HELP ME TO SUPPORT THE PARALYMPIC ATHLETES

PARRABUDDY.BLOGSPOT was started to help find a way for “Adaptive / Physically Challenged / Paralympic Cyclists ” to enjoy riding their bikes on the Daily Route of the famous Pro Tour Race Routes such as the “ Giro d’Italia " and the " Tour de France " !


Through lack of support i have been unable to achieve that goal and unless people decide to assist there is little chance that my 22nd season will be any more successful !


Tokyo2020 Paralympics was amazing for ALL , not just those participating but those who followed via the Media !


Since 2009 several other Blogs have been created to cover various other subjects !

Below is a guide to their separate purposes :

In the main Parrabuddy is about “Adaptive / Physically Challenged Sport” and Health Issues.


Skippi-cyclist is about personal issues and Road Safety Issues.


SkippyAus is about matters relating to Oz and some personal memories from my life there.


Tourdafarce & Tourdafrance are about matters relating to the Pro Tour , Racers and some personal experiences during my various visits to ride the Pro Tour routes .


Skippy (blogging) is about a variety of issues on the Internet .


NOT ALL postings arrive in their correct area but I will generally try to separate my views on Doping and Sporting Fraud from Road Safety Issues .



Comments ARE WELCOMED since this shows that those reading are interested in the subject matter ! Enjoy comments made to other blogs so wonder why only " anonymous " posts here !

Over the period of these "Blogs" I have had visibility on Twitter as “Skippydetour” and on Facebook as “Skippy Mc Carthy” where Google usually advise postings on the Blogs as they occur .

When any of you visit these Blogs I hope I am able to add value to your day and provide a source of information if not inspiration . Please consider asking your friends and contacts to add their support as many of the Para Athletes are struggling to find the resources to compete in Events at regional Levels let alone National Levels .


You the reader have the possibility to help these Amazing Athletes in your own way and contacting your National Paralympic Internet Site for relevant info is a good start !

Dec 26, 2011

FACEBOOK !

First off , Very best wishes for the Festive Season to ALL that visit my Blogs ! Those of you that have will have seen that I am an Advocate for “ Physically Challenged / Para / Adaptive /Behinderten / Disabili Sport "! Which country you live in may determine the description of those that have lost the use of limbs through accident or illness . Of course some are born without the full set of limbs the greater portion of humanity take so much for granted . Most of these people lead their life in a way that is to be admired and there are many who would envy their achievements . I know some of these folks that even Olympians hold in high esteem !

This is the time to decide “ New Year Resolutions ” and one of mine will be set out below :

I PERSONALLY WILL DO ALL I CAN TO ERADICATE DESCRIMINATION OF DISABILITY !

No doubt there are many that feel the same way and you can ask your “ Facebook Friends ” to assist by posting this blog address and link on your “ Facebook Wall ” !

There are some who will not agree with the next thing I ask and that is for YOU the reader to decide :

If you do not decide to do more for “ Disability ” in 2012 Please use the “ Unfriending ” facility that is available . I will be happy if I lose 2000+ in this process since I will know that most of those remaining will be if they are TRUE friends making a better world for those that I am trying to assist .

Last week a typical Discrimination incident was brought to my attention . You may think that I am making too much of what some would consider a triviality .

A skier is with friends and the group decides to eat lunch inside and so they solve the problem by going into this particular self service restaurant . On arriving at the table the skier is spotted by the manager and told to “ GET OUT OF MY RESTAURANT ”! This apparently healthy person is so blinded with prejudice that he will in the fulness of time be looking for another career opportunity .

Weather determines the choices of eating venue for those in a “ Sitski ( Chariot )” . Usually they will eat outside but like you and me they also like hot food . The solution on this occasion was to ski up to the door and then the “ Sitski “ was lifted and carried to the table and chairs removed so that the skier was alongside the table . Of course the floor was Industrial Carpet that gets trampled by ski boots five months of the year so what harm if the skier had skied to the table ?

In this case the Skier has served his country in their armed forces and then again as a “ Paralympian ” but looking at him he is just “ Joe Blow ” . Here is the interesting part though . This guy is held in such high regard that in the evening it was decided that eating facility was “ Off Limits ” to ALL of the 250-300 in the party of which he was a member . Several days of “ Positive Discrimination ” perhaps not noticed by the restaurant staff BUT next year will that Tour Group return ? The thinking is “ One for all , and All for one” ! No doubt there will be other repercussions and I will let you know what is the result in coming months .

NOT all those Suffering discrimination because of their disability are fortunate to have the support of their friends or family and be able to act as positively as this case BUT we all have “ a duty of care ” and can contribute where we can !

Those of you not willing to post this to your WALL , GO AWAY and cancel the Friend Link !

THOSE OF YOU STICKING AROUND I WISH THE BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR !

Dec 23, 2011

CNF Mushroom Farmers Censored !

Francois the Postman not only closed down the “ Official etc,etc Lance Thread ” , he deleted a lot of “ posts ” and good on him ! There was a lot of excess verbiage between a handful of Posters that became tedious and for most of us readers it was a waste of time . Debating is one thing BUT nitpicking is entirely with out any redeeming features . I know that there were a few of my posts deleted since I prepare the post off the internet since broadband is so patchy where I live . Disappointed to see that my post encouraging people to checkout Charles Pelkey’s Red Kite article was removed although I also pointed out that it was only one of the few interesting items that I had gleaned in recent weeks .

From page 933 the total postings visible was dropped back to 880 whilst a number of people( moderators?) tried to sort the wheat from chaff ! Initially 6 hours closure of the thread was proposed but when it eventually reappeared page 910 became the new starting point . Already we have had a couple of wags twisting the tail of the moderators to see if they will bite . Certainly the standard of posting needed correction and with the next days being Christmas and New Year I doubt that any moderator would feel inclined to spend more than a few minutes away from their family and friends .

Best wishes to ALL my readers for their festivities !

Dec 17, 2011

A DANGER TO THE 1% ?

The 99% come in ALL manner of personalities from Able bodied to wheelchair bound but those minions of the 1% treat them equally ! Handcuffed and wheeled away but the Police/public Safety Officer hasn't resorted to " accidental violence " perhaps because he is aware of the media covering this event.

This event came about because Washington DC has some unusual political characteristics compared to other US cities , read the attached report :


In Washington, DC, protesters at Occupy DC-K Street are on Day 9 of a hunger strike for DC voting rights. As Occupy the Vote DC has written, “Despite paying taxes to the federal government and sending our citizens to fight and die in every war, Washingtonians have had no voting representation in Congress and have had to seek approval from people they did not elect on all legislative and budgetary matters.” Over 600,000 people live in the District, the majority of whom are people of color, immigrants, in poverty, or from other marginalized groups.

Today, Congress voted on riders that would, among other things, deny residents of the District their right to provide abortion to low-income women and block funding for a harm reduction needle exchange program that DC residents overwhelmingly support. Occupy DC, in solidarity with the Occupy the Vote DC Hunger Strikers, marched to the Capitol to demand legislative and budget autonomy for the District. Traffic was blocked on Independence Avenue along the National Mall.

Four people were arrested by police outside the House of Representatives, including one of the hunger strikers who has since been hospitalized.

Dec 15, 2011

Supporting the “ Occupy Movement ” , another’s comment !

Winter riding in the Tirol until today has been 100% sunshine this past month so heading out today in the gloomy overcast was a novelty . Returning from Schwaz was in drizzle but mostly on the cycle paths so little interaction with traffic .

Forecast was for rain that only started mid morning but there is little sign of a drop in temperature to allow snow so that is why I am here adding to my blogs !

Make an effort to encourage me by “ following on the blogs , twitter and face book !

Daily reading following the “ Occupy Movement ” turns up some interesting comments and this item is certainly worth a read ! The article where this was posted even pointed out that some US States are proposing to increase Taxes on those earning more than a mere $US ¼ million , some will see their 10.3% rate increased to 11.3% , certainly not a hardship for those in this income bracket !

“ The following is my message supporting the occupy Wall Street movement. I do not pretend to represent the opinions of each citizen engaged in this constitutional right to protest, this my opinion. Having been to Zuccotti Park, seeing and hearing the participants of this brave exercise in democracy I do believe that I am on the same page as they and the following is my message. if you choose to print in its entirety than you ,who claim to represent the fourth estate are too participating in what our democracy is supposed to be. If not so be it.


We have come to a point in modern history where we, America have been taken over by the oligarchs. People of extreme wealth and influence have overwhelmed our democracy. Access to our representatives, our senators, our governors at local, state and federal levels have been hijacked by the rich and powerful. The middle and working class citizens of this country, the people that have built this country, the people that have taught us, clothed us, built our roads, healed us, protected us and worked in offices for those in power have been ignored and swept aside. The poor are not even a thought to those in power.

The rich and powerful have figured out a way to earn their wealth with out us. The rich and powerful have figured out how to make a profit on the cheap. They have exported our jobs and taken advantage of cheap labor over seas and here at home. They have found a way to exclude the middle class and make lots of money doing so. They contribute nothing to society, they make nothing and they give nothing back. They think they can continue on this course without consequence. They are wrong.

There are two different groups of this wealthy class, those that are the money managers and those that are the product peddlers. The money managers think they are independent of the working class and think they don’t need us. The product peddlers use us and our common space without contributing to it. The money managers have created an artificial world of selling debt without good conscience in doing so. They have set up a system with little or no rules. The product peddlers use our roads, air and tunnels to transport their goods that we buy; all supported and paid for by taxpaying citizens. Yes, we buy and use their products. We are not against corporations, we are not against capitalism, we are not against earning an honest wage and profit. One could argue that this movement could not have grown without the use of products like the computer and cell phone crucial for communication; clothes and sleeping bags keeping those brave enough to sleep in the parks battling the elements and exercising their constitutional rights; products often manufactured by people in far away countries paid poorly for their efforts. Americans have grown accustomed to buying and using many products that have in many ways eased their lives, but at what price? We get that, but I don’t think those in power do. We are a community; we share a common space and common tools to exist. We the working and middle class are being used and stretched beyond our means so that those at the top can stay there, without shared sacrifice. What we ask for is fairness and right now, it is extremely clear that those at the top of the economic ladder have a tremendous advantage that has hurt this country deeply.

There are 46.2 million people in America living in poverty in the richest country on earth. One million of them are seniors, one and half million are children. More than one hundred thousand are veterans. How did that happen? What do we do about the poorest among us? What kind of nation is this that does not look after it’s weakest, its sickest, its disabled, its children, its elders and its veterans? What does that say about who we are as a nation?


We realize that the vote has been bought and suppressed. The idea that corporations have individual rights as expressed recently by the Supreme Court tells just how far corruption in our system has come. The allowance of corporate interests to anonymously pay for opinion to sway voters however they see fit is an injustice of our democracy and needs to be changed. The oppressive monetary influence has got to be stopped.

We the people are here to speak truth to power. We are here to tell our representatives, our senators, our governors and our president that we have had enough. We are fed up with trying to just get by. We are fed up with being ignored. We are fed up with health insurance companies price gouging us. We are fed up with choosing one child on our health insurance plan because we can’t afford two. We are fed up with oil companies price gouging us and then polluting our water, our earth and sky. We are fed up with men dying in coal mines. We are fed up with college being affordable to only the rich. We are fed up with undocumented workers being used like slaves. We are fed up with being told to buy things because that’s what makes the rich richer. We are fed up with leaders who lie us into wars to make a profit. We are fed up with those who complain government is the problem and then beg the government and the tax payers to save them when they act foolish. We are fed up with those in government who complain about government. We are fed up with government officials being auctioned off to the highest bidder and our voices snuffed out as a result. We are fed up with being told that we are the problem.

To Mr. President and all of our public officials, listen up: we are not the problem, greed is the problem, hubris is the problem, deregulation is the problem, no accountability is the problem, no rules are the problem. We have had enough.

President Theodore Roosevelt once said:
“We stand for a living wage. Wages are subnormal if they fail to provide a living for those who devote their time and energy to industrial occupations. The monetary equivalent of a living wage varies according to local conditions, but must include enough to secure the elements of a normal standard of living--a standard high enough to make morality possible, to provide for education and recreation, to care for immature members of the family, to maintain the family during periods of sickness, and to permit of reasonable saving for old age.”
May I remind all those listening that our standard of living and our ability to earn a living wage has been diminished. We are earning less, and for the first time in decades our younger generation is being deprived the right to aspire to a better life than their parents. We as a people are losing our capacity to earn a living wage as described by Theodore Roosevelt.

We the people want you to listen to us now. We want our voices to be heard. All we have left is this moment this time here together, out in the streets. Making our voices heard is all we have left as we have no money to pay for the privilege which should be our right. We invite you to come here to talk with us, to listen to us, to find out what needs to be done to make our country great again.

We fear that our democracy is at risk, we fear that the many soldiers throughout our history may have given their lives for naught. We fear that the gilded age of robber barons, which ill served this country has returned to bring great harm to this great nation only to serve a few. We fear that a plutocracy is replacing our democratic system of governance.

We want fairness, we want the power of the people, we want a democratic system of government that insures that the people’s voices will be heard and not bought. We want equal access. We want to be able to earn a living wage. If you want our support, if you want our vote then you must listen to us. Because we shall not be moved until you do. Just like the tree standing by the water we shall not be moved”


More comments to be found in the article , should you have the time to read and enjoy :

http://www.truth-out.org/finally-higher-taxes-1-occupy-behind-governors-moves-make-wealthy-pay-their-share/1323456503



Dissension is also discussed in this following article , essentially there are “ founding members of the “ Occupy Movement ” suffering difficulties now that “ Zuccotti Park ” has been vacated by the NYPD’s use of force .

http://www.thenation.com/article/165087/fracturing-occupy-wall-street

So many who began the occupation are finding themselves passed by as the “ Occupy Movement ” grows into an International and Office based situation . Surely some of these people must recognise that the “ movement ” whilst acknowledging their commitment does not “ OWE THEM " !

Dec 9, 2011

ENSLAVEMENT US style !

“ Occupy our Homes “ captured more than the headlines this week ! It brought to light the plight of the families left behind by those Troops killed in action serving their nation !

By what standard do the “ Merciless Money Lenders ” operate these days ? A son serves 8 years in the military and comes home in a body bag and the Mother to this day doesn’t know whether it was “ friendly fire or enemy action that killed him ! US$80k deposit is a sizable chunk of dough to put down as a deposit on a home and now after the death of her son this woman is suffering “ Ill Health ” and is on the way to the streets because she has no support .

“ Occupy our Homes ” should not be looking after her interests , “ A Grateful Nation ” should be doing that ! So the US military is a volunteer affair these days unlike Vietnam where the “ Wealthy ” found ways to defer their enlistment . The less fortunate absconded to Canada or elsewhere if they chose not to serve .

When you read this article you will see glimmers of other problems that lie below the surface :

http://www.truth-out.org/occupy-our-homes/1323268606

Serving their Nation is an adventure for young people , it certainly takes them away from home and family and opens up their horizons . Many of you have watched “ Saving Private Ryan ” and the message there was that the Military care for their Troops and those they leave behind . With Iraq and Afghanistan wars now being over 10 years old there are countless body bags and perhaps 10 fold “ Physically Challenged Casualties “ never mind those with “ Post Traumatic and other mental ” conditions . Considering the US Population is about 300 million this may be a price the Politicians are prepared to pay for the “ War against Terror ” . War in any form is a price too high to pay for the victims BUT there are Industries that benefit from it and of course their shareholders rub their hands with glee every time they win a new Supply contract !

The 99% supply the feet on the ground and the 1% make sure that their Sons and Daughters serve but generally out of Harm’s Way ! Senator Mc Cain and others on Capitol Hill know what War is like having survived horrendous Prisoner of War experiences and yet they continue to make sure that the Young of the US have to suffer attrition at the Battle Front . When Social Commentators suggest that Congress has got it’s “ Snout in the Trough ” they may be very close to the truth !

Even here in Austria there is widespread Corruption and where ever you go in this world you will hear stories of people on the make . Give anyone a position of Trust and their colleagues will ensure they toe the line so that the boat doesn’t get a rocking , Business or Politics , makes little difference , just the way the extra wealth is accounted for , or the taxes are dealt with ! Currently a former Governor of Illinois is starting a 14 year imprisonment for “ Abuse of Power ” offences including trying to sell President Obama’s Senate seat !

Currently the EURO is under pressure and all the British Government are concerned about is how to preserve London as the “ Financial Centre of Europe ” ! Aren’t the Bankers the cause of what is going wrong ? Cameron could get rid of the management of all the Banks and those stepping into their shoes would be “ Business as Usual ” very quickly ! Currency is a game to the TRADERS and that is why the Politicians allow them Immunity from their manipulations since they would rather the “ man in the street “ suffer rather than step off the precipice .

Whilst these “ Venture Capitalists ” are playing around with our money , that is shuttling it about to get a “ PROFIT ” from Billions worth of 0% loan monies , the Governments of the Free World are Creating Artificial Money to pay the bills ! Each year the National Debts rise and thus the Taxes have to go up to pay the Interest on the money the Governments have borrowed from the people they gave the 0% loans so as to roll over the bonds at ever increasing yields to their lenders . Whilst Governments have to borrow money they are in bed with the 1% and the rest of us , the 99% will have to pay the extra Taxes that should rightfully be paid by those that can most afford them since they are benefiting from the profits on the mess they created .

Young “ Jo Public ” is sold the Dream of Home Ownership at an early age and thus steps on the treadmill that rules his Family’s life as they struggle to meet the monthly repayments whilst uncertain of their Education Costs and Employment prospects . Japanese workers used to think they had a job for life as did most “ Civil Servants ” throughout the world but the reality now is that the 99% are enslaved by the 1% who are looking only at the bottom line of their investments . Increasing their returns even if ditching their neighbours into penury by shipping the jobs overseas is a viable option when it shows them a better profit .

So instead of looking to the future as once we were accustomed the young can now be certain of only Death and Taxes as they struggle to make ends meet !

Dec 8, 2011

OAF of Wall Street homeless ?

Occupy Movement has the “ oaf of Wall Street ” to thank for it’s increasing Media Interest ! So stupid to “ victimise ” people and then think that you can get away with bragging about your importance ! It is so obvious to ALL now , that those that originally camped in Zuccotti Park were only exercising their “ rights ” as stated by the US Constitution . How did a peasant like Bloomberg get to be the Mayor of New York ? HE BOUGHT IT ! That’s how , lacking intelligence he refuses to listen to those that tell him what he doesn’t want to hear .

“ OCCUPY our HOMES ” has captured the publicity once again and there are so many US Citizens that are in trouble with their mortgages that the “ Occupy Movement ” will grow into a nationwide force ! The genie is out of the bottle now and running rampant across the USA and who will the 1% blame ? You got it , the “ Oaf of NY ” and the time will come shortly when his army , the 7th biggest in the world , will refuse to act on ANY instruction from his office !

Just today I heard that the former Governor of Illinois was sent to Jail for 15 years for a variety of Offences involving “ Abuse of Power ” , will there be the Political Will to give Bloomberg a new residence to add to all the others that Money has Bought ? The 1% must by now realise the fight is lost as they are learning to speak about the “ Occupy Movement ” in new ways . The Eminent “ Spin Doctors ” are busy cashing in on the fears that this echelon of society that has done nothing for the USA for so long other than avoid paying their taxes and finding ways to fleece the 99% .

Truthout is a news service that highlights a variety of media interests that I follow and this article was published today :

http://sfbayview.com/2011/california-prison-hunger-strikers-propose-10-core-demands-for-the-national-occupy-wall-street-movement/

Normally people would ignore what prisoners have to say but when you read the bullet points perhaps you will take the time to read the article in full ?


1. We want full employment with a living wage for all people who will work, and for employment to be enforced as the right which it is.

2. We want an end to institutional racism and race- and class-based disparities in access to, and quality of, labor, education, health care, criminal defense, political empowerment, technology and healthy food.

3. We want decent and affordable housing for all people and for it to be enforced as the right which it is.

4. We want affordable and equal access to higher education for all and access to education that teaches the true history of colonialism, chattel slavery, repression of organized labor, the use of police repression and imprisonment as tools of capitalist exploitation, and the perpetuation of imperialism in the development and maintenance of modern U.S. power systems and corporate financial markets

5. We want an immediate end to police brutality and the murder of oppressed people in the U.S., particularly in the New Afrikan (Black), Latino, immigrant and underclass communities and among those protesting in this nation.

6. We want an end to the expansion of the prison industrial complex, as a profit base – from our tax dollars – for the disposal of surplus labor and the poor.

7. We want an end to all corporate and financial influences in the political process in the U.S.

8. We want an end to imperialist wars of aggression and sending our youth off to kill and die to enforce the economic interests of big oil and other corporate concerns seeking new resources to exploit, new markets to open for sale of their goods and services and as an impetus to keep from addressing domestic ills.

9. We want a bottoms-up approach to economic development and labor-capital relations in the U.S.

10. We want a more equitable distribution of wealth, justice and opportunity at every level of society, reflecting the objective reality that it’s the socio-economic, political, intellectual and cultural contributions of the 99 percent upon which this society stands.


Point 6 is the only item which serves their particular circumstances and even there I am sure a major segment of the population would agree with it’s inclusion .

Listed below are items that relate to the “ Occupy Movement that I have read in the past 10 days :




http://sfbayview.com/2011/california-prison-hunger-strikers-propose-10-core-demands-for-the-national-occupy-wall-street-movement/



http://www.truth-out.org/occupy-our-homes/1323268606



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/occupy-joe-walshs-office-_n_1131959.html?ref=tw


http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2518816&postID=8114606101436634940&page=0&token=1323200979871


http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,802051,00.html



http://vimeo.com/33171266


http://act.engagementlab.org/sign/occupyhomes_pledge?referring_akid=.56539.E7Xx9d&source=twitter



http://www.zerohedge.com/news/bank-america-sends-internal-email-exposing-where-occupy-movement-hurting-it-most





http://nationalmemo.com/article/fox-pollster-tells-gop-governors-why-occupy-scares-him



http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2011/11/the_7_trillion_secret_loan_program_the_government_and_big_banks_should_be_punished_for_deceiving_the_public_about_their_hush_hush_bailout_scheme_.html



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/22/whos-got-the-mortgage-pro_n_294169.html




http://diceytroop.tumblr.com/post/13516232805/my-n15-story-arrest-and-eviction-from-liberty-square





Finally here is a comment that I posted to the article listed :

Comment to

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2011/11/the_7_trillion_secret_loan_program_the_government_and_big_banks_should_be_punished_for_deceiving_the_public_about_their_hush_hush_bailout_scheme_.html


“ The finest GOVERNMENT that borrowed money can buy ! To think the Police in the USA are bashing , Pepper Spraying and arresting " Innocent Citizens " on behalf of a Cartel of Thieves !

You say this happened in the 90's also ? Where is Micheal Moore ? Could he dream up as scary a scenary as this ?

No wonder the US$ is always under pressure , the financal world included in the 1% has enjoyed a " Funded holiday " at the expense of the 99% Tax Payers !

" OCCUPY Movement " are doing good exposing " Corruption and inept Administration " ! Time to join in supporting their actions before a repeat performance i allowed .

LAND OF THE FREE ? NO ! Land of OPPORTUNISTIC BANKING FRAUD !

Always enjoy Michael Moore’s films and books so I am impatient to see more of his blog items .












Blogged about this despicable behaviour by " New York's finest " ! Finest body of people money can buy !
THE "OAF OF Wall St" claims to have the 7th biggest Army , wonder what the members of NYPD think they are ? Police Officers or minions of a pathetic tyrant ?
When the NYPD pull on their uniforms each morning do they feel like they are serving the People or "Trapped like rats" ?
WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL in the Hague is funded by the USA but had this been Syria or Eygpt they would be preparing the paperwork for sentencing at the tribunals !