The above photo shows a crowd assembled at the University of Colorado on April 20th, known affectionately to one and all as "Pot Day". And yes indeed, the billowing clouds are just what you think they are. I suppose that in this age of ever-grundgy news about the economy this is what's known as the student's anti-depressent non-prescription drug of choice. Small wonder, considering their chances of finding a decent job to pay off their astronomical student loan debts after they graduate. Hm-mmm, well of course I've never inhaled, so what do I know about it.4/25/10
WOW! Talk about a "contact high" ....
The above photo shows a crowd assembled at the University of Colorado on April 20th, known affectionately to one and all as "Pot Day". And yes indeed, the billowing clouds are just what you think they are. I suppose that in this age of ever-grundgy news about the economy this is what's known as the student's anti-depressent non-prescription drug of choice. Small wonder, considering their chances of finding a decent job to pay off their astronomical student loan debts after they graduate. Hm-mmm, well of course I've never inhaled, so what do I know about it.2/12/10
How The Debt Money System Works
Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit here. On this particular day a rich tourist from back East is driving through town. He stops at the motel and lays a $100 bill on the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.
As soon as the man walks upstairs, the owner grabs the bill and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.
The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to retire his debt to the pig farmer.
The pig farmer takes the $100 and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed.
The guy at the Farmer's Co-op takes the $100 and runs to pay his debt to the local prostitute, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer her services on credit.
The hooker rushes to the motel and pays off her room bill with the motel owner.
The motel proprietor then places the $100 back on the counter so the rich traveler will not suspect anything.
At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, picks up the $100 bill, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.
What just happened here? No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and now looks to the future with a lot more optimism..
And that, dear reader, is how the United States Government is conducting its "fiat money created out of thin air" finances today.
1/25/10
US Healthcare Controversy
Let me put it this way, in the past year and a half I have spent exactly $25.00 on what I used to call "doctor''s bills". That's what the one and only physician whom I've needed to consult during this period of time charged me for the HOUR that I spent in his treatment room. That is in contrast to the $125.00 I spent the last time I was in a doctor's office in Hawaii .... for 12 minutes! Granted, my US doctor had a lot of sick people to see, while the Ecuadorian physician had only a few healthy folks in his waiting room who momentarily needed some kind of help. So the local doctor figured that if one of his clients got "sick" it was because his preventative care did not work properly, and his service was charged accordingly.
Now, you might think that I'm heading toward a discussion about the differences in healthcare prices between the US and Latin America. I'm not.
What I'd like to take a moment or two to point out is that I simply DON'T have need of an insurance-oriented healthcare system. Why? Because of basic LIFESTYLE changes that I made at the ripe old age of 80. I'm now spending a fraction of the costs of my former medications for a few supplements, which is all I seem to require these days.
And it's not just what I'm saving in the way of healthcare costs, it is also the kind of savings that the entire United States could be enjoying with such a lifestyle change. Let me explain:
The BIG, HUGE elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about is the kind of self-inflicted illness that is now an epidemic in the whole world. The fastest growth of these illnesses is found in diabetes. Here's some data from my friend Jon Barron, at the Baseline For Health Foundation.
Just days ago, The Medical News published the latest analysis which showed that the cost of diabetes and pre-diabetes had reached $218 BILLION in 2007, with the exploding number of cases of type 2 diabetes responsible for the majority of these costs. And those numbers are three years old! Update them and over the next 10 years you're looking at an average of a quarter of a TRILLION dollars spent just in the United States alone. That, dear friends, is $2.5 trillion dollars unnecessarily spent on just one lifestyle-oriented disease alone. To put that into perspective, if the people of the US didn't give themselves diabetes through bad choices of diet and lifestyle, the savings alone would cover:
1. All costs associated with any healthcare bill that congress could conceivably pass, including covering all those not currently covered.
2. 100% of the disgraceful bankster bailout on Wall Street.
3. 100% of the stimulus handouts.
That's with no new taxes, and that is just one single disease.
Look, this ain't rocket science. The only way healthcare can survive is if YOU take back control of your own health and start doing those things that allow your body to stay healthy without the need of ILLNESS CARE! That's what it really is, not HEALTH care.
And by the way, remember my $25.00 visit to the doctor? Well, it was to get a laboratory Basic Chemistry work-up, just to make sure nothing was sneaking up on me. But as my friend and neighbor Mike Adams The Health Ranger points out, one's health is NOT defined by having blood tests return certain results within a specific range: That my LDL cholesterol needs to be between X and Y, for example, and my blood pressure needs to be lower than Z. That does not equate with the QUALITY OF LIFE HEALTHINESS that I'm interested in achieving and then maintaining.
To learn more about how I have taken responsibility and control of my own former type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure with a plant-based diet, you can check out:
1/16/10
GIGO (Garbage IN-Garbage OUT
12/31/09
Another Reason To Love Ecuador
Last year Ecuador became the first country in the world to declare constitutional rights to nature, thus codifying a new system of environmental protection.
Reflecting the beliefs and traditions of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador, the constitution declares that nature “has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution.” This right, the constitution states, “is independent of the obligation on natural and juridical persons or the State to indemnify the people that depend on the natural systems.”
The new constitution redefines people’s relationship with nature by asserting that nature is not just an object to be appropriated and exploited by people, but is rather a rights-bearing entity that should be treated with parity under the law.
Just think about that for a moment. Do you actually think that something like this could happen in North America? And if not, why not?
12/26/09
The Art of Giving
On this day after Christmas, Gary reminded his mailees about the English practice of observing Boxing Day. The purpose of Boxing Day in Great Britain and Commonwealth countries is to give gifts to the poor. In days gone by, discarded gift wrappings and boxes were reused to wrap gifts to be given to the poor people who served or worked for the "Gentry". Here in Ecuador, we do that sort of thing, but with a twist.
The day before Christmas a box filled with food and "drink" is given to those who work for us, along with an appropriate amount of cash. The rest of the year our Ecuadorian workers toil to serve us, the day before Christmas is their day to receive. Yeah, I know, one day out of 365 and a box of goodies in return for all those hours of work (at only an average of $2.00 an hour wages) doesn't sound like a fair exchange. But it's called "tradition".... whether in London or Vilcabamba. But here in Vilcabamba, some of my friends and neighbors took this yet another step. They spent two days giving out hundreds of bags of food and other essentials to poor families throughout the Valley of Longevity. Many of the children they were able to reach had never received Christmas gifts in their entire lives!
It made me think about my own abundance, the "gifts" that I continually receive from others. There are so many people who have helped me to succeed in my life, and I have continually tried to keep the scale balanced by my giving in some kind of proportion to what I have received. What about you?
Actually, every day can be Boxing Day if you let it. What a marvelous "tradition" that could be. Feliz Navidad!
10/5/09
A Mystery Hidden Within A Mystery
I'll bet you have forgotten this, if you ever knew it to begin with:
In the Constitutional Hall, when the delegates were busy wrangling over the Declaration of Independence, and no one wanted to step forward and place their signature on the document, there appeared in the balcony overlooking the hall a man from out of nowhere. For twenty minutes he spoke, an oration in which he told the assembled delegates how important the declaration would be, not only for the country, but for the world at large. He urged the members to cease their arguing and to do what was right for their country and the people of the entire planet who yearned for freedom from oppressive rulers.
When he finished speaking, the delegates immediately stepped forward and began signing that sacred document. It was such an astonishing event that Benjamin Franklin, accompanied by the Sergeant of Arms, made their way up to the visitor's balcony to meet the man who had spoken so eloquently. But there was no one there!
The militia guards who were stationed at each entrance to the balcony all swore that no one had been there; no one had gone in, no one had gone out, that the balcony had remained empty for the whole time, since they had been instructed that no one be allowed up there during the deliberations.
So who had spoken? Where had he come from? Where did he go? Who was it that brought order out of chaos? Some would say it was Divine Providence … some even wondered if it had been an "Extraterrestrial"?
9/22/09
Galt's Gultch South Is Looking Better All The Time
8/22/09
Somewhere Over The Rainbow(s)

And you thought only Hawaii had these kinds of double rainbows? These two were over what is called "The Sacred Mandango", the large outcropping to the left side on the mountain top between the two rainbows. Odd, huh?
This is the magic mountain of almost pure iron ore that keeps the airplanes from flying over the Vilcabamba Valley ... supposedly screws up their compasses. It helps to make this one of the most peaceful and off the beaten track places on earth. Mandango is also called the hanger for parked UFO's. Come, visit and see it for yourself. Margaritas served chilled after 5PM, and you bring the dip.
8/15/09
How Does Your Garden Grow?

Here is a photo of several different kinds of lettuce, all nestled together. I challenge anyone to find such a variety and quality in their local U.S. grocery store.
And yes, I do indeed murmur sweet nothings to them in the dark of the moon, a'la Anastasia.
When it comes time for my salad, three or four different kinds of lettuce are harvested, trimmed, washed off and given a light, home-made dressing. Yummy yummy! Good for my tummy.
And remember, this is only the "lechuga" (lettuce). Can you imagine what the rest of the garden looks like? Even better, why not put a "Jardin" in yourself. You'll love the lettuce!
7/29/09
On The Beach ... again.
One day, an incredible thing happened. The water started to pull away from the beach out into the ocean. The beach became even more beautiful, and everyone was thankful that even more people could now enjoy the larger expanse of sand.
But, one old man had been studying what many experts had observed when the same thing happened on other beaches in years past. He tried to warn all the people that they were in danger; that the incredible thing happening was not what it appeared to be, that soon everyone could be in danger.
Everyone laughed at him, saying he was just a foolish old man and did not know what he was talking about. There had never been great danger at this beach before in their lifetimes. How could he be so negative? After all, how could he know more than all the people on the beach? Also, if they were in danger, the news media would have already warned them.
The old timer tried to tell them he had learned that throughout history there was a cause and effect pattern on every beach when this happened, and that all the people were in grave danger. But, the people insisted that this beach was different. This beach was special. This beach was only for having fun and not worrying about anything else. After all, this beach was full of people with such incredible talents, that they would most certainly be able to find a way to stop any danger of the ocean, should such exist. And in any case, wouldn't the government be there to save them, should anything really be amiss.
The old man eventually walked away with a heavy heart, having been able to convince only a handful of people that they were in danger. He hurried to the local airport, boarded an airplane that would take him far away, safe from the danger unfolding back on the beautiful Hawaiian beach where he had long made his home.
Just as he climbed his way to safety, he turned to look out the airplane's window and see the ocean let loose the full fury of its tsunami, swallowing all the people who would not listen to him. If only they had listened, he cried .
But alas ........
What about you? Are you wiling to listen to the old man? The same tsunami is threatening you and your loved ones even now Come to safety, before it is too late. Please!
And, friends, if you would like to learn more about exactly how to get to safety, click HERE .
That link will take you to my colleague David MacGregor's FREE report titled The Great Escape. Believe me, you'll be glad you did.
7/11/09
The Reading Of Joe Bageant's Screeds
OK, I'm about to get myself in a heap of trouble here. I am going to recommend that you leave this Blog of mine long enough to check out a guy who word-paints the reality of Notre Americano working class folks in essay form. It's Joe Bageant I'm talking about. You'll find him here:
And don't be put off by his populist monologues, he's worth the read just to become aware of what the other 250,000,000 of your fellow citizens are thinking about these days. So hide the women and children, pull down the shades and get REALLY risque in your reading habits. Check out Joe. Just don't blame me when you start nodding your head in agreement with Joe's dangerous outlook on life in the good ole' US of A.
7/7/09
A Different View Of Living One's Life
One of my neighbors, a wealthy retired gringo from the US, was talking to Jorge, his gardener. He asked Jorge what he did with his day, when not working for him.
The gardener said … "Well, I get up in the morning, take my boat out into the ocean and catch some fish for my breakfast. Then I go home and take a siesta. When I wake up I come and work for you. At the end of the day, I go into the village and play some music and drink beer with my friends. Finally, I go home and make love to my wife and take my sleep."
So my neighbor said: " Wait a minute, Jorge. If you give up your nap and spend that time in your boat, you can catch even more fish. Then if you get another boat you can catch twice the haul. And with the extra income that means you can get another couple of boats, and before long you will have a whole fleet. Then you can go to the US and incorporate. If you then do an IPO, you'll have enough money to retire and come back and live here a wealthy man, like me. So how would you then live out your retirement?"
The gardener thought for a moment and replied: "Well,
The neighbor said: "Wait a minute, Jorge, that's what you do now!"
Jorge smiled and replied: ""Si, senor. So why do I need more fish?"
7/3/09
Honduras Coup ...right next door?
A few of my readers have asked if I was OK, "what with the Honduras coup taking place right next door". First, a little history lesson. Honduras is a Central American country, not South American. And the governmental structure of that very poor country is vastly different than in peaceful Ecuador. Here, the people bang pots to show their displeasure with the government, not shoot guns or set off bombs!
Another big difference is the part played, historically, by the military establishment in Honduras AND the symbiotic relationship between the military hierarchy and the United States military, which has trained most of their senior officer corps and equipped the army - supposedly as a needed bulwark against the "communist" Sandinista-led country of Nicaragua right next door. Remember the Iran-Contra scandal of the Reagan administration?
Anyway, what's currently being reported in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times is simply NOT a correct analysis of the situation. Rather than me trying to explain it, let me suggest that you go directly to original.antiwar.com/justin/2009/06/ and read the political/historical ruminations of one Justin Raimondo who will wrap this up for you in a hurry. Justin is always, despite his "antiwar" connections (or perhaps because of it) an excellent and articulate reporter of facts.
So, I'm fine, the poor beleaguered people of Honduras are not!
6/22/09
So-ooo, what's up there besides stars?
This, my dear friends and readers, is the night sky over Vilcabamba. Do you notice anything strange? How about the utter clarity of the atmosphere, the lack of smog or air pollutants, the brightness of the mega-gazillion stars blinking their collective light down upon us?
There are said to be UFOs flitting around in those skies, but I have not seen any. It's not that I don't believe they exist …. after all, I was actually living in Roswell New Mexico that fateful day in July of 1947, when the crashed UFO and recovery of its alien crew was first announced and then denied the very next morning, which retraction by the military none of us believed!
I happened to be attending the New Mexico Military Institute as a cadet, and since my parents were off dilly-dallying in Europe, I was stuck in summer school. So you had 750 fairly bright junior college-aged guys hearing first-hand from some of the folks who had been to the scene of the crash, then reading the retraction and all of us saying … "Oh sure. A weather balloon? And the little aliens they recovered were really over-sized gophers?"
A lot of those cadets who entered the military after graduation were members of the US Air Force and reportedly saw UFOs on their own, only to be told by their superior officers that they hadn't really seen what they saw. Well, these guys, and I, remembered that day in Roswell when the military also said that what had been seen had not occurred.
So, I will admit that on these crystal-clear nights my eyes stray upward to search the skies, hoping that I, too, will become one of the "kooks" who think they saw little green men whizzing around in their space ships. Hmm-mm. Now that I think of it, there's a doormat outside the entrance to the famed Madre Tierra Hotel here in Vilcabamba that boldly proclaims "Welcome, UFO Crews!"
"They" say it's the magical water in the Andes Mountains high above Vilcabamba that these alien spaceships like to use for power. Hey, why not. The Japanese are now producing the first water-power automobile, so why not a water-propulsion spaceship? Stay tuned!