Darkening Skies

Through a Glass, Wicked Darkly

The Summer of Our Discontent is about to break loose with the sound of an historic global shattering. I’ll lay it out here and forever hold my peace. And I pray I’m horribly laughably wrong.

THE WAR’s PREPARATION-

We are today witness to the early dawn of Israel's attack on Iran. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu met with President Obama to get three things- 1) The assurance of US intelligence from the ground and our satellites… 2) Information on all we know and installed of Iraq’s air defenses… 3) Assurance that we’ll provide at least two bunker buster bombs and the B-2s to deliver them. Each American “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” is urgently needed for Iran’s buried facilities, each weapon a 30,000-pound behemoth too heavy for any Israeli aircraft.

THE WAR’s EXECUTION-

Israel’s strike force of 80 aircraft will launch before early May. The butcher/leaders of Syria are Sunni butchers so they hate the Shias leading Iran… and so Syria airspace is open. The disintegrating butcher/leaders of Iraq are Sunni butchers so they too will “look the other way” when the Israelis fly eastward at dawn with their sights on Northern Iran. The Israelis will hit at least five sites while high-flying American B-2s drop their cave-smashing hardware in a closely-coordinated attack.

THE WAR’s AFTERMATH-

ANY way you look at it, it’s bad— An Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz…An Iranian attack on any tanker afloat…Iran’s immediate shipment of weapons into Gaza and Lebanon and the West Bank…Rockets rain down on Israel from every direction including the Mediterranean. Iran’s government will prove America’s role in the attack by producing pieces of the “Bunker Buster” bomb casings. And a bad situation gets worse.

THE OIL CRISIS OF 2012-

The price of oil soars into the stratosphere. Republicans learn that Obama does not dictate the price of oil. Democrats will learn the price of unflagging alliances. America will get an entirely new education on The Costs of War.

THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2012-

The sudden oil problems sends global markets into a nosedive. Europe’s shaky nations unravel… Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy. International banks feel the hits. The fledgling joke that is the “US Recovery” goes into a sudden death spiral. The DOW plummets through 10,000 on its unerring journey to 7,000 or lower.

THE REPUBLICAN’s RESPONSE-

The Israeli attack is a HUGE Game Change. Voters suddenly recognize that a Wartime Government is no place for on-the-job training… and the momentum suddenly shifts to the Old War Horse- Gingrich. Proven, tested, been-there done-that. The War also fires up the angry anti-war base for Ron Paul. The Republicans go into Tampa for an Open Convention… and a completely new face might emerge as their Presidential candidate. With war at hand, I’ll scratch Palin ASAP. It will be wild. But in the end, my money is on a ticket of Newt Gingrich with Jon Kyl as VP.

THE DEMOCRAT’s RESPONSE-

I dread even thinking my thoughts, much less writing them. But violent and furious forces are set loose by Obama’s aid to Israel. Iran’s clerics call for Jihad and issue Fatwahs for the killing of the American President. Muslim Extremists and Al Qaeda seek vengeance for the War, the Koran burnings, and ALL the slaughters by the American Infidels. A’murkin rednecks have a thousand more reasons to hate Obama, the Muslim who used war to enrich fellow Muslims, an unqualified man of color in a war that calls for Red White & Blue leadership. The political campaign of 2012 demands that the President goes out on the campaign trail. And out there is where he is murdered. I shudder to write this.

In the aftermath, the Democratic party comes together in a bitter fight to create a wartime ticket. In the end, the ticket will be John Kerry with Veep Hillary Clinton at his side as Biden leads the nation through the last months of the Obama administration. An Open Democracy has a price, God help us all.

THE NOVEMBER ELECTION-

The economy is in shambles, a nation mourns its slain President, in their deepening hopelessness the minority vote belongs to no party, Warhawks pound the drums furiously, and Ron Paul emerges as a STRONG independent candidate based on his pledge to avoid war and foreign entanglements. In the end, I think the Republicans win a tight one.

LONG-TERM ALIGNMENTS-

All too impossible to be certain. But Europe and the Western World are relieved that Iran’s nuclear ambitions are dealt a blow. They try to take a unified stance in the U.N… ironically, they call for sanctions on Israel for being the “aggressor.” ANYTHING to placate and defuse the Arab/Muslim furor. The West will do everything possible to ensure the Mideast is forever divided by the Shia vs. Sunni hatred and distrust. NATO will be pleased to see intra-national infighting keep instability in Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, and Iraq. China does not miss the opportunity to be the new Big Cheese on the global scene. Beijing will condemn Israel and thus ensure its access to oil and the global market that is moving farther and farther from the “Western Puppets of The Zionists.”

A New Global Divide is coming and the only question is HOW MANY SEAMS will there be??? And can the Nuclear Genie be kept in the bottle?

2012 Predictions

MAYA FAVORITE YEAR

While 2012 won’t be a walk in the park, it WILL be the year that I finally get my timing right. For years I’ve been shining light on the fundamental problems, so I’ll skip the boring details. What is new for 2012 is the release of all the pressure safeties, the myriad contraptions that have kept so many lids on for so many years. So here’s a sneak peek at the Mother of All TrainWrecks—

Afghanistan- The Taliban reclaims this bloody mess, village by village. We’re getting out nine years too late and not a minute too soon. There can be no “Nation Building” in a tribal land of no single “Nation,” and so the death of President Karzai is a meaningless sideshow. But as a symbolic act, it freaks out the US media. We'll care...for a nanosecond.

Pakistan- The military finally turns against America’s strong arm-twisting. And as the Military goes, so goes the Nation. There won’t be a coup to unseat President Zardari, not when the Courts are ready to do the work. And so we get booted out of the entire AfPak theatre. The drones will still fly, albeit in fewer numbers and with NO friendly cheerleaders on the ground. Pakistan was ALWAYS the key, wicked tricky, but national leaders ignored the warning of analysts from pre-9/11 days.

India- As Pakistan moves away from UN influence, the Taliban’s Haqqani network steps up anti-India operations from North Waziristan. More bombs in the streets of India, more tension, and the cold war between Muslims and Hindus goes Hot…again. When bullets fly across the India/Pakistan border, let’s hope the nukes all stay on the ground.

China- In case you missed it, their booming economy is a bubble… and it will burst in 2012. Things aren’t helped when all foreign demand comes to a halt. A huge nation of so much unrest could be troubling. While the military could be used to maintain control, there’s a long-shot chance that China’s leaders could unite the country with a push into Siberia… that would be Russia’s Siberia. China has a huge need for land that is actually LIVABLE space for its population.

Russia- I'm clueless. Ask Putin.

North Korea- It’s time for the nation to open up to the West, just like China did. They have too many needs to stay bottled up in Never-NeverLand. It’s a great new place to make Facebook friends.

Iraq- All-Out Civil War. The BIG split is the Shi’a vs. Sunni bloodlust. Iran steps in to back the Shiites, Saudi Arabia steps in to back the Sunnis as THE great rift in the region opens up along the religious divide that crosses all of the meaningless borders created by Europe in the early 1900s. Iraq’s majority Shiites seize most of the country while the Sunnis fight to keep the oil-rich land in the south. American forces were the cork in the bottle… but we’ve always known that (see earlier years). As always, the Kurds are left on their own to fight for an independent state surrounded by enemies. They fight on three fronts against the Shiites, the Turks, and the Syrians. The US might step in to support the only “friends” left in the region. Lord knows we want to protect the dignity of their oil fields.

Iran- This is Ground Zero for the Big Mess. And their leaders hold the key to just HOW BIG the Mess will be. Watch Iran after Israel’s surgical strike on the nuke production facilities. Watch Iran as American warships returning home approach the Strait of Hormuz. If they press a retaliatory attack on all of Israel, Tel Aviv will knock the crap out of Iran’s oil industry. An Iranian attack on the sixth fleet will be a short and furious conversion of Iran’s Navy from a Surface force to a navy of sleepy submarines. Watch-- No matter HOW the dice roll, Americans will thank Iran for $6/gallon gas. And THEN gas gets expensive.

Israel- A pretty bleak scenario. With Egypt's Mubarak out, they’re surrounded by enemies. Iranian-backed militias pop up everywhere. Of course the BIG deciding factor is how Iran responds when the Israeli Air Force delivers their 80-plane attack on the Mullahs' nuclear-weapon sites.

Europe- Utter collapse. Greece and Italy refuse to live the lifestyle demanded by German bankers and so the Euro disintegrates. Ireland, Spain, and Portugal implode under their massive debts. France and Germany may saunter away to create their own currency as turmoil sweeps the continent. Mankind has to hope that there will be no return to the time-tested knee-jerk response of military solutions. The US suffers as banks see their foreign investments go belly-up… all at the same time as the international foundation of the Stock Market crumbles.

America- The nation goes on the hunt for Messiahs and Miracles. The DOW freefalls through 5000 with gold and silver surviving as the only safe haven. Forget real estate as the pent-up sea of 4 million foreclosures adds to the unsold inventory. Shell-shocked Banks MIGHT give you a loan if you really don’t need it. The National crisis finds new fuel in the collapse of Commercial Real Estate— The Big Boys were also part of the buying frenzy of 2006 and now THEIR loans are coming due because of terms that are longer than those for individual homeowners. Empty office towers and padlocked mini-malls dot the landscape.

Hordes of disgruntled and desperate individuals make for an unsafe nation. If you can accept the moral argument for guns, buy a 9mm Glock and learn to use it. If you are not comfortable with weapons, find religion and become a born-again believer. It’s good for the soul.

The ridiculous hyper-extension of unemployment benefits end. And All-American households are suddenly REALLY out of money. And very desperate. I can't tell you how to distinguish the fine line between between Shoplifting and a Food Riot. But the news pundits will make it clear. With expert analysis.

In a NATION gripped by unprecedented CRISES, BOTH political parties need Super-Candidates. The Republicans gather around the shiny constitution-encapsulated bus of Sarah Palin. To soothe a nervous nation, she travels with John Kyl or a super-strong pro-military southerner. If Obama runs, Republicans Rule. If the Dems are smart, Obama will find a sudden "family reason" to step aside so that Hillary takes the helm with her VP selection of General Wesley Clark. And if the showdown comes to those ladies, it’s too close to call.

If the Maya are right about the lights going out on December 21…

...we'll owe them plenty of thanks.

I’ll end with a Benediction from one of my favorite writers, shamelessly stolen word-for-word—

“Don't imagine for a moment that your grandchildren will be zinging across the landscape in electric cars sampling one theme park after another while ‘networking’ with ‘friends’ on cyborg social networks implanted in their brain jellies.” -James Kunstler

http://kunstler.com/blog/2012/01/2012-forecast-bang-and-whimper.html

Our Secret Sculpture Unveiled - "Tempered by Memory"

UPDATE August 24-
SEE and COMPARE what was PROMISED...
and what was DELIVERED.
SCROLL to BOTTOM, TWO PIX

* * *
UPDATE August 19- WHY the sculpture will never have a home...
below the comments below the pix. * * *
UPDATE August 17-
Read the critics NOT heard by the City Council, below pix.

* * *

HAVE YOU SEEN our city's
almost-here memorial to 9/11--
"Tempered by Memory"?

No newspaper has published even a sketch.

The Saratoga Arts Council shares it... quietly. Selectively. Under duress.

With thanks to a reporter who was granted viewing privileges by the Arts Council,
you are cordially invited to view the piece... CLICK pix to enlarge, BACK ARROW to return--

I present a recent photograph of the 25-foot high sculpture, homeless for the moment...

A Graphic Designer took the image to create a view with blue sky as the background...

A photo posted AUGUST 9 on the website of the Arts Council...

The Plaque to commemorate the appointed/anointed artists was provided by the Council...

...and the description is taken from the website of the Arts Council--

"The arrangement of these pieces will help us temper our memories of September 11 and send a message about the transformative power of art, the strength of communities, and the ability of creativity and vision to carry a community beyond tragedy."

The visionary sketch of a concept of a notion (above)...
versus the sizable-ridable Real Thing (below)--

Finally, an official Arts Council-approved photo
posted on their website late on August 9.
(Excellent Larry White photography!)





Forehead-level detail...



Base/ground-level detail...

I must say,
it is a lovely plaque.

UPDATE August 17-

The Council Public Hearing was jam-packed by Mr. Reed's Art Council.
For whatever their reasons, at least 24 non-cheerleaders DID NOT appear...
so the one voice of dissent was mine.
Those "other" opinions exist...and I reprint a mere few here--

FourStarDave wrote on Aug 16, 2011 3:00 PM:

"If this is going to be Saratoga Springs' Memorial to 9/11 then by all means we, the residents of Saratoga Springs, should have a say as to how our memorial should be and look. To just dogmatically accept this as our memorial because some artists or artistic organization wants us to is just not fair. I have a right to voice my opinion and I see no value in displaying a 25-ft pile of blood-stained wreckage as our tribute to those who lost their lives to such a despicable act. The 9/11 Memorial at World Trade Center is a much better and more fitting tribute as Mayor Bloomberg stated- ‘The void leaves it to one's imagination to imagine what stood and then to reflect’."

jrm62 wrote on Aug 16, 2011 9:30 AM:

"Why did they make it a twisted monstrosity? The war memorial in the park is a better example- you don't see twisted tanks and plane wreckage. If I died in 9/11 I would not want to be remembered this way. I'd be glad to be in heaven as far from that man made scrap as I could get. Is this some kind of a joke? Another stupid Saratoga idea- Ugly,waste and a terrible way to remember innocent victims."

OutOfTowner wrote on Aug 16, 2011 5:07 AM:

"It is ugly, not hideous, but ugly. I openly admit that I probably don't have an artistic bone in my body, but I do know what I like to see and what I don't. It is not appealing in any way and does not draw my attention at all. And it really makes me wonder why the art counsel needs $196,000 donated towards this thing."

whisper wrote on Aug 16, 2011 7:31 AM:

"The sculpture is not a good thing. It is not a good memorial to the poor people who died 9/11. I wouldn't want it as a memorial if I had died like that--I would want the world to have more beauty, not less."

smartenup wrote on Aug 16, 2011 9:32 AM:

" Not only is that work of art truly "ugly", the whole debate has become "ugly." If someone doesn't like it, they are disparaged. People are now FORCED to like a work of art that does not speak to many nor does it appeal to most except to some whole believe they are the intelligentsia of artistic design and creations. Arrogance rules the day. We have become an ugly culture. Shame on all of us and on these new idols being generated in these dark times."

Frodo wrote on Aug 16, 2011 1:26 PM:

"The fact that the steel itself is rubble from the WTC is really it only memorial value. If it weren't for that, this 'statue' would have no expression on its own and in no way appear to have any connection, artistically or otherwise, to 9/11.”

uthink wrote on Aug 16, 2011 8:50 AM:

"This certainly belongs somewhere else...far away. Contacting city officials is a waste of time, they should have planned the parameters and approved the design with tax payer input. The council put the cart before horse."

gottalovesaratoga wrote on Aug 16, 2011 8:30 AM:

"Dear god that thing is a MONSTER. I'm sorry but this does not belong anywhere in our beautiful downtown. "

Bluedog wrote on Aug 12, 2011 1:11 PM:

"Ugly, doesn't fit in the city. Unfair process. Let's hope the City Council gives this a thumbs down."

twopondsnorth wrote on Aug 10, 2011 10:11 AM:

"The Arts Council should pay attention to this letter. The purpose is to connect people to art, not force someone's choice down the public's throat."

racing city wrote on Aug 10, 2011 4:15 PM:

"Lets say you have seen the Arts Councils statue. Now lets say you HAD to choose between putting 1 Italian sculpture from Congress Park or the steel statue on your front lawn. Would you still choose the Arts Council's 24-foot high pile of steel?"

saratogakid wrote on Aug 13, 2011 12:34 AM:

“I think the citizens should have a large input on where this one would go and once a piece like this is placed on Broadway does this open the door for more art of the like to also be placed there? We have a beautiful park right across the street that could make a great home for a memorial statue along with the other tributes."

spacity4life wrote on Aug 16, 2011 8:35 AM:

"I could put together a 20-foot high pile of Dog POO and call that art, but should we have to see it on Broadway? Just saying..."

spatastic wrote on Aug 16, 2011 7:59 AM:

"The use of the material could have been a very exciting emotionally-charged abstract expression of that horrible day and our ability as a country to grow from it… but I "don't see it." It is missing the point... it looks like 25 ft of scrap."

treadlefish wrote on Aug 16, 2011 8:00 AM:

"It’s big and incredibly ugly. It belongs nowhere in Saratoga.”

IRONMAN wrote on Aug 16, 2011 8:17 AM:

"It wasn’t just Saratogians that observed that tragedy nor should we imagine that this artistic expression will make us all more patriotic. The stark expression of the twisted steel sculpture may very be well too disquieting an image in front of either the small public space that is left in front of the City Center or the last remaining large public space in front of the Saratoga Springs Visitor’s Center – one that can accommodate a variety of seasonal exhibits – and ones that do not have to remind us solely of that tragic day in September. "

broadway billy wrote on Aug 16, 2011 9:42 AM:

"Put it in front of the Riggi's shack on North Broadway. It will fit right in."

Mr Bluster wrote on Aug 16, 2011 10:02 AM:

"As stated in the blog Nanoburgh the ‘art’ belongs at the train station. It is too ugly for downtown. People will ridcule it."

listening wrote on Aug 16, 2011 10:40 AM:

"The State park is a consideration for this project. It’s on Broadway, has lots of parking and lots of room for a monument. I agree that the Mayor should have been involved in the planning process. Surely we have artists in Saratoga Springs."

Jesus was a Liberal wrote on Aug 16, 2011 12:32 PM:

"I look at that sculpture and see DEATH and MALFEASANCE. Nothing positive about it. Keep it out of Saratoga Springs."

saratogasprings2010 wrote on Aug 16, 2011 12:54 PM:

"You can't be serious. This looks like a piece of junk. Has someone lost their mind? This trash should not even be under consideration no matter where it came from. Send it back to NYC."

connie wrote on Aug 16, 2011 5:42 PM:

"Do not subject our downtown to this ugly piece of steel that carries no message at all. The Navy base out Rt. 29 might like to have it or some other community might welcome it. We do not need it, especially at the Visitor's Center."

topknotch wrote on Aug 16, 2011 9:27 PM:

"Lay this to rest somewhere near the national cemetery. We don't need this in town it looks terrible. I'm an Art major. Next will be having a horse laying dead, all twisted up. This is not attractive."

wary wrote on Aug 10, 2011 7:44 AM:

"Unfortunately, I cannot see anything about the 'memorial' that is meaningful. It is ugly. I do not want to take my visitors around the city to view all the beauty and have to "explain" another questionable, hard-to-explain structure.”

* * *

WHY "Tempered by Memory"
will never have a permanent home:

Q- Puh-leeeeze... WHERE and WHEN have "DANGEROUS" sculptures been cited and removed?

A- History teaches--

"The Arts Commission voted unanimously to dispose of the piece due to safety considerations. The sculpture had been a magnet for kids to climb and sit upon. It had been donated to the city by an artist not versed in the unique demands of public art works and had rusted both inside and out and was thus deemed a safety hazard."
http://lbindy.com/2011/03/10/rusting-sculpture-removed

"Richard Serra’s site-specific sculpture “Tilted Arc” was removed from a Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan after complaints that the sculpture was a safety hazard and prevented the public from using the space for recreation."
http://www.law.uchicago.edu/files/files/123.WL_.VARA_.pdf

"The metal cow is a hazard that should be removed, said a city policeman who had to remove the cow twice yesterday from the street. The cow, cut from a steel plate and intended as a piece of art, has sharp horns that the police officer said are like "swords" that could impale somebody either accidentally or during a scuffle."
http://articles.mcall.com/1985-07-31/news/2487809_1_cow-police-officer-policeman

" 'Tracing the Fore', an undulating steel sculpture will soon be installed in a private sculpture garden. One businessman said the jagged steel 'waves' designed to evoke currents in the nearby Fore River reminded him of razor blades. Soon after, the city’s Public Art Committee began a process considering whether to relocate the piece or get rid of it altogether. Ultimately, the city decided to sell it at auction."
http://portlanddailysun.me/node/27026

"In 2008, the sculpture was removed from campus. After being subjected to decades of inclement weather, it had greatly deteriorated and was quickly becoming a safety hazard to all who frequented the courtyard in which it previously stood."
http://www.mc.uky.edu/medicine/administration/Deans_Newsletter/2011_04.pdf

Q- Ummm, Puh-leeeeze... In a NATION this BIG, you got only FIVE problems? Not many “Child Killers,” eh Yorkie???

A- Most Public Sculptures are SAFE because they follow the universally-used 11-step Public Process, see pages 1 and 10-13:

http://www.art-stl.com/assets/pdfs/PublicArtGuide.PDF

You'll note that step number SIX (6) calls for preparation of a formal RFP. You can use the internet to find THOUSANDS of RFPs, virtually ALL use the same "boilerplate" language to ensure a SAFE design. For example:

"The Cultural Arts Commission is seeking existing sculpture available for a temporary exhibit. Design and materials must mitigate any potential hazard to the public; such as a safe surface for climbing children."
http://www.ssf.net/DocumentView.aspx?DID=903

"Artists will be required to submit a proposal and rendering/photos of the work to be displayed. The Town is not liable for any issues related to the artwork such as potential injury liability, fire hazard, traffic accident, etc. Artist is responsible for acquiring his/her own property insurance."
http://www.matthewsnc.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=zjHOEbMUiXg%3D&tabid=126

"Particular attention needs to be given to ensure artworks do not represent any danger to adults and children; as such issues such as sharp edges and secure attachment should be considered prior to submitting entries."
http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/ArtGallery/pdfs/CSW06TermsConditionsEntryForm.pdf

"Works deemed unsafe, overly fragile, or otherwise unsuitable will not be considered for the exhibition."
http://www.sculpture.net/community/showthread.php?t=2785

"Work deemed unsafe will not be accepted."
www.ulm.edu/~fassett/u-links/contracts/images/stu-garden-poster.doc

Q- Oh. Please... WHY would experienced ARTISTS and wise ARTS COUNCIL LEADERS do something so…well, so STUPID?

A- The chosen Artists make sculptures for PRIVATE owners.
So an individual can pay $120,000 and be delighted to have the sculptor jab them in the eye with a red hot piece of rebar. And when their larger pieces are on display in Galleries, plenty of signs and security ropes keep visitors from getting hurt. As far as leadership, this disaster is a sad example of on-the-job learning. But there IS a future for the steel and there IS still HOPE for an appropriate memorial:

NEXT STEPS-
Our City’s Director of Risk and Safety Marilyn Rivers has not yet weighed in on the sculpture. Ms. Rivers takes her responsibilities seriously. EXTREMELY seriously. You might want to see her opinion once she submits it to Commissioner Franck. But while we wait for Ms. Rivers emphatic warning/rejection, the way forward is Tempered by Reality-

With the current predicament of an unusable sculpture made with 13 tons of WTC steel, now is the time for the City Council to re-start the Art program… only THIS time City guidance can assure a proper process by following the 11-step process (see PDF pages 10-13).

Let the City Council appoint a “Planning Committee” without delay, and to welcome ideas that use “raw” steel AND designs using melted steel to fulfill creative visions and fill the Public Space with a safe and accessible creation.

For the immediate future, the sculpture will be moved to the DPW Garage on the West Side, secure behind the lot's fencing. The upper ten-foot “neck” extension will be cut off without delay in the event of unauthorized access.

But any work by the "Siting Committee" is doomed to failure...unless the fenced-off DPW Lot tops the list.

Q- Please... HOW is it that YOU are smarter than the ENTIRE City Council?

A- I am not smarter.
They simply haven’t heard from their Expert, Marilyn Rivers.

But they will.

Proposed...

Delivered...perhaps.