-- Bumper sticker of the week: Thank you for not breeding.--

Quote of the week: ''There is no denying that consideration of others is worthwhile. There is no denying that our happiness is inextricably bound up with the happiness of others. There is no denying that if society suffers, we ourselves suffer. Nor is there any denying that the more our hearts and minds are afflicted with ill-will, the more miserable we become. Thus we can reject everything else: religion, ideology, all received wisdom. But we cannot escape the necessity of love and compassion. This, then, is my true religion, my simple faith. In this sense, there is no need for Temple or church, for mosque or synagogue, no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple. The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are; ultimately these are all we need.'' -- Dalai Lama--

I see the state is getting in on the action out at the old Holiday Inn. A grant for $300,000. How about calling it what it is, a gift. Along with the TIF savings and a low interest loan from the city, we're in for maybe $550,000 or so. And I didn't know what to do with a little extra money I had laying around. The mayor continues to be extremely disappointing. What a sorry vote: He has joined the Good Old Boys Club. Congratulations. Another yes sir mayor. --

Well, well, well. The Peever's one up on the hog producers. Actually about 3 or 4 up. Murphy Family Farms joined forces with their friends from Smithfield. Sharing various board members and management, this was actually a Siamese twin arrangement from the beginning. Now they will be the world's largest producer and processors of pork. Goodbye to anyone producing under 10,000 head. From the start, I thought this would kill the average farmer and now it's official. The recent crisis was a drop in the bucket compared to what is about to happen. Stay tuned. You worry about environmentalists. You should be worrying about one another.--

I haven't really given it much thought lately but I've come to realize over the years that hunger is preventable.--

I've figured out the moment when civilization started to decline -- the day they did away with alleys. We started putting our garbage in front of our homes instead of in the back. We put all the wires, boxes, cables, poles and transformers right out front. Absolutely no sense of pride. Whoever the brilliant planner was that thought of doing away with alleys is the very person who doomed civilization forever. I hope it wasn't my Uncle Fred.--

Here's a problem that won't go away and is only getting worse. The media is coming under the control of a very small group of people. The latest is Viacom purchasing CBS, a 36 Billion dollar deal. The government stands by and does nothing as huge monopolies form to control the new millennium. But you can rest assured that they can't buy the Peever. Well , at least probably not.--

I've said a hundred times that Galesburg should apply for a river boat license and put one out on Lake Storey. That's exactly what Jumers wants to do in Rock Island. ''A boat in a moat.'' What a bunch of idiots. Denny Jacobs, local Democratic legislator from East Moline, one of the biggest gambling czars in the state, is fronting the idea. And I pretty much thought I had seen everything. These folks will go to no lengths to grab money out of the pockets of a bunch of fools hoping to hit it big. The only one hitting it big on a deal like this is Jumers.--

Some of our biggest worries as we head into the new millennium:

1. Gambling will become a major problem. We will be seriously sorry for supporting government with dirty money.

2. The merging of the media into a few companies will pose a serious threat to free speech.

3. Welfare reform will plunge millions of additional people into poverty. Right-wing controlled legislators are forcing many to survive in any way they can. That's why the rich live in gated communities and have elaborate security systems.

4. If we continue to exploit the Earth for profit, the next millennium may be the last.

5. If we continue to treat children the way we are, particularly the disadvantaged, we deserve to have it be the last.

Have a nice day.


Dear City Council

PLEASE TIF ME

My business is going to hell through no fault of my own.

Thank you.

The Peever



Uploaded to The Zephyr Online September 15, 1999

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