General Strike

Your attention please, in honor of  the Veterans who fought and died for our freedom, I announce that I am now on a General Strike. I have to mention this here because otherwise nobody would notice.

I've heard a lot of people say that the Occupy movement is pointless, won't do any good, nobody cares, and so forth, but I've seen plenty of evidence to the contrary.

They said the cold of winter would kill the Occupy movement. To make sure, the city of New York took away the protesters' generators so they would have no heat, not coincidentally the day before a snowstorm would blanket the city. It didn't work, so that prediction and the effort to freeze people out was a big fail. Here's where things stood two days ago:

More than $50 million was withdrawn from the Big Banks and placed into non-profit credit unions or local banks for Bank Transfer Day.  While that's a mere pittance  to 1% types, hundreds of thousands of Americans discovered financial empowerment and patriotic pride in doing so, and as a reward they will pay less money in fees and discover what good customer service is like in the months and years ahead.  Do the Mega Banks care how poor suckers like us feel about them?  They cared enough to drop the plan to charge customers $5 for using their debit cards.  Millions and billions will be saved by consumers because outraged protesters stood up and spoke out.

Members of Congress can shout in voters' faces that Big Banks aren't to blame for the nation's economic problems

Law enforcement can beat up citizens exercising their First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and protest

But look what happened just a few hours later:

Thousands upon thousands poured in to that same place, ready to brave tear gas, rubber bullets, police batons, fractured skulls, ruptured spleens, and arrest, to stand up for the Constitution.

I've never been prouder of my country than I have over the past few weeks.  Maybe it's because I was in grade school during the nation's Bicentennial, so things like Revolution, Liberty, the Constitution, and protesting were drilled into our heads and taught by our teachers to be good and important things.  Tea Party-types decry the "civil disobedience" of the Occupiers.  If they truly knew what happened during the Boston Tea Party, and if they really read and understood the words of Thomas Jefferson whom they love to quote, their movement might have been effective.  Sadly, they were infiltrated, hijacked, or they sold out to the Corporate Neo-Conservatives who paraded them around as "proof" of massive outrage, an outrage that was originally well placed.  Their big victory was electing enough Tea Party Congress-persons to fight against a jobs bill that would have provided honest work for millions of Americans, because raising taxes on millionaires and billionaires *hurt their feelings*.

Since it's Veterans Day, I leave you with the words of Marine Corps Veterans who took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, who went to war for our country, and continue to serve to this day.  They say:

"And when the day comes, when OWS (Occupy Wall Street) hits history books across the world, and we alongside them; that day when someone asks you if you were there Nay-Sayers you are going to say: 'No, I was too scared, I did not have the balls to fight for my country. I did not have the courage to confront the problems eroding America. 

But I did feel confident enough to attack those brave souls that did stand up for America. I did fight to disregard their message.' Tell Them that when asked Naysayers, afterwards, return to your life remembering that you are insignificant to history. Do not worry Naysayers, the MARINES have your back….AGAIN."

 Happy Veterans Day.

Kansas City Day, Part Two

(Illustration help from Flickr)
The Professor and I were eating at an awesome Mexican restaurant downtown, chosen because we spotted the outdoor seating as we were driving past, and it was a beautiful day. Occasionally we noticed extremely well-dressed people walking by, and couldn't help but comment that these people were probably not heading for the Occupy KC grounds. The statement was not intended to be unkind... it's just that we're from a working-class town and not accustomed to seeing the likes of this kind of affluence walking about on the streets where we live.

We knew they were heading for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, across the road from where we were chowing down. There weren't many heading that way, mind you. A very small line formed at the doors, and just as quickly vanished. After enjoying a wonderful meal (thumbs up!) we decided to meander in that direction and see what was going on.
 
When we reached the doors of the impressive venue, we asked, "What's up?"  The workers standing by a doorway answered in three words, "Tom Sawyer Ballet." Both of us turned heel at the word "ballet," but it took a few seconds of fast walking before the "Tom Sawyer" part kicked in. Ordinarily, we would have gone on inside and looked around until we either encountered a ticket booth or were asked to leave. Not this time, though. The phrase "Tom Sawyer Ballet" sent us moving quickly in the opposite direction, confused, and I vaguely remember hearing something said about a certain 19th Century author turning over in his grave.

On the way to the library, we pondered the possibilities of such a performance, even generously offering the chance that it might be a Trans-Siberian Orchestra-type rock opera worked around the Rush song "Tom Sawyer." When we got to the library, though, our eyes caught sight of the below flyer, and our worst suspicions were realized.

After some much-needed, great, hearty laughter, we grabbed a few of the flyers and headed up to the third floor of the Kansas City Missouri Public Library, a magnificent building and a perfect testament to how government, philathropists, and business can work together to create an invaluable service to the community to uplift, educate, and provide needed services to people of all ages, and from all walks of life.

Our business there was finding out how Kansas City commemmorated the 50th and 100th anniversaries of the Battle of Westport, as this day was the 147th anniversary of the battle. After digging around the microfilm for a while it was obvious that if the city did mark the occasion, they didn't make a big deal about it. I did, however, stumble across this article, on the 50th anniversary, dated October 23, 1914:

It was a perfect contrast to today's world, and brought to mind once again the Occupy movement... people tired of being fleeced by bankers and politicians. Except that in the world of Yesteryear, such misdeeds could ruin one's career and send them to the chokey (though Lorimer was acquitted, his boss did some time). In fact, I remember once typing up a 1910 story from the same newspaper about a pawnbroker brought up on charges of "usury"... the pawnbroker had the audacity to charge a man 10% a month interest, and was ordered arrested. "Predatory lending" in the old days used to be a crime, and apparently 10% was considered predatory.

Seeing the wealthies (though not many) lining up to see Tom Sawyer and his paint brush flitting across the stage at probably $75 for the good seats, and reading the story of the indicted banker/politician, fueled the urge to get to the Occupy KC site. Mind you, my Professor is the stoutest proponent of Capitalism I know, and espouses its virtues more than most people. But even he is beginning to realize that the corporations and the politicians' pockets in which they live might be going too far with their greedy treachery, and that "Corporate Personhood" might be the straw breaking the camel's back.

To my surprise he loved the Occupy KC experience, and though we didn't stay long, several times he mentioned returning over the coming days to "bring things they might need." His change of heart about the movement and his enthusiasm warmed my own heart to no end. It was totally unexpected. We will definitely be at the Sunday Rally and as the Professor is a DECORATED Marine Corps Veteran of the Vietnam War, I'm trying hard to get him in with Occupy Marines.  I never dreamed he would be supportive of the protesters, in fact I remember how much courage I had to summon just to admit to him that I was in sympathy with the movement.

End of Part Two.  Next Up:  The Battle of Westport.  Tonight's auction offering is from the Arthur Stilwell collection.  He was a Capitalist's Capitalist, who conceived and built what is now the Kansas City Southern Railway, only to be cheated out of the railroad by bankers and Wall Street during an earlier era of corporate malfeasance.  The bond certificate listed is for his next project, the Kansas City Mexico and Orient Railway.  It would have been a great road...had the Mexican Revolution been timed differently.  At least one family living in Kansas City today benefitted from the project to the tune of gazillions (after the road went into receivership, oil wells sprung up all around them).  The package also includes a photograph of  Stilwell, and a nice little tiny Athearn KCMORR railroad car.

Kansas City Day Part One

As soon as I can get my camera to cooperate, I'm looking forward to telling you all about my Kansas City day, the biggest Kansas City day I've had in months (or more). It involved a brief visit to the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Occupy KC, and a personal commemoration of the anniversary of the Battle of Westport, which took place 147 years ago today. But my Kansas City Day story needs illustrations that I can't get to right now...

Until then, I'd like to mention that every night I'll be listing Kansas City collectibles for sale on ebay, the proceeds of which will be given to support the TKC Defense Fund. Having a cooperative camera would speed up this process as well, as the lack thereof has been hampering my efforts thusfar. Just stay tuned...

Warm Smiles

Step One: Say this over and over again, until you know it by heart:

On-Yong-Hah-Say-Yo
On-Yong-Hah-Say-Yo
On-Yong-Hah-Say-Yo

Say it over and over until you memorize it. BTW, it's "Hello" in Korean.

Step Two: Practice saying this faster, until you can say the whole thing in 1 second.

Step Three: Go to the Cornerside Market in Sugar Creek, Missouri

Map

and with a slight nod say this to the gentleman or lady standing behind the counter (Mr. and/or Mrs. Kim). They will greet you with the warmest smile you've probably seen in ages.

BONUS POINTS: After your transaction is completed, a quickly spoken (1 second) "Kahm-Sa-Hahm-Nee-Dah" (Thank you) will bring another happy reaction.

DOUBLE BONUS POINTS: As you're walking out, a 1.5 second, "On-Yong-Hee-Kah-Say-Yo" will make you feel happy about bringing cheer to people who have worked hard all their lives to achieve the American Dream. You can probably guess what that above saying means.

If you want to take the converstion further, visit the YouTube channel of this handsome Korean guy. You can learn alot from watching him.

Word of Caution: Do not exceed the posted speed limit in Sugar Creek unless you are from there and are chummy with the local law enforcement. They've got a multi-million dollar Police and Fire Station to pay for, built on anticipated tax revenues from a shopping center that never materialized.

Keep Speech Free in KC

In support of the Tony's Kansas City Defense Fund and in an effort to ensure that local bloggers such as myself are free to call 'em as we see 'em, without fear of having our a$$es sued off by union bosses with lots of money and lawyers in their pockets, I will be donating all of the royalties for the month of September from the sale of the below book to the aforementioned legal fund.

Here's your chance to own a book that Kansas City native Ed Asner said he loved (and called "a hoot") while helping out a local blogger who is always waaaay ahead of the humdrum local media in reporting stories that have extreme impact on the lives of citizens in our community (not to mention that he's always been extremely kind to yours truly).  I call on you to help protect free speech in the local blogosphere.  Donate to the fund, or get the book.  You'll like it.  It's funny.

Side note:  Speaking of Ed Asner, in the middle of September I will be auctioning off a unique Ed Asner collectible along with some other Vintage Kansas City treasures for the sake of the cause.  Be ready to bid early and bid often!  More details coming.