President Obama is considering sending lethal weapons to Kiev. So is Canadian PM Stephen Harper.

This evening's music features Chicago blues singer and mandolin player Johnny Young.

Johnny Young - Stealin'

In a somewhat recent diary about our police, focusing on "good cops", I canceled and didn't post a comment to the effect that "Good Cops" are the ones sitting beside the "Bad Cops" in the interrogation room trying to coerce, con, manipulate and/or trick confessions out of people regardless of the truth of the matter. I thought it might be seen to be a tad bit too harsh. Heh.

Here's the thing that has been bothering me about the entire Brian Williams story. There is much hullabaloo about how Williams lied about his experience on a chopper in Iraq and his potential lies about Katrina. That kerfluffle misses the real issue. Brian Williams is simply one now very public symptom of our propagandized media and the selling of news as infotainment.

From talking to people here and there, I think there is a pretty strong chance that "fast track"--and, perhaps, even TPP--will be defeated in the House thanks to a left-right alliance. That alliance is nothing new, however. Even if The New York Times has just discovered it.

Good Morning 99percenters!
Some news and blues harp virtuoso Rod Piazza.

John Kiriakou: Blowing Whistle on Bush-Era Torture 'Was Worth It'
Whistleblower, who's now serving remainder of 30-month sentence at home, told Democracy Now! that 'entire torture program was approved by the president himself.'

This evening's music features early Memphis bluesman Frank Stokes and Mississippi delta bluesman Ishmon Bracey.

Frank Stokes - I Got Mine

Good morning 99percenters!
A couple of news items and some B3 goodness from the great Jimmy Smith

Last November Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey told Congress how we could defeat ISIS in Iraq without deploying U.S. combat troops. He was surprisingly blunt about the precarious scenario required to achieve this objective.

Good morning 99percenters!
A couple of news items and Grateful Dead.

'Game-Changing March for Climate' as Californians Rise Up Against Fracking
Thousands kick off protest to demand Governor Jerry Brown halt toxic drilling in state