Keweenaw Issues

Keweenaw Issues: Anonymous Ranting: 2000: December: Week Ending Dec 2

An archive of previous comments

By Tree-Ski on Saturday, December 2, 2000 - 10:09 pm:

"Our hope is that the situation does not become more polarized than it already is," said Julie Mack, executive director of the North Fork Preservation Alliance, the environmental policy arm of the Sundance Ski Resort in Utah, which received an A. "We have a real opportunity here for environmental groups to work with the ski resorts, but it will take a willingness on both sides to sit down at the table again."

For anyone who misses the old ski-hill debate, here's some familiar territory(Colorado-style):

Environmentalists vs Ski Industry

By Dr. Hubert De Burgh on Saturday, December 2, 2000 - 09:47 pm:

I'm afraid I have a criminal breakout to report this evening. The patient who fancies himself as "Cousin Jack" has somehow managed to hijack a passing balloon animal and was last seen sailing westward from the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse toward what we suspect may be the small Minnesota hamlet of Frostbite Falls. He yelled back something about rendezvousing with "Rocket J. Squirrel" to discuss plans for diversifying his "Time Travel" experiments under the auspices of a scientist named Mr. Peabody.
On a pane of curved lamproom glass, Cousin Jack left me this crayon graffiti which I forwarded without hesitation to the King:

There's few or none do know me; if they did,
This ship-boy's semblance hath disguis'd me quite.
I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it.

In the event this reckless escape plan may have gone locally awry--for your own safety and those of your loved ones, please be on a treetop lookout for the following balloon and quickly report any sightings to the County Sheriff's office:

In the event our patient now realizes the prevailing westerlies are an unnegotiable barrier and has found himself drifting toward Montreal:
DIEU ALLURE JACQUES!

By Some Mo' Bush on Saturday, December 2, 2000 - 07:45 pm:

Some nice lady has a letter in today's Gazette about the Reverend Niemala's plans "to bring dangerous criminals to the area".

We have already heard about the criminal recidivist rate (up around 75%) of "some" criminals. What that rate means and how it applies is another question.

But what about corporate criminals?

The information below is from www.corporatepredators.org/

The North American Securities Administrators Association estimates that Americans lose about $1 million a hour to securities fraud.

Corporate firms lobbying to cripple the Superfund law outnumber environmental groups seeking to defend it by 30 to one.

And from:
http://www.corporatepredators.org/top100.html

Top 100 Corporate Criminals of the Decade
by Russell Mokhiber © Russell Mokhiber

#69) on the list:International Paper (A local corporation guilty of crime. Are they dangerous criminals? Would they be welcome at Mr. Niemela's house?)

Type of Crime: Environmental
Criminal Fine: $2.2 million
5 Corporate Crime Reporter 31(7), August 5, 1991

International Paper pled guilty to five felony counts for violations of environmental laws at its Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine. The company paid $2.2 million in criminal fines.
Federal officials alleged that during the course of the company's operation of the mill from 1986 to 1988, the company knowingly generated, stored and treated hazardous wastes without a permit.
In addition, federal officials alleged that the company gave false material statements.

So why do we take the individual to task, to define them forever as dangerous if they have committed a crime, yet we ignore corporate crime?

By From Cyberspace on Saturday, December 2, 2000 - 05:36 am:

By Recidivists? on Saturday, December 2, 2000 - 05:35 am:

To Ole What's yer name,
Those criminal recidivists make money, make money for themselves (boo-koo bucks) and their enablers (err, investors), and hey, the FBI doesn't release a corporate crime report each year. When they release a crime report, they're talking your basic muggings, robberys, that sort of thing.

If the corporate predators want to rape and pillage, that's allowed, and shoot, they can even move to foreign climes and continue the crime wave there.

By Ole whatever you're calling yourself on Friday, December 1, 2000 - 07:42 pm:

When I was in Iowa, I had an employee working for me. Honestly--his name was Johnny B. Good. All I remember about him was that he was a good worker. I don't recall what he had served time for, nor do I remember if I asked him. The name he had was the result of his father's sense of humor. The "B." stood for nothing more than that, "B".

So are the proposed inmates max (mass murderers likely to open floodgates) or are they Camp Kitwen types?

I've heard something about recidivism. 75% or so.
There are corporations in America who are criminal recividivists. Exxon is one. Teledyne, another. There are many others.

So why is it that a corporation can get away with criminal recividivism and another individual cannot? Corporations enjoy the status of individuals. You'll remember them at the Fourth of July parade, watching Dick and Jane pedal by on their bicycles, with Sally and Spot in tow.

So how's about we start treating those bast_rds like we treat other criminal recidivists? And where is your money invested?

By AMONGST THE NIMBY PEOPLE on Friday, December 1, 2000 - 02:01 pm:

WALT:
It really does not matter what Reverend Niemela has proposed for the inmates who will be released after paying their debt to society. Knowing the business somewhat I would assume they would have a structured program with rules policies and procedures governing the behavior and progress of their return to society. I would suggest everyone take a look at a program in San Francisco California called Delancey Street. This program works with ex inmates, they screen their applicants and this program actually owns and operates restaraunts and other business that the programs participants have an oppurtunity to learn a marketable job skill. The NIMBY's of Boston Location and Oneco Location have spoken. They dont want it in their back yard. Reminds me alot of the NIMBY's of Allouez Township when they were in the running for KAMP KITWEN and it's millions of dollars of benefits to the community. The NIMBY's and the Good Old Boys from Allouez Township said not in our back yard. Now the good old boys of Houghton County and the NIMBY's will shoot Mr. Niemela down if they can. I really dont think these people know what type program he is proposing. Course it matters little, maybe they can get a ski hill or something like the nimby's of allouez township have.

By Walt on Friday, December 1, 2000 - 05:27 am:

Back on subject again.
Not too long ago, I ordered a book, two actually, about operating an internet business. Not that I want to give up tearing off four or five coal-dusty layers of roofing from Copper Country roofs over our brief summers, but making some moo-la using some other skills I may possess is an intriguing idea.

One idea that others have found successful is in the numbers of people who click on their website. Apparently there are companies who will pay moo-la, and pay big moo-la, to advertise on your website, or to mention their product, say, if you were operating an advice website on building or remodeling homes.

I've noticed there are some new businesses listed on the Pasty Central home page. Perhaps this discussion tool and the many forms of ideas expressed here, and the manner in which they are expressed, is an asset to Pasty Central?

Along with the idea of numbers of hits on a website, I recall reading some feedback on another website--seems once these folk began advertising their rustic cabins on-line, business picked up 150%, enough that they decided to build another rustic cabin. Ask not what the Chamber of Commerce can do for you, ask what you can do for yourself.

By John Philip Callithumpian on Friday, December 1, 2000 - 02:20 am:

I
LUV
A
PARADE!

By Ranters Anonymous on Thursday, November 30, 2000 - 01:03 pm:

Dear Mr. Hite:
We have briefed our legal team here at Ranters Anonymous in consideration of your polite complaint and come up with the following reply:
We like the mix of local and international(something the Keweenaw has always been anyway). People on the "responsible opinions" forum have posted recently on what's going on in Florida now. Is that an abuse of Charlie's bandwidth?
(And by the way Charlie, if you and your fellow proprieters at Pasty Central feel your bandwidth is being mishandled or jeopardized please let us know and we will cut back on our postings---though I wonder if there would be many "rant" postings at all if we didn't contribute from time to time.)
We enjoy promoting and interacting with Copper Country Culture and feel that this could be an audience-building plus for Pasty.Com--perhaps even advertising revenue and pasty sales increase when more people tune in to their website. Would that be an abuse of(or a generous contribution to) their bandwidth, Mr. Hite?
Since we can't read minds, I'm afraid that is something only the hosts of this site can tell us.
If they feel we are jeopardizing their success or survival in some way, we will kindly oblige any of their official requests.
Have a good day everyone.

By Walt on Thursday, November 30, 2000 - 05:43 am:

put up some "no trespassing" signs. some of don't understand bandwidth and the like. please explain.

By George Hite on Thursday, November 30, 2000 - 04:15 am:

With all due respect, let me suggest that some of the postings on this message board are abusing the hospitality of our good friend Charlie and inappropriately utilizing the valuable band width of pasty.com.

The message board rules are plainly set forth. They read in part, that posters "may express opinions or concerns about current events and future possibilities in the region known as the Copper Country and Keweenaw."

While I and others may enjoy the offerings of the many poets, essayists, and national scene pundits who are posting their work under the guise of "Keweenaw Issues", it is probably in our collective interest that such work not directly related to "current events and future possibilities" of the Copper Country be directed to the many alternative message board opportunities serving other artistic and subject categories.

I recognize, given the interplay between local and national events and the varity of expressive forms that exist, that some license may be in order, but I'd deeply regret the loss of this free board simply because too many of us have difficulty staying "on subject".

By soul sister on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 09:20 pm:

In support of "boisterious merrymaking".

Think like a mountain
Think like the sky
Ever expansive with
Thoughts soaring high.

Think like a river
Think like a stream
Letting thoughts flow to
A possible dream.

By, Maria Monahan.

Without creative minds that choose to share with us, what fun would life be?
Whether in song, dance, poem, or post?
Thank you for the enrichment.

By Dan. Long May You Run. on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 08:27 pm:

THE OLD AT HILLSBORO INLET

"He'll shape his old course, in a Country new."
Shakespeare, King Lear

The long breakwater of square-cut boulders
Strewn out from Hillsboro Inlet appears, this afternoon hour,
Like a strange rookery, so many old people are on it,
So many snowbirds lately arrived,
The elder tourists from the North
Our strip of Florida receives in the winter months, arrayed
On their purchase of rock, all facing and gazing long at the sea

"God's Waiting Room," my mother
Laughingly calls this part of the Florida coast, even
Though she's sixty-five. And so they seem to sit and peruse
seamarks, spume,
And the beating of wings in the open vestibule,
Exhuming a lacquered sensitivity, wanting
To groom themselves to the air, to the sea,
Wanting, perhaps, a practice flight for the leave-taking
From the flesh, the shedding of tugged sleeves.

How they regard the mangroves, desparately rooted
To the inner shore of the Inlet, holding the land
In clutch, refusing to give up to the fluted
And edged tools of the tide, keeping 'stand
Over clumps and grains of the literal ground of their being.
(They regard them as homely, brave children.)

A squadron of pelicans, prehistoric remnants, flies over
In perfect V formation, remindful, to the old, of bombers skirting
Past Dover, channel-topping, headed at the Ruhr.
Their arms rise in gesture, fingers pointing,
Arms like plucked wings of birds, tremulous, bare, slender,
And the wind comes at them, strong now, lifting,
The memorial land behind them becoming a blur.

For Helen Ruth Rifenburgh

--Daniel Christopher Rafenburgh

By Marten Harbor on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 02:35 am:

EMERALD TENT(1981)

Woman you're the sunrise in my sleepy eyes at dawn
When I'm wondering where all my dreams have gone
It's been a starless stormy night and I'm tired of being alone
Only your touch can warm my bones
I need you, healing angel you know I do
I run in amber solitude
Crying so long
I can't leave
You'll need a special key
Only your soft kiss can unlock me

Woman you're my bluesky when I'm wandering through the day
You're the only one I've found who can make me feel this way
You've made me laugh, you've made me cry
You've softened me inside
Now there is no place for me to hide
I need you, flower darling you know I do
Garden Princess
Wild rose wet with dew
I'm dreaming in my emerald tent under a blossoming apple tree
Only your sweet scent can awaken me

Only your love, only your soft sweet love
Only your love can awaken me
Only your love, only your sweet soft love
Only your love can set me free

I've sailed with you for years on a lake filled by your tears
Weeping woman you're my destiny
Our love's course is steered from the heart
No words can make it real
Only that feeling can turn the wheel
Only that feeling can turn the wheel
Only that feeling can turn the wheel

By Hamhoof--the late Trigger's stunt double on Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 12:11 am:

Sigh Guy:
First Gary, then Mr. Avery and now Me. When will your God-forsaken witchhunt ever end? Oh, it's a sad day when you buck the horse that's brung ya'. But despair not, Dark Wrangler, your ennui is merely a myopic decadent disease of 30-Somethings(and largely curable through a daily dose of exercise, nature, love, friendship, faith, contemplation, science and the arts--you see, it's harder than you thought).
Now while I take mighty kindly to you rustling up your little ol' NO TRESPASSING sign, I'm pleased to inform you that there is indeed an e-ffective method behind my rare madness for the Copper Country and it's noble history. In fact, there are more loaves of manna rising up in heaven and earth than can ever be baked up by your meager corporate 'Filosoffy of Effectiveness'.
So if you don't mind, I think I'll just leave it to the discretion of our Pasty Masters to determine what counts in this "public access" space and what doesn't. After all, it's their electronic home on the range. If some of the "free content" critters grazing on this here ranch don't pass the test of your personal muster, cowpoke, may I suggest you mousey on over and put your glowing brand on other websites that do? I reckon there's gotta be millions of them out there in this new frontier of cyberspace.
C'mon Pardner! Put your faint complaint aside. You've got your ski-hill. You've got your snowfall. It's nearly Christmas, Kwaanza, Ramadan and Hannukah.
Catch the beatuiful good and true millennium spirit!
It takes all kinds to make this brave new world of ours go round...
Grinches and Scrooges included.
Happy e-Trails and Merry Christmas...
A Very Merry Christmas to you!

pseudo-scholarly ps: I may not know what "anonymous" means, but according to my Webster's New World Dictionary, the original meaning of the word "rant" is "wild extravagant speech" or "boisterous merrymaking".
Let our Passion Play begin!

And here's a cure for any hangovers:

Keweenaw County Almanac or Bark of the Dog That Bit'cha

By orkilla on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 08:27 pm:

Water Watcher,
Swim deep swim silent.

By water watcher on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 07:10 pm:

Orkilla!
My goodness I thought you had been caught by some avid sportsman!
Great to see you!
Where you been?

By sigh on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 03:49 pm:

Dear Hollywood agent,
Oops, spelled "poems" wrong. Anyway, please, offer him some attention so he'll be happy and perhaps get a job or something more effective.

By orkilla on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 02:13 pm:

Who let the poop out, fart fart?

Seems black bear and UP Engineers have some problems with the poopy ponds. Just what you could expect from that crack outfit.

By Hollywood Agent on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 11:50 am:

Dear Sigh,

We've been trying to get PAUL under contract for months now.

By sigh on Monday, November 27, 2000 - 10:53 am:

Does anyone read these long, rambling peoms or whatever the heck they are? Who out there has too much time on their hands? If you're looking for an agent, you're in the wrong place.

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