd Rundgren live edit The Residents performance during NEC/LightSource prod launch San Jose in ‘92 I think it was. Still have autogrph #
  • Just posted some photos I took at Green 4th of July event at Austin Farmers Market http://tinyurl.com/5usdxu #

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July 21, 2008

Digestible Tweets for 2008-07-21

Filed under: Austin, Texas — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 11:59 pm
  • @Blazenhoff give us the KCBS URL for the Zipcar low-car diet promo interview for those of us not infused with Bay Area goodness… #
  • Thinking of my grandfather serving at Gallipoli. Who’ll go Waltzing Matilda with me? Shane McGowan in good shape: http://tinyurl.com/6n29ke #
  • Long walks, devouring books, finding that the more time I take for myself, the faster and more efficiently I work (work a joy, not a chore) #
  • @jonl Hey Jon, didn’t you know that Northern New Mexico is home to Chimayo chile, Sangre de Cristo mountains AND Category 5 hurricanes? Heh. #

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July 20, 2008

Digestible Tweets for 2008-07-20

Filed under: Austin, Texas — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 11:59 pm
  • Thanking Dog that my last summer wedding is over with. Never take any past June.It’s insane to get married in 100 deg heat. Melts the brain. #
  • Readying for escape to Round Top for 4 days. Festival Hill campus vacant. No one there but me-O. Maybe I can get some deep thinking done #

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July 18, 2008

Digestible Tweets for 2008-07-18

Filed under: Austin, Texas — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 11:59 pm

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July 16, 2008

Digestible Tweets for 2008-07-16

Filed under: Austin, Texas — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 11:59 pm
  • House is way too quiet without the munchkin. Heading out to work at a local purveyor of nutritious comestibles, soothing draughts and WiFi #
  • No surprise here: “The FBI has launched an investigation into possible fraud at now-defunct IndyMac bank corporation, CNN confirms.” #

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July 15, 2008

Digestible Tweets for 2008-07-15

Filed under: Austin, Texas — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 11:59 pm
  • Bummed that everyone seems to be in/going to my New Mexico “homeland.” But then remembered that the Hatch chile harvest is almost here! Joy! #
  • Recalling that on this day last year I was in Edinburgh enjoying single malt scotch in a pub on the Royal Mile. *sigh* Gotta get back soon! #
  • Just a shout out to Ozomatli…when feel a lag in the ol’ energy, love to listen to Cuando Canto http://tinyurl.com/ypdylt #
  • Know it’s a sin I don’t love Love or Calexico doing Along Again Or, but fave version The Damned . BRC (c) mid-90s: http://tinyurl.com/5kelz4 #
  • That’s ALONE not ALONG btw – dang these keyboard failures! #

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July 11, 2008

Digestible Tweets for 2008-07-11

Filed under: Austin, Texas — Rev. Ruby Oswald @ 11:59 pm
  • Day three of no caffeine and 100% vegan. Day one couldn’t stop sleeping as adrenals couldn’t grok what was happening. Now full of energy #
  • Writing “multidimensional/holographic” deep vision brief for http://www.share350.com. First of many utilizing my spiritual/science approach. #
  • @lauratex Ha! Yes, they do have non-caffeinated – I just need to concentrate – maybe stop by say hi before I head off to another meeting! #

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