Pursuing the Peace Prize with
Tariffs, Sanctions, and War Crimes?

Maybe the Donald is playing 5D chess in his quest for the peace prize. He has certainly brought the non-western world together like never before as they unite in an effort to cope with US bullying. Their unity was on display this week at the SCO, the China celebration of the end of WWII, and the Eastern Economic Forum. Meanwhile in the west there was an impotent meeting of the so called coalition of the willing in France. The US illegally blew up a suspected drug boat in its effort to stir up a war with Venezuela, and the big pharma shills in congress attack RFK and his reforms.

EU Clown Car in DC
As the Palestinian Genocide Continues Unabated

The EU chihuahuas clearly demonstrated they are vassals last week at the White House. At one point, they were asked to leave the office and sit in the hall while Trump supposedly called Putin. Ursula fond of Lying was forced to sit in the hall when Trump wanted to address the elected leaders of the EU. Desperate to keep the war against Russia going in order to keep their banks afloat they tried to get Trump to agree to "security guarantees". Unfortunately, Trump is influenced by his last conversation, and he has been threatening Russia again. As the MSM eyed the white house meeting, the Israeli genocide of Palestinians has accelerated...not just in Gaza, but the West Bank too. They plan total destruction and elimination of all Palestinians in Israel. Many predict another attack on Iran by Israel to distract the public as the inevitable IDF losses accrue.

Putin Plays Chess, Trump Plays Golf

Chess requires thinking a few moves ahead in multiple scenarios. Golf requires playing the ball where it lays. You don't think about the next hole you will play. That may explain Trump's shoot from the hip style. It has been interesting to hear all the different predictions this week about the Trump-Putin summit. Generally speaking, it came off better than I thought. May be Trump will get his coveted piss prize. Meanwhile western Asia is as volatile as ever with many predicting another Israeli strike on Iran. I wonder why the Donald is so concerned about the death in Ukraine, but doesn't seem phased by all the death in Palestine. Maybe brown people don't count?

Peace or Piece of PR?

If there was a real desire for peace in Ukraine or Palestine it could have happened months ago. Instead we get a kabuki theater of distraction and distortion. In fact, the US is now in a tariff/sanction war with most of the world. I don't think that is going to serve us well as we move forward. I agree with Pepe. What we are seeing is a war on the BRICS+ alliance using tariffs, subterfuge, and coups. Note the so called peace deal with Azerbaijan and Armenia brokered this week creates a US controlled corridor on Iran's border. All that and more below the fold...

Catching Up isn't Hard to Do

After a week away from the news, I thought it might be a challenge to catch up to the current cycle. I'm reminded of a line from John Prine's "Hello in There"...all the news just seems to repeat itself like some forgotten dream that we've both seen. Russia continues to advance in Ukraine, the Palestinians are still being starved and killed (despite Bibi's denial), Tariffs are being used like sanctions to try to control other countries and impact BRICS+, the US continues to harass Iran and China...the only thing new was the Thai-Cambodia conflict which seems to have calmed down. The US (and global) economy seems to be a ticking time bomb designed to usher in "Stablecoins".

Florida Springs

Most people think "Beach" when they hear Florida Vacation, but the Florida Springs were the first tourist attractions. Even Ponce de León, the first European to visit Florida was said to be in search of the fountain of youth. I don't know if Florida springs make you younger, but they sure cool you off in summer with their year round 72F degree waters. Last week, with a group of musicians and friends, we gathered at Rainbow springs about 1.5 hours north of Tampa. Let's look at Rainbow and several other Florida springs I've visited over the years as well as the Florida spring system below the fold...

MAGA Schism amid Global Chaos

It's been a busy week for me personally, and for all of us domestically and globally. Much of Trump's base is unhappy with him for the Epstein denial and the pledge to send more arms to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Israel's Palestinian genocide continues unabated, plus this week Israel bombed Damascus. Erdogon pledges payback for the Damascus bombing. China plans to intervene. Every week looks more like WWIII. Let's skim through the highlights below the fold...

The Erosion of the Evil Empire

Nothing to See Here...Move Along

“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked.
“Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.”
The dialogue above is from Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel, The Sun Also Rises.
Nations go bankrupt in the same way. Banking collapses occur in the same way. Currency crises strike in the same way. They all happen gradually... and then suddenly. Sometimes overnight.
There are so many signs of the degradation of the US empire. This week the Epstein Saga is indicative of the decline...hence the subtitle, 'nothing to see here...move along.' First, the idea of entrapping the elite on tape with underage girls in order to control them points to the sickness of our society. Then all the shenanigans and lies about his suicide...I mean come on. Many Trumpeteers were calling for the release of the files. Now they deny there are any files. Do they really think anyone believes that story? None the less that's what they're pushing.
Then there's the on again off again weapons for Ukraine from the US, and our continued support of the Gaza and West Bank genocide...literally starving people and using food to attract Palestinians in order to shoot them...including US mercenaries.

The Big, Beautiful Boondoggle and the Warfare State

Ain't it funny that there's always money for war, but we gotta cut medicaid and food stamps? It is worse in the UK, they're even cutting pensions to have more war. This week Larry Johnson said in a conversation with Nima, we revolted against a colonial power only to become one ourselves. The US could sure stand a little introspection. We so need to address our own hypocrisy. We better not hold our breath. I question the entire MAGA concept. When were we ever Great? We've been conned our whole lives with the nonsense of US superiority, liberty, and democracy...
Robin Williams portrays the American flag in "I Love Liberty,"