Open Thread - The Weekly Watch

The year is winding down, and it's time for another weekly watch. The last few weeks Standing Rock has been the lead story, and it is still powerful. There's still plenty of news about the election and the new cabinet. Yet, somehow I'm hearing the insidious creep of American Empire as everyone is distracted by Russia and T-rump. There's the constant corporate creep into governments like Brazil. The steady US work to destabilize any country which dares to challenge corporate profit and domination. The utter lies about Syria and Russia. It is as though they (TPTB) have been licking their lips to start a war with Russia- and they can't quite give up on the idea. So, much to my regret I'm leading with the story of war and American aggression.


We have met the terrorists, and they are us

We-have-Met-The-Enemy---Pogo-poster5.png

I caught this little piece about a new project Condor and it got me to thinking about the strategy to control governments by corporate coup (2 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA96RuSoM8A
Here's a quick recap of the first project Condor (1 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh2-uQxHZLA

This is a nice interview that reminded me of what took place as the world gathered in Brazil for the Olympics. Consortium News contributor Ted Snider explains the coup in Brazil and control of Latin America. We need reminding! (17 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P4TT21WHcE
Rousseff was ousted to shift economic policy towards neoliberalism, and now Temer is rewarding the banks and financial investors for backing the legislative coup, says SOAS Professor Alfredo Saad-Filho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS7RkemSJqM (13 min)

Somehow I had missed Investigative reporter, Jeremy Scahill's Oscar nominated film, Dirty Wars.
http://dirtywars.org/the-film It streams on netflix and other services. It's a bit over an hour long.

Then I discovered Shadow World with Chris Hedges about the arms dealing business. http://shadowworldfilm.com/
It can be streamed for a few dollars: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/shadowworld
The producer and writer Andrew Feinstein discusses being witness to a corrupt weapons deal in post-apartheid South Africa which sparked his quest to uncover the world of war profiteers and weapons contractors (7 min) first of five segments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FuyezSk000

Chris Hedges reviews our involvement in Iraq (10 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNxelhxo0Oc

Sounds like James Bond... China captures US underwater drone.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/17/china-and-us-in-talks-over...

Speaking of Dirty Little Wars, there was quite a bit about Syria in the news this week...

Jimmy Dore discusses Samantha Powers hypocrisy at the UN (6 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcwL_3TQFR4
Jimmy follows up with 4 excellent pieces featuring Eva Bartlett, an independent Canadian journalist. Eva has been on the ground in Syria many times. She is challenging the assertions of the lying the lame stream corporate media. If Jimmy doesn't amuse you – go straight to the source at the bottom link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7yzpeXWEw (8 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddNl-ehRc58 (8 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddNl-ehRc58 (8 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9F-cHc5Qog (12 min)
Here are all of Eva's comments at the Press Conference at the United Nations against propaganda and regime change, for peace and national sovereignty. 9 December 2016, the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations (40 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uap0GwBYdBA

Syria forces capture NATO officers and advisers in Aleppo
http://www.globalresearch.ca/breaking-fourteen-us-led-coalition-military...

the russians are coming.jpg

Obscure our acts of terrorism with a distraction. The Russians are coming!

Russian arrival.jpg

Democracy Now host a debate between Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, and Stephen Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian studies and politics at Princeton University.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPp8eKBjcyA (22 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BRDGOfbIdY (14 min)

Ignore our lack of voting integrity with cries of foreign (Russian) intervention...

Great discussion with former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, Mike Papantonio, and RT’s Simone Del Rosario. (9 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqyiNeTEeb4

Jimmy Dore wades in on the nonsense about Russia with evidence of leaks rather than hacks (6 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JafSyi4ZZ7w

A couple of pieces from the Intercept on Russian hacks
https://theintercept.com/2016/12/14/heres-the-public-evidence-russia-hac...
https://theintercept.com/2016/12/12/obama-must-declassify-evidence-of-ru...

I'm surprised to see Moyers accepting the “hack” story. Was he fooled by Iraq's WMD's too?
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/12/17/trumped-putin
Whatever story there is to be told about Russia and the 2016 election, corporate media have squandered the credibility it would take to tell it. http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/12/16/hypocrisy-russia-did-it-sto...

Election_1.png

We can't trust the vote!

Investigative reporter Greg Palast has just returned from Michigan, where he went to probe the state’s closely contested election. Why did 75,335 ballots go uncounted? (12 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxsH0ExE7jU

Lee Camp discusses the failed recount (9 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgjO1Pt4G-s

Meanwhile...A GOP Coop in NC?
Rev. William Barber of Moral Monday fame on Democracy Now (20 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc4MY_2f21Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdkhDPaLmIk (5 more min)
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/12/16/north-carolinians-revolt-ove...

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The cabinet nominations continue. At least T-rump has ripped off the mask. There is no doubt ours is a country ruled by and for big oil.

The wealthiest cabinet with the most generals. Andrew Bacevich, a retired colonel and Vietnam War veteran and is professor emeritus of international relations and history at Boston University. (9 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3hWODgzdtE
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/12/15/trumps-cabinet-wealthier-one...

Janet Redman of Oil Change International discusses CEO Exxon Mobil for Secretary of State (11 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2_L7mjSX6g

Rick Perry as Secretary of...of...what was that other department he wants to get rid of? (5 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwMdHmTbKmk

Doesn't look good for the nation's schools either
http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/what-the-hillsdale-college-connec...

gold in sacks_0.jpg

Divesting from DAPL and fossil fuels

Seattle cuts ties with Wells Fargo. A spokesperson says the bank will do everything in its power to rebuild the city council’s trust. The bank has contributed more than $12 million to Seattle in the past two years, in the form of grants and loans. The city cannot do its banking through credit unions under state law. Sawant says she will push to change the law.
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/sawant-cut-seattle-tie...
http://kuow.org/post/lawmaker-wants-seattle-say-goodbye-wells-fargo

Trump owes Wells Fargo a lot of money.
https://theintercept.com/2016/12/16/wells-fargo-is-on-a-losing-streak-bu...

Protest at Wells Fargo NYC from Jordan of TYT politics (9 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmuELBAeuHA

Actor Mark Ruffalo spoke at a news conference Monday in New York City and said nearly 700 institutions and nearly 60,000 individuals from across 76 nations have committed to divest their assets from the fossil fuel industry. (5 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO0Ev-w6-dE

Lee Camp takes on the media and investments (9 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb-7JkxVg2A

Nonsense legal charges for DAPL water protectors (19 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXL3uYeP7aw

flaming Earth.jpg

Climate

Neela Banerjee of InsideClimate News and former Exxon scientist Ed Garvey discuss the history of Exxon's climate research (10 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxoZJ_NXGGk

T-rump's roadmap to environmental disaster
https://theintercept.com/2016/12/16/if-you-want-to-see-how-donald-trump-...

The death of the great barrier reef is discussed by Australian scientist, Dr. Selina Ward (12 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTHdJa2py_w&spfreload=10
NASA report on coral (3 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8vW5NrdRmc

Arctic ice report card 2016 (4 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaZFWpiU2uU

Next Sunday is Christmas. I'll do my best to find some successful happy stories. Please message me with any that you think are good, or save them to post in the comments. In two weeks we'll be into the new year, and I thought it might be fun to have a year in review issue. Be thinking along those lines for me as well. This is an open thread. Please chime in with any thoughts, stories, or greetings that come to you. Have a good Sunday!

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Lookout's picture

It's difficult to find all the most informative pieces for the week. I thought this discussion was a good one although a little long at 30 min with Tariq Ali and John Pilger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwAurFv3f1I

Should I post these longer videos in the weekly watch or do you prefer short pieces like this 2 min piece on the Crimes of Exxon Mobil?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWAzklD9WCg

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

corporate panels supercede national laws thereby making democratically elected officials impotent when it comes to corporate profit. TPP can also be seen as anti-China which is trying to chart an independent course and play an important role in the world(for good or ill).

The RW for decades has been upset about world government, looking at the United Nations as the evil-doer. It's obvious with these trade pacts that monopoly financial capital is bent on being the transnational power with the US military backing their play.

The USA now has 800 military bases worldwide and many are small tripwire enclaves. Something real or made-up happens at one of them and it's "support the troops under attack!" and there's a war of aggression to install a puppet dictator.

Good morning and thanks for the hard work in putting all this together.

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"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"

Lookout's picture

in at least 75 countries according to Scahill. We (the US) are a war machine fighting for more profits for the fossil fuel industry and the banks that fund them.

Netflix offers the film "When Two Worlds Collide" a documentary about the struggle of the indigenous people of Peru against fossil fuels. Quite an interesting film, and I'm afraid it paints a picture of our future (and looks a lot like Standing Rock).

Hope you found an article or a clip or two worthwhile!

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

divineorder's picture

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Thanks for the round-up of links. It is too bad te meteor didn't win the election, but nature has a backup plan using the climate. You realize the .01% will hole up in their gated palaces and horde the food just like they horde the loot. I've resigned myself to nothing will get any better, it will only get worse.

Today is homemade ravioli making day with my daughter husband, SIL, and grandsons. My aunt was the master cook. From her, the responsibility transferred to my mom. Now is it up to me and my daughter. It is so hard to do things right when you only do them once a year. The good part is spending time with my grandsons. The bad part is the cooking. But if I/we didn't do this, everyone would miss the meal; and we have so little family and/or family tradition left.

Have a good day. I'm off to get the show o the road.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Lookout's picture

I like to cook, but I've never made ravioli. Made lasagne though.

Enjoy your family day dk!

PS The 0.01% puzzle me. Do the Koch bros think their money will protect them from the ravages of climate change? Perhaps they figure they will be dead before the major effects kick in. So far there isn't a gated community that is immune to the atmosphere!

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

Lily O Lady's picture

absolutely insane.

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

of those gated communities in AZ or NM. Pauley Shore and a Baldwin brother even made a documentary on one.
You didn't really think they were for space colonization, did you?

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There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.

PriceRip's picture

          referring to the failed project known as Biosphere 2 and the movie staring Pauly Shore, and Stephen Baldwin ? I don't think Pauly Shore, and Stephen Baldwin made a documentary.

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Mark from Queens's picture

occasions.

Often recall those magical days as a kid when the family would pack into my parents' car to drive over the Throggs Neck Br to visit my father's parents in da Bronx. The anticipation of the feast was overwhelming for me, because I love to eat and like you I love also to cook now. Opening the green elevator door to the 4th floor we'd be met with an overwhelming amazing aroma of her legendary cooking. Meats stewing in the sauce or "gravy" as she called it (her style was braciola, meatballs and chunks of pepperoni stick). Upon entering her door we'd be furthered greeted with a great big sprawling antipasto on the table, the centerpiece of which was prosciutto wrapped around breadsticks. We kids would devour these fiendishly, sometimes within minutes until there was no more.

If it was a holiday we could pretty much be guaranteed that Grandma, whose family as from Naples, would have been up early that morning making fresh homemade ravioli, which she had spread out onto a few ironing boards in the living room of the apartment, which we saw a few times when we got there early. If it was rigatoni, my favorite, it would be suggested to have a dollop of ricotta cheese alongside in the bowl, which if mixed as some liked but not me, it would appear pinkish. The sudden color change was too jarring for me.

My grandmother was an amazing cook; everything she touched taste great. I remember sleeping over and pancakes coming out for breakfast that were better than anything I'd had anywhere else. But her ravioli were spectacular.

I eventually sought out her sauce recipe from my aunt (my mother couldn't quite make it the same), but haven't delved into making homemade pasta yet. I realized after she died that this tradition of the gravy had to be passed down. Even if I don't really eat that way anymore I know how to make it and have made it for friends who have loved it too.

There is nothing like suffusing a home with the aroma of good cooking, and specifically old traditional cooking that is so powerful in conjuring up clear memories.
Was with old friends and family last night and though I'm not that big of a holiday guy these days the simple act of gathering, a warm fire on, food and drink on the table, all of us spread out around the house is just the right tonic for a world that can be so alienating and impersonal, as Steven D relayed to us in his essay about taking his wife to the ER room and suffering indignity after indignity. So much of life could be sorted out, I feel, around the hearth, in which those who fear one another would see themselves in the other, simply by "breaking bread" together.

Good luck with the "ravs" dk. Sounds like a fun and fulfilling day for you all.

And thanks for the excellent roundup as usual Lookout. You're an excellent source we all appreciate.

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

Lookout's picture

I could almost smell your Grandma's place too.

I'm with you...many people equate holidays with ceremonies or rites...give me love, peace, compassion, and friendship!

Lennon fro peace.jpg

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Mark from Queens's picture

May sound cliche to think of that era so, but to me it was a beautiful global awakening that came out of the Beatles phenomenal success and which continues to reverberate in many ways. They were at the heart of so much social and cultural change, a zeitgeist movement of imagining a better world, that through their music took root across all cultures, languages and social mores. Some people got it, while others just liked the music. But so few were untouched by them.

The PTB will never be able to take that away, and in fact, just may be the thing that instigates some of these greed-addled sociopaths to regain their humanity. I love that each of them have used their fame and celebrity, especially John and George, in many ways to bring a attention to a higher calling and a better world (and used their great senses of humor to that end too).

Music has the power to create and sustain epiphanies and permeate the truth of the oneness of humanity. Along with breaking bread together, is there anything more unifying in the human experience than music?

Think of the mass of faces at a stadium concert singing the end of Hey Jude, or any other big anthem-like singalong. One of my favorite things is to take pictures of those faces while these moments are occurring. Everyone is experiencing something at the same exact moment, reconnecting with their better angels and realizing every person around them is too. In all of those eyes I see a lot of hope for peace and prosperity for humanity.

The potential power to be harnessed there in those moments to me is incredible. Maybe Nikola Tesla could have explored that too.

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

Lookout's picture

with the collapse of the USSR
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/apr/20/beatles-soviet-union-first...

Russian rocker Sasha Lipnitsky insists: "The Beatles brought us the idea of democracy. For many of us, it was the first hole in the iron curtain."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/beatles-beat-communism-spy-article...

"The Beatles promoted a cultural revolution in the former Soviet Union that played a part in the demolition of communism in that part of the world," said British Cold War spy and documentarian Leslie Woodhead.

The idea being for all the war machine, it was a social revolution that brought down the USSR. Would that we could muster a social revolution and bring down our fossil fuel powered war machine.

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Mark from Queens's picture

according to many of them from that generation, most definitely had a profound effect on them challenging the official government narrative that the West was evil. That notion was no match for the Fabs. The film has loads of colorful firsthand of stories of how the infiltration of the Beatles, disseminated by an amazing underground network of music compatriots, eventually did in fact help topple totalitarian communism in Russia.

Fun and revealing film if you haven't seen it:

Paul McCartney tells a funny story at his concerts lately about being approached by one of the ministers of government after he played there.

“I was talking to the defense minister — the defense minister! — and he said, with McCartney adopting a thick Russian accent, “First record I ever bought was ‘Love Me Do.’” He said another high government official told him, “We learned to speak English from Beatles records. Hello goodbye!”

Don't forget, the writer of "Back In The USSR" was also quick to publicly stand with the girls of Pussy Riot, who were being so heavy-handedly dealt by the authoritarian theocrats of Putin's government. He penned this, in a handwritten letter to Russian officials, when he heard of one of its members going on a hunger strike to protest her not being allowed at her own trial:

"My personal belief is that further incarceration for Maria will be harmful for her and the situation as a whole, which, of course, is being watched by people all over the world. In the great tradition of fair-mindedness which the Russian people (many of whom are my friends) are famous for, I believe that you granting this request would send a very positive message to all the people who have followed this case."

I don't think he gets enough credit with respect to social and political stands, in this regards relegated to the shadow of John and George. The six-hundred page 1997 book by Barry Miles called "Many Years From Now" makes the case for Paul being the most inclined toward embracing new artistic developments and the most avant garde of all. By no means am I saying that he carries that weight anywhere close to what John did sociopolitically. But he's done his share in a different way.

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

Lookout's picture

BBC... that was fun

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

of great cooking and everything made from scratch. My aunt also made a wicked cannoli. I remember cooking the shells with her in a huge pot of oil. The good old days.

My mom's family is from Ischia, an island off Naples and across from Capri. My dad's family is Calabrese. I am getting dual Italian citizenship through my father's family for me, my daughter, and three grandsons. I am waiting for a response from the Italian Consulate in Detroit to let me know when we have to show up to make our application. Since my grandson is leaving for Sweden for six months, I think I'm going to take a trip to Europe in May to visit Sweden and my new and old homeland in Italy.

Neighborhood pockets of ethnicity preserved a lot of cultures. I don't see that as a bad thing.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Mark from Queens's picture

We're part of the huge diaspora of Southern Italians who at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries mass migrated away from an oppressive world of poverty and corruption, as well as a major earthquake (I think you'd like the Gay Talese book called "Unto The Sons," about the former NY Times and "New Journalism" author's life as a first generation Italian-American. Vivid depictions of that history, alongside his personal struggle with his tailor Dad who still held onto traditions of the Old World and his own boyhood love of baseball and desire to assimilate, and all that that entailed).

My grandparents were from the exact same places, Naples area and Calabria. I have visited both and even stayed a night in the mountains of San Giovani in Fiore, which is where my grandfather grew up, with he and my father, just after my grandmother passed away. Was my first time in the country and being there with the other two first-born males in my family made it quite special and memorable.

My other grandfather's family, however, was from as North as you can get in Trento, which is the Austrian/Italian Alps. He and I have the only two sets of blue eyes in the family.

Especially in NYC, but all over the country where there are Italian enclaves, I think probably 90-something percent, however, come from the South, specifically Naples (which is where the ancient port is where everyone boarded those long ship rides for the "streets of paved gold," advertised by American companies looking for masons, bricklayers, sculptors, among other things) Calabria or Sicily.

I've done a fair amount of visiting, especially to spend time with dear friends who are like family in Como, and occasionally entertain the idea of living there too. Think I'm moved mostly by what I feel is folks' reverence and extolling of the finer, more important things in life so sorely missing from the typical American experience, such as a deep respect for the arts and culture, the important and sustaining gatherings of family and friends, of course the cooking and foods, and the socialist principles of governing in which everyone is treated with dignity.

As anyone knows when traveling in Europe, and especially Italy, the piazzas, squares and stadiums are all dedicated to their beloved poets, scientists, authors, painters, sculptors, philosophers, not disgraced by the atrocious commercial consumer capitalists who brand their fucking eyesore logos on every piece of land, building, chair, bus, taxi cab, school, stadium they can buy up. There's also a respect for the accumulated wisdom of their elders that I don't sense here. So many things really. I loathe our crass consumer culture, which is so soul-deadening when compared to a place that cherishes and honors an entirely different way.

Didn't know about the dual citizenship possibility. Will have to look into that.

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

TheOtherMaven's picture

Cappy was born here, but both his parents were from Calitri (little town east of Naples, up in the hills) and he had a traditional style of cooking.

Incidentally, when you have roots in Calitri, the "Six degrees of..." is Six Degrees of Fred Capossela (legendary racetrack announcer). Not sure how many, but it's the same family name. Smile

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Raggedy Ann's picture

I think posting all links, long and short, is fine because it gives us options according to our own time constraints, while keeping us up-to-date on what's really happening in our world.

Many thanks, as always, for the time it takes for you to gather and post this for us.

Have a beautiful Sunday, folks! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Lookout's picture

Glad you find the post useful...makes the effort worthwhile. Hope all is well in your world. Raining here again, but we're still in extreme drought on Lookout Mountain (the tristate area of TN, AL, and GA). At least the fires are out!

Dec. drought.png

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

riverlover's picture

I was hoping recent precipitation would have turned it around.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Raggedy Ann's picture

We got a blizzard yesterday, but it was too warm to stick/stay. Typical New Mexico weather. We, too, are in drought, but not as bad. If we don't get winter moisture, though, we will experience severe fire danger in the spring.

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

divineorder's picture

but mostly in the shadows.

The Sangre de Cristos look beautiful with very nice coating of snow on this clear sunny very windy day. Bet people are up there skiing but we don't do that anymore.

Yesterday we fixed some homemade lamb curry stew. Mmmmm

Friday was one of those unusual days because it RAINED, ha!

Hope to get more moisture, be it snow or rain ,to fill up the water supply and keep the plants and animals alive.

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Lily O Lady's picture

we get are fractions of an inch. At least it's not so horribly dry. I was beginning to shrivel up.

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

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"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"

Lily O Lady's picture

a battle to the death over the last can of Spam.

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

Lookout's picture

by Brave New Films is about an hour and is on youtube (2014) Has Bernie in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N8y2SVerW8
Here's the blurb -
Billionaires David and Charles Koch have been handed the ability to buy our democracy in the form of giant checks to the House, Senate, and soon, possibly even the Presidency

They own GA-Pacific which owns Alabama. I'm afraid it is the goal to make Amerika like Alabama - So sad...

And you're right Lily...they'll fight for the last bite!

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

terriertribe's picture

On election day I was in Chile, and everyone there was watching the results closely. More than a few asked me how anyone could choose Trump over Her. When I said that she claims Kissinger as a friend and mentor they would look away, then say "maybe he won't be as bad as everyone thinks."

Of course, last night he announced that he would continue the rallies after being inaugurated in January.

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Lookout's picture

Is it T-rump the terrible with his Russian spies?

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

terriertribe's picture

But what I hear from my colleagues there is a cautious wait-and-see attitude. Of course, I don't have any government connections, just man-in-the-street work-for-a-living folks, but they seem a lot more aware than our man-in-the-street examples. It's a mixed bag, there, though. When they have their annual day of demonstrations commemorating the coup, there are both Allende supporters in the streets and we-miss-Pinochet groups as well. Go figure.

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Now interviewing signature candidates. Apply within.

terriertribe's picture

They are not eager to believe anything the CIA says. They have a history, of which the entire world save the American public is aware.

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orlbucfan's picture

The constipated cretin is so stupid, he can't write a correctly-spelled tweet. I'm glad I'm getting to be an old duffer (a term I inherited from my paternal grandmother). Smile Rec'd!!

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Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

Lookout's picture

a term for a golfer, and after looking it up I found it is that and more:

Duffers have never really been straight shooters-on or off the golf course. The original duffers of the mid-18th century were shysters of the first order, merchants who palmed off trashy goods as if they were highly valuable (they often implied to unwary buyers that the goods had been smuggled and were very rare). Over time, the meaning of duffer was extended from a no-good peddler to anyone who was "no good," not just because the individual had low morals, but because he or she was incompetent or stupid. The term has been applied to hopelessly bad golfers since the late 19th century.

Based on the sentences used as an example I would say the golfing definition is dominant

We joined the other duffers at the course.
He's a lovable old duffer.

Perhaps the last sentence refers to you?

As to the cretin being constipated - that would explain why he's full of it!

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

enhydra lutris's picture

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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 --

Lookout's picture

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

mimi's picture

Quelle für Enthüllungen im Bundestag vermutet - Hinter der Veröffentlichung Tausender Dokumente aus dem NSA-Untersuchungsausschuss waren zuletzt russische Hacker vermutet worden. Jetzt gehen die Behörden von einer undichten Stelle im Bundestag selbst aus.
17.12.2016

(Source for revelations is suspected to be the (German) Bundestag - Behind the publication of thousands of documents from the NSA investigation committee were most recently suspected of Russian hackers. Now the authorities believe in a leak from the Bundestag itself.

Laut Wikileaks stammen die rund 2400 Dokumente aus verschiedenen Bundesbehörden wie dem Bundesnachrichtendienst und den Bundesämtern für Verfassungsschutz und Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik. Unter den Dokumenten soll es demnach Beweise geben, die die Zusammenarbeit zwischen der amerikanischen National Security Agency (NSA) und dem BND belegen.
(According to WikiLeaks, the approximately 2400 documents come from various federal agencies such as the Bundesnachrichtendienst and the federal offices for constitutional protection (Verfassungsschutz) and for security in information technology (Informationstechnik). The documents are intended to provide evidence of cooperation between the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the BND.)

Na so was ... unfasslich. Who would have thought. Wink

Sorry if that has been already mentioned here. My reading is more sporadic here lately.

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Lookout's picture

I missed it. Thanks for the update.

Hope all is well with you across the pond. Been to any Christmas markets and had Gluhwein this year?

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

mimi's picture

sorry to be such a downer, but I don't like them anymore. Too much for me. Everything I see here is too much. I am completely confused and so far pretty depressed. Just don't know anymore where I belong. I miss my son.

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mimi's picture

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shaharazade's picture

are the ones coming through my roof. We have had a new roof in our dormer installed but have the rest of the leaky old tin roof to replace after the ferocious winter were having. I think leaks are a good thing as people sure do not get any real news or truth from our defunct 4th estate. Seems like the Neolibral/Neocon 1% ship is springing leaks like crazy. Let's hope all these leaks sinks their damn luxury liner and war ship. Merry Christmas to you mimi. I hope your enjoying your trip to Germany. Miss you and have a safe trip home.

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mimi's picture

you are so kind in your words. I am a bit overwhelmed with "stuff" and can't really figure out what to think about my trip to Germany. Not ready to make a reasonable comment about it. Hopefully one day I will be able to put everything in proper perspective.

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snoopydawg's picture

DNC Chair Says Russian Hackers Attacked The Committee Through Election Day
That goes against Obama’s statement that the attacks ended after he spoke to Putin in September.
The chair of the Democratic National Committee said Sunday that the DNC was under constant cyber attack by Russian hackers right through the election in November. Her claim contradicts President Barack Obama’s statement Friday that the attacks ended in September after he issued a personal warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“No, they did not stop,” Donna Brazile told Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week.” “They came after us absolutely every day until the end of the election. They tried to hack into our system repeatedly. We put up the very best cyber security … but they constantly [attacked].”
Brazile said the DNC was outgunned in its efforts to fend off the hacks, and suggested the committee received insufficient protection from U.S. intelligence agencies. The CIA and FBI have reportedly concluded that Russians carried out the attacks in an effort to help Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.
“I think the Obama administrationthe FBI, the various other federal agencies ― they informed us, they told us what was happening. We knew as of May,” Brazile said. “But in terms of helping us to fight, we were fighting a foreign adversary in the cyberspace. The Democratic National Committee, we were not a match. And yet we fought constantly.”

Big headlined story on Huffpo.

Run away, run away, run away and remember kids to duck and cover.

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

snoopydawg's picture

While saying she was “outraged” by the apparent influence of a foreign adversary, Brazile said Democrats ultimately carry the blame for their loss. “Donald Trump cracked the blue wall, OK?” Brazile said. “He cracked the blue wall. We had a blue wall; we should’ve maintained it. We should’ve kept it.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dnc-chair-says-committee-was-attacke...

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

Lookout's picture

Otherwise it is unfair. The DNC has the same credibility as the media - oh I forgot they spout the same nonsense.

Thanks for the huff-and-puff heads up, Snoopydawg.

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

Speaking of round ups, I noticed a palomino mare, a baby burro, and a Shetland pony in my front pasture. I called the cops, and we rounded them up, have them penned. I gave them hay, feed, and water, and animal control will pick them up tomorrow.
It was then we all noticed a 12 ft. galvanized gate was missing. My 2 geldings were in the pasture, not dead on the highway.
All this is going on during the first freezing day of the year.
The thieves were likely interrupted as they were loading up a dozen cattle panels and old gates I have stored.
I am headed to the sheriff's office to file a theft report.
My hound never made a peep, and my next door neighbor's dog has some vocal cord issues, and whistles instead of barks.
Expensive tools, lawnmowers, machinery was untouched. The only thing gone is a $65 gate.

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

Lookout's picture

We've had 'em around here...especially when cattle run high. We've been so dry, they've been buying hay all fall...so I guess the rustlers will wait till spring.

Glad all they got was a gate!

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

burro, figuring he would fit in the back of the cop car, look nice under the Christmas tree... lol!
Oh well, all the visitors look healthy. I hope their owner shows up soon. They do not look like pasture animals. They look well cared form and very gentle.
Horse theft is rare since the 2 packing houses in the area were closed down.
Very odd.
My geldings did not escape, seemed to enjoy scoping out the new kids.
A disaster was averted.

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

shaharazade's picture

for the non fake news. You have saved me the effort of wading through the endless misinformation/propaganda being pumped out by the official Ministry of Truth. They are really outdoing themselves catapulting the daily fear and loathing. Hard to tell what they are really up to with their latest slight of hand 'The Russian's are Coming'. What a reckless side show were being subjected to.

Obama seems to be up to no good as he exists the White House but all we hear about is The Hairball's a traitor who is Putin's puppet. Oh My god look at his cabinet it's wall to wall Big Oil and Goldman Sachs. Like Hillary's wouldn't be or Obama's wasn't. Meanwhile people I know are already nostalgic for the good old days when the Democrat's were in the WH. Obama and Micheal are such a lovely couple. Such good role models for the young girls and boys of America.

Who can we identify with now that we have overt out and out right wing psycho's in charge? No one and maybe that's a good thing. You'd think ordinary people would finally face the reality of 'the world as we find it' that the ruling elite have created and call inevitable. It's a 'no exit' situation for everyone regardless of where you stand on the false cooked up spectrum of political or cultural divides. Stronger together? I keep asking myself why can't people get together globally and resist this madness.

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Lookout's picture

and not give the people enough information to think.

news brain wash.jpg

Re-indoctrinate after brain washing

media companies.jpg

And round we go...

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

divineorder's picture

My first time to experience The Weekly Watch.

My wife jakkalbessie and I originally came over here (with some reluctance after being at TOP for so long) at the invitation fellow Evening Bluesters, following js, jtc, and the Evening Blues.

Reading our excellent round up today has given me the desire to look for you on future Sundays! We will be back into travel mode in January and will be nice to know that can get a quick digest of links from you.

Especially appreciate the section of vids on the War Profiteers, some of which I was aware of but have yet to watch . The weather outside is conducive to watching them today, and most auspiciously you have provided the links!

Would share a link got from a Prof / Peace Activist friend suggested on Facebook with a nice takedown of Krugman for his silly part in the fear stuff and suggestions of what to do next.

http://www.rich-rubenstein.com/2016/12/the-russian-plot-or-how-to-avoid-...

THE RUSSIAN PLOT, Or, How to Avoid Taking Responsibility for Losing a Presidential Election

by Rich Rubenstein on December 17, 2016 · 2 comments

Also these tweets:

That Forbes article really made my day, would love to see him dropped.

Spent part of my morning reading forum posts etc about Kruger National Park in South Africa's epic drought. We will be camping there and in South Luangwa National Park area in our own tent again next year as usual. Climate change has taken it's toll in both places.

Here's a photo from the trip earlier this year. The quality is not that great but for some reason the bird reminds me of DT. Smile

IMG_6856.JPG

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Lookout's picture

Glad you dropped by, do. I'll look forward to your upcoming trip with pictures. I always enjoy them.

One thing about Tillerson - no one will deny he wants to export fracking. My understanding is the arctic is up for fracking grabs with Russia.

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