Welcome to Saturday's Potluck - Jan 20, 2024

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 5:19am

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

The winter weather has been a little intense with snow, subzero weather and freezing rain. Doing fine, have limited time to spend at C99.

________

Corporations and wealthy individuals taking control of public lands and Native American has a long history in North America. This week a couple of roadblocks in simply taking control of land got ibturrupted.

Judge Orders Wind Farm Dismantled in Win for Tribal Sovereignty Real Clear Wire Jan 17, 2024

Capping a legal battle that had raged for over a decade, a federal judge in late December handed the Osage Nation a major victory by ordering wind farm developers to dismantle dozens of turbines they had erected on tribal land in northeastern Oklahoma.
...
“The Court concludes that Defendants’ past and present refusal to obtain a lease constitutes interference with the sovereignty of the Osage Nation and is sufficient to constitute irreparable injury.”

The reference to minerals is key to understanding the case. Wind turbines not only soar into the air from the surface of the land. Their construction also requires the subsurface smashing of rocks and other excavation necessary to ground the turbines. The Osage Nation and its Minerals Council have claimed for years that this subsurface excavation activity constitutes mining and is covered by the tribe’s mineral rights.
...
The battle between the Osage Nation and the wind-farm developers got underway in 2011 and has lasted through the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations. Throughout the litigation, the Interior Department, which administers the tribe’s mineral rights, has supported the Osages’ claims. Even the Biden administration, whose political appointees at Interior have enthusiastically greenlighted wind and solar projects on federal land, stuck with the tribe on the question of mineral rights.

New York Stock Exchange Abandons Plan To Control America's Natural Resources ZeroHedge Jan 19, 2024

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Jan. 17 withdrew its proposal to establish and list Natural Asset Companies (NAC), which would pool investors’ money from around the world to buy controlling rights to public and private land throughout the United States.

The NACs would, according to filing documents, manage the lands solely for the purpose of “sustainability.” Critics of the plan charged that wealthy investors and foreign entities would be able to use these vehicles to make decisions to allow or block the public from accessing the publicly owned land that is designated for uses such as hunting, fishing, drilling, mining, hiking, and logging.
...
State AGs challenged the legality of establishing these nonstandard types of companies, as well as the NACs’ ability to acquire rights to public lands and the Biden administration’s authority to sell such rights.
...
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who together with Mr. Reyes co-authored the AGs’ letter, issued a statement that he was “pleased the SEC has withdrawn its proposed rule change. Doing so avoided an unnecessary legal battle.”

Many of the comments posted on the SEC’s website opposed the NYSE’s proposal, with critics arguing that NACs would give private companies control over farmland, grazing areas, national and state parks, and other mineral-rich lands.

________

Another update on domestic chip production

TSMC's 2nd Arizona fab production postponed to 2027 or 2028 Taiwan News Jan 19, 2024

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) said Friday (Jan. 19) that its second plant under construction in north Phoenix faces a postponement, hampering the Biden administration's plan to boost key component production in the U.S., Bloomberg reported.

TSMC executives said that operations at the facility are now projected to commence between 2027 and 2028, a setback from the initial target of 2026.
...
TSMC had previously announced the production of 3-nanometer chips at the second fab. When asked for confirmation, Liu said the fab's process technology is still under discussion and it will depend on how big of incentives the U.S. government provides.
...
Meanwhile, following the Arizona project announcement in 2020, TSMC declared plans in 2021 to build a smaller facility in Japan. This Japanese facility has received funding from the Japanese government and is reportedly slated to commence production later this year, according to Nikkei Asia.

________

The book review of La Défaite de L’Occident (“The Defeat of the West”) by Emmanuel Todd is worth a full read. It makes one wish they could read french.

Pepe Escobar: How the West Was Defeated Sputnik Jan 18, 2024

Rather, he focuses on the key reasons that have led to the West’s downfall. Among them: the end of the nation-state; de-industrialization (which explains NATO’s deficit in producing weapons for Ukraine); the “degree zero” of the West’s religious matrix, Protestantism; the sharp increase of mortality rates in the US (much higher than in Russia), along with suicides and homicides; and the tsupremacy of an imperial nihilism expressed by the obsession with Forever Wars.
...
In a nutshell, Todd shows how Protestantism imposed universal literacy on the populations it controlled, “because all faithful must directly access the Holy Scriptures. A literate population is capable of economic and technological development. The Protestant religion modeled, by accident, a superior, efficient workforce.” And it is in this sense that Germany was “at the heart of Western development”, even if the Industrial Revolution took place in England.
Todd’s key formulation is undisputable: “The crucial factor of the ascension of the West was Protestantism’s attachment to alphabetization.”
Moreover Protestantism, Todd stresses, is twice at the heart of the history of the West: via the educational and economic drive - with fear of damnation and the need to feel chosen by God engendering a work ethic and a strong, collective morality - and via the idea that Men are unequal (remember the White Man’s Burden).
The collapse of Protestantism could not but destroy the work ethic to the benefit of mass greed: that is, neoliberalism.

His other article touches on part of the US drug problem. US is the largest market in the world. The domestic drug problem has become a significant part of the US economy.

The Ukraine Charade, Revisited Strategic Culture Foundation Jan 19, 2024

Under this framework, even massive US-Ukraine corruption involving rings and rings of theft from lavish US “aid”, as recently revealed by former Ukrainian MP Andrey Derkach, is a mere detail.

Nothing has been done or will be done about it. After all, the Pentagon itself fails every audit. These audits, by the way, did not even include the income from the massive multi-billion dollar heroin operation in Afghanistan – with Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo set up as the distribution center for Europe. The profits were pocketed by US intel operatives off the books.

When fentanyl replaced heroin as a domestic US plague, it was pointless to continue occupying Afghanistan – subsequently abandoned after two decades in pure Helter Skelter mode, leaving behind over $7 billion in weapons.

________

Bypassing the UK parliament; the royal prerogative; and bombing Yemen Middle East Monitor July 16, 2024

There is something distinctly revolting and authoritarian about the royal prerogative. It reeks of clandestine assumption, unwarranted self-confidence and, most of all, a blithe indifference to accountability before elected representatives. That prerogative, in other words, is the last reminder of divine right, the fiction that a ruler can have powers vested by an unsubstantiated deity, the invisible God, and a punishing force beyond the reach of human control. And that such powers can in turn be vested in the government of the day.

he UK government, in league with the US and with support from a number of other countries, attacked Houthi positions in Yemen on 11 January. The decision was made without recourse to parliament and was justified by reference to Article 51 of the UN Charter as “limited, necessary and proportionate in self-defence”.
...
The use of the royal prerogative in authorising military action remains one of those British perversions that makes for good common room conversation but offends the sensibilities of the democratically minded elector. A far better practice would be to make the PM of the day accountable to that most essential body of all: parliament. That same principle would be extended to other constitutional monarchies, which are similarly weighed down by the all too liberal use of the prerogative when shedding blood. If a country’s citizens are to go to war to kill and be killed, surely their elected representatives should have a say in that most vital of decisions?

UK is often pushing for more aggression and this time.

Prepare for war with Russia, China, Iran and North Korea – UK defense minister Russia Times Jan 18, 2024

British defense minister Grant Shapps has predicted a global conflict between the West and Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, within five years. Shapps has called on Britain’s allies to increase their military spending in response to this so-called “existential threat.”

They need to worry about their own capabilities.

Two British warships collide in Persian Gulf Russia Times Jan 20, 2024

Two UK Royal Navy minesweeper vessels collided while docking in Bahrain, with one ship caught on video as it backed into the other.
...
The crash took place on Thursday as the HMS Chiddingfold, a Hunt-class mine countermeasures ship, attempted to dock at an undisclosed location in the Gulf island state. As captured in a clip making the rounds online, the Chiddingfold was seen slamming into the bow of the Sandown-class minehunter HMS Bangor, causing a loud clatter.

An unnamed military source cited by UK Defence Journal said that teams would be sent to review the damage and create a plan for repairs

________

Interesting twist in the Israeli narrative.
EU's Borrell says Israel financed creation of Gaza rulers Hamas Reuters Jan 19, 2024

Borrell added the only peaceful solution included the creation of a Palestinian state.
"We only believe a two-state solution imposed from the outside would bring peace even though Israel insists on the negative," he said.

________

On a somber note Philip Giraldi has some additional information on Gonzalas Lira.It is not confirmed, but attempted extortion may have been involved. Looking Forward to 2024? The Unz Review Jan 18, 2024

Are the United States and its friends already off to a bad start this year?
...

________

What is on your mind today?

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Open Thread

Saturday

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Submitted by QMS on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 8:06am

Good on the Osage Nation

-
-
To win the long battle to protect their mineral rights.
Corporations running roughshod over other's property
may give pause, at least to secure permission.

Thanks for the Potluck and good luck with the freeze.

Submitted by Lookout on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 9:53am

Good morning...

A brisk 12F this AM with temps below freezing all day. Tomorrow starts about the same, but will warm to 40F. Finally next week warm weather and rain. I've got cabbages, broccoli, and such under mulch, covers and tarp. I'll finally opened up those beds to light on Monday. Above freezing weather all next week.

When fentanyl replaced heroin as a domestic US plague, it was pointless to continue occupying Afghanistan

I knew about the US drug trade for under the table money, but the transition away from heroin playing a role in the abandonment of Project Afghan escaped my awareness. Interesting.

Gonzalo talked about the extortion during his bout in prison, and his Dad discussed it with George. Maria Zakharova made mention of Gonzalo too.

Well, everyone stay warm and safe. Thanks for the OT!

—

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

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 12:04pm

Good morning soe et. al. All of you suffering terrible weather

have my deepest sympathy. I am truly sorry for all of you as I abhor even mildly unpleasant weather.

It is good to see that win for the Osage and I hope that it is upheld upon any appeal. Also very good news about the NYSE and the NACs.

The UK warship collision is symptomatic of sooo very much, like all the issues with some models of the 747, the continuing issues with Ospreys and the fact that the Rus can take out Ukie, ie western, air defence installations with soviet era missiles using analog tech. Financialization and so much more has degraded western capabilities in tons of ways.

Related is that TSMC's 2nd Arizona fab production postponed to 2027 or 2028. We are a corporatocracy. If you want something from a corporation you must pay bigly for it. States and localities have for years had to engage in seriously costly bidding wars to get our overlords to build plants or other projects in their area. What part of this corruption has sleepy Joe forgotten, or does he think it doesn't apply to furriners?

Our Presidents, though far from Regal, also exercise the Royal Prerogative, it seems to be a brain virus that attacks the executive of almost all governments.

be well and have a good one

Edit - fixed a couple of typos

—

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 --

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 12:13pm

Interesting theory on the impact of the ICJ case initiated by

South Africa.

ICJ EXPLANATION: Why is the South African case against Israel at The Hague important and historic!

- Many people think that the ICJ case has no consequence and hence means nothing. This cannot be further from the truth

1) First you need to understand how these… pic.twitter.com/n8NDSIAHRO

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 19, 2024

The rest of the tweet explains the possibilities:

1) First you need to understand how these institutions are used.

Previously such international institutions were used by western countries to exert pressure on the global south.

The west always talks about morality and the need to abide by international law and The Hague’s decisions.

- Reminder, last year a case in Hague’s ICC was opened against the Russian president. The G7 then exerted tremendous pressure on all countries to break ties with Russia and arrest the Russian president upon visit of their country.

South Africa was hosting a BRICS summit and they could not invite the Russian president. There was a lot of controversy, but in the end the ICC triumphed.

Now we have South Africa flipping the tables and essentially trapping the G7 in a situation where they either need to abide by the ICJ court and abandon Israel or they destroy the international institutions of The Hague.

The global south is watching closely. If the case will be dropped now, it’s effectively a destruction of the institution as well.

2) What will happen if South Africa wins?

Let’s say the court rules in South Africa’s favor. Now nothing happens, Israel ignores the decision.

South Africa goes with this decision to the UN! Then the general assembly can decide on further proceedings and they will in Palestine’s favor.

This likely would lead to UN mandated sanctions of Israel, like freezing assets, import limits and so on.

Now this is essentially another problem for the west, since all countries around Israel would join the sanctions.

The US cannot forbid countries to abide by UN decisions, also if the G7 countries do not follow the sanctions then they will be in blatant violation as well.

3) NEXT: ICC follow-up lawsuits!

First the ICC would have to look at Netanyahu and co, since there’s a case confirming they’re doing gen**ide they cannot ignore it.

And now we come back the big drama the G7 made about the Russian president. Now the same would apply to Netanyahu, for example. This means he can’t go to Europe and US anymore, just imagine this!

Netanyahu would be officially a criminal that has to be arrested upon arrival.

That would be the self destruction of the west or the downfall of Israel, ending up as a pariah state.

4) Indonesia lawsuits:

Now Indonesia is filing a lawsuit at the ICJ against Israel for the 70 year occupation of Palestine.

The decision is “moral binding” sure.

BUT again, it’s a hypocrisy trap and Indonesia can take this decision to the UN general assembly and try to get all countries to act, i. E. sanctions.

5) Mexico and Chile sue Israel as well in the ICC.

"The action by Mexico and Chile is due to growing worry over the latest escalation of violence, particularly against civilian targets

Israel is not a member of the Hague-based court and does not recognize its jurisdiction.

But the ICC's prosecutor has stressed his court has jurisdiction over potential crimes carried in Gaza and Israel.”

Another hypocrisy trap, Russia is also not a member of the ICC but G7 countries ignored that and demanded his arrest. Now this cannot be used as an excuse anymore, or Russia is off.

Summary:

South Africa’s lawsuit at the international court of justice is a clever trap for the west.

Either destroy all your institutions and be finally and fully exposed as a hypocrite or act against Israel.

This is also why the western countries freak out so much about the ICJ, because they would have a big problem if Israel would be convicted.

Just look at the UN voting for Palestine (pic), Israel has no chance if there’s a court decision.

If South Africa wins, or any other lawsuit would win, Israel has a problem.

More countries are joining the lawsuits or file their own!

Let’s see!

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 12:58pm

This could end the Hague,

@humphrey could make the UN useless, and render Israel in just a few years as non-existent.
Interesting analysis, good on Mexico and Chile.
Interesting times.

South Africa.

ICJ EXPLANATION: Why is the South African case against Israel at The Hague important and historic!

- Many people think that the ICJ case has no consequence and hence means nothing. This cannot be further from the truth

1) First you need to understand how these… pic.twitter.com/n8NDSIAHRO

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 19, 2024

The rest of the tweet explains the possibilities:

1) First you need to understand how these institutions are used.

Previously such international institutions were used by western countries to exert pressure on the global south.

The west always talks about morality and the need to abide by international law and The Hague’s decisions.

- Reminder, last year a case in Hague’s ICC was opened against the Russian president. The G7 then exerted tremendous pressure on all countries to break ties with Russia and arrest the Russian president upon visit of their country.

South Africa was hosting a BRICS summit and they could not invite the Russian president. There was a lot of controversy, but in the end the ICC triumphed.

Now we have South Africa flipping the tables and essentially trapping the G7 in a situation where they either need to abide by the ICJ court and abandon Israel or they destroy the international institutions of The Hague.

The global south is watching closely. If the case will be dropped now, it’s effectively a destruction of the institution as well.

2) What will happen if South Africa wins?

Let’s say the court rules in South Africa’s favor. Now nothing happens, Israel ignores the decision.

South Africa goes with this decision to the UN! Then the general assembly can decide on further proceedings and they will in Palestine’s favor.

This likely would lead to UN mandated sanctions of Israel, like freezing assets, import limits and so on.

Now this is essentially another problem for the west, since all countries around Israel would join the sanctions.

The US cannot forbid countries to abide by UN decisions, also if the G7 countries do not follow the sanctions then they will be in blatant violation as well.

3) NEXT: ICC follow-up lawsuits!

First the ICC would have to look at Netanyahu and co, since there’s a case confirming they’re doing gen**ide they cannot ignore it.

And now we come back the big drama the G7 made about the Russian president. Now the same would apply to Netanyahu, for example. This means he can’t go to Europe and US anymore, just imagine this!

Netanyahu would be officially a criminal that has to be arrested upon arrival.

That would be the self destruction of the west or the downfall of Israel, ending up as a pariah state.

4) Indonesia lawsuits:

Now Indonesia is filing a lawsuit at the ICJ against Israel for the 70 year occupation of Palestine.

The decision is “moral binding” sure.

BUT again, it’s a hypocrisy trap and Indonesia can take this decision to the UN general assembly and try to get all countries to act, i. E. sanctions.

5) Mexico and Chile sue Israel as well in the ICC.

"The action by Mexico and Chile is due to growing worry over the latest escalation of violence, particularly against civilian targets

Israel is not a member of the Hague-based court and does not recognize its jurisdiction.

But the ICC's prosecutor has stressed his court has jurisdiction over potential crimes carried in Gaza and Israel.”

Another hypocrisy trap, Russia is also not a member of the ICC but G7 countries ignored that and demanded his arrest. Now this cannot be used as an excuse anymore, or Russia is off.

Summary:

South Africa’s lawsuit at the international court of justice is a clever trap for the west.

Either destroy all your institutions and be finally and fully exposed as a hypocrite or act against Israel.

This is also why the western countries freak out so much about the ICJ, because they would have a big problem if Israel would be convicted.

Just look at the UN voting for Palestine (pic), Israel has no chance if there’s a court decision.

If South Africa wins, or any other lawsuit would win, Israel has a problem.

More countries are joining the lawsuits or file their own!

Let’s see!

—

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

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 5:51pm

Awesome information

@humphrey

Especially the goose and gander thing because what countries did to Putin. He moved children and their parents and some orphans out of harm’s way, but he was charged with kidnapping them and the NATO poodles pounced. But now they are trying to block Bibi from being held accountable for killing 10,000 children and starving hundreds of thousands more.

South Africa’s lawsuit at the international court of justice is a clever trap for the west.

Either destroy all your institutions and be finally and fully exposed as a hypocrite or act against Israel.

The tweet reminds me of what Caitlin wrote.

Welcome To The Empire

Welcome to the empire

Where genocide is self-defense and peace rallies are genocide

Where war criminals are the victims and the hospitals are Hamas

Where calls for freedom are hateful and ceasefires are anti-semitic

Where civilians get called terrorists and real terrorists get Nobel Peace Prizes

Where the propaganda is journalism and the journalism is propaganda

Where the democracy is real and the apartheid is imaginary

Where the corporations are people and the people are corporate resources

Welcome to the empire

Whose bombs are humanitarian and whose provocations are invisible

Whose veterans are heroes and whose victims are forgotten

Whose wars are always just and whose enemies are always Hitler

Whose cause is always righteous and whose critics are always Russian

Whose sufferings are unforgivable and whose crimes are erased from history

Whose atrocities are always an unfortunate accident and whose enemies kill civilians for fun

Whose disastrous interventions are always innocent mistakes no matter how often they happen ……..

There’s more…

South Africa.

ICJ EXPLANATION: Why is the South African case against Israel at The Hague important and historic!

- Many people think that the ICJ case has no consequence and hence means nothing. This cannot be further from the truth

1) First you need to understand how these… pic.twitter.com/n8NDSIAHRO

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 19, 2024

The rest of the tweet explains the possibilities:

1) First you need to understand how these institutions are used.

Previously such international institutions were used by western countries to exert pressure on the global south.

The west always talks about morality and the need to abide by international law and The Hague’s decisions.

- Reminder, last year a case in Hague’s ICC was opened against the Russian president. The G7 then exerted tremendous pressure on all countries to break ties with Russia and arrest the Russian president upon visit of their country.

South Africa was hosting a BRICS summit and they could not invite the Russian president. There was a lot of controversy, but in the end the ICC triumphed.

Now we have South Africa flipping the tables and essentially trapping the G7 in a situation where they either need to abide by the ICJ court and abandon Israel or they destroy the international institutions of The Hague.

The global south is watching closely. If the case will be dropped now, it’s effectively a destruction of the institution as well.

2) What will happen if South Africa wins?

Let’s say the court rules in South Africa’s favor. Now nothing happens, Israel ignores the decision.

South Africa goes with this decision to the UN! Then the general assembly can decide on further proceedings and they will in Palestine’s favor.

This likely would lead to UN mandated sanctions of Israel, like freezing assets, import limits and so on.

Now this is essentially another problem for the west, since all countries around Israel would join the sanctions.

The US cannot forbid countries to abide by UN decisions, also if the G7 countries do not follow the sanctions then they will be in blatant violation as well.

3) NEXT: ICC follow-up lawsuits!

First the ICC would have to look at Netanyahu and co, since there’s a case confirming they’re doing gen**ide they cannot ignore it.

And now we come back the big drama the G7 made about the Russian president. Now the same would apply to Netanyahu, for example. This means he can’t go to Europe and US anymore, just imagine this!

Netanyahu would be officially a criminal that has to be arrested upon arrival.

That would be the self destruction of the west or the downfall of Israel, ending up as a pariah state.

4) Indonesia lawsuits:

Now Indonesia is filing a lawsuit at the ICJ against Israel for the 70 year occupation of Palestine.

The decision is “moral binding” sure.

BUT again, it’s a hypocrisy trap and Indonesia can take this decision to the UN general assembly and try to get all countries to act, i. E. sanctions.

5) Mexico and Chile sue Israel as well in the ICC.

"The action by Mexico and Chile is due to growing worry over the latest escalation of violence, particularly against civilian targets

Israel is not a member of the Hague-based court and does not recognize its jurisdiction.

But the ICC's prosecutor has stressed his court has jurisdiction over potential crimes carried in Gaza and Israel.”

Another hypocrisy trap, Russia is also not a member of the ICC but G7 countries ignored that and demanded his arrest. Now this cannot be used as an excuse anymore, or Russia is off.

Summary:

South Africa’s lawsuit at the international court of justice is a clever trap for the west.

Either destroy all your institutions and be finally and fully exposed as a hypocrite or act against Israel.

This is also why the western countries freak out so much about the ICJ, because they would have a big problem if Israel would be convicted.

Just look at the UN voting for Palestine (pic), Israel has no chance if there’s a court decision.

If South Africa wins, or any other lawsuit would win, Israel has a problem.

More countries are joining the lawsuits or file their own!

Let’s see!

—

There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 12:29pm

Taiwan and the US could be on the receiving end of the

lessons learned.

SMART: Chineee army studies the Ukraine and Karabach war!

During combat training classes, PLA military personnel study the combat experience of Russia and Azerbaijan in the use of drones in modern conflicts. The photo shows the Russian Orlan-10 UAV used in the Northern… pic.twitter.com/WMpsdet2WL

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 20, 2024

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 12:49pm

Continuing the economy discussion gjohnsit started

and the comments on it.

How Can Anyone Possibly Claim That The U.S. Economy Is Doing Well With All Of This Going On?

How in the world can anybody possibly claim that the U.S. economy is in good shape? Honestly, I don’t see how anyone can make a rational argument that this is the case. Actually, the only people who seem to be trying to claim that the U.S. economy is heading in the right direction are those in the upper tiers of the economic food chain. At this stage, those in the lower tiers of the economic food chain are very well aware of how much they are suffering. Poverty, homelessness and hunger are rapidly growing all over America right now. But if you still have plenty of money and those around you still have plenty of money, you may be wondering what all of the fuss is about. If you are one of those people, hopefully this article will be a wake up call for you.

Meanwhile, 2023 was a year when Americans got further behind on their credit card bills “in 49 of the 50 states”…

The number of people falling behind on their credit card bills increased in 49 of the 50 states last year, a sobering new report reveals.

As inflation took its toll on household budgets, Americans in their millions became delinquent on credit card debt – with some states much more badly affected than others.

According to analysis by WalletHub, the number of borrowers struggling to keep on track of their credit card bills has risen the fastest in Oregon. Between September 2022 and September 2023, delinquencies in the state soared by 51 percent.

Meanwhile, large layoff announcements continue to pile up at a very frightening pace.
(See article for which companies are laying off thousands of workers in addition to the tens of thousands of workers already laid off - sd)

We are witnessing such a large tsunami of layoffs now that it is virtually impossible to keep up with them all.

And earlier today I was stunned to learn that the entire staff of Sports Illustrated is being terminated…

Following through on a warning earlier this month, Authentic Brands Group has revoked Sports Illustrated’s icense to publish due to a missed payment.

As a result of the move, the entire staff of the 70-year-old print and online publication was notified on Friday that their jobs were being eliminated.

“We appreciate the work and efforts of everyone who has contributed to the SI brand and business,” SI operator The Arena Group wrote in a memo to employees that set off outrage on social media.

I have been warning about the derivatives bubble in my books for over a decade.

Derivatives are going to become a very hot topic the closer we get to a full-blown implosion of the global financial system.

We are in far more trouble than most people realize.

—

There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 1:02pm

From the linked article

We Are Witnessing A Tsunami Of Economic Suffering All Over America

2023 was really tough for much of the country, and many of the economic trends from last year just continue to intensify.

For example, just look at what is happening at food banks all over the nation. At one location in southern California, demand is up almost 60 percent since before the pandemic…

The nonprofit Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, which provides food for 400,000 people a month in Orange County, has seen a nearly 60 percent increase in demand since before the pandemic.

“If we are really going to help lift people out of poverty, they need fresh food,” Claudia Keller, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County,

Despite all of the happy talk that we are constantly getting from the Biden administration and the mainstream media, the truth is that poverty is exploding and homelessness in the U.S. has been growing at the fastest pace ever recorded…

Homelessness is on the rise in the United States, and it’s growing at a rate never seen before, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report shows that more than 653,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S. — marking a 12% increase from 2022. The report uses compiled Point-In-Time Count data — a method that attempts to count every person living homeless one day out of the year — from across the nation to track the ebbs and flows of the nation’s homelessness crisis.

According to the government’s own numbers, the U.S. lost a whopping 1.531 million full-time jobs in December alone.

And layoffs continue to be announced at a furious pace here in January.

Earlier today, I was stunned to learn that Pixar has decided to conduct mass layoffs…

Welcome to 2024.

This is going to be such a crazy year.

And as more companies lay off workers, large numbers of Americans won’t be able to pay their bills.

In fact, credit card delinquency rates at all stages have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels…

More elderly are becoming homeless for the first time and I can’t begin to imagine how horrible their lives are. And a lot of homeless people are working and they have more than one job, but they can’t afford to pay the ever increasing rents that greedy people keep raising. Minimum wage is a whole fcking $7.75 and it hasn’t been raised since before Obama’s tenure. I’ve seen rents and over $4,000 in NYC and they are just the lowest people can find.

Meanwhile there are thousands upon thousands of empty houses across the country and the empty office buildings…but let’s not do anything about helping people.

When was the last time you heard congress talking about the HUD program for low income people? Democrats say that they might work with republicans on bringing back the child tax credits, but republicans insist on more tax cuts for the rich. Notice how every time republicans cut taxes the democrats do nothing to raise them again? In fact they helped republicans fix the mistakes they made when they cut them last time.

Yeah I know I’m preaching to the choir….

—

There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 1:28pm

That would sure shatter the image of NYC

@snoopydawg @snoopydawg

as the financial hub of the empire. Fill the empty hi-rises with the homeless and refugees
using state funds. The briefcase carrying suits may find themselves in a strange new world.
All of that financial wizardry won't add up to much. Hey buddy, can you loan me a dime?
Ah needs to feed me kin.

. We Are Witnessing A Tsunami Of Economic Suffering All Over America 2023 was really tough for much of the country, and many of the economic trends from last year just continue to intensify. For example, just look at what is happening at food banks all over the nation. At one location in southern California, demand is up almost 60 percent since before the pandemic… The nonprofit Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, which provides food for 400,000 people a month in Orange County, has seen a nearly 60 percent increase in demand since before the pandemic. “If we are really going to help lift people out of poverty, they need fresh food,” Claudia Keller, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Despite all of the happy talk that we are constantly getting from the Biden administration and the mainstream media, the truth is that poverty is exploding and homelessness in the U.S. has been growing at the fastest pace ever recorded… Homelessness is on the rise in the United States, and it’s growing at a rate never seen before, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report shows that more than 653,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S. — marking a 12% increase from 2022. The report uses compiled Point-In-Time Count data — a method that attempts to count every person living homeless one day out of the year — from across the nation to track the ebbs and flows of the nation’s homelessness crisis. According to the government’s own numbers, the U.S. lost a whopping 1.531 million full-time jobs in December alone. And layoffs continue to be announced at a furious pace here in January. Earlier today, I was stunned to learn that Pixar has decided to conduct mass layoffs… Welcome to 2024. This is going to be such a crazy year. And as more companies lay off workers, large numbers of Americans won’t be able to pay their bills. In fact, credit card delinquency rates at all stages have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels… More elderly are becoming homeless for the first time and I can’t begin to imagine how horrible their lives are. And a lot of homeless people are working and they have more than one job, but they can’t afford to pay the ever increasing rents that greedy people keep raising. Minimum wage is a whole fcking $7.75 and it hasn’t been raised since before Obama’s tenure. I’ve seen rents and over $4,000 in NYC and they are just the lowest people can find. Meanwhile there are thousands upon thousands of empty houses across the country and the empty office buildings…but let’s not do anything about helping people. When was the last time you heard congress talking about the HUD program for low income people? Democrats say that they might work with republicans on bringing back the child tax credits, but republicans insist on more tax cuts for the rich. Notice how every time republicans cut taxes the democrats do nothing to raise them again? In fact they helped republicans fix the mistakes they made when they cut them last time. Yeah I know I’m preaching to the choir….

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 1:35pm

Your preaching made me think of the "Church Lady"

@snoopydawg

From Saturday Night Live

. We Are Witnessing A Tsunami Of Economic Suffering All Over America 2023 was really tough for much of the country, and many of the economic trends from last year just continue to intensify. For example, just look at what is happening at food banks all over the nation. At one location in southern California, demand is up almost 60 percent since before the pandemic… The nonprofit Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, which provides food for 400,000 people a month in Orange County, has seen a nearly 60 percent increase in demand since before the pandemic. “If we are really going to help lift people out of poverty, they need fresh food,” Claudia Keller, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Despite all of the happy talk that we are constantly getting from the Biden administration and the mainstream media, the truth is that poverty is exploding and homelessness in the U.S. has been growing at the fastest pace ever recorded… Homelessness is on the rise in the United States, and it’s growing at a rate never seen before, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report shows that more than 653,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S. — marking a 12% increase from 2022. The report uses compiled Point-In-Time Count data — a method that attempts to count every person living homeless one day out of the year — from across the nation to track the ebbs and flows of the nation’s homelessness crisis. According to the government’s own numbers, the U.S. lost a whopping 1.531 million full-time jobs in December alone. And layoffs continue to be announced at a furious pace here in January. Earlier today, I was stunned to learn that Pixar has decided to conduct mass layoffs… Welcome to 2024. This is going to be such a crazy year. And as more companies lay off workers, large numbers of Americans won’t be able to pay their bills. In fact, credit card delinquency rates at all stages have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels… More elderly are becoming homeless for the first time and I can’t begin to imagine how horrible their lives are. And a lot of homeless people are working and they have more than one job, but they can’t afford to pay the ever increasing rents that greedy people keep raising. Minimum wage is a whole fcking $7.75 and it hasn’t been raised since before Obama’s tenure. I’ve seen rents and over $4,000 in NYC and they are just the lowest people can find. Meanwhile there are thousands upon thousands of empty houses across the country and the empty office buildings…but let’s not do anything about helping people. When was the last time you heard congress talking about the HUD program for low income people? Democrats say that they might work with republicans on bringing back the child tax credits, but republicans insist on more tax cuts for the rich. Notice how every time republicans cut taxes the democrats do nothing to raise them again? In fact they helped republicans fix the mistakes they made when they cut them last time. Yeah I know I’m preaching to the choir….

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 2:58pm

NEWS:

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US airbase Ain al-Asad in Iraq's western Anbar Province has been targeted by at least 15 missiles, Iraqi news agency Shafaq reported on Saturday, citing a security source.
The missiles were launched from the Iraqi city of Albaghdadi, the source said, without giving further information.

doesn't look like much damage, injuries, or deaths from the reporting so far.

be well and have a good one

—

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 --

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 3:02pm

In the fog of war the actual truth is hard to find.

@enhydra lutris

US says two soldiers were lightly wounded.

Iraqi sources claim 4 US soldiers are dead.

pic.twitter.com/h6GJlObtRp

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 20, 2024

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sun, 01/21/2024 - 10:21am

Thanks for the further info n/t

@humphrey

—

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 --

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 2:59pm

This is revealing but not surprising.

its not complicated, its calculated #Gaza #palestine #israel #Netanyahu

pic.twitter.com/OwdBAKPaOs

— War Reports (@cheguwera) January 14, 2024

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 5:46pm

the utter clumsiness of the war state

-
-
is leaking out for the world to see ..
British ship backing into one of their own
and a stray flashlight ruining a $14M jet engine
foolishness writ large, embarrassing the brass

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 9:04pm

Booyah!

Nicely said and thanks for saying it.

During a discussion titled “What to Expect from a Possible Republican Administration,” Roberts let rip on the elitists.

“I will be candid,” Roberts began, adding “the agenda that every single person member of the [future Republican] administration needs to have, is to compile a list of everything that’s ever been proposed at the [WEF], and object all of them wholesale.”

He further urged that “anyone not prepared to do that, and take away this power of the unelected bureaucrats and give it back to the American people, is unprepared to be a part of the next conservative administration.”

When the discussion turned to Donald Trump, Roberts told the host of the panel, Sir Robin Niblett, ‘Distinguished Fellow’ of Chatham House, that “It’s laughable that you or anyone would describe Davos as protecting liberal democracy,” adding “It’s equally laughable to use the word ‘dictatorship’ at Davos and aim that at President Trump… I think that’s absurd.”

He continued, “The very reason I’m here at Davos, is to explain to many people in this room and who are watching, with all due respect – nothing personal – that you are part of the problem.”

“Political elites tell the average people… that the reality is ‘x,’ when in fact, reality is ‘y,’” Roberts further declared, going on to give several examples with regards to open borders, immigration, gender issues, and the constant guilt trip elites subject everyday people to over the “existential threat” of climate change, while they hypocritically fly around in private jets.

This wasn’t satire.

—

There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 9:54pm

Could you provide

@snoopydawg a link to the speech or discussion? That sounded great!

—

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

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 11:24pm

…..

@on the cusp

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/watch-you-are-problem-conservativ...

Trump said that he wouldn’t allow digital money to be used here. Hopefully he will withdraw from the WHO again, but not transfer the money to the Gates Foundation. What an icky trick he played. They own the fcking WHO!

—

There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 11:50pm

Got it!

@snoopydawg I had no idea Trump played a sleight of hand.
Bastard.
Thanks for the link. I wanted the contest of the fantastic block quote you posted.

—

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

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 10:03pm

More Israelis show their true colors with regards to the

ongoing genocide.

#Israel TV main channel celebrating with zest #Palestinian homes being destroyed. Calling for more destruction so that Palestinians can't put it back together again.
More evidence piles every day #genocide in #Gaza pic.twitter.com/0vXMrkAqYb

— Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) January 21, 2024

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 11:17pm

Baghdad Bob clone talks out of both sides of his mouth.

every fucking Western narrative is falling apart like a house of cards - and those idiots even admit it. https://t.co/SCQpKHIZaT

— -- GEROMAN -- time will tell - -- (@GeromanAT) January 20, 2024

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 11:47pm

lying SOB

@humphrey n/t

—

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

Submitted by soryang on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 11:20pm

Good Mearsheimer interview

I saw this yesterday. It's 4 days old now, so maybe others have already seen it. It's a very good wide ranging interview on the Ukraine situation and US geopolitics generally.

Thanks for the potluck SOE!

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 11:58pm

Watch to see when the lightbulb went off

Black people cant be required to show photo ID because they don’t have xerox machines? pic.twitter.com/w1XeXbNEBT

— @amuse (@amuse) January 20, 2024

And people dreaded that Palin would be one heartbeat from the presidency.

—

There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sun, 01/21/2024 - 12:03am

My thanks is coming way late,

but soe, this was a really interesting and informative OT.
Thank you so very much for your time and effort.

—

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