The Facial Hair Handbook written by Jack Passion: author, musician, and world beard champion.
I’m not saying this book will change your life. But, this book will change your life! Get your copy of The Facial Hair Handbook now!
Some people believe a book is just pieces of paper, marked with ink and bound in one volume. That is sometimes true. I happened upon a copy of Twilight in the drug store one day . . . and really, it was just text on pages. After an incomplete sentence and two misspelled words, I put it back.
Other times, there are books that can change your life. Who needs Dianetics when you can have The Facial Hair Handbook? This is a must have for everyone. Ladies, don’t have a beard: that is just fine. You can just get this book for the cover and the eloquent prose within it. (Ladies: If you do have a beard, you might want to shave it.) Men, if you do not have a beard, you might some day, you need this book!
Don’t believe me? Just look at what others have to say about The Facial Hair Handbook:
The guy’s got swagger in spades…and that attitude comes through on the pages. That makes the book a fun read – even if your aspirations for facial adornment never move beyond the milk-mustache phase.
– LA Times
I recommend every man have two things: A beard and this book.
– Phil Olsen, Captain of Beard Team USA
On Patriotism:
“You hate America, don’t you?” she said.
“That would be as silly as loving it,” I said. “It’s impossible for me to get emotional about it, because real estate doesn’t interest me. It’s no doubt a great flaw in my personality, but I can’t think in terms of boundaries. Those imaginary lines are as unreal to me as elves and pixies. I can’t believe that they mark the end or the beginning of anything of real concern to a human soul. Virtues and vices, pleasures and pains cross boundaries at will.”
This has been a quote I have been fond of for most of my life. The author was a WWII Veteran that was captured by the Nazi’s and held prisoner in Dresden. He was a POW during the bombing of Dresden.
Here are a few direct quotes from this man who fought for the freedoms of the United States:
“By saying that our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East?” he wrote. “Their morale, like so many bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas.”
“I myself feel that our country, for whose Constitution I fought in a just war, might as well have been invaded by Martians and body snatchers. Sometimes I wish it had been. What has happened, though, is that it has been taken over by means of the sleaziest, low-comedy, Keystone Cops-style coup d’etat imaginable. And those now in charge of the federal government are upper-crust C-students who know no history or geography, plus not-so-closeted white supremacists, aka ‘Christians,’ and plus, most frighteningly, psychopathic personalities,or ‘PPs.’”
This American author praised men such as Eugene Debs and Trotsky. (Both Socialists.)
Many of the ads displayed on these pages tend to be of a political nature. Likewise, I do not know if anyone else has noticed by many of them are fairly Republican/GOP/Right Wing/New Right oriented.
I have been working on a style for the site, but I have not yet decided on what to do about these ads. Obviously, I am not going to run advertisements for the very organizations I am contemptuous of in the first place.
Also, I think it is interesting that there was so much animosity toward the Obama campaign being “grassroots” and now the Right is throwing big bucks into their “grassroots” campaigns. There are ads about “taking back American” and “Fighting Socialism” popping up from Adsense quite frequently.
I was able to block the Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter ads as well as the Tea Party propaganda and Conservative pollsters, but it is getting to be too much.
I do think it is funny. The Tea Party Movement is using a lot of tactics from the Free Speech Movement and Socialist/Communist movements that were developed in the 1960s. Now they are using Obama Campaign tactics.
Maybe they will also start caring about the less wealthy, non-aristocratic, less conforming people who also live in their country and contribute to the nation.
I know… they are just using the political tactics, none of the ideology. One can still hope.
In the meantime, I’m working on ao solution for these ads. If I do not come up with one, I will just take them all down and have to go without my $3 a year generated from ad placements.
Flashback Friday (on Saturday)
I saw a Youtube Channel for Hip Hop Republicans (I didn’t save the link, Google it or whatever) . . . celebrating Meg Whitman and other such nonsense… and I don’t feel like writing today, so here:
(Big Bird: Sesame Street)
Hey look at this! I was cleaning out my nest
and I found a book of my old poetry
(Ice Cube)
Fresh out of school cause I was a high school grad
gots to get a job cuz I was a high school dad
Wish I got paid like I was rappin’ to the nation
but thats not likely, so here’s my application
Pass it to the man at AT&T
Cuz when I was in school I got the a. e. e.
But there’s no s. e. for this youngsta
I didn’t have no money so now I have to hunch the
Back like a slave, thats what be happenin
but whitey says there’s no room for the African
Always knew that I would boycott, jeez
but welcome to McDonalds can I take your order please
Gotta sell ya food that might give you cancer
cuz my baby doesn’t take no for an answer
Now I pay taxes that you never give me back
what about diapers, bottles, and similac
Do I gotta go sell me a whole lotta crack
for decent shelter and clothes on my back?
Or should I just wait for help from Bush
or Jesse Jackson, and operation Push
If you ask me the whole thing needs a douch
a masengel what the hell cracker sale in the neighborhood
To the whorehouse bitches,
Miss porker, little joe or Todd Bridges
Or anybody that he know
so I got me a bird, better known as a kilo
Now everybody know I went from po’ to a nigga that got dough
So now you put the feds against me
cause I couldn’t follow the plan of the presidency
I’m never givin’ love again
Cuz blacks are too fuckin broke to be republican
Now I remember I used to be cool
till I stopped fillin’ out my W-2
Now senators are gettin’ hired
and your plan against the ghetto backfired
So now you got a pep talk
but sorry, this is our only room to walk
Cause we don’t want a drug push
But a bird in the hand is worth more than the bush
tell the politicians, the hustlers: live and let live (yeah)
tell the politicians, the hustlers: live and let live (yeah)
And to fuel all of that White Paranoia that Laurence Auster peddles, here:
(Minor edits for grammar and context, nothing meaningful.)
There is a lot of talk about Patriotism these days. The New Right has proliferated the internet with their “Patriotic” terminology. There is this trend towards Revolutionary Era nostalgia mixed with patriotic terminology that seems to obscure any true meaning.
Sarah Palin stepped on the scene and decided to resign as Governor and proceed with her speaking engagements and book writings. Many people cannot figure out why Palin has become such a national figure. She is quite symbolic. Sarah Palin puts a lot of words together and actually says very little. Sarah Palin said, “Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reason, and not just to mingle with the right people.“* What does that mean? It can really mean whatever you want it to mean. Everyone can attribute whatever preconceived notion that have to it.
The New Right is full of these comments, insinuations and rhetorical devices. I went to “Norcal Freedom Fighters.” In the “About Us” page, it states the following:
Core Values
- Dedicated to defending the principles of our Nation, as established by our forefathers for the advancement of the people of these United States of America, under God
- Ensure that the principles of the Constitution are preserved, communicated, understood and used as the basic premise for all Government in these United States of America (Local, State and Federal); creating an environment for fiduciary responsibility, the motivation of opportunities, individual choice, self-determination and generosity
- Support for political candidates that supports conservative ideals
Strategies
- Provide Constitutional education to empower and advance opportunities for all citizens
- Promote the greatness of this Country and not apologize for being the envy of the World
- Promote our principles and respecting others, not apologize or be subjugated to other doctrines of the world
If you “[p]rovide Constitutional education to empower and advance opportunities for all citizens,” does that include non-Christian citizens? What about the education that contradicts that the “principles of our Nation, as established by our forefathers” were not based on a Nation “under God“?
I could really spend the entire time dissection just this six point page. “Promote the greatness of this Country and not apologize for being the envy of the World.“ Envy of the world? That is a lot like that attitude that some women have where they truly think people dislike them simply because they are beautiful regardless of their behavior (or breath). At the very least, this is such a subjective statement, one can’t help by wonder exactly what it is supposed to mean to the general public. How Palin-esque.
I’m going to do something I have been doing too much lately and draw a direct quote from Wikipedia. My apologies in advance. I just want to make sure we are using the same terms. Far too many people throw around words with reckless abandon and then want to debate the semantics of it.
“In Marxist terminology, reactionary is a pejorative adjective denoting people whose ideas might appear to be pro-working class, but, in essence, contain elements of feudalism, capitalism, nationalism, fascism or other socio-political characteristics of the ruling class. Reactionary also denotes supporters of authoritarian, anti-communist and fascist régimes such as Vichy France,…”
To the New Right, (The Tea Party, The Libertarians and the GOP),
“Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it is raining.”
I find your rhetoric to be appalling. You talk about being Patriots and observing the Constitution of the Republic and quoting “for the people” and then…
You talk about “redistribution of wealth” being such an awful thing. Your patriotic websites are flooded with “Obama is a Communist” and this and that because he stated to “spread the wealth around” and other such comments. Personally, I believe the legacy of J. Edgar Hoover lives on – in the labeling of any Black person that stands up as a “Communist Threat.” Maybe Obama was talking about “spreading the wealth” in the name of opportunity? Can’t use context all the time, though, huh? (Like how Sarah Palin chooses to use context for Limbaugh saying “retards” but Rahm Emanuel is some type of monster for saying the same thing?) In any case, I’m not debating President Obama’s legitimacy or any other conspiracy theories when what we see is that President Obama has not taking any opportunities to nationalize anything, or restructure, or redistribute.
What I want to ask is, do you stand FOR Plutocracy?
Over the past ten years, the gap between the richest 8% of the United States and the poorest 80% has grown exponentially…and continues. The working class has had wages and benefits drastically reduced while those at the top increase their income levels…. and options for the bottom 80% are constantly decreased as well . . . so, how exactly does support of this process to maintain not constitute support of aristocracy and corporate Plutocracy? Who are for the working class and the average American? Those that want executives to maintain their wealth by bleeding the workers?
80% of the United States’ citizens are The People that shoulder a majority of the debt in America and benefit the least.
You are FOR THE PEOPLE when you support corporatization of the United States into a Plutocracy, where the Aristocratic class full of Plutocrats that define laws based on corporate interests? This seems to be, not only counter intuitive, but manipulatively false.
How can you be FOR THE PEOPLE when you are against social programs that help the disenfranchised people (such as Health Care)?
The reality is, the Tea Party and the Libertarians have been complaining about more limited government. We have seen a steady progression of what private corporations do when left to their own devices:
- The real estate market imploded due to a lack of oversight and regulation.
- The financial markets collapsed, due to the real estate implosion and a lack of oversight and regulation.
- The employment levels have plummeted faster than the jaws of the militias in Montana the day Obama was elected President, due to the collapse of the real estate markets and the financial markets, due to lack of oversight and regulation.
- Banks folded left and right, due to lack of oversight and regulation.
- Comcast continues to piss off 100 new customers a day, due to lack of something. (I made that number up.)
- The Gulf of Mexico is being deluged with oil, because of a lack of oversight and regulation.
- Fishermen are now out of work indefinitely, due to the oil spill, which was due to lack of oversight and regulation.
- Mexico is now in a state similar to Somalia, due to a lack of concern from their neighbor.
- Over the past decade, the wealthiest, top 8% of all Americans have continued to profit, while the bottom 80% have continued to increase debt and financial burden while decreasing their income levels… but continue to consume to profit the top 8% and the subsequent 12% below them.
- The United States education rate is far below most of the rest of the Developed World.
- The life expectancy of Americans has dropped well below many Developed nations.
All is not lost, though: America hast he largest prison population in the world!
U – S – A !
And you claim to be FOR THE PEOPLE when you are against real reform and oversight?
The United States has a government FOR THE PEOPLE and the best way to be FOR THE PEOPLE is to let corporations continue to profit while destroying the environment and reducing wages and life expectancy for more than 3 quarters of the population of the country?
What violates the notion of a government FOR THE PEOPLE more than a government that is for Corporate Interests?
Let’s be honest… do you really think Dick Armey cares about THE PEOPLE?
This is the man who wrote a book about “What the flat tax will do for you.” Well, it will make the rich much richer. I guess it can turn the United States into a Utopia like Boznia or Russia. Beautiful Serbia and Kazakhstan are what America should be!
And yet, using colorful language and great anti-intellectual intellectual chatter, somehow laborers in America think that Dick Armey and FreedomWorks are the “Patriotic Spirit” of America.
I’m sorry, but I’ve been sitting on my hands for far too long, and I have been researching these Tea Party and Libertarian and FreedomWorks websites for a while and I am disgusted. I’m sick of words being twisted and the Real Americans are turning to the people who profit the most from their suffering to save them from their suffering.
I do not mind a difference of opinion, but don’t lie to me. “Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it is raining.” Do not pretend you are FOR THE PEOPLE when you support an agenda that leads to Aristocracy and Plutocracy.
And most of the people that tout these praises of the New Right barely even have a clue as to what they are so adamantly in favor of in the first place.
The reality is: These are hard working people that just want a decent life. They don’t care about labels. They don’t care about policy. They just don’t want to make someone else rich while they suffer. They want a fair chance to be happy and make their families happy, or just pursue happiness.
For some reason, these hardworking people tend to believe that Dick Armey and Sarah Palin are the ones that care about them. It is very similar to the way WalMart is being sued by the state of California for overcharging employees for benefits so that they apply for MedicCal (Medicaid). So, WalMart increases profits and the taxpayers shoulder the burden? That is FOR THE PEOPLE?
If you want to discuss why President Obama is [this] or [that] then first explain to me how “smaller government” and “lower corporate costs” is FOR THE PEOPLE. Explain to me how less accountability from the wealthy top 8% is FOR THE PEOPLE. (When I say explain it, I mean, really – actually explain the logic that states the division between rich and poor in America that keeps growing is somehow beneficial to the larger, poor majority.) Honestly, I see your side of the argument and I see how it exploits the people.
Label me whatever you wish. Call me a “Communist.” Call me a “Marxist.” Call me a “Socialist.” Call me a “Liberal.” I really don’t care. Just give me a break.
You are about as much FOR THE PEOPLE as King George III or the Weimar Republic was FOR THE PEOPLE.
Mos Def reads Malcolm X, “Message to the Grassroots” (November 10, 1963) from Voices of a People's History on Vimeo.
Mos Def reads from Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove’s book Voices of a People’s History of the United States, November 11, 2006, at the Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, California. For more information, visit: http://www.peopleshistory.us.
There are quite a few (too many) people that contest the legitimacy of President Obama on various grounds. One of the most public claims is that President Obama was not born in the United States. This claim is that he is of Kenyan birth. Other claims include him being a Muslim and even part of a terrorist group. I really just want to ask: Really?
I mean, to what end was President Obama ‘installed’ into office illegitimately? Barack Obama obviously could not have perpetrated this hoax alone, so who are his supporters? And to what end did they help install President Obama into the Presidency of the United States? Was it the Kenyan Coffee Cartel? Was it the Indonesian Muslim School? Debating Obama’s legitimacy could be a valid debate. Many of us continued to debate the legitimacy of the last president, who was installed into his office by a Supreme Court decision, rather than the electoral process. The claim was also that President G.W.Bush would favor big business and help the wealthy become more wealthy. (This occurred.) If President Obama has used deception to get into office, to what end?
Not long ago, Alvin Greene first stepped on the scene. Well, he stepped on the scene by winning the DNC Primary in South Carolina. No campaign. Immediately questions arose. Questions are still arising. How did he get on the ballot and how did he get elected? These are valid questions. And one could apply my own criteria, “To what end?”
It seems DeMint’s campaign has started already: Continue reading »
Short one for today… I’m not drawing any inferences… Just putting out some simple tidbits.
Libertarians tend to go on about a Flat Tax. The following passage is from the Cato Institute (a Libertarian think-tank):
Tax reform also offers the possibility of win-win bargains. The basic idea is simple: Shift taxes away from things we want more of and onto things we want less of. Specifically, cut taxes on savings and investment, cut payroll taxes on labor, and make up the shortfall with increased taxation of consumption. Go ahead, tax the rich, but don’t do it when they’re being productive. Tax them instead when they’re splurging–by capping the deductibility of home-mortgage interest and tax incentives for purchasing health insurance. And tax everybody’s energy consumption. All taxes impose costs on the economy, but at least energy taxes carry the silver lining of encouraging conservation–plus, because such taxes exert downward pressure on world oil prices, foreign oil monopolies would wind up getting stuck with part of the bill.
FreedomWorks also supports a tax reform, of either a Flat Tax or a Fair Tax. They have a website dedicated to it here: Scrap The Code.
A Flat Tax tax system is used in the following countries:
