@Lookout

Sam and I are meeting social at the Shooting Star for its famous burger and then we are going to take Sam swimming….or probably wading since the water is so low.

Great roundup of info. Thanks!

Sun Tzu once said about Assad that of course you poison your own people just as you gained control over your enemy. Now he’s talking about Putin.

Great strategy! And of course the shitlibs believe all 3 and they are once again cheering death and destruction of the Kerch bridge. Some want it hit again just when the bridge is being repaired because that way Ukraine can take out the workers who know how to fix it. They’ve become a pack of blood thirsty hyenas!

Snoopy is Going to Space on NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission (1.5 min)

Also adding a pretty good cartoon about Julian.
https://scheerpost.com/2022/10/06/mark-fiore-extradition-threatens-julia...

Edit to add: Scott's speech at the Julian support rally at the US DOJ. (5 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXEjcWp83rg]

@QMS

....who threatens Americans and their way of life. Out-of-favor Foreign Leaders are relentlessly demonized by US politicians and by the media to reinforce this menacing threat to American "freedom" and to give the People someone to blame for their economic adversities.

Vladimir Putin is one of the more demonized figures in recent US history — widely employed to frighten or enrage the American People, as needed. Six years ago, Putin was caught up in a foolish US government lie that accused him of somehow "fixing" the US election so that Donald Trump won the Presidency. The premise was absurd in every detail, but it was seared into the brains of clueless Americans, who have come to embrace the bigger-than-life image of Putin as the Authoritarian Dictator. He is regularly portrayed in propaganda from Western media as a Hitlerian demagogue who rules with extrajudicial terror and militarism. This could hardly be farther from the truth.

Almost every aspect of the western caricature of Putin is deeply misguided. To begin with, Putin is not a demagogue - he is not a naturally charismatic man and he is not someone who relishes the podium. Unlike Donald Trump or Barack Obama, or even - God forbid - Adolf Hitler, Putin is simply not a natural crowd pleaser.

In Russia, his image is that of a fairly boring but level headed career political servant, rather than a charismatic populist.

.
I read an illuminating essay (h/t Snoopydawg) by Big Serge on Substack, that contained a passage that describes Vladimir Putin as he is viewed in Russia, which I find to be more credible and consistent with his methodical and realistic approach to international affairs.

Putin - contrary to the view that he wields unlimited extralegal authority
- is rather a stickler for proceduralism. Russia’s government structure expressly empowers a very strong presidency (this was an absolute necessity in the wake of total state collapse in the early 1990’s), but within these parameters Putin is not viewed as a particularly exciting personality prone to radical or explosive decision making. Western critics may claim that there is no rule of law in Russia, but at the very least, Putin governs by law, with bureaucratic mechanisms and procedures forming the superstructure within which he acts.

This was made vividly apparent in recent days. With Ukraine advancing on multiple fronts, a fresh cycle of doom and triumph was set in motion: pro-Ukrainian figures exult in the apparent collapse of the Russian army, while many in the Russian camp bemoan leadership which they conclude must be criminally incompetent. With all of this underway on the military side, Putin has calmly ushered the annexation process through its legal mechanisms - first holding referendums, then signing treaties on entry in the Russian Federation with the four former Ukrainian oblasts, which were then sent to the State Duma for ratification, followed by the Federation Council, followed again by signature and verification by Putin. As Ukraine throws its summer accumulations into the fight, Putin appears to be mired in paperwork and procedure. The treaties were even reviewed by the Russian constitutional court, and deadlines were set to end the Ukrainian hryvnia as legal tender and replace it with the ruble.

This is a strange spectacle. Putin is plodding his way through the boring legalities of annexation, seemingly deaf to the chorus which is shouting at him that his war is on the verge of total failure. The implacable calm radiating - at least publicly - from the Kremlin seems at odds with events at the front.

So, what really is going on here? Is Putin truly so detached from events on the ground that he is unaware that his army is being defeated? Is he planning to use nuclear weapons in a fit of rage? Or could this be, as Clausewitz says, the mere continuation of politics by other means?

.

I shall now sweep aside the lies and the very dumb-ass propaganda coming from NATO and the US State Department, and give Big Serge the final word: "Of all the phantasmagorical claims that have been made about the Russo-Ukrainian War, few are as difficult to believe as the claim that Russia intended to conquer Ukraine with fewer than 200,000 men." The geniuses at NATO insist that Putin's plan is to plow right through Ukraine and capture all of Europe, turning it into the New Soviet Empire.

In my research, I found a photo that claims to show Putin planning his invasion of Finland. This explains their urgent need to join NATO. Not so sharp, the Fins.

by many lies, both big and small, for many years. Dis-information, half truth's, deflections,
mis-directions, projections, delusions, concoctions, inveracities, prevarications, hyperboles,
subterfuges, exaggerations, falsehoods, distortions, deceptions, evasions and the like have
been bombarding us for so long, it is nearly impossible to ascertain the truth of anything.

This secret sauce is employed to confuse the masses, so rational debate and analysis lose
traction. It is how the powerful and corrupt rulers maintain control.

Thanks for speaking truth to the lies!

@QMS Man, talk about eye candy!

@Lookout
Today we are going down the coast a bit to see an international sand sculpting competition
on the beach. I love that stuff. It is near the forest we rode bikes in yesterday.

https://mymodernmet.com/sondervig-sand-sculpture-festival/

Cheers!

@ggersh

Obama passed an executive order that allows the government to take people’s stuff including food, medicine and whatever else the hell it wants. You should register your garden so they don’t have to go looking for it.

https://thefreethoughtproject.com/the-state/usda-now-asking-people-to-re...

Here is the opening paragraph

In a move that has many folks scratching their heads, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has renewed its push for the People’s Garden Initiative which now includes registering vegetable gardens nationwide. According to the USDA, the move is to foster a "more diverse and resilient local food system to empower communities to address issues like nutrition access and climate change." But those who have been following the USDA closely for years know that they couldn't care less about your health and nutrition.

Thanks for the WW, LO. It's a gorgeous autumn day here in Chitown. Temp's in
the high 60's, sunshine everywhere and a full moon to boot. Life is good as
we survived another day despite the narcissist psychopaths running the govt.

@enhydra lutris

https://boingboing.net/2022/10/03/the-u-s-has-launched-251-military-inte...

https://williamblum.org/essays/read/overthrowing-other-peoples-governmen...

be well and have a good one

of this part of North America is generally false. Who were the original settlers colonists and why did they come here. How did they behave among and treat each other. How did they interact with the Indians. What were the native civilizations and cultures like. Who were the founding fathers and what were their grievances with the crown and what were their desires, what did they really want? What did they intend the new country to be and how was it to be governed and by whom? The mythology as to all of the above is largely false and misleading, and the lie(s) grew and grew and grew right along with the new nation, especially as to our interactions with other nation states and our incessant wars and interventions and as to our governance and pseudo-democracy. It is a lot easier for the populace to believe that we are trying to bring democracy and freedom to the rest of the world when they believe that we have it here and that we always have had it here and have intended that to be the national and subsequently global rule of law. The US itself and its entire history is, generally speaking The Big Lie.

Part of the problem with trying to counter this, that, or the other little bit of propaganda or narrative manipulation is that everybody has been sold the foundational US of freedoms and democracy lie. and that foundation must be torn down and replaced with a more true and more factual one for us to make much progress.

be well and have a good one.

@enhydra lutris

to be *where* exactly?

The US itself and its entire history is, generally speaking The Big Lie.

Sounds impressive. I don't suppose you'd lower yourself to some 'specific speaking' that would support such a sweeping claim...

You could, for example, address points like these:

- Was there anyplace in the 'civilized' world freer or more broadly prosperous than, for example, colonial Pennsylvania?

- Was there anywhere in Europe besides Switzerland where the bearing of arms was allowed for all classes of society - was it of no significance that this was recognized as a fundamental right in America?

- Were the post Civil War European migrants motivated to come to America to be conquerors and colonizers - to oppress and enslave the natives or were they seeking freedom, land and opportunity denied to them in Europe?

Feel free to enlighten us as to how the Big Lie figures in the above.

“I said "Somebody should do something about that." Then I realized I am somebody.”

― Lily Tomlin

of this part of North America is generally false. Who were the original settlers colonists and why did they come here. How did they behave among and treat each other. How did they interact with the Indians. What were the native civilizations and cultures like. Who were the founding fathers and what were their grievances with the crown and what were their desires, what did they really want? What did they intend the new country to be and how was it to be governed and by whom? The mythology as to all of the above is largely false and misleading, and the lie(s) grew and grew and grew right along with the new nation, especially as to our interactions with other nation states and our incessant wars and interventions and as to our governance and pseudo-democracy. It is a lot easier for the populace to believe that we are trying to bring democracy and freedom to the rest of the world when they believe that we have it here and that we always have had it here and have intended that to be the national and subsequently global rule of law. The US itself and its entire history is, generally speaking The Big Lie.

Part of the problem with trying to counter this, that, or the other little bit of propaganda or narrative manipulation is that everybody has been sold the foundational US of freedoms and democracy lie. and that foundation must be torn down and replaced with a more true and more factual one for us to make much progress.

be well and have a good one.

@enhydra lutris

everybody has been sold the foundational US of freedoms and democracy lie

Which is *what* precisely?

I don't know about your ancestors, or even all of mine, but for the ones I do know about with some degree of certainty they were a whole lot freer and materially better off in America than as subjects of the Austro-Hungarian (one branch) or Prussian (another) Empires.

And (unlike yourself, apparently) appreciated the opportunity. And set out to build something for themselves and their communities.

... that foundation must be torn down and replaced with a more true and more factual one...

I completely agree that there are institutions that rate a complete teardown - DOJ and the Federal Reserve come to mind... but abandoning foundational *principles* is a really BAD IDEA.

Unless you have some better ones to propose?

...for us to make much progress.

OK, progress towards *what*?

Oregon Constitution, Article 1, Section 1 (1857):

Natural rights inherent in people.

We declare that all men (sic), when they form a social compact are equal in right: that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; and they have at all times a right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper. —

of this part of North America is generally false. Who were the original settlers colonists and why did they come here. How did they behave among and treat each other. How did they interact with the Indians. What were the native civilizations and cultures like. Who were the founding fathers and what were their grievances with the crown and what were their desires, what did they really want? What did they intend the new country to be and how was it to be governed and by whom? The mythology as to all of the above is largely false and misleading, and the lie(s) grew and grew and grew right along with the new nation, especially as to our interactions with other nation states and our incessant wars and interventions and as to our governance and pseudo-democracy. It is a lot easier for the populace to believe that we are trying to bring democracy and freedom to the rest of the world when they believe that we have it here and that we always have had it here and have intended that to be the national and subsequently global rule of law. The US itself and its entire history is, generally speaking The Big Lie.

Part of the problem with trying to counter this, that, or the other little bit of propaganda or narrative manipulation is that everybody has been sold the foundational US of freedoms and democracy lie. and that foundation must be torn down and replaced with a more true and more factual one for us to make much progress.

be well and have a good one.

@lotlizard

You post the most remarkable links. I try to never miss one.

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2005/pinter/25621-harold-pi...

Sickening that 17 years later, after U.S. regime figureheads Obama-Biden, then Trump, and now Biden again, the lies and systemic evils Pinter decried have only gotten worse.

@MrWebster the Burns Holocaust doc a few days ago in an OT, not much response. Tracy reminds that it's important to note what goes on in the MSM and what the public is being told, even as we skeptics are critical of the MSM messengers and their corporate platforms. MT gave an interesting take which I wouldn't have anticipated, not having seen all 8 hrs of the doc.

He also made a good point about Burns cherry picking just one America Firster to name, the usual Charles Lindbergh, whereas the anti-interventionist voices in the 1940-41 period included many on the left and establishment center. A big tell as MT says Burns wants to suggest to the viewer that only bigoted fascist-worshipping types could be against US military intervention.

On FDR declaring war, my recollection of the history is that he was frustrated throughout 1941, pre-Pearl Harbor, that US transport ships in the Atlantic kept getting attacked by German subs with US casualties in the hundreds, yet each event wasn't enough to create an outcry among most Americans. A book I read more than 20 yrs ago, Day of Deceit by Rbt Stennit(?), makes the best case using official US gov't and military docs (the ones that hadn't been deliberately lost or hopelessly misfiled) that PH was planned by the FDR admin. I also lean in favor of the argument that FDR and his State Dept could have done more earlier wrt saving many of those lost in the Holocaust.

World War II is one of the primary historical events now currently being used to justify not only escalation but direct confrontation with Russia. Michael Tracey has been fighting a Twitter war debunking alot of the myths about how America got involved in WWII which now seeks to justify war. Recent posting.

"The US and the Holocaust" Documentary by Ken Burns is "Revisionist History" Designed to Foment Support for Nuclear Warhttps://t.co/sovXtGBImG

— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) October 6, 2022

He notes that Burns was going to release his documentary next year but moved it up for political reasons which go toward demonizing those opposed to helping Ukraine and staying out of the conflict. You know the "isolationists".

Some of the stuff Tracey has exposed has been a shock to me particularly how FDR maneuvered to get America in a direct war with Japan and Germany under the guise of aid and sanctions.

I am not on Twitter, but his tweets can be read at https://twitter.com/mtracey.