“There is evidence here of reshoring because of transportation costs and lead times,” Mr Bergmann said. “The global supply chain allows you to chase lower cost of labour, but the total costs are reflected in the decision on where you produce for a given geography.”
The decline of the American middle class have finally reached the point that American workers can compete against Chinese peasants. Victory is in sight!
With any luck our corporate masters will soon be installing suicide nets outside our factories.
This might sound like a trivial entry, but it is not. I have been sort of burnt out writing almost continuously for the past many months. It would be different if I were paid for it, but I am not. I do it as a labor of love, and also have the calling to be a teacher. I just did not have the heart in me to write Popular Culture last Friday, and that carried over to Pique the Geek Sunday, and My Little Town Wednesday.
There are several reasons for that. For one, the comments, tips, and recs just do not seem to be coming like they used to do. That is probably my fault. I believe that the quality of my pieces has sort of slipped here of late, and I sincerely apologize for that. There is a reason, but it is personal.
On July 6, the day before we were scheduled to travel to Vegas, we decided it would be a good day to indulge in our interest in lighthouses, so we planned a trip to San Pedro and Point Fermin Lighthouse.
Look quickly because this image, downloaded from the Internet, is as close as we got. That’s really too bad, because it really is historic. Built in 1874, its 2100-candelpower light had a Fresnel lens that was brought around Cape Horn on sailing ships. The first keeper was Mary L. Smith, who lived with her sister. They gave up the occupation because of loneliness: the closest neighbors were in Wilmington, CA, 5 or 6 miles to the north.
Unfortunately, Google map directions let us down and instructed us to turn right at the wrong time, which resulted in us arriving at Point Vicente Lighthouse in Rancho Palos Verdes, past what is called Portuguese Bend, instead of finding Point Fermin. Part of this was bad: Point Vicente was not open on that day. Then again, it was hardly what one could call vertical, so climbing it might not have been all that good of an idea anyway.
ESPRESSO PARTY MISSION STATEMENT: The Espresso Party Movement gives voice to Americans who are fed up to fcuking here with the bullsh*t in government.
We recognize that the federal government is the enemy of the people, not the expression of our collective will, and that we must all participate in the process of tearing the system down and kicking ass in November 2010 in order make room for building something fcuking useful to address the challenges that we face as Americans.
As voters and grassroots volunteers, we will support leaders who work toward positive solutions, and we will mercilessly hunt down and politically destroy those who obstruct them.
I have not abandoned my effort to compete for the title of Happiest Man In The World. To the contrary, I am training more diligently than ever.
An important part of my training is going for long walks as often as I can. I prefer the woods and the beaches. I don’t think it really matters where I go, or how fast I walk, as long as I walk for long enough. Over an hour and a half and less than 3 hours seems about right. I begin early in the morning, hopefully before 6:30 am. At that time, the sun is low in the sky and birds are still singing their morning cantatas. The air is sweet. It’s cool. In fact, it’s perfect. Even when it’s raining. It brings me happiness.
Soon, later in this month, I hope to go on vacation. This is an important part of my training. When I’m on vacation I do very little. I read. I write. I swim. I day dream. I increase my meditation. I increase my walking. Some people have suggested that the sloth might be my totem animal. But they are wrong. I never voluntarily climb trees. I do not hang from my appendages. Instead, I turn my focus more exclusively on the beautiful planet we all live on. I explore my feelings of gratitude. I see where inspiration might be. I do only what I am called to. Mostly, I’m just being. And just being brings restoration and freshness. And yes, happiness.
I’ve been known to rant here. And to argue against what the Government is doing or not accomplishing. That has sometimes made me happy, made me feel that I was speaking the truth to power. Even though in all likelihood power wasn’t reading anything I wrote. But that kind of writing can also be exhausting, and at some point, it can be frustrating. Frustration doesn’t make me happy. Nor does exhaustion. So a change of course might be restorative.
You don’t have to go to exotic places to have a vacation. You don’t have to be rich. You can stay home, and have a vacation. What you need is some time, enough time that you can put your usual, daily life briefly on pause, and collect yourself. Time to refresh yourself. Time to think less habitual thoughts. Time to assess and appraise. Time to care for yourself.
None of this is earth shaking. None of this is particularly controversial. I’m saying it because the season lends itself to slowing down, to disconnecting briefly, to taking a break. I’ll take a break in a couple of weeks. And I hope that will make me happier.
What would make me most happy, I think, is if everyone could take a break and come back in the Fall excited to continue, rested, energetic. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Consider this your health care reform talking point for the rest of the summer.
This is why this legislation is urgent. This is why it cannot wait!.
If Congress is allowed to go to recess without passing the legislation, that will be at least a 3 month delay, resulting in at least 4,500 more Americans dying than if the bill was passed now. That’s more than the number of people who died in 9/11.
We passed the Patriot Act overnight.
By the same measure of urgency of lives, the current Healthcare Reform Bill has been scrutinized to death. The deaths of those 4,500 Americans to be precise.
The article at democraticunderground.com goes on to blame Republicans for playing politics with our lives. I will not blame the Republicans because they are utterly powerless. I am blaming Harry Reid and Congressional Democrats.
Sometimes I really wonder about myself. I have not been paying super microscopic attention in the past 24 hours, like I’d like to. Like I used to. Like I would if I could. But… sometimes, I wonder if that doesn’t make it a little easier to actually hear & see through all the alarms and smoke better.
Think about this and tell me what you think, dharmadears.
UPDATED with Daily Show Video link, Jon Stewart… below.
Please don’t rec the pony party, another will trot up in a few hours. Hang out and chit chat, and please go check out some of the excellent offerings on our recent and rec’d list.
(^.^)
A few years ago we went to Puerto Rico for our first ‘real’ vacation (no kids- furred or furless)
Please don’t rec the pony party, another will trot up in a few hours. Hang out and chit chat, and please go check out some of the excellent offerings on our recent and rec’d list.
(^.^)
A few years ago we went to Puerto Rico for our first ‘real’ vacation (no kids- furred or furless)
