Welcome to Saturday's Potluck - June 10, 2023

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Once again our world is in major flux and patience is required to let current active events move along their path a little farther before we can start to evaluate the influence on our daily daily lives and future possibilities.

First up on the menu is local news. The legalization of marijuana in the state has been compared to a Gold rush type opportunity. It has moved through many of the typical phases; prospector or early adapter, rush of new owner/operator businesses defining and growing business, supporting business develop around initial product or crop, investors start showing up, government presence grows, consolidation of initial businesses, further consolidation of supporting businesses due to economics of price collapse or cost of government regulations, and eventual control by big corporations.

Last year the price collapsed due to oversupply. This year the challenge is change in government requirements.

Is This a Fatal Fungus on Cannabis, or TO Cannabis?
Bend Source May 31, 2023

There's a new threat to Oregon's cannabis industry, which isn't exactly hurting for more of those. It's already creating a reduction in the number of flower options available, and some farms are considering stopping production completely.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention writes that, "Invasive aspergillosis is uncommon and occurs primarily in immunocompromised people." The number of healthy people contracting Aspergillus from smoking cannabis is unknown, which the CDC explains, "Because aspergillosis is not a reportable infection in the United States, the exact number of cases is difficult to determine. Milder, allergic forms of aspergillosis are more common than the invasive form of the infection."

How is testing for Aspergillus performed? What happens if you fail?

Samples submitted are tested "Pass/Fail" for any amount of Aspergillus, and not parts per million. Fail, and per the OHA, "the batch may either be remediated using a sterilization process or be used to make a cannabinoid concentrate or extract if the processing method effectively sterilizes the batch, such as a method using a hydrocarbon solvent or CO 2 extraction system." ...
...
Currently there are 23 states doing testing, albeit with varying allowable amounts.

How are Oregon growers doing with these tests?

Not great. OLCC provided Willamette Week with results showing that 6% of the flower tested had failed, along with a stunning 22% of infused pre rolls.

How does the Oregon cannabis industry feel about this?

Also not great. In an industry already overtaxed, over regulated and underperforming financially with an ongoing oversupply issue, the cost of testing is another burden.

________

Is there a proposed time line of further separation of world market?

Sequoia split anticipates new China sanctions Asia Times June 9, 2023

Sequoia Capital, one of Silicon Valley’s oldest and most successful venture capital funds, is dividing itself into three independent regional businesses to simplify management and reduce political risk.

The company’s operations in the US and Europe will continue to use the name Sequoia Capital. Operations in India and Southeast Asia have been combined and rebranded as Peak XV Partners. Peak XV was the original designation given by British surveyors to Mount Everest. Operations in China will be called HongShan, which means Sequoia.

On June 6, Sequoia announced that “It has become increasingly complex to run a decentralized global investment business… This has made using centralized back-office functions more of a hindrance than an advantage… We will move to completely independent partnerships and become distinct firms with separate brands no later than March 31, 2024.”
...
On May 25, Patrick McHenry, chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, sent Secretary Yellen a highly critical letter requesting detailed evidence that Treasury would achieve its purported goals. In part, it reads:

Dear Secretary Yellen,
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The Administration further claims that U.S. investments in early-stage Chinese companies may require the declaration of a national emergency. However, U.S. venture capital deals in China have fallen by 87 percent since 2018.1 At their height, these investments were concentrated in later-stage companies. Moreover, U.S. venture capital firms typically acquire control, substantive decision-making rights, board seats, or material nonpublic technical information when they invest.

...
Once back-office functions, infrastructure and profit-sharing have been completely separated, there will be three venture capital firms instead of one, two of them domiciled outside the US. An example has been set. Sequoia will probably not be the only investment firm to take this route around US sanctions.

________

The press release release by the United Kingdom prior to the visit of their Prime Minister to United States included a statement which has me puzzled. I thought US and UK were adversaries between the late 1700's and early 1900's. Or were we just a rambunctious colony that is now back on track?

PM: The UK and US must build an alliance that protects our economies
United Kingdom government website June 6, 2023.

The Prime Minister said:

The UK and US have always worked in lockstep to protect our people and uphold our way of life. As the challenges and threats we face change, we need to build an alliance that also protects our economies.

Wikipedia
United Kingdom

The Treaty of Union between the Kingdom of England (which also included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland in 1707 resulted in their unification to become the Kingdom of Great Britain. Its union in 1801 with the Kingdom of Ireland created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Most of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922, leaving the present United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which formally adopted its name in 1927.
...
During the Second World War, the UK was one of the Big Three powers (along with the U.S. and the Soviet Union) who met to plan the post-war world; it was an original signatory to the Declaration by United Nations. After the war, the UK became one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and worked closely with the United States to establish the IMF, World Bank and NATO.

Special Relationship

Although the "Special Relationship" between the UK and the US was perhaps most memorably emphasized by Churchill, its existence and even the term itself had been recognized since the 19th century, not least by rival powers.[8]

The American and British governments were enemies when foreign relations between them first began, after the American colonies declared their independence from British rule, which triggered the American Revolutionary War. Relations often continued to be strained until the mid-19th century, erupting into open conflict during the War of 1812 and again verging on war when Britain almost supported the rebel Confederate States during the beginning of the American Civil War.[citation needed] British leaders were constantly annoyed from the 1830s to the 1860s by what they saw as American pandering to the mob, as in the Aroostook War in 1838–1839 and the Oregon boundary dispute in 1844–1846. However, British middle-class public opinion sensed a common "special relationship" between the two peoples based on their shared language, migrations, evangelical Protestantism, classical liberalism and extensive private trade. That constituency rejected war, which forced Britain to appease America. During the Trent Affair of late 1861, London drew the line, and Washington retreated.[9]

Troops from both nations had begun fighting side by side, sometimes spontaneously in skirmishes overseas by 1859, and both liberal democracies shared a common bond of sacrifice during the First World War (though the US was never formally a member of the Allies but entered the war in 1917 as a self-styled "Associated Power"). British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald's visit to the US in 1930 confirmed his own belief in the "special relationship" and so he looked to the Washington Naval Treaty, rather than a revival of the Anglo-Japanese alliance, as the guarantee of peace in the Far East.[10]
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Churchill's mother was a US citizen, and he keenly felt the links between the two English-speaking peoples. He first used the term "special relationship" on 16 February 1944, when he said it was his "deepest conviction that unless Britain and the United States are joined in a special relationship... another destructive war will come to pass".[19] He used it again in 1945 to describe not the Anglo–American relationship alone but Britain's relationship with both the Americans and the Canadians.

________

Legal system is used to control the actions of of the lower classes. The control mechanisms are currently being applied to those who held the highest political positions in some G-7 countries. The outrage is palatable.

Boris Johnson

“I am now being forced out of Parliament by a tiny handful of people with no evidence to back up their assertions – and without the approval even of Conservative Party members, let alone the wider electorate,” Johnson said on Friday in a statement. “I believe that a dangerous and unsettling precedent is being set.” He added that his removal is the “necessary first step” for lawmakers who want to overturn the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.
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“They know perfectly well that when I spoke in the Commons, I was saying what I believed sincerely to be true and what I had been briefed to say, like any other minister,” Johnson said. “They know that I corrected the record as soon as possible, and they know that I and every other senior official and minister – including the current prime minister and then-occupant of the same building, Rishi Sunak – believed that we were working lawfully together.”

Donald Trump
"This Is Crazy!": Trump Rages After Indictment Unsealed ZeroHedge June 8, 2023

he 49-page indictment against former President Trump was unsealed Friday, and contains 38 counts covering seven criminal charges, including willful retention of national defense information, corruptly concealing documents, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements.

Joe Biden
Biden accused of pocketing a $5 million bribe while vice president The Washington Times June 9, 2023

A paid informant told the FBI that an executive from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma has documents proving he bribed President Biden with $5 million while he was vice president.

Did Bill Clinton and George Bush
They may still avoid legal action.

Col. Tony Shaffer: Russia HITS Ukraine With DESTRUCTIVE FORCE (start at 17:33 of 34:29 min) April 12, 2023

Discussion of 9/11 defense of Guatanamo prisoners found evidence of possible US envolvemtnt.

________

The newest battlefield on the Russia/Western world conflict.

Pepe Escobar Moscow speech at founding of International Russophile Movement, Mar 14, 2023 (10:50 min)

Russia-Bashing Blowback: The Birth of the International Russophile Movement (MIR) Unz Review June 3, 2023

It is my pleasure to present the first comprehensive, detailed report in English, written by an insider, about the International Russophile Movement, launched last month in Moscow.

This project, supported by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to counterpunch the relentless waves of Russophobia and cancel culture unleashed by the usual suspects since the start of the Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine in February 2022.

As readers will be able to verify, this is a multipolar information project that can become an inspiration for the Global South. The idea is to counteract arrogance and intolerance with an affirmative stance that is deeply rooted in culture, civilizational values and the vision of a more equitable system of international relations.

It’s time to change the narrative. Enjoy the ride (P.E.)
...
The main thing I want to get across in this interview are these 3 simple ideas, which embody the idea of Russophilia’ emphasized Malinov, ‘Traditional Values – Strong National States – A Multipolar World.’ He elaborates, ‘being a Russophile means being a patriot of your own country, because Russia stands for multipolarity.’ Malinov explained that these simple ideas work with all world religions and political systems, and that after much thought, he distilled the principles of his organization to these three points, precisely because they can be embraced around the world.

Listening to Malinov and his public statements, it becomes clear that he is sincerely, Christian, and that his lapel pin is not for show. His conversation is peppered with references to his faith. ‘It’s a spiritual battle’, he declares, saying that he will run MIR on the principles of ‘humility, honesty, and transparency’.
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(Nikolai) Malinov’s university degree is in history, and his discussion of the roots of Russian-Bulgarian friendship reveals a sophisticated understanding of European history, political philosophy, and Christian Orthodox theology. Indeed, Malinov comes across as a man immersed in journalism, media, and ideas.

He dwells on the idea that Russia is the ideal vessel to bring about peace and understanding around the world because it is part of both East and West. He argues that countries like Russia and Bulgaria have had to learn to get along with sometimes hostile neighbors over centuries, and that the Eastern European, Christian Orthodox mentality is more ‘delicate and nuanced’, more focused on cooperation and consensus than the more categorical and divisive West.

The Western pushback has started.

Why do disgraced Americans like Scott Ritter spout pro-Putin propaganda in Russia? Euro News May 25, 2023

What is a tankie?

The term “tankie” is familiar to anyone with some knowledge of the politics of the former Soviet Union. It emerged during the Soviet invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia in the mid-20th century as a reference to those who downplayed the fact that Kremlin tanks were used to suppress protests and opposition in cities like Prague and Budapest.

It is common internet slang nowadays, especially among those seeking to weed out apologists for the Putin regime. You can find tankies of all kinds - from anonymous Twitter trolls waxing poetic about NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe, to renowned journalists and academics.

One of the more distinguished among them is American journalist Seymour Hersh, once a renowned and revered writer, and known for his trailblazing reporting on US crimes such as the My Lai massacre and the torture of Iraqi civilians in Abu Ghraib.

________

Stephan Gardner interviews Ray MacGovern
Ex CIA: White House PANICS Over Explosive New Leak (27:04) June 8, 2023

________

Ukraine Russia War Changing Global Order? Alastair Crooke fmr Brit ambassador (25:35 min) June 6, 2023

The other livestream videos this week by Judge Napolitano channel ongoing discussions regarding current Ukraine/Russia conflict. the interviews are generally posted on Monday through Thursday if would like to view them in a more timely manner.

________

What is on your mind today?

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Comments

Lookout's picture

A world in flux indeed.

Had a busy morning at Trade Day. Then recycling, gas fill up ($3.14 / gal) bank run, grocerying, and a feed store visit. Just got the groceries put away.

Scott being smeared is nothing new. Truth tellers are always shunned by TPTB...can't let evidence get in the way of the narrative. Ukraine is suffering tremendous losses. As we've all said, the US plans to fight to the last Ukrainian. The idea of attacking Sy Hersh is ludicrous. He's been proven right again and again (after all the attacks for each of his stories).

Thanks for the news and the OT. Hope all's well on the homestead. It is dry here and We've had to water this week, but rain is due tomorrow and all week...calling for 3-4 inches this week which we need. Hope they are right.

Take care and have a good weekend!

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

ggersh's picture

only tptb in the collective west believe their own BS

https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2023/06/debt-rattle-june-10-2023/

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

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appear on the missing persons list?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerii_Zaluzhnyi

Valerii Fedorovych Zaluzhnyi born 8 July 1973) is a Ukrainian four-star general who has served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 27 July 2021. He is also concurrently a member of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrylo_Budanov

Kyrylo Oleksiyovych Budanov is a Ukrainian military leader who is the chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine since August 2020

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The Atlantic

We found that the precise mix of events that leads to crisis varies, but two drivers of instability loom large. The first is popular immiseration—when the economic fortunes of broad swaths of a population decline. The second, and more significant, is elite overproduction—when a society produces too many superrich and ultra-educated people, and not enough elite positions to satisfy their ambitions.

The wealthy have become wealthier, while the incomes and wages of the median American family have stagnated. As a result, our social pyramid has become top-heavy. At the same time, the U.S. began overproducing graduates with advanced degrees. More and more people aspiring to positions of power began fighting over a relatively fixed number of spots. The competition among them has corroded the social norms and institutions that govern society.

Back in 1983, 66,000 American households were worth at least $10 million. That may sound like a lot, but by 2019, controlling for inflation, the number had increased tenfold. A similar, if smaller, upsurge happened lower on the food chain. The number of households worth $5 million or more increased sevenfold, and the number of mere millionaires went up fourfold.
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Then as now, a growing economy served to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. The number of millionaires per capita quadrupled from 1800 to 1850, while the relative wage declined by nearly 50 percent from the 1820s to the 1860s, just as it has in recent decades. Biological data from the time suggest that the average American’s quality of life declined significantly. From 1830 to the end of the century, the average height of Americans fell by nearly two inches, and average life expectancy at age 10 decreased by eight years during approximately the same period.
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In 1925, there were 1,600 millionaires, but by 1950, fewer than 900 remained. The size of America’s top fortune remained stuck at $1 billion for decades, inflation notwithstanding. By 1982, the richest American had $2 billion, which was equivalent to “only” 93,000 annual wages.
...Height increased by a whopping 3 inches in roughly the first half of the 20th century. Life expectancy at age 10 increased by nearly a decade. By the 1960s, America had achieved a broad-based prosperity that was virtually unprecedented in human history.
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In 1943, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—which today pushes for the most extreme forms of neoliberal market fundamentalism—said, “Only the willfully blind can fail to see that the old-style capitalism of a primitive, free-shooting period is gone forever.” President Dwight Eisenhower, considered a fiscal conservative for his time, wrote to his brother:

Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things … Their number is negligible and they are stupid.

As Fraser wrote in his famous resignation letter from the Labor Management Group in 1978, when the compact was about to be abandoned, “The acceptance of the labor movement, such as it has been, came because business feared the alternatives.”

The long history of human society compiled in our database suggests that America’s current economy is so lucrative for the ruling elites that achieving fundamental reform might require a violent revolution. But we have reason for hope. It is not unprecedented for a ruling class—with adequate pressure from below—to allow for the nonviolent reversal of elite overproduction. But such an outcome requires elites to sacrifice their near-term self-interest for our long-term collective interests. At the moment, they don’t seem prepared to do that.

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soryang's picture

The is the 36th Anniversary of democracy movement demonstrations which brought down the Chun Doo-hwan dictatorship. This coincides with the 43d Candlelight demonstrations at Namdaemun, Seoul, today.

The June Democratic Struggle (Korean: 6월 민주항쟁; Hanja: 六月民主抗爭), also known as the June Democracy Movement[1] and June Democratic Uprising, was a nationwide pro-democracy movement in South Korea that generated mass protests from June 10 to 29, 1987. The demonstrations forced the ruling government to hold elections and institute other democratic reforms, which led to the establishment of the Sixth Republic, the present-day government of South Korea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Democratic_Struggle

(Source- MBC youtube 6.10) Labor sit in in front of Supreme Court Friday night, dispersed forcefully by mobilized police injures ten demonstrators. They are protesting the use of independent contractors to evade labor agreements, pay, benefits, and working conditions. Two days earlier the involved KCTU union office which had organized a similar overnight sit in styled as a "cultural event" on May 25, was raided by a large number of National Police dispatched to serve a warrant to seize records related to planning such "illegal" events. Union members outnumbered by police picketed out front while police ransacked the offices looking for "incriminating" evidence.

In the center of the democracy movement, Myung Dong Cathedral. Government administration doesn't participate for the first time since 2007 when the commemoration day was established. 민주운동 중심지 명동성당서 6·10 기념식‥정부는 불참 (2023.06.10)

The government claims it didn't participate in the 6.10 commemorative event at Myung Dong Cathedral because of a public ad showing the organizer's support for a later 10.6 public assembly calling for Yoon to resign. A representative of the 6.10 Democracy Movement Commemorative Event Association pointed out the administration, the Ministry of Interior and Public Safety declined to participate although the civic group formally withdrew its support for any later demonstration as its putative support was improperly adopted by a group supporting the later events without consultation.

Reasons announced publicly by the incumbent conservative PPP party leader, focused on "ghost stories," (a reference to the democratic party's opposition to the release of radioactive waste water from Fukushima, the failure to protect the seafood and fisheries markets and public health). Another basis was opposition "instigation," in reference to partisan use of the event to promote "self serving" views. Democratic Party leader, Lee Jae-myung, and other opposition politicians attended the June democracy struggle commemoration (non-denominational) events at the Catholic cathedral today. Lee had led a demonstration in Pusan earlier in the week in opposition to Japan's proposed dumping of millions of tons of Fukushima meltdown cooling water into the Pacific because it would adversely affect Korean markets and marine environments for decades. The democratic party also opposes unrestricted imports of Japanese seafoods.

(Source-OhMyTV youtube 6.10) Candlelight movement assembly Sungnyemun, Seoul, National Assembly Rep. Choi Kang-ook on stage addresses assembly. Banner says spirit of 6.10 democraacy struggle legacy-overthrow dictatorship.

“법치주의·민주주의 근본부터 훼손...” 최강욱 “군부독재 뺨치고 남을 이상한 족속들이 나라를 망가뜨리고 있다” "Legalism (lawfare) undermines the foundation of democracy. Beyond military dictatorhip the gang's cronies are wrecking the country."

Rep. Choi, like Democratic Party leader has been under repeated legal attacks from Yoon's prosecutorial enforcers. His National Assembly office was searched and records confiscated by the National Police last week. The theme of the event, the legacy of the June 1987 struggle for democracy: Let's not return to the politics of dictatorship as we had before under Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan.

Democracy struggle 36th Anniversary Commemoration Day spirit- Candlelight movement/Yoon step down event, earlier today in Seoul.

In Pusan, earlier this week, Lee Jae-myung leads anti-Fukushima meltdown coolant water release, and administration failure to protect food markets and fisheries from contaminated marine life.

I liked this article in Hankyoreh making the case that a South Korean neo-con think tank NARI, the New Asia Research Institute, formulates the black and white ideological thinking of Yoon administration advisors, to the detriment of its national interests. Tried to find out the sponsors without success.

Behind Yoon's risky diplomacy are advisors more concerned with ideology than national interest
Posted on : Jun.4,2023
Yoon’s background makes him a layperson when it comes to diplomacy — making his advisors in Kim Tae-hyo and Lee Sang-woo all the more influential
https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1094505.html

Thanks for the OT Studentofearth. Really liked Ray McGovern's analysis.

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語必忠信 行必正直

@soryang

the pacific? Is this a payback for Nagasaki and Hiroshima?
Makes sushi already irradiated from the sea.
Perhaps there may be a few octopi that would protest.

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soryang's picture

@QMS There are several aspects to this. As I understand this from the 2 video interviews of one of the top South Korean nuclear engineers, untreated radioactive particles of the usual kind associated with this sort of meltdown found it's way into the nearby sea environment while TEPCO did nothing about it for a year or so. Along these lines a couple of fish with dangerous levels of cesium were tested in the vicinity of the plant recently, causing further alarm. The WTO allowed South Korea to establish its health and safety standards for Japanese marine food sources before allowing import. Japan brought the suit, saying this was a free trade violation. WTO ruled against Japan. Japan has asked Yoon to allow free import of certain Japanese seafood products basically maintaining their safety is assured. This is unpopular in South Korea.

Then there is the separate issue of dumping the meltdown cooling water which is contaminated with tritium. It is alleged that the other radionuclides are basically removed by a process called ALPs. I looked at the diagrams and the latest IAEA report with its tabulated sample findings. Virtually all of them are "within specified limits" both before and after Advanced Liquid Processing System. (Frankly, this seems improbable to me but I'm not a scientist). However, the point made by the MIT trained nuclear engineer was that the filtration system will probably not operate consistently, and that it will be contaminated with accumulated irradiated debris which periodically requires a bypass, while the necessary maintenance is done to restore efficacy for that radionuclide filtering component. What is done with the contamination during this bypass period? He wanted more storage tanks 2X, 3X, while the design was further examined for appropriate modifications for the next couple of years. he felt the dumping was being undertaken too hastily.

Another scientist from the US I listened to (on a video of course) said that not enough time had passed to conclude that the impact on the environment, marine life, and any other biological impact would be negligible after the ALPS treatment. He said all of the testimonials from interested parties in Japan, TEPCO, their NRA, and even the IAEA were virtually all nuclear oriented professionals without the necessary studies or professionals to evaluate the marine and biological impact. I was thinking of this while listening to Oliver Stone say no one has been hurt by Fukushima radiation re: his new documentary. I have a fairly open mind on this but like the Koreans I'm not going to be eating any seafood or seaweed (kim) from that region.

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語必忠信 行必正直

Pluto's Republic's picture

@QMS

...to say nothing of Mothra and Ghidorah.

Nations that refuse to store their own nuclear waste certainly deserve whatever mutant blowback they get. Hopefully, the heavy radioactive particles sink fast and settle close to home.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
soryang's picture

@QMS ...for the tritium water will begin operating tomorrow. it will be a dummy run, using a mixture of fresh water diluted with sea water. It will then be pumped down through the underground tunnel to the sea floor about a kilometer away. There is a blocking mechanism shown as near the tunnel exit that will be tested to make sure that it operates effectively to close off the tunnel and block the outflow should the need arise. The tunnel was already successfully filled with seawater.

Beginning Monday trial releases of diluted tritium water will take place over the following two weeks. The nature of the trial run is to confirm that all the mechanisms for the dilution, release and shutoff operate property. (I understand from previous reports and diagrams that there are various designated sites around the release point in virtually every direction to take environmental samples to monitor for any unsafe radiation levels.) This particular report is from a South Korean MBC news source who is getting his info from TEPCO in Tokyo according to their video report.

후쿠시마 오염수' 내일부터 방류 시운전 (2023.06.11/12MBC뉴스)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXIVF-iKSRw

I posted the link even though the video is in Korean because there are interesting views of the site, and diagrams of the process. It's about 2 minutes long.

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語必忠信 行必正直

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https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/10/trump-vows-to-stay-in-the-race-...

Donald Trump vowed Saturday to continue running for president even if he were to be convicted as part of the 37-count federal felony indictment that was issued against him this week.

“I’ll never leave,” Trump said in an interview aboard his plane. “Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable.”

Trump is not legally prohibited from running for president from prison or as a convicted felon. But such a bid would nevertheless provide a massive stress test for the country’s political and legal systems.

The former president leveled harsh criticisms at special counsel Jack Smith and argued that the case against him was politically motivated and flimsy. “These are thugs and degenerates who are after me,” he said.

Trump predicted he would not be convicted and said he did not anticipate taking a plea deal, though he left open the possibility of doing so “where they pay me some damages.”

While Trump said campaign fundraising had skyrocketed since the indictment was issued, he conceded it was an unwelcome development.

“Nobody wants to be indicted,” said Trump. “I don’t care that my poll numbers went up by a lot. I don’t want to be indicted. I’ve never been indicted. I went through my whole life, now I get indicted every two months. It’s been political.”

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@humphrey

Donald Trump said in an interview:. “Look, if I would have left [a political campaign], I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable.”

.
The only way Trump could have won in 2016 was if the Democratic Party was dumb enough to make Hillary Clinton their Presidential candidate.

Anyone one who didn't know that in 2016 has no business being in politics today. That's the kind of never-ending dumb that permanently contaminates the public sphere. Which pretty much explains the current state of the nation. We've been fighting the residue of that particular kind of "dumb" ever since... going on a decade now. Always on the bait-and-switch side of social justice. Always leaving the People worse off than they found them.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato