phantasmagoria

The Alberton Papers Vol. VII, # III
By Dick Darne 9-15-08
This week I am going to by-pass the think tank and conduct a short rant to let you folks know how I really feel. After countless e-mails consisting of easily debunked lies, myths and innuendoes, mostly about Senator Obama, I have realized that a frontal assault on ignorance is bound to fail, so I give up. It is hard to fathom someone so stupid as to believe that crap. With nothing of substance to offer on the actual issues, I suppose all that is left is to cling to lies and half truths. Anyone who wants more of the same policies that have brought us to the brink of ruin and our Constitution trashed must have truly drank the kool-aid and to the exclusion of reality must subscribe to fist-pumping red, white and blue phantasmagoria as a substitute for any kind of rational thinking. With a dearth of values or ideas they must resort to the lowest forms or campaigning, assuming the role of victim, avoiding all discussion of issues, but dwelling on assassinating their opponent’s character over the most picayunish items using half-truths, omissions and sometimes bald faced lies, in what is apparently a drive to sell their souls to the devil for power. Why is a self described "pit-bull with lipstick too fragile for full media scrutiny? (As if we actually had a functioning media.) In their zeal to hold up a demon of sorts, to be defeated at all costs, they lose sight of many other real dangers such as: loose nukes, looming climate change, dependence on foreign energy, national debt owned in a large part by the same country who additionally produces most of the cheap plastic crap found at wally world, (shoptilyadropbaby) and possibly the worst; we don’t make anything anymore and may have forgotten how. It is a sad day in any nation when it can’t produce the very things it needs to survive. So, you knowledge denying, political cretins, your minds are made up and sealed, I have better things to do than tilt windmills.
Don’t you folks forget Early’s celebration of life at the Alberton Community Center, Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2:00 pm.
My name is Dick Darne and I approve this message. Until next week, dd

my friend early

The Alberton Papers Vol. VII, #II
By Dick Darne 9-07-08
This week I would like to pay tribute to an old and dear friend, who lived in Alberton for many years. She passed away this week, much too soon. When I first met her close to forty eight years ago, she was Claudianna Rice. The lady had class, although other circumstances seemed to obscure it for many years. Her folks were super people, as I remember, her dad was an Admiral. They were the kind of people who could look you in the eye, ask you how you were doing and genuinely cared what you had to say. My first encounter with Early Wilson’s (the name you would have known her by) talents was her musical abilities. She was my first bass player, and could sing any part like a pro. She also could listen to a song, write down the words and help me arrange it. She also was a pretty good mechanic, she did most of the work installing a boiler in her house and hooked up all the controls with me on the other end of the telephone. She also changed out a rod and piston in her car once. A truly multi-talented lady! The circumstances mentioned previously were very much like a poker hand and once she realized that her hand was not a winner she folded it and got some new cards. In a few years, she finished school, became a Traveling Nurse and moved away from Alberton. She usually made yearly visits to Alberton but not this year. Her new life was a winning hand, alas it didn’t last long enough. Early, I’m glad to have known you and you are already missed. Wish we could have sung one more song together.
One more thing since I have a little space left, Bicycle Bob, of Missoula Free Cycles and I would like to keep old bicycles out of the trash. We are non- profit, provide bikes for those who need them, and recycle the remaining pieces. Bob can take them in Missoula, I can take them in Alberton and pick them up in Superior or Regis if someone would collect them for us. For more info: www.strans.org/home.html or contact me, 722-4575. Thanks folks, dd

labor day 08

The Alberton Papers Vol. VII, #I
By Dick Darne 9-01-08
"Wow! Those guys can say a lot in a short time with a very few words." Exclaimed Johnny. "I wish they would come more often and stay a little longer."
"They leave us with things to ponder, after all we are a ‘Think Tank’ aren’t we? And don’t forget what Elder told us; we’re not the only bunch of thinkers and what with all the assaults on our liberties, they are kept hopping." Replied Bill. "Besides, it’s Labor Day so we should ruminate on that also."
"Good idea!" Said Todd. "We should reflect on the good fortunes that some of us enjoy, such as; decent wages, health care and a good defined benefit pension to retire with before you are ‘all used up’."
"Don’t forget decent, safe working conditions that help forestall the reckoning with ‘all used up’." Added Bill. Wasn’t too long ago that ‘going to work at seven’ referred to age, not the starting time. A normal day was from first light to when it was dark. No ‘having a nice weekend’ much less a three day weekend, toil was six and a half days and sometimes seven long days per week."
"And let’s remember that all workers owe the forty hour week to the blood, sweat, tears and lives of our Union Fathers gave to win it for all of us." Said Todd. "But let’s not forget the oath that many of us took, namely ‘to extend a helping hand to all branches of honorable toil’. Respect and support our Brothers and Sisters in whatever they do. Buy Union. Support businesses that employ Union Labor.
"Another thing we must do is support those who support us, find out what politicians are for us working folks and work hard to get them elected." Said Todd. "Looks like Gno has a couple of gems for us, take it away Gno!"
" One thing that those who enjoy all these things taken for granted could do is leave the waitress a little more than a mess on the table. One can’t help but be amazed at how many outright cheapskates there are out there. It’s a testament to the self control of our finest ladies that there aren’t more bowls of soup ‘accidentally’ dropped in El Cheapo’s lap. Or worse!" Declaired Gno "And my parting shot, a dream of the working man helped by a long memory: How about a Union built scaffold, using good old USA lumber, from Western Montana of course, large enough to handle all the ones who would attack our liberties or who would turn us into serfs or plunder and pillage our common wealth, using Union made rope, Union hangmen and Union gravediggers. After a fair trial, of course."
"Holy Toledo, Gno, that’ll put some people to work, won’t it?" A voice from the back cried.
"Most of us would settle for having them as guests of honor at a barbeque. Trouble is, it’ll take too long that way."
Maybe what Gno is saying is: "no more Mister Nice Guy" until next week dd