posted July 24, 2010 09:56 PM         

I want everyone to listen, because I'm going let you in on how the world works: There will always be a small group of reasonable and informed people. And their voices will be drowned out by a majority of shitheads who are terrified that their way of life, which is not good in the first place, is constantly threatening to collapse.

posted July 25, 2010 12:53 AM         

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posted August 09, 2010 07:44 AM         

Chris Paradis
Creator & Author of The Rock n' Roll Tarot
and The Circus Tarot wrote the following:

quote:

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Current mood: calm
Entry tags: rambling

Insurance - Keep it in case you might get hit by a truck or Legalized Extortion?

A close friend of mine brought up the issue of Capitalism and what buying products that have Value
- because I say Capitalism breeds corruption and greed - and he says (to hopefully
paraphrase accurately "that is not Capitalism, Capitalism is Value - greed and corruption
are the things that Devalue Capitalism --"
What do people really Value in Capitalism? Why do so many people in our country need anxiety
medication and keep guns for the coming zombie apocalypse - What do you Value???

on that note ~

My Health insurance situation working
at Barnes & Noble is a bit baffling
to me at this point. They take $18 dollars a week
out of my paycheck and $1.45 for dental
both before tax - so by this point in the year
that adds up to about - 330.65 after 17 weeks...
given I'm not that great at math. They raised my
deductible to 400 dollars for the year
and My primary care physician billed me
for last year somehow over $300 dollars extra
my out of pocket deductible did Not cover
and I will owe the dentist $65 dollars
at the time of appointment
on my next visit in a few weeks and I'm due
for an eye exam so I can get the same
contact prescription renewed... So essentially
I have to come up with $680 dollars
so I can Start using my "Health Insurance" in which
they only pay a percentage - BUT what they
take out of my check is pre-tax...
which means I should have used my tax return
to pay for my medical expenses for the year???

I called Barnes & Noble Human Resources
and all they really have to say in their defense
is - "we communicated this to you in our yearly
benefits packet...Unless you have a 'qualifying
event' we will continue to take the given
amount out of your paycheck each month." And also
something to the effect of you shouldn't use
it if you "cant afford it"???

I spoke to two different people at HR
and they Really emphasized that they told Us ahead of time
that our insurance is *probably crap*
but hey its good to have it just in case
you might be able to use it at some point
during the year...without paying Totally
out of pocket. I'm moving to go to graduate
school in a few months - going to Part Time
hours IS a Qualifying event for them
to stop taking out the pre tax amount out
of my check... I have a feeling I should
just go to part time anyways and sub teach
as much as possible - but near the end of the
school year - getting jobs is tougher and
random - and it is rather stressful sitting
by the PC pressing the refresh button -
waiting for jobs to come through the online system... So I am in a bind - I need to get a physical
- I am in constant pain from TMJ syndrome
and I need a colonoscopy as my immediate family has a history
of issues with colon cancer...
I cannot see a doctor unless I want to run up an even bigger
bill and it feels GREAT that they are taking the money out
of my account - just for the "idea" of having
insurance - in case I need it - This is a *******
futile fruit loop... Any advice on this other than
"bend over and take it" is greatly appreciated.

On another note - Breaks at work were originally one hour
long - half of that being paid the other half off the clock...
they then changed that to two 15 minute breaks and punching
out for half an hour. And the first 15 minute break
is spent in a mandatory Retail Business of the day meeting
otherwise known as "shift change" - the final 15 minute
break is much cause for guilty glances - and
"who do you think you are" glares if you
ask to take it as it takes so much time
away from our overworked people
on the floor. If I am working in the music department
I am not allowed to leave the barriers of the department
as I must stay inside and guard the CDs & DVD's from possible
theft... So essentially I have to get a potty pass
and have someone cover me while I go to the toilet
or take my paid 15 minute break... People are generally
late - or just do not want to give you the break...
In fact - lately - employees *urged my management* have
been saying - we are "just too Busy"to give you your break.
Hoping you will give in and say you dont need it out of guilt...
or a sense of retail "duty" Which makes it all the more humiliating to ask for
that potty pass... or want to sit down for a few minutes
instead of feeling like a horse after standing for
so many hours. Business are struggling - and it is difficult
not to care just a little bit about the company I've
worked for on and off for the past 14 years...
But COrporate is expecting more of the Employees -
selling the New NOOK E-reader they have invested a HUGE
amount of money in at a time when Consumers are not
spending as much -

*with the exception of - hopefully
the latest gadget you can attach to the end of your hand
and twitter about with and pretend to be a living human being interacting with the flesh and blood people
right in front of you - I say this as if I am not guilty of
it - but I am... doesn't mean I have to like it or that I do not see the Absurdity of this way of "life"...
posting posting posting this
I find that the more I have on my itunes of ipod the less I focus on any one CD and enjoy it...

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read more @ Live Journal

Posting some of his work:

His phrase "Qualifying Event"
love that

posted August 09, 2010 08:26 AM         

and found a review,

quote:

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A MUST HAVE TAROT DECK FOR ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC LOVERS!

Review:

Rock and Roll Tarot

Reviewed by Sally

Created by Chris Paradis

There were only 500 published, and it will definitely be a deck for the collectors

Mover over here comes Mick! Wow Mick Jagger is the best for the strutting Fool, how cool is this. The Lovers has a line from David Bowies Modern Love. “Modern love walks beside me. Modern loves walks on by”. Bowie is famous for his triangulation and the cards show him in three quite different personae.

The Wheel of Fortune, “Life is just a party and parties weren’t meant to last. This is perfect for Prince whose career has cycled so much that he is led back to his old name.

Libido which is traditionally Strength or Lust, shows a half glamour girl, half-Lion. The material girl Madonna how perfect for this card. And the passage, “Ready or not, express yourself. By the say she is a Leo. The Doors as the Door aka Judgement, with many other musical artists such as Pearl Jam, LL CoolJ and many more.

This comes as a full 78 deck of cards which are 6” high by 3” wide. I found that it was first started as a web deck and then independently published.

I thought when I heard of this deck I wouldn’t like it, but you need to see it. For all those rock and roll fans, the Rock and Roll Tarot is a must. Collectors, lovers of art, and the young at heart will enjoy it also. it’s a must, see deck.

Although it contains no little white booklet, it does contain six extra cards that list the card and identifies the artist. Which it also has a quotation. On these extra cards there is a list of acknowledgement, a card that can be used as the blank card for it contains musical symbol and snippets that when put together back to back will form to create a free verse.

Being there are only 500 made, it is a must for collectors.

.............it sold for $299

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