I was supposed to leave Lisboa today.
I can´t afford where I´m at; though
the people are nice.
Since the end of August i´ve been living in
hostels in Spain and Portugal.
Today, I was in a restaurant that I´ve gone to
for my first coffee, and bolo de arroz (rice cake).
It´s shaped like a tall muffin; thin.
I was seated at a table for the first time; I usually
stand. A delivery man came with his arms full and as
he was trying to open the door I got up to do it for him.
I tripped over a strap of my backpack, and went flying.
I landed on my knees. My hands (L) (and arms(mostly Left),
mostly broke my fall; they were like shock absorbers). And,
then my head wacked the floor on the right side hard.
Something very similar happened in February 2011. I had a
small seizure while taking a shower. It was a small bathroom
(Cork, Ireland), and I had touble getting up. That time my hands
and right side of my head...same area as today took the full impact.
My concern? The shower was running, and would get the floor wet:-
Shit, can´t let that happen:-
My arms couldn´t move me that day in February. I was stunned.
I finally laid there and let myself feel the injury....and
from somewhere deep down I said to myself ´you´ve got a stun
injury...get up,´ (beside the physical ones), and I struggled
with where was the best place for my hands...they kept slipping.
After several slips I found it and my way up.
When I finished the shower I took out my shower bag and took out
a spray bottle of iodine...looked into the mirror and covered the
injured area. I had very little ice, but used it all, and then
covered the injured area.
Since I came back from Vietnam I learned to carry my own first aid
kit as it were. Not much, antiseptic, band-aid and a roll of gauge.
I wanted to cry, but suppressed it. I always had a good relationship
with my children, particularly me daughter...I was a stay at home dad,
and raised her much in the early years. And my son is a wonderful human
being as well.
But, since my ex-wife and I got separated...eventually divorced I came
to realize that how good, nice and loving (and firm when they needed a
parent to be)all those nice times are gone...and it wouldn´t matter if I
couldn´t get up, and was found there.
Sometimes children realize and remember how nice you were after you´re
gone. That´s what I thought of that day, and others days when I had
seizures. If I texted that I had one there was no response. So I stopped.
It´s not their fault; it´s the lies and untruths that have been said by
their mother as happens in these things.
Today, I felt and feel worse now. The woman cashier at the restaurant
came over with a good ice bag, and sprayed antiseptic on the cut. She´d
make a good combat medic. There were a couple of areas. mostly a good hard
whack-thump-bump.
I told the man not to worry; I would be okay; I hurt myself, but I said
I have a ´stun injury.´
I went back to the hostel and in bed. Later I felt the pain in my right
knee. My right knee, right side of the head, and left wrist, and arm were
the shock absorbers today.
I got up a few hours later, and had trouble lifting and turning my left arm
and wrist. I didn´t want to see a doctor. God that costs money.
But in 1987 our family was moving into a new home in Vermont from Boston,
and I was unloading more things from the truck when I had waves of small
seizures, and fell of the back of the truck. I landed on my back and heard
three snaps or pops. I thought oh shit.
I tied and wiggled my toes, then fingers, arms and hands and got up. My
right elbow was sore I brushed it off mentally. In the morning when I woke
up my right arm was across my chest. I knew my elbow was broke. I went to
the local doc. He took Xrays and said no break. I said my elbow´s broke.
Later I went back to Boston, had Xrays...and my arm was in a sling:
it was broke.
Today, I finally went to the hospital, and after seeing the doc he told
me no breaks; i´m okay. He asked if I needed pain killers. I told him I
take seizure medication and don´t want to add to it, and that I was in the
Vietnam War...and that there are different levels of pain.
I felt more pain when I got the bill €160 cash.
If I´m off for a couple of days i´m healing. I feel, much worse than I did
that day in February 2011. nausea and more pain. it´s time for a good rest.
ciao
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Occupy Movement: Stop the Police in their tracks from brutalizing people
I have watched scenes of policemen who thought
and felt that they were big tough beat people up,
and commit other criminal acts against American citizens
who have been exercising their First Amendment Rights to
exercise their freedom of speech, and assemble peacefully.
The police are suppose to protect citizens in the exercise
of their rights. When they brutalize them,
when they pepper spray peaceful assemblies of citizens
petitionioning the Government (and the Real Government-
the moneyed interests) for a redress of grievances,
then the police are no longer protectors, of the people,
nor are they guardians of their rights and liberties...
when the police beat up 84 year old women,
when they break up lawful assemblies,
when the pepper spray citizens exercising their rights,
then the police are a criminal force, not a police force,
then the police are a criminal gang who are protecting
the 1%... the moneyed interests who are the Real Government.
When the police do so, then they become, and they are,
the enemy of the people and destroyers of the rights, and
privilages of the American people.
The American people have a duty, they have an obligation
to defend themselves, their fellow citizens, and future
generations from what is becoming a criminal force.
When the police of New York find millions of people chasing
and hunting them down, then perhaps they will think about what
they are doing.
When a police force of thousands in New York gets ready break
up a lawful assembly as sees that they are quickly being surrounded
by hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people who break up their
unlawful assembly...perhaps they will think twice about what they do.
And, the America armed forces should ask themselves why are they being
used abroad to brutalize nations into submission at the same time that
the police forces in America does the same to the American people.
Perhaps, they will consider taking over ships, airfields, military bases
and refusing to let them be used against innocent people accross the world.
And, they should confront the police forces and mercenaries in waiting to
stop the brutality against the American people.
Meanwhile, the American people have the right to arm themselves and stop
the police from acting like criminal thugs, and must do so in as peaceful
way as possible. But, they have the right to disarm and strip these thugs
from doing further damage to the people.
Below is the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Perhaps we should occupy the police stations. Print the names and
addresses of the offending officers, and demand criminal prosecution
against those who are see to do criminal acts against the people
Yours...without spellcheck:-
Paul Meuse
Revolutionary since Vietnam
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
and felt that they were big tough beat people up,
and commit other criminal acts against American citizens
who have been exercising their First Amendment Rights to
exercise their freedom of speech, and assemble peacefully.
The police are suppose to protect citizens in the exercise
of their rights. When they brutalize them,
when they pepper spray peaceful assemblies of citizens
petitionioning the Government (and the Real Government-
the moneyed interests) for a redress of grievances,
then the police are no longer protectors, of the people,
nor are they guardians of their rights and liberties...
when the police beat up 84 year old women,
when they break up lawful assemblies,
when the pepper spray citizens exercising their rights,
then the police are a criminal force, not a police force,
then the police are a criminal gang who are protecting
the 1%... the moneyed interests who are the Real Government.
When the police do so, then they become, and they are,
the enemy of the people and destroyers of the rights, and
privilages of the American people.
The American people have a duty, they have an obligation
to defend themselves, their fellow citizens, and future
generations from what is becoming a criminal force.
When the police of New York find millions of people chasing
and hunting them down, then perhaps they will think about what
they are doing.
When a police force of thousands in New York gets ready break
up a lawful assembly as sees that they are quickly being surrounded
by hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people who break up their
unlawful assembly...perhaps they will think twice about what they do.
And, the America armed forces should ask themselves why are they being
used abroad to brutalize nations into submission at the same time that
the police forces in America does the same to the American people.
Perhaps, they will consider taking over ships, airfields, military bases
and refusing to let them be used against innocent people accross the world.
And, they should confront the police forces and mercenaries in waiting to
stop the brutality against the American people.
Meanwhile, the American people have the right to arm themselves and stop
the police from acting like criminal thugs, and must do so in as peaceful
way as possible. But, they have the right to disarm and strip these thugs
from doing further damage to the people.
Below is the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Perhaps we should occupy the police stations. Print the names and
addresses of the offending officers, and demand criminal prosecution
against those who are see to do criminal acts against the people
Yours...without spellcheck:-
Paul Meuse
Revolutionary since Vietnam
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Vatican stunned by Irish embassy closure´ Yahoo news comment separate
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/vatican-stunned-irish-embassy-closure-125727302.html
Vatican stunned by Irish embassy closure
By Philip Pullella | Reuters – 1 hour 9 minutes ago 4 Nov. 2011
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Catholic Ireland's stunning decision to close its embassy to the Vatican is a huge blow to the Holy See's prestige and may be followed by other countries which feel the missions are too expensive, diplomatic sources said on Friday.
The closure brought relations between Ireland and the Vatican, once ironclad allies, to an all-time low following the row earlier this year over the Irish Church's handling of sex abuse cases and accusations that the Vatican had encouraged secrecy.
Ireland will now be the only major country of ancient Catholic tradition without an embassy in the Vatican.
"This is really bad for the Vatican because Ireland is the first big Catholic country to do this and because of what Catholicism means in Irish history," said a Vatican diplomatic source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
He said Ireland informed the Vatican shortly before the announcement was made on Thursday night.
Dublin's foreign ministry said the embassy was being closed because "it yields no economic return" and that relations would be continued with an ambassador in Dublin.
The source said the Vatican was "extremely irritated" by the wording equating diplomatic missions with economic return, particularly as the Vatican sees its diplomatic role as promoting human values.
Diplomats said the Irish move might sway others to follow suit to save money because double diplomatic presences in Rome are expensive.
It was the latest crack in relations that had been seen as rock solid until a few years ago.
DAMNING REPORT
In July, the Vatican took the highly unusual step of recalling its ambassador to Ireland after Prime Minister Enda Kenny accused the Holy See of obstructing investigations into sexual abuse by priests.
The Irish parliament passed a motion deploring the Vatican's role in "undermining child protection frameworks" following publication of a damning report on the diocese of Cloyne.
The Cloyne report said Irish clerics concealed from the authorities the sexual abuse of children by priests as recently as 2009, after the Vatican disparaged Irish child protection guidelines in a letter to Irish bishops.
While Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore denied the embassy closure was linked to the row over sexual abuse, Rome-based diplomats said they believed it probably played a major role.
"All things being equal, I really doubt the mission to the Vatican would have been on the list to get the axe without the fallout from the sex abuse scandal," one ambassador to the Vatican said, on condition of anonymity.
Cardinal Sean Brady, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, said he was profoundly disappointed by the decision and hoped the government would "revisit" it.
"This decision seems to show little regard for the important role played by the Holy See in international relations and of the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries," Brady said in a statement.
The Vatican has been an internationally recognised sovereign city-state since 1929, when Italy compensated the Catholic Church for a vast area of central Italy known as the Papal States that was taken by the state at Italian unification in 1860.
It has diplomatic relations with 179 countries. About 80 have resident ambassadors and the rest are based in other European cities.
The Vatican guards its diplomatic independence fiercely and in the past has resisted moves by some countries to locate their envoys to the Holy See inside their embassies to Italy.
Dublin said it was closing its mission to the Vatican along with those in Iran and East Timor to help meet its fiscal goals under an EU-IMF bailout. The closures will save the government 1.25 million euros (864 thousand pounds) a year.
(Additional reporting by Carmel Crimmins and Conor Humphries in Dublin; Editing by Tim Pearce)
Vatican stunned by Irish embassy closure
By Philip Pullella | Reuters – 1 hour 9 minutes ago 4 Nov. 2011
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Catholic Ireland's stunning decision to close its embassy to the Vatican is a huge blow to the Holy See's prestige and may be followed by other countries which feel the missions are too expensive, diplomatic sources said on Friday.
The closure brought relations between Ireland and the Vatican, once ironclad allies, to an all-time low following the row earlier this year over the Irish Church's handling of sex abuse cases and accusations that the Vatican had encouraged secrecy.
Ireland will now be the only major country of ancient Catholic tradition without an embassy in the Vatican.
"This is really bad for the Vatican because Ireland is the first big Catholic country to do this and because of what Catholicism means in Irish history," said a Vatican diplomatic source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
He said Ireland informed the Vatican shortly before the announcement was made on Thursday night.
Dublin's foreign ministry said the embassy was being closed because "it yields no economic return" and that relations would be continued with an ambassador in Dublin.
The source said the Vatican was "extremely irritated" by the wording equating diplomatic missions with economic return, particularly as the Vatican sees its diplomatic role as promoting human values.
Diplomats said the Irish move might sway others to follow suit to save money because double diplomatic presences in Rome are expensive.
It was the latest crack in relations that had been seen as rock solid until a few years ago.
DAMNING REPORT
In July, the Vatican took the highly unusual step of recalling its ambassador to Ireland after Prime Minister Enda Kenny accused the Holy See of obstructing investigations into sexual abuse by priests.
The Irish parliament passed a motion deploring the Vatican's role in "undermining child protection frameworks" following publication of a damning report on the diocese of Cloyne.
The Cloyne report said Irish clerics concealed from the authorities the sexual abuse of children by priests as recently as 2009, after the Vatican disparaged Irish child protection guidelines in a letter to Irish bishops.
While Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore denied the embassy closure was linked to the row over sexual abuse, Rome-based diplomats said they believed it probably played a major role.
"All things being equal, I really doubt the mission to the Vatican would have been on the list to get the axe without the fallout from the sex abuse scandal," one ambassador to the Vatican said, on condition of anonymity.
Cardinal Sean Brady, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, said he was profoundly disappointed by the decision and hoped the government would "revisit" it.
"This decision seems to show little regard for the important role played by the Holy See in international relations and of the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries," Brady said in a statement.
The Vatican has been an internationally recognised sovereign city-state since 1929, when Italy compensated the Catholic Church for a vast area of central Italy known as the Papal States that was taken by the state at Italian unification in 1860.
It has diplomatic relations with 179 countries. About 80 have resident ambassadors and the rest are based in other European cities.
The Vatican guards its diplomatic independence fiercely and in the past has resisted moves by some countries to locate their envoys to the Holy See inside their embassies to Italy.
Dublin said it was closing its mission to the Vatican along with those in Iran and East Timor to help meet its fiscal goals under an EU-IMF bailout. The closures will save the government 1.25 million euros (864 thousand pounds) a year.
(Additional reporting by Carmel Crimmins and Conor Humphries in Dublin; Editing by Tim Pearce)
Friday, October 21, 2011
Two stories of Police Brutality
Let me tell you a story about ´Boston´s finest.´
Geez there are so many...the ones who frisked people
for drugs...for themselves, and cash too. That goes back
to the early to mid 1980´s.
Then there´s the ones on my old street who operated a towing
scam. Back then, if your car got towed it cost $35 to get it back.
Certain cops went through our and other streets in blocks and
would have between ten and fifteen cars towed on our street in
winter.
So, if it was 10 cars they got a kickback of $15 apiece. If one cop
was on our street that meant $150 for the day. Not a bad days work.
But, these guys were eager. They would go through six or eight
streets in a day. You´re talking close to $1,000.
I figured that out after they got arrested.
There were many, many more dirty cops that I knew...not
always by name. But, this story is about your first amendment
rights.
I am a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran. I was a grunt and volunteered
twice. I wasn´t there long, and was lucky to survive where I was.
Before I went to Vietnam I was pro-war; I had eaten up all the propaganda
our government fed us on what was called the news, but was really nothing
more than propaganda. I came back against the war and joined Vietnam Veterans
Against the War, and later Veterans For Peace.
In 1967 or 1968 I skipped school to go to an anti-war protest at Post Office
Square outside the Post Office and government buildings. I went to beat up
anti-war protesters. I went by myself, but I wasn´t the only pro-war person there
for that reason.
At a certain point, and after yelling between our crowd against the protesters-who
were protesting peacefully some of us ran in to smack a few. That´s a criminal
offense assault and battery. As we did, the Boston Police moved right in with
their German Shepard police dogs.
I was worried about being bitten or grabbed by one of those dogs, but I later realized
that the police dogs were only to be used against the anti-war protesters. You see
what happened was after I hit someone(s) and started to run away I was grabbed by
one of ´Boston´s Finest.´
I thought ´Oh shit, my old man will kill me, and the school will know that I left the
building, and I´ll get suspended for that. But, none of that happened. I was put in the
back seat of the cruiser; there was a man in blue at the wheel.
I sat quietly, and after several minutes the other cop came in, and the car took off.
I wasn´t feeling to good at that point. But, it was just then that the guy in front of me
on the passenger side turned around to me and with a big smile on his face said
"wasn´t that great?" I really didn´t know what to say until he patted me knee, then I
nodded.
They went up the street a couple of blocks turned and stopped, the man in front of me
again said how good it was, and that I could go but not to go back to that area, so I
promised him I wouldn´t. I took the train home and went to work that afternoon like it
was anyday. But, I did notice on TV that the police had arrested some of the anti-war
protesters!
Almost three years later, after Vietnam my friend, Jimmy and I were hitchhiking
on the New Jersey pike. It was about 3am, (I´m not positive of the time); we were
going to his house on a New Years leave. Some got Christmas, and others like us
got New Years. We were walking and saw several police vehicles and I think an
ambulance on the other side of the highway. Then, we noticed a police cruiser
come over to us, and I said to Jimmy ´Let me do the talking.´ It was illegal to hitchhike.
The State Police officer rolled down the window on our side, and said smiling ´Are
you boys in the army?´and I said ´No, we´re Marines.´He said ´come on in.´ He
had been in the Marines too. He told me he cracked some hippies heads; he said
´they were hitchhiking.´ He told us how much he liked that part of his job.
He was enthused, and showed me his ´Billy club´; it was red from the blood he´d
just spilled. He drove us to a place; dropped us off and wished us well.
So, remember; the police are not neutral. Don´t let them push you around anymore
than the revolutionaries of 1776 would let the British push them around.
Yours in Struggle
Paul Meuse
Geez there are so many...the ones who frisked people
for drugs...for themselves, and cash too. That goes back
to the early to mid 1980´s.
Then there´s the ones on my old street who operated a towing
scam. Back then, if your car got towed it cost $35 to get it back.
Certain cops went through our and other streets in blocks and
would have between ten and fifteen cars towed on our street in
winter.
So, if it was 10 cars they got a kickback of $15 apiece. If one cop
was on our street that meant $150 for the day. Not a bad days work.
But, these guys were eager. They would go through six or eight
streets in a day. You´re talking close to $1,000.
I figured that out after they got arrested.
There were many, many more dirty cops that I knew...not
always by name. But, this story is about your first amendment
rights.
I am a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran. I was a grunt and volunteered
twice. I wasn´t there long, and was lucky to survive where I was.
Before I went to Vietnam I was pro-war; I had eaten up all the propaganda
our government fed us on what was called the news, but was really nothing
more than propaganda. I came back against the war and joined Vietnam Veterans
Against the War, and later Veterans For Peace.
In 1967 or 1968 I skipped school to go to an anti-war protest at Post Office
Square outside the Post Office and government buildings. I went to beat up
anti-war protesters. I went by myself, but I wasn´t the only pro-war person there
for that reason.
At a certain point, and after yelling between our crowd against the protesters-who
were protesting peacefully some of us ran in to smack a few. That´s a criminal
offense assault and battery. As we did, the Boston Police moved right in with
their German Shepard police dogs.
I was worried about being bitten or grabbed by one of those dogs, but I later realized
that the police dogs were only to be used against the anti-war protesters. You see
what happened was after I hit someone(s) and started to run away I was grabbed by
one of ´Boston´s Finest.´
I thought ´Oh shit, my old man will kill me, and the school will know that I left the
building, and I´ll get suspended for that. But, none of that happened. I was put in the
back seat of the cruiser; there was a man in blue at the wheel.
I sat quietly, and after several minutes the other cop came in, and the car took off.
I wasn´t feeling to good at that point. But, it was just then that the guy in front of me
on the passenger side turned around to me and with a big smile on his face said
"wasn´t that great?" I really didn´t know what to say until he patted me knee, then I
nodded.
They went up the street a couple of blocks turned and stopped, the man in front of me
again said how good it was, and that I could go but not to go back to that area, so I
promised him I wouldn´t. I took the train home and went to work that afternoon like it
was anyday. But, I did notice on TV that the police had arrested some of the anti-war
protesters!
Almost three years later, after Vietnam my friend, Jimmy and I were hitchhiking
on the New Jersey pike. It was about 3am, (I´m not positive of the time); we were
going to his house on a New Years leave. Some got Christmas, and others like us
got New Years. We were walking and saw several police vehicles and I think an
ambulance on the other side of the highway. Then, we noticed a police cruiser
come over to us, and I said to Jimmy ´Let me do the talking.´ It was illegal to hitchhike.
The State Police officer rolled down the window on our side, and said smiling ´Are
you boys in the army?´and I said ´No, we´re Marines.´He said ´come on in.´ He
had been in the Marines too. He told me he cracked some hippies heads; he said
´they were hitchhiking.´ He told us how much he liked that part of his job.
He was enthused, and showed me his ´Billy club´; it was red from the blood he´d
just spilled. He drove us to a place; dropped us off and wished us well.
So, remember; the police are not neutral. Don´t let them push you around anymore
than the revolutionaries of 1776 would let the British push them around.
Yours in Struggle
Paul Meuse
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Is the banking crisis really a scam to get countries to pay tribute (a share) of America´s wars
I spent thirty nights in Badajoz, España,
and during that time I finish reading the
´History of the Peloponnesian War´ by
Thucydides (c. 460 BC – c. 395 BC).
It was an amazing story of the downfall of
the Athenian empire, which like the USA was
based mostly upon sea power - her navy.
Those that they called their allies were
for the most part were in a subordinate
relationship with Athens.
Thucydides, and others in the story make the point
over and over that a successful prosecution of a war
lies in large part upon money.
Those with the greatest resources stand the best chance
of coming out victorious...so long as their policies,
tatics and strategy are off.
But, war requires loads of money. Athens, and Sparta both
had their so-called allies paying them tribute in one form
or another, whether in building a certain number of ships,
providing troops, or mercenaries, or in cash.
So, the thought occurred to me is this so-called banking
crisis really a scam (well we all know it is), but really a
way of raising tribute to pay for the ongoing cost of America´s
wars of aggression?
I think it´s very possible that that is why the banks demand money.
Banks prosecute wars, or wars are prosecuted for their benefit,
and anyone who doesn´t think that this is so ought to read ´War is
A Racket´by Major General Smedley Butler, USMC.
and during that time I finish reading the
´History of the Peloponnesian War´ by
Thucydides (c. 460 BC – c. 395 BC).
It was an amazing story of the downfall of
the Athenian empire, which like the USA was
based mostly upon sea power - her navy.
Those that they called their allies were
for the most part were in a subordinate
relationship with Athens.
Thucydides, and others in the story make the point
over and over that a successful prosecution of a war
lies in large part upon money.
Those with the greatest resources stand the best chance
of coming out victorious...so long as their policies,
tatics and strategy are off.
But, war requires loads of money. Athens, and Sparta both
had their so-called allies paying them tribute in one form
or another, whether in building a certain number of ships,
providing troops, or mercenaries, or in cash.
So, the thought occurred to me is this so-called banking
crisis really a scam (well we all know it is), but really a
way of raising tribute to pay for the ongoing cost of America´s
wars of aggression?
I think it´s very possible that that is why the banks demand money.
Banks prosecute wars, or wars are prosecuted for their benefit,
and anyone who doesn´t think that this is so ought to read ´War is
A Racket´by Major General Smedley Butler, USMC.
Avoid LAN Airlines
I am traveling and living in the least expensive places
I can find in España and Portugal after LAN airlines
didn´t let me board a flight to Quito, Ecuador on August
26th, 2011.
I´m trying to save another airfare. LAN didn´t let
me proceed past the ticket booth unless I either bought
a return ticket or a ticket for a forwarding flight to
another South American country.
They had a separate counter set up where people could
purchase either ticket. I was told that if I bought a ticket to
Medellin, Colombia for €350, then I could get on the plane and then
cancel that flight the next day in Quito. The woman said that LAN
airlines would then reimburse me.
I asked if LAN would reimburse me in cash, and they woman said "Oh,
we never do it in cash; we put it back on your credit card." The
problem for me was that I had no credit card; just €450 cash, so
if I did that I would only have about $140 until September 1st.
I thought that I might be able to make it on that, but realized
that they could refuse me entry for ´insufficient funds.´ So I
was stuck in Spain; I lost my flat in the process and am then
found myself living out of cheap hostels or hotels.
I spent 30 nights in Badajoz, Spain; it was a lovely place and I
saved just under €300, but I need another €1,000 tops.
I spend 7 nights in Lisboa, Portugal, a lovely city, but couldn´t
afford €30 a night. I am now in Porto for my first night in a place
for €20 a night. All the places have been very nice, and the people
at this one are great, and the place looks good. If not for a friend´s
help I would be spending nights on the street.
In fact, I have been looking for camping gear as I reasoned that 20-30
nights camping would save much more money quicker. I figured that I could
spend every 4th and 5th night in a hostel that way.
I am trying to save money to get back over to Ecuador. I wanted to travel
in South America; it is much cheaper and would ease my financial burden.
I make more than enough to live comfortably in South America.
I am a Vietnam veteran and I am writing a novel.
It seemed hypocritical for the airlines LAN not to let me board the
flight unless I bought a ticket that I could cancel the next day.
That´s a scheme, or what I would call a scam.
I lost €758+ in airfare, my apartment, and I found out that I am not
the only one that LAN has done that to. It´s a morally and ethically
bankrupt policy for them to do that, but it is also very profitable
for them.
So, if you intend to travel to South America avoid LAN Airlines.
I can find in España and Portugal after LAN airlines
didn´t let me board a flight to Quito, Ecuador on August
26th, 2011.
I´m trying to save another airfare. LAN didn´t let
me proceed past the ticket booth unless I either bought
a return ticket or a ticket for a forwarding flight to
another South American country.
They had a separate counter set up where people could
purchase either ticket. I was told that if I bought a ticket to
Medellin, Colombia for €350, then I could get on the plane and then
cancel that flight the next day in Quito. The woman said that LAN
airlines would then reimburse me.
I asked if LAN would reimburse me in cash, and they woman said "Oh,
we never do it in cash; we put it back on your credit card." The
problem for me was that I had no credit card; just €450 cash, so
if I did that I would only have about $140 until September 1st.
I thought that I might be able to make it on that, but realized
that they could refuse me entry for ´insufficient funds.´ So I
was stuck in Spain; I lost my flat in the process and am then
found myself living out of cheap hostels or hotels.
I spent 30 nights in Badajoz, Spain; it was a lovely place and I
saved just under €300, but I need another €1,000 tops.
I spend 7 nights in Lisboa, Portugal, a lovely city, but couldn´t
afford €30 a night. I am now in Porto for my first night in a place
for €20 a night. All the places have been very nice, and the people
at this one are great, and the place looks good. If not for a friend´s
help I would be spending nights on the street.
In fact, I have been looking for camping gear as I reasoned that 20-30
nights camping would save much more money quicker. I figured that I could
spend every 4th and 5th night in a hostel that way.
I am trying to save money to get back over to Ecuador. I wanted to travel
in South America; it is much cheaper and would ease my financial burden.
I make more than enough to live comfortably in South America.
I am a Vietnam veteran and I am writing a novel.
It seemed hypocritical for the airlines LAN not to let me board the
flight unless I bought a ticket that I could cancel the next day.
That´s a scheme, or what I would call a scam.
I lost €758+ in airfare, my apartment, and I found out that I am not
the only one that LAN has done that to. It´s a morally and ethically
bankrupt policy for them to do that, but it is also very profitable
for them.
So, if you intend to travel to South America avoid LAN Airlines.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Letter sent to the Irish Times Mon. 26 Sept. 2011 ´The Áras race´
The Áras race
I am reading of the race for the Áras from Spain,
while traveling and writing a novel. After living in
Ireland for ten out of fourteen, and will return to
Cork I have a different view of things.
There are many things said about Martin McGuinness having
´blood on his hands´´ and the like. Have those who make these
comments forgotten that the very founders of Ireland like any
revolutionaries had blood on their hands.
Being a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran gives me a unique view.
There is not one past Taoiseach going back as far as Bertie
Ahern without blood on their hands for complicity in the CIA´s
Rendition and torture scheme. Successive Taoiseach´s have
guaranteed the Irish people that Ireland is not being used in the
program that kidanps people and brings them to be tortured.
Yet planes like the Boeing 737 (N368CE) that are known to be
part of the rendition fleet regularly landed on Irish soil refueled and
left.
Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, has a responsibility to investigate,
and prosecute if it is found that certain Irish officials had knowledge
of and did nothing to prevent these events. Ireland is obligated to investigate
and prosecute under Article 2 of the UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE!
But, successive Irish authorities have done nothing about torture just as they
stood by and did nothing while Catholic church officials engaged in the ´Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment´ of Irish children.
were complicit in the torture.
I am reading of the race for the Áras from Spain,
while traveling and writing a novel. After living in
Ireland for ten out of fourteen, and will return to
Cork I have a different view of things.
There are many things said about Martin McGuinness having
´blood on his hands´´ and the like. Have those who make these
comments forgotten that the very founders of Ireland like any
revolutionaries had blood on their hands.
Being a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran gives me a unique view.
There is not one past Taoiseach going back as far as Bertie
Ahern without blood on their hands for complicity in the CIA´s
Rendition and torture scheme. Successive Taoiseach´s have
guaranteed the Irish people that Ireland is not being used in the
program that kidanps people and brings them to be tortured.
Yet planes like the Boeing 737 (N368CE) that are known to be
part of the rendition fleet regularly landed on Irish soil refueled and
left.
Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, has a responsibility to investigate,
and prosecute if it is found that certain Irish officials had knowledge
of and did nothing to prevent these events. Ireland is obligated to investigate
and prosecute under Article 2 of the UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE!
But, successive Irish authorities have done nothing about torture just as they
stood by and did nothing while Catholic church officials engaged in the ´Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment´ of Irish children.
were complicit in the torture.
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