Open Thread - 4/27/24 - Stuff and Things

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 7:00am

Well, friends, we got us some civil unrest here and there.

Back when I was in college, I did some protesting against Viet Nam war, but it was mostly lending support for draft dodgers heading to Canada, and assisting conscientious objectors. It was never any conduct that would get me arrested, or expelled from school. One must have a clean background check to get into law school and another to even be allowed to take the bar exam. I ran away from parties full of students passing out a variety of drugs. I meant to do what I could within legal bounds.?

I wonder what I would do as a student now. Would I give up my goals and dreams to try to prevent a genocide? Would I give up on a degree? Would I destroy my chances of being hired by a corporation?

It will take much soul searching on my part to measure my integrity.

While the kids risk more than they can imagine, it is we oldsters who have so little to lose. It is we who should be in those tents. We often think of the young folks as Iphone gamers.

College protesters today are my heroes, and my heart.

The winds of March are blowing in late April, bringing in refreshing cool air, blessed rains. Tomatoes are growing, the forests are lush and gorgeous. Music and art expresses what words simply cannot. I can't think of a better bit of music to express what I am experiencing than this:

And, another:

A week does not pass by that something goofy comes into my office purview. The divorcing 46 yr. old woman has to provide the case mediator with her email address. She sent it to me, and I had to pass it along to our very super duper professional mediator. This is not it per se, but is similar in username mode: iwantu2bnme. What might her future hold, post-divorce?

Gas is holding at $3.20 a gallon, but seedless grapes in a package weighing in at under 1 lb. is $10.64 per package. I need a pitchfork.

Years ago, a lawyer pal shut down his practice after a pissed off client murdered his secretary in his office, and he moved to Panama. He and I keep in touch. He is happy down there, so I took a trip at his suggestion, just to check it out. Relics of the Spaniards, lush jungles. I took a day tour via raft to a village of people who only wear clothes when tourists come. They eat what they grow or catch or kill.

Here are a few pictures, saving the best for last, at least from my close up perspective.

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Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 12:39am

Good morning, good people!

Man, what a week! War is front and center, then repression, surveillance, inflation, and so on and so forth.
My method to combat the madness is to hold hands, hug, love, and respect.
I hope all of you will chime in today with thoughts about whatever is on your mind.
This is an open thread, so let 'er rip!

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Cassiodorus on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 12:12pm

Quiet part out loudery

@on the cusp Here's Dmitry Orlov, unintentionally summarizing what's going on:

"Basically the entire political realm in the United States is in the midst of psychotic rage..."

Meanwhile in the media sphere:

As Nick says, "now you've got these articles telling Jewish students to flee" when of course the Jewish students are in fact organizing the protests.

I can't remember at this time where the system is explained. But at any rate, the Presidents of these universities are connected in one direction to the cops, who will apparently show up in great numbers at any time on demand, and in the other direction to the trustees, and the trustees are typically Zionist billionaires who own and thus control the mass media.

So that's, apparently, how it works.

Just as a footnote: the whole "vote for Biden" shtick is at this point a matter of arguing that "you should vote for the most obvious part of the elite's psychotic rage to avoid electing the less obvious part." Recognizing this shtick as insanity should have been a wake-up call to some otherwise rational people.

—

"The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening." -- Rosa Luxemburg

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 1:08pm

Ooh, thanks for the videos!

@Cassiodorus I will find the time to view them today.
JP Morgan is about to have $440 million seized by Russia. Turn about is fair play.
Biden can't beat Trump. No 3rd party has a viable organization or platform. Stein seems to be against genocide, and is the only person vying for president that at least says that out loud. She polls at 1%.
War in the ME is nuts. If we are out of the shipping and oil loop, our economy will tank. And that is the $ aspect of it, while the moral aspect of it doesn't exist.
The only area of government competence today is surveillance and punishment of the 99%.
Our military might is an illusion, and various countries want our bases and military personnel out of their land. We are shamefully putting our soldiers at risk. Pure stupidity.
I run across all kinds of theories regarding who really is in control of our government, since Biden has chronic brain freeze from all that ice cream. Obama? Blinken? I have even heard it is Trump.
How we vote our way out of this is beyond me. We need to either protect our Constitution, or scrap it for a new and improved one.
Have a great weekend, Cass.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 8:37am

Hiya good morning

-
there are many oddities these days
with no ends in sight
could be slightly depressing
without copious injections of music
and humor IMO

thanks for the OT and good luck
keeping the brain out of the ditches
as you travel this crazy road

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 10:46am

Good morning, QMS!

@QMS @QMS The rains are coming this evening, and for the next 8 days, there is a chance of rain daily. This will keep us indoors, just as we find a handy man to help with outdoor chores.
Sigh...
Humor does poke holes in the cloak of depression, doesn't it? There is just no good news anywhere.
I figured you would catch my error. I took a canoe ride in Panama. I was on a raft in the Amazon in Ecuador. Duh.
We enjoyed some plantain served on palm leaves, then went to a pavilion and danced to some live music. The tribe had one source of income: carvings. I bought a beautiful wood carving of a bird. I did not dicker over the price, and even left some cash in a donation jar. The kids were required to wear uniforms to their school, and those were not provided by the government. That is the only item these people purchased.
Life doesn't have to be so complicated, does it?
Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by, dear friend.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Lookout on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 8:38am

Good morning...

just back from Trade Day and the grocery store. I bought gas for $3.12 today.

Y'all have been getting the rain this spring. We're relatively dry here. None the less, the garden and trees grow.

Interesting observing this world in flux...hopefully for the better. Heard a great line this week...
divide and conquer or cooperate and prosper...I know which side of the equation I fall on.

Have a great weekend and thanks for the OT!

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 10:23am

Man, cheap gas! Wow!

@Lookout Cooperate and prosper sounds great to me. Why is it so damn hard nowadays? If China and Russia can do it, why can't we?
We appreciate the rain, but as summer sets in, we will be doing rain dances.
After a fairly intense work week, this will be a weekend of play time for us. The ultimate reward for being responsible is to behave irresponsibly.
Have a great weekend, my great friend.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by soryang on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 10:13am

Great pics!

OntheCusp. Enjoyed the music as well. Interesting story about the lawyer who lost his secretary. Frankly, I had fears of something like that happening when I was doing felony trials, it was just one more factor motivating me to quit. Went through a Margaritaville phase in between when we had the little pub in St. Pete.

This young gayageum performer did this Song of Hope rendition which I really enjoyed. I tried to translate it, and did some research on it. (Ms. So had to help me). This started out as a Christian hymn in the 19th Century, was adopted first in Japan, by a schoolteacher, after some of her students drowned in a boating accident. Another interpretation was done in occupied Korea in the early twenties, a century ago, during the Japanese occupation. All the older generation easily recognized this popular song, which had a hidden meaning. I didn't read anywhere that this song was officially proscribed, (like Song of Death roughly from the same period which I researched earlier) but Ms. So thinks it was at some point because of its independence message.

Song of Hope 희망가 AYAGEUM

Upon encountering this world of trouble,
what of your hope?
If you enjoyed wealth and fame,
Would your hope be enough?
Under the bright moon in an azure sky,
Carefully wondering
Everything in this world amidst spring's spell,
seems again, like a dream.

Upon meeting this world of troubles,
what of your hope?
If you enjoyed wealth and glory,
will your hope be enough?
(Spring on East Mountain, seems like a dream
Even if I live a life of a hundred years,
In the morning, it's shrounded in mist.) (Lee Son-hee version)*

Would you lose yourself In light banter and pleasantries
seek gratification in game, drink and sensuality?
If you immersed yourself in worldly things,
Would your hope be satisfied??

Upon encountering this world of trouble,
what of your hope?
If you enjoyed wealth and fame,
Would your hope be satisfied?

*Lyrics can vary by performers

While researching this song I came across another Hope song which is apropos todays circumstances-

Hope these videos load. Looking at the script they might not.

(edited a couple of typos)

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 10:45am

Wonderful songs!

@soryang My travel pal couldn't believe I was focusing in on that young man's ass. I told her, "watch me." Just couldn't resist. I'm bad.
Panama is so much more beautiful than I had expected. Beautiful birds, beautiful people who live with the land, and do not extract from it. And to Americans, that is just so primitive and 3rd world.
As for my pal, he suffered ptsd to the point he could no longer work. He was the one who discovered his secretary's body. He couldn't go into his office after that.
As it so happens, I had told him on several occasions that his secretary was exceptionally rude and abrasive, and that it hurt his business.
I never expected murder.
Have a great weekend, friend, and thanks for stopping by.

OntheCusp. Enjoyed the music as well. Interesting story about the lawyer who lost his secretary. Frankly, I had fears of something like that happening when I was doing felony trials, it was just one more factor motivating me to quit. Went through a Margaritaville phase in between when we had the little pub in St. Pete. This young gayageum performer did this Song of Hope rendition which I really enjoyed. I tried to translate it, and did some research on it. (Ms. So had to help me). This started out as a Christian hymn in the 19th Century, was adopted first in Japan, by a schoolteacher, after some of her students drowned in a boating accident. Another interpretation was done in occupied Korea in the early twenties, a century ago, during the Japanese occupation. All the older generation easily recognized this popular song, which had a hidden meaning. I didn't read anywhere that this song was officially proscribed, (like Song of Death roughly from the same period which I researched earlier) but Ms. So thinks it was at some point because of its independence message. Song of Hope 희망가 AYAGEUM Upon encountering this world of trouble, what of your hope? If you enjoyed wealth and fame, Would your hope be enough? Under the bright moon in an azure sky, Carefully wondering Everything in this world amidst spring's spell, seems again, like a dream. Upon meeting this world of troubles, what of your hope? If you enjoyed wealth and glory, will your hope be enough? (Spring on East Mountain, seems like a dream Even if I live a life of a hundred years, In the morning, it's shrounded in mist.) (Lee Son-hee version)* Would you lose yourself In light banter and pleasantries seek gratification in game, drink and sensuality? If you immersed yourself in worldly things, Would your hope be satisfied?? Upon encountering this world of trouble, what of your hope? If you enjoyed wealth and fame, Would your hope be satisfied? *Lyrics can vary by performers While researching this song I came across another Hope song which is apropos todays circumstances- Hope these videos load. Looking at the script they might not. (edited a couple of typos)

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 10:46am

Good morning Soryang. Thanks, I really enjoy

@soryang

gayageum music, even when I don't understand the words. I listen to a lot of world music and just treat the vocals as part of the music if I don't know the language. It's funny, but given the number of vocalists (Eddy Vedder comes to mind) that one cannot understand without extreme effort, often the actual lyrics are simply a distraction and it is the sound itself that matters.

be well and have a good one

OntheCusp. Enjoyed the music as well. Interesting story about the lawyer who lost his secretary. Frankly, I had fears of something like that happening when I was doing felony trials, it was just one more factor motivating me to quit. Went through a Margaritaville phase in between when we had the little pub in St. Pete. This young gayageum performer did this Song of Hope rendition which I really enjoyed. I tried to translate it, and did some research on it. (Ms. So had to help me). This started out as a Christian hymn in the 19th Century, was adopted first in Japan, by a schoolteacher, after some of her students drowned in a boating accident. Another interpretation was done in occupied Korea in the early twenties, a century ago, during the Japanese occupation. All the older generation easily recognized this popular song, which had a hidden meaning. I didn't read anywhere that this song was officially proscribed, (like Song of Death roughly from the same period which I researched earlier) but Ms. So thinks it was at some point because of its independence message. Song of Hope 희망가 AYAGEUM Upon encountering this world of trouble, what of your hope? If you enjoyed wealth and fame, Would your hope be enough? Under the bright moon in an azure sky, Carefully wondering Everything in this world amidst spring's spell, seems again, like a dream. Upon meeting this world of troubles, what of your hope? If you enjoyed wealth and glory, will your hope be enough? (Spring on East Mountain, seems like a dream Even if I live a life of a hundred years, In the morning, it's shrounded in mist.) (Lee Son-hee version)* Would you lose yourself In light banter and pleasantries seek gratification in game, drink and sensuality? If you immersed yourself in worldly things, Would your hope be satisfied?? Upon encountering this world of trouble, what of your hope? If you enjoyed wealth and fame, Would your hope be satisfied? *Lyrics can vary by performers While researching this song I came across another Hope song which is apropos todays circumstances- Hope these videos load. Looking at the script they might not. (edited a couple of typos)

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by soryang on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 12:22pm

Exactly right

@enhydra lutris

I'm partial to gayageum music too. I also like the Chinese zither. Haegeum as well. I'll listen to Tibetan and Mongolian music too, even though I can't understand it. I can't understand the words to many popular tunes in English either, and it doesn't make a difference. Sometimes I look those up just out of curiosity.

I'm musically ignorant but I found interpreting Korean songs rewarding on the lonely road trips across the US. A late friend, and now lately a translator I respect, encouraged me to keep doing the translations. It's especially rewarding if I find a song with special historical or cultural significance.

I'm ambivalent about lawyering. I look at it as a good way to learn something about US history and government, technical writing, and got some medical forensics too. I wasn't cut out for the practical hands on practice, never was really. I could write a good appellate decisions. Many of my opinions weren't appreciated. No surprise there. Why does one usually have to sign some legalish document now when they visit a doctor's office or clinic?

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by Granma on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 11:00am

I paid $1.49 per lb for grapes this week

There is something odd about them being so expensive in your area.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 11:19am

My secretary

@Granma had the cashier run the bag through the scanner twice to verify the price. She put it back on the shelf.
I keep a bag of seedless grapes and chunk of imported cheese in the fridge in the office. That is a lunch for me when I have little time or clients in the reception room awaiting their consult. I had intended to buy a fresh bag this weekend, so we shall see.
I read about a young woman who is a social media influencer. She made a video to gripe about purchasing one apple for $7 at a Whole Foods store.
No way I would be stupid enough to buy it and then bitch about it!
I hope you are up and about, and taking your doggie on some walkies.
Take care, chica!

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 5:42pm

grape update

@Granma $2.04 today, Walmart price for bags of seedless green grapes.
Either my secretary didn't weigh them correctly, or the code/scanner at the register was way off.
Beer prices are down!

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 12:58pm

Omnigreet, otc, thanx for the OT, pics and information.

Law was one of the options when I was an undergrad, but somebody who had done that route talked me out of it. Possibly a bad decision, but whatever. All the same the Bar's hyperconservatism was a concern, but, in the Bay Area, at least, a bit mitigated. There was a San Francisco family, a clan actually, who were all in or aiming to go into law and who were also all very much activists and very involved in left wing politics. The Calif Bar tried to block one for all of his unsavory behavior and history, and there was a struggle and litigation and in the end, they had to admit him. This led many of us to believe that they were, from then on, a paper tiger at least to politically driven brushes with the law.

Beyond that, there was the infamous "Attorney General's List" of unsavory organizations which in its opinion, rendered one unfit for civil society, government employment, etc., etc. It was, of course, preposterously broad, including groups like the Socialist Workers' Party Young Socialists, and even the poor old Wobblies. Because it was so broad, arbitrary and capricious, as well as void of any semblance of due process we all mostly figured that we would, at some point, wind up on it, and the hell with it, we'd fight that battle when we came to it.

There was a certain fatalism conjoined with a certain optimism and a heavy dose of belligerence among the lefties in Berkeley back then. It was also something of an enclave and house divided which maybe even promoted a touch of recklessness. There were some cliques who trembled at the might of officialdom, lawnorder and such who were won't to great lots of acts, speeches and proposals with "Hey, knock that off, you don't want them (whomever they were) to think we're all communists of something" to which a sizeable cadre of us would respond by loudly singing The Internationale, which generally shut them up.

Great pics. Wound up birding Panama once upon a time. Came home with great memories, so-so photos, and a bot fly which I eventually had surgically removed up here. Our guide tried to talk some of us into emigrating, don't know if any ever did. Did find a soft-serve stand in Panama City that had awesome dulce la leche soft-serve cones that I will crave for the rest of my life.

be well and have a good one

edit - cleaned up some typos

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 12:08pm

How did I miss the ice cream stand?

@enhydra lutris Dammit. I have to go back.
Our guide, Panama Pete, drove us through Colon. He told us if we had a flat, we would keep driving anyway. Some white guy with a back pack got out of a city bus, was headed for a street crossing. Pete said, "That idiot will get killed today."
It was interesting to drive by the prison where Noriega was staying. He pointed out the exact window of his cell.
Of course, you just have to take a ship ride through the canal. Engineering is not a turn on for me, but I must admit, the canal is an incredible example of just that.
My Dear One read some local headline about a man who worked in a restaurant in Houston who was arrested for putting his junk in food he was serving. Dear One then chided me about wanting to dine out. Then, Dear One decided tonight is the night we use a gift card to dine out at a fancy Brazilian steakhouse.
At least we can watch the dinner being cooked and verify it is genital slime-free.
El, I once encouraged young folks to go to law school. Not now. You can look at who is being sued and know which party will win. You can tell by age, sex, and race which criminal defendants will get a sweetheart plea bargain. I am scared to death of taking some case involving illegal drugs because the less I know about the inner workings of the cartel, the longer I will live.
And don't get me started on political lawfare.
You made the right choice, my friend.
Have some fun this weekend!

Law was one of the options when I was an undergrad, but somebody who had done that route talked me out of it. Possibly a bad decision, but whatever. All the same the Bar's hyperconservatism was a concern, but, in the Bay Area, at least, a bit mitigated. There was a San Francisco family, a clan actually, who were all in or aiming to go into law and who were also all very much activists and very involved in left wing politics. The Calif Bar tried to block one for all of his unsavory behavior and history, and there was a struggle and litigation and in the end, they had to admit him. This led many of us to believe that they were, from then on, a paper tiger at least to politically driven brushes with the law. Beyond that, there was the infamous "Attorney General's List" of unsavory organizations which in its opinion, rendered one unfit for civil society, government employment, etc., etc. It was, of course, preposterously broad, including groups like the Socialist Workers' Party Young Socialists, and even the poor old Wobblies. Because it was so broad, arbitrary and capricious, as well as void of any semblance of due process we all mostly figured that we would, at some point, wind up on it, and the hell with it, we'd fight that battle when we came to it. There was a certain fatalism conjoined with a certain optimism and a heavy dose of belligerence among the lefties in Berkeley back then. It was also something of an enclave and house divided which maybe even promoted a touch of recklessness. There were some cliques who trembled at the might of officialdom, lawnorder and such who were won't to great lots of acts, speeches and proposals with "Hey, knock that off, you don't want them (whomever they were) to think we're all communists of something" to which a sizeable cadre of us would respond by loudly singing The Internationale, which generally shut them up. Great pics. Wound up birding Panama once upon a time. Came home with great memories, so-so photos, and a bot fly which I eventually had surgically removed up here. Our guide tried to talk some of us into emigrating, don't know if any ever did. Did find a soft-serve stand in Panama City that had awesome dulce la leche soft-serve cones that I will crave for the rest of my life. be well and have a good one edit - cleaned up some typos

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 1:11pm

we spent a couple or 3 nights based in a hotel of sorts

@on the cusp

right where the canal joined the lake, hit the highlands up near the costa rica border to check out quetzals and look for the harpy eagle and were mostly in rainforest/jungle. Didn't tke the canal, but took a bus to colon, checked out the forts at that end and the locks and then took the train back. I forget all the days and places, but after the birding tour was over we stayed a few extra days and spent them in "the tower" which is an old radar dome tower converted into a birder hotel. Your windows open up right into mid canopy

be weell and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 2:15pm

We stayed at a converted monestary right about

@enhydra lutris 2 blocks from the big police station in Panama City. It was a two-story apartment, with a small balcony.
Squatters were all around, stealing electricity. They wiring was so hazardous, we went to bed every night wondering if the place would catch on fire. It was for sale for over 2 million.
Day trips took us to the canal, to a wildlife habitat, to a park for a mud bath and zip lining, and to a fortress. We were safe to walk around the area day or night, thanks to the police.
I did not have time to get to the northern section where all the ex-pats lived. At least I made contact with my friend.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 1:55pm

Whoopsie! It appears that the Ukies have pulled the

mighty US M1A1 Abrams tanks back from the front lines because they are so vulnerable to Russian FPV drones, This is only temporary while the US and Ukie military wallahs figure out how to use them safely in battle. Zo, we the taxpayers have spent a fortune to procure very expensive hardware and ship it all the way to Ukietown so that the locals may hide it out in rear areas for its own safety. This must really piss off General Dynamics, which would no doubt wish them destroyed so that they can make more.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 5:44pm

And we still think of ourselves

@enhydra lutris as the world's most awesome military.
We are so damn stupid.
Except you and I, of course. We are perfect.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 5:58pm

US admits our weapons are failures in Ukraine

@enhydra lutris Simplicious the Thinker's sitrep:
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-42724-us-admits-top-weapons?u...

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 2:27pm

Great description

"Basically the entire political realm in the United States is in the midst of psychotic rage..."

But hasn’t it always been in one? Maybe just more hidden?

A comment on Larry’s UN statement on Nordstream.

I keep being drawn back to playwright Harold Pinter’s eminently quotable 2005 Nobel Lecture, his acceptance speech on receipt of the prize,

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2005/pinter/lecture/

I’ll quote from a part that has remained just as true today:

The United States supported and in many cases engendered every right wing military dictatorship in the world after the end of the Second World War. I refer to Indonesia, Greece, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Haiti, Turkey, the Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, and, of course, Chile. The horror the United States inflicted upon Chile in 1973 can never be purged and can never be forgiven.

Hundreds of thousands of deaths took place throughout these countries. Did they take place? And are they in all cases attributable to US foreign policy? The answer is yes they did take place and they are attributable to American foreign policy. But you wouldn’t know it.

It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn’t happening. It didn’t matter. It was of no interest. The crimes of the United States have been systematic, constant, vicious, remorseless, but very few people have actually talked about them. You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good. It’s a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis.

I put to you that the United States is without doubt the greatest show on the road. Brutal, indifferent, scornful and ruthless it may be but it is also very clever. As a salesman it is out on its own and its most saleable commodity is self love. It’s a winner. Listen to all American presidents on television say the words, ‘the American people’, as in the sentence, ‘I say to the American people it is time to pray and to defend the rights of the American people and I ask the American people to trust their president in the action he is about to take on behalf of the American people.’

It’s a scintillating stratagem. Language is actually employed to keep thought at bay. The words ‘the American people’ provide a truly voluptuous cushion of reassurance. You don’t need to think. Just lie back on the cushion. The cushion may be suffocating your intelligence and your critical faculties but it’s very comfortable. This does not apply of course to the 40 million people living below the poverty line and the 2 million men and women imprisoned in the vast gulag of prisons, which extends across the US.

The United States no longer bothers about low intensity conflict. It no longer sees any point in being reticent or even devious. It puts its cards on the table without fear or favour. It quite simply doesn’t give a damn about the United Nations, international law or critical dissent, which it regards as impotent and irrelevant. It also has its own bleating little lamb tagging behind it on a lead, the pathetic and supine Great Britain.

I think that sums up American foreign policy quite well.

One of the lying spox persons was asked if we’d be investigating the mass graves found in Gaza and he said that we will let Israel do the investigation. Well they did. And guess what?

Israel rejects US call to probe Gaza mass graves

https://www.rt.com/news/596655-gaza-mass-graves-israel/

Accusations of torture and executions against Israeli troops are “fake news,” an IDF spokesman told the outlet

Israel will not investigate the mass graves found at Gaza hospitals, as it has already dealt with the matter and found no wrongdoing by its troops, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has told Politico.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday that Washington wanted to see the circumstances surrounding the hundreds of deaths “thoroughly and transparently investigated.”

Wants to see the circumstances of executing hundreds of civilians including children who had their hands and feet zip tied behind them. And burying them alive. Yeah I’m sure that if someone looked close enough they would find a reason that needed to happen! Good gawd someone needs to put Jake in a dark room and shine a light inside him and see if he has a fcking soul.

Hey remember when Biden investigated the bomb he dropped on people in Afghanistan and told us that they were terrorists? On further investigation he admitted that it was an innocent family with many children who he bug splatted into smithereens. No one was held accountable for that fck up either.

I hope Trump loses his immunity trial and someone goes after Obama for killing 2 Americans without due process. Love to see his ass in the dock at The Hague.

The difference between Trump and other presidents is that Trump was more honest about why he was doing something. Like keeping troops in Syria to steal their oil.

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by Cassiodorus on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 3:11pm

And as for that comment I made --

@snoopydawg -- in gjohnsit's diary about Ukrainian units refusing to follow orders, here's something even worse: surrender.

So that ought to make the Biden White House a bit more apoplectic.

.

"Basically the entire political realm in the United States is in the midst of psychotic rage..."

But hasn’t it always been in one? Maybe just more hidden?

A comment on Larry’s UN statement on Nordstream.

I keep being drawn back to playwright Harold Pinter’s eminently quotable 2005 Nobel Lecture, his acceptance speech on receipt of the prize,

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2005/pinter/lecture/

I’ll quote from a part that has remained just as true today:

The United States supported and in many cases engendered every right wing military dictatorship in the world after the end of the Second World War. I refer to Indonesia, Greece, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Haiti, Turkey, the Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, and, of course, Chile. The horror the United States inflicted upon Chile in 1973 can never be purged and can never be forgiven.

Hundreds of thousands of deaths took place throughout these countries. Did they take place? And are they in all cases attributable to US foreign policy? The answer is yes they did take place and they are attributable to American foreign policy. But you wouldn’t know it.

It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn’t happening. It didn’t matter. It was of no interest. The crimes of the United States have been systematic, constant, vicious, remorseless, but very few people have actually talked about them. You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good. It’s a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis.

I put to you that the United States is without doubt the greatest show on the road. Brutal, indifferent, scornful and ruthless it may be but it is also very clever. As a salesman it is out on its own and its most saleable commodity is self love. It’s a winner. Listen to all American presidents on television say the words, ‘the American people’, as in the sentence, ‘I say to the American people it is time to pray and to defend the rights of the American people and I ask the American people to trust their president in the action he is about to take on behalf of the American people.’

It’s a scintillating stratagem. Language is actually employed to keep thought at bay. The words ‘the American people’ provide a truly voluptuous cushion of reassurance. You don’t need to think. Just lie back on the cushion. The cushion may be suffocating your intelligence and your critical faculties but it’s very comfortable. This does not apply of course to the 40 million people living below the poverty line and the 2 million men and women imprisoned in the vast gulag of prisons, which extends across the US.

The United States no longer bothers about low intensity conflict. It no longer sees any point in being reticent or even devious. It puts its cards on the table without fear or favour. It quite simply doesn’t give a damn about the United Nations, international law or critical dissent, which it regards as impotent and irrelevant. It also has its own bleating little lamb tagging behind it on a lead, the pathetic and supine Great Britain.

I think that sums up American foreign policy quite well.

One of the lying spox persons was asked if we’d be investigating the mass graves found in Gaza and he said that we will let Israel do the investigation. Well they did. And guess what?

Israel rejects US call to probe Gaza mass graves

https://www.rt.com/news/596655-gaza-mass-graves-israel/

Accusations of torture and executions against Israeli troops are “fake news,” an IDF spokesman told the outlet

Israel will not investigate the mass graves found at Gaza hospitals, as it has already dealt with the matter and found no wrongdoing by its troops, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has told Politico.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday that Washington wanted to see the circumstances surrounding the hundreds of deaths “thoroughly and transparently investigated.”

Wants to see the circumstances of executing hundreds of civilians including children who had their hands and feet zip tied behind them. And burying them alive. Yeah I’m sure that if someone looked close enough they would find a reason that needed to happen! Good gawd someone needs to put Jake in a dark room and shine a light inside him and see if he has a fcking soul.

Hey remember when Biden investigated the bomb he dropped on people in Afghanistan and told us that they were terrorists? On further investigation he admitted that it was an innocent family with many children who he bug splatted into smithereens. No one was held accountable for that fck up either.

I hope Trump loses his immunity trial and someone goes after Obama for killing 2 Americans without due process. Love to see his ass in the dock at The Hague.

The difference between Trump and other presidents is that Trump was more honest about why he was doing something. Like keeping troops in Syria to steal their oil.

—

"The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening." -- Rosa Luxemburg

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 5:47pm

woah!

@Cassiodorus Interesting!
Man, another video to watch!
Thanks again.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sun, 04/28/2024 - 10:23am

This is a very clever Ukie ploy. They will have now penetrated

@Cassiodorus

deep into the Rus rear at battalion strength. At the proper moment they will overwhelm their drunken and inattentive guards and proceed to destroy critical infrastructure.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 2:37pm

I didn’t know that

*Texas Governor and later President George Bush, Jr., was christened Shrub by Molly Ivins, a great and witty Texan, ’cause she didn’t consider him smart enough to be a real Bush.

Boy Molly is surely missed isn’t she?

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 5:50pm

Molly had a column in a Houston newspaper.

@snoopydawg My family read every word, and I bought at least one of her books.
Yes...she is the source of Shrub Bush.
There was the Houston Post and the Houston Chronicle. The Chronicle bought the Post, my family's preferred paper, and some wonderful and notable writers were left without a platform.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Bring Back Civics on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 3:02pm

Student Protests

While I oppose Israel's genocide, I am skeptical of the organic nature of the "student protests." https://www.zerohedge.com/political/george-soros-paying-student-agitator....
This is just more artificial divide-and-conquer, as usual. In my view, current college students and graduates are among the least willing to recognize that the world and their futures have drastically changed and that the rules and paths that they have followed no longer exist.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 4:40pm

Hey, BBC!

@Bring Back Civics I ran across that article and thought, ruh roh...
Whatever generated the initial protests against genocide was genuine, but it may have lost its' character through agent provocatuers. No good thing lasts forever. I will hold out that the protests have some heroic presence.
It should not surprise any oldster that the young adults today lack sophistication about the way of the world. They have never been tasked with critical thinking at any level in their education. They have never drawn a single breath in their lives in the total absence of propaganda.
The only taste of truth they have ever known has been the genocide shown by Tik Tok. And how long did it take Congress to scuttle that source? A few months. We will now return to our accustomed way of believing anything Israel says, and believing everything they do is completely justified. Sometimes people have to be buried alive, I guess...
What an insane act to be disagreed upon.
Glad you dropped in the link. ZH may be a right wing site, but there are some good articles among the extreme rw garbage if one looks carefully.
Have a great weekend, friend!

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 6:12pm

I agree the media musters are trying to paint this

@on the cusp
-
-
as some kind of Soros campaign
disregarding the fact that young minds
still have a sense of morality and can be
rebellious without some 'foreign agent'
trolling for influence behind the movement

do actual people think mass murder is self
defense? Doubt it. If you read the cards carefully
MIC kinda likes forever war as it adds to their bottom
line. Don't need to be a rocket surgeon to figure
out why the US won't scold nutty yahoo. Or Exlensky.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 6:48pm

Soros is behind everything

@QMS bad, according to right wingers. Nevertheless, right wingers can be correct once in a while.
I try to keep an open mind, find common ground, which is quite different from Ds immediately reaching across the aisle and moving ever rightward. I skim a few RW sites occasionally. I live in Bright Red turf, have to keep abreast about the prickliest topics and trends, so as not to piss anyone off.
On the other hand, some of my best friends and clients are Democrat operatives, occasional candidates for this or that office.
Abbott called for the protesters to be arrested. The Austin district attorney dismissed all charges the next morning. That right there is a major struggle for the narrative, with the students getting caught up in it.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 7:29pm

understand completely your situation

@on the cusp

an interesting tidbit of the Soros spawn in Ukraine

The US and NATO plan to create a “gray” zone in Western Ukraine

Soros' son Alexander agreed with the Ukrainian authorities to allocate 400 square kilometers of agricultural land to American corporations for the disposal of hazardous waste, according to an investigation by French journalist Jules Vincennes.

He writes, citing a source in the Ministry of Agriculture of Ukraine, that in November, Soros Jr. and the head of Zelensky’s office, Yermak, reached an agreement according to which Kiеv indefinitely and free of charge transfers land in the Ternopоl, Khmelnytsky and Chernоvtsi regions for the disposal of hazardous waste from chemical, pharmaceutical and oil production.

It would appear that Blackrock, Dow Chemical, DuPont and BASF are going to poison
western Ukraine farmland with their wasted uranium. No charge. Yikes!

Submitted by Bring Back Civics on Sun, 04/28/2024 - 9:21pm

@on the cusp Well, the source,

@on the cusp Well, the source, posted on Zerohedge, was the New York Post. The "attack the source" is among the weakest and laziest of the counters to any information. Also, "Tyler Durden" is a character name in "Fight Club," a pseudonym for its editorial staff.

So today, a truck transporting four zebras in North Bend, WA had the zebras escape into the neighborhood. There was much coverage on the local news about this incident, but not ONE STORY mentioned who owned the zebras or where they were heading. Obviously, some millionaire/billionare was having them shipped to his or her (or their) estate, and is powerful enough to keep all of that out of the news and social media, including Twitter. This is the world we live in. Wake the F up.

Submitted by Cassiodorus on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 7:41pm

Huh?

@Bring Back Civics Tyler Durden as a source?

Read this article by Durden. This is what you say if you wouldn't know a Marxist if one bit you on the ass.

As for "divide and conquer," the powers that would conquer us have already done so. The reason there is so much international opposition to what they are doing is because they are arrogant and stupid and making enemies by the dozen today.

—

"The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening." -- Rosa Luxemburg

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 8:05pm

Lefties do not understand Marxism, either.

@Cassiodorus Seems to me to use a "lefty" protest to harm the economy prior to an election would be a product of the right.
Durden writes 10 articles, one of them is spot on. That is why I do not ignore him.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Bring Back Civics on Sun, 04/28/2024 - 9:29pm

@Cassiodorus @Cassiodorus See my related

@Cassiodorus @Cassiodorus See my related comment and undrestand that Tyler Durden is not even a real person, rather it is a pseudonym for Zerohedge's editorial staff. The source of the article was The New York Post. "Tyler Durden" was a character's name in the movie Fight Club. Open your mind to sources that do not just validate your confirmation bias.

Submitted by MrWebster on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 7:35pm

A few things.

Agree about the student protesters. I know there have been other actions such as blocking highway or airport access. But not sure those are the ways to gain popular support for the cause of the Palestinians. I hope AntiFa does not get on campuses as they will turn peaceful protests violent as they did hiding behind BLM.

A word about Blinken in China. Why is it some custom of our diplomats to insult and threaten the countries they are about to visit. And in fact, while there threaten them. The guy just has bad manners. I think the Russian foreign minister is probably the most liked and famous as he is Mr. Slick, but in a good way. It is amazing the fanfare he gets when going on a mission. He is like an international pop star.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 8:00pm

Blinken

@MrWebster is, unfortunately, not an anomaly for government officials.
I consider him an arrogant, stupid, sob.
For all we know, he is in charge when Biden goes into that room to get his "meds".

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Cassiodorus on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 7:59pm

The ENTIRE ruling class and their media lapdogs are against them

Agree about the student protesters. I know there have been other actions such as blocking highway or airport access. But not sure those are the ways to gain popular support for the cause of the Palestinians.

These are the actions of desperate people. The point is to gain publicity for the cause in hopes of giving the ruling class a black eye. Maybe they could join the Green Party so maybe the Greens could direct some of their nonexistent resources toward the cause. There really is nothing else they can do.

—

"The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening." -- Rosa Luxemburg

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 04/27/2024 - 8:07pm

I hope so.

@Cassiodorus But, maybe not.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981