Saturday Open Thread - 9/7/24: Odds and Ends

Good morning, good friends! Hope you have a fun filled weekend developing!

So hot here 2 weeks ago, being outdoors made me want to don a bathing suit and jump in the water.

Now, I need a light sweater in the evenings. Wonderful!

My waiver of a consultation fee this week was a 6 pack of Bud Lite, and any Budweiser beer gives me a splitting headache before a bottle is finished. Secretary got the benefit! All good!

Critter news: 11 doves on the bird feeder, a hoovering of bird allotted cup of seed in an hour.

The front porch ceiling Banana spider died. She helped kill the red wasps for me, but shat upon the patio chair. Oh, well...

This Presidential election poses many issues for me, and for us. We haven't had to vote to stop a genocide before. We typically vote our pocketbooks. Trump says he will end taxes on Social Security. Do you know how tempting that is? WOW! Not the only temptation(s) I have flirted with!

I am anxiously awaiting the Russian re-do of their nuke policy, and what our idiotic new deal with long range missile agreement with the Ukraine might entail.

We are our own worst enemies.

On a happy note, it is the weekend! And no rains in the forecast! And steaks to be grilled!

For funsies, see how long it takes you to get the pronunciation of these Texas town right.

And, a fun story about how to pronounce "Mexia", TX.

The lead singer/leader of the band, Asleep at the Wheel, did a riff on stage at Luckenbach about how to properly pronounce the name when he was driving through it. He asked at several places in the town...seem older locals pronounced it "Muhair". I asked a store clerk in Elgin how to pronounce Elgin. Soft g. At least in that part of town. Others, hard g. I still don't know. San Jacinto is pronounced San (lacking the d to rhyme with sand), Ju, as in "just" without the ck; cin rhymes with sent; o pronounced as it should be.

Can't wait to see what you peeps are up to, and what is on your minds!

Let 'er rip!

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I have lots to say about parties to crimes regarding the Georgia school shooting, particularly about the shooter's dad being arrested, but today is just not the day. I want more info before I jump to this. The parental supervision I had and values taught were then, not now. The law of parties to a crime are also then, not now.
So, for now, it is up to you to take this open thread, by definition, open to all topics, wherever you wish.
As Kamala would say, the passage of time puts us in the moment, then ......

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

usefewersyllables's picture

@on the cusp

like the wind; fruit flies like a banana…

Or, in her case, perhaps a coconut.

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Twice bitten, permanently shy.

@usefewersyllables

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

dystopian's picture

@usefewersyllables a split coconut?

n/t

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Lookout's picture

Lovely cool mornings here too, but we are very dry.

Bought cabbage, broccoli, and collard plants this morning at Trade Day. We'll have to water them heavy this week to get them started. Still picking okra and tomatoes daily.

Old band mates came by Thursday and stayed till yesterday pm. It was nice to get in a visit and a session with them.

My shit-lib friends think Kamala is great. Poor misinformed people.

Y'all have a great weekend! Thanks for the OT!

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

@Lookout I do not see where Tucker is wrong.
You know, water prices here have jumped. Watering a garden, a lawn, even providing water for livestock, makes the endeavor very expensive. We disappeared 3 flower beds in the yard this summer. Summer is my time to travel a bit, and I actually hire someone to come water plants and garden while we are gone. As much as we love it, love the vegetable yield, love the flowers, there comes a time when it isn't worth the time and effort.
We shall see if we want to fool with it this spring.
It is possible the mayor can get the crooks operating the water system run out of town.
I bet you and your band mates had a blast! Bet your fingers are sore!
I prepared a will for a local musician who had played with some notable celebrities, and had written numerous songs. We put in clauses directing who would receive that copyrights. He passed away this week, and I guess his funeral will draw his musician friends to pay respects. Once a band, always a band.
Take care of you and the holler!

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

QMS's picture

.
.
Decent weather here, comfortable.

The politicization of the justice system has become
overtly blatant. Demos suing greens and independents
to keep them off the ballots. States trying to deny ballot
access to challengers thru the courts. The witch hunt in
NY to cripple a former president from returning to office.
The list goes on. Whatever became of blind justice?
Same thing that happened to free speech I guess.

Thanks for the OT and enjoy your Saturday!

~
The shit has hit the fan.

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truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security

@QMS Political law-fare is a disgrace. It is a total subversion of the justice system and the electoral system.
Now, antisemitism can land you in jail. Depending on what country you are in, any criticism of Israel can lead to prison time, as well as saying something negative about a migrant population.
I would now be uncomfortable going to the typical tourist destinations, such as London,Paris, and Barcelona. Chatting with like minded people at the pubs and bars would not be fun as it once was.
In these parts, officials who are not the party favorite often wind up arrested for some felony of some kind. Once they are removed from office, there charges are dismissed. I have defended 7, so far.
Enjoy your day, friend!

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

snoopydawg's picture

.

Isn’t there a rule that says former presidents cannot be president again or is that only for 2 term presidents?

Anyone?

Lol….

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“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt

@snoopydawg Anyone who thinks Israel is a US jr. partner or satellite state got it bass-ackwards.
Getting ready for your eye surgery? Is my client ready to be your seeing eye dog for a few days? Or will she be distracted by toys and your socks?
Take care, chica!

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

TheOtherMaven's picture

@snoopydawg

The obvious precedent is Grover Cleveland (president 1885-1889 and 1893-1897). He didn't have the cleanest reputation either, being dogged by a story that he had fathered an illegitimate child (he did admit to paying child support and said the child was "maybe his"). Nonetheless, he narrowly squeaked into office (first term).

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

snoopydawg's picture

@TheOtherMaven

And thank gawd for the rule. Can you imagine having another Cheney presidency….oh wait. We have. Obama continued the Cheney wars and added his own and Trump continued the Obama wars and Biden has not only continued them, but added many others. Putin is right. No matter who is president the wars continue.

Trump says that neither the Hamas attack or the Russian attack would have happened if he was president. Lying SoS! It was Trump’s peace accords and Biden pushing the abrahms accord that caused Hamas to attack because if they had gone through there would have been no Palestinians left. And Trump armed the Nazis and withdrew from the INF treaty. And as Putin recently said, he added more sanctions than any other president.

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“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt

Socialprogressive's picture

A woman working for Wells Fargo bank in Tempe Az. died at her desk and nobody noticed for 4 days.

Wells Fargo is so fucked up I wouldn't be surprised if they send the deceased woman a get well card.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

@Socialprogressive being the business environment that callously treats employees and segregates and isolates workers to such a point that they do not notice a dead co-worker in the room, comports with everything I know about that bank. I have tons of problems with Wells Fargo turning lose of a decedent's accounts. Many hoops to jump through.
That was a damn interesting video, and that you for posting it.
We are a truly shitty society. People still look up to bankers. Didn't Jeebus show us how to treat money lenders?
This sudden drop in temperature is just so damn welcome and refreshing! I have actually done some yard work!
Enjoy your day, and if you or anyone you know come up with a better economic system than capitalism, please keep us informed. It is an obvious form of slavery. We 99% deserve better.
Thanks for dropping by, friend!

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

soryang's picture

...weeks in fact. Then yesterday there was a lot of rain all day. Neighborhoods in or near Orlando, with poor drainage, for various reasons, had flooded streets with some flooded homes. With the high humidity the heat here has been brutal. When it rained we noticed a gutter down spout was clogged and the water wasn't draining properly. This morning I tried to fix it, the problem is near the roof. I still didn't get if fixed because it's so hot after 30 minutes or so, I thought I would pass out. So I'll work on it later.

I reported the big "apology" from Japan last night, there's more Japan news today-

https://caucus99percent.com/user/63920/comment

"I wanted to say that it's heart rending when i think about the time in a difficult environment many people suffered hardships and sad experiences." Prime Minister Kishida

Japan PM hopeful says U.S. opposition to Nippon Steel deal ‘very unsettling’

One of the frontrunners to become Japan’s next premier said on Friday that reports the U.S. is poised to block Japan’s Nippon Steel from buying U.S. Steel over national security concerns is “very unsettling” and could dent trust between the allies.

The White House is close to announcing that President Joe Biden will block the $15 billion deal, Reuters reported on Wednesday. A letter sent to the companies, and seen by Reuters, said the takeover could hurt the supply of steel needed for critical U.S. transportation, construction and agriculture projects.

“I find what the United States is saying (about Nippon Steel) to be very unsettling, making such statements or actions that could undermine the trust of its allies,” Ishiba told Reuters in an exclusive interview.

“Recently the U.S. is tending to impose deals and threats even on its allies, this is true not only with NATO countries but also now with Japan. I question whether that is really a fair approach. It is extremely important for the Japanese government to discuss these matters sincerely, earnestly, and logically.”

Below Tim S. expresses a not entirely correct characterization of the enhanced Japanese military budget. The US isn't "forcing" Japan to increase its armaments. The entire Indo-Pacific strategy originated with Shinzo Abe. The right wing leadership of Japan has been trying to remove Article 9 restrictions on an offensive military in their constitution for years. Former prime minister Abe was the major proponent of elimination of Article 9. There is a substantial part of the population who oppose this, maybe a majority, but I've never seen poll numbers on it.

Some of the LDPs top political leaders want at least the option and readiness to make their own nuclear weapons as well. Shigeru Ishiba and Taro Aso are two I can think of off hand. I'm sure Nobuo Kishi, and likely Sanae Takaichi are in this category as well. Overall, the LDP maintains an "ambivalent position" on nuclear weapons as leverage over the US concerning the US commitment to "extended deterrence." Some Japanese leaders over the years have expressed the opinion that Article 9 does not preclude possession of nuclear weapons for "defensive purposes." Japan does have a not possessing, not producing, not introducing, three no's policy on nuclear weapons though. How strictly the "not introducing" nuclear weapons has been adhered to (by the US) is controversial. The new right under the Yoon administration harbors a similar ambiguous stance on nuclear non-proliferation for the same reason.

The linked Asia Times article has a lengthy summary of defense developments reflected in Japan's increased military budgets.

Other recent news-

In July, a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer temporarily sailed into Chinese territorial waters. In mid August Japanese politicians including Ishiba Shigeru, who is running for potential candidacy for the LDP nomination for PM, visited Taiwan. On August 26, a Chinese Y-9 violated Japanese airspace. On August 31, A Chinese survey ship violated Japanese territorial waters. China denies the territorial violations. Tit for tat? Apparently, the "hotline" they had set up for such incidents is encumbered with some kind of protocol which makes it too difficult to use. I wonder who could be responsible/not responsible for that?

China enters Japan waters days after air violation protested

Hotline not used over Japan airspace breach by China military plane

Thanks for the Odds n Ends OTC.

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語必忠信 行必正直

QMS's picture

@soryang
.
there is some good left there

Lullaby of Itsuk it's about a babysitting girl who herself is very young
and missing her home eagerly.

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truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security

@QMS I might try to find the sheet music for that!
I did have plans to tour that country one day, mostly because a friend used to travel there fairly regularly as a solo traveler. She is a senior, said she felt safe anywhere in the country. I have to say, that is one more good thing about Japan.

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

@soryang seem to understand what a blessing it is not to have a military of aggression scale.
I find the Nippon Steel purchase being blocked is pretty strange. We need another buddy pal country to assist us in an upcoming war with evil China, after all.
So, our allies may be getting wise to the fact that the US can and will sanction them? The times, they are a'changing.
One of the first trips I made out of the state was to NM. Mom and I went to all the Billy the Kid museums and visited the jail from which he escaped, located in Lincoln. It was hot, maybe 110. We walked in the sun, burning up, then stood in the shade and immediately cooled off. That was literally the first time i our lives we fully understood the effect of high humidity!
Have a good weekend, and hire some youngster to clean out that gutter!
Thanks for your Asian news, friend!

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

dystopian's picture

Hi all, Hey OtC!

Thanks for the OT, vids, and tunes.

Yeah this fall style cooldown in TX has been great. Two weeks ago it was record 107 here, 85 now. We had 4" of rain Sept. 2-3, which is monster good here in D2 drought without our usual running river.

Doves are pigs with wings. So which do you have there, Mourning or White-winged? Mourning has pointed tail and black spots on wing, calling oo-oooooooo-oo-oo. White-winged Dove calls 'who cooks for you?', has a square tail (fanned when spread), and a big white crescent along wing edge when wing closed. There is no question in most of TX when dove season opens for it is made 12 ga. clear, Sept. 1.

The vids on TX town pronunciations were good. My rather extensive research (been to almost all of the places they mentioned) is that they did this so it would be easy to tell if you were not from there, ergo, didn't belong. Wink As if they needed that when I pulled up to sell them a sign in a blue cadillac, nice suit, bird tie, and cowboy boots! Oh the glorious 80's.

Thanks OtC!

Happy trails all!

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

@dystopian They are so fat, I don't know how they can fly. JtC wanted you to know he watched a Baltimore Oriole taking a bath. I was at work. I am the one that spends the most time near the feeder and bird bath. Dammit.
A friend visited me at the office yesterday, said he was going to Waco, would be hunting today. He wraps the breast in bacon and stuffs it into a jalapeno, grills the poppers over a mesquite wood pit.
The only circumstance I would shoot a bird is if it were wounded or I was starving. Starvation will transition folks from watchers to hunters.
There are quite a few dry rivers, or extremely low rivers, in your neck of the woods. We have had rains since spring, throughout summer, no more that a 2 or 3 weeks stretch of dry days since March. Crazy stuff.
Yeah, I know locals way back when did want to identify furriners. Hence, strange pronunciations. You must have had some crazy moments being the only suit in town!
Here's a couple for you. How would you pronounce Bedias? Or, Colmesneil?

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

dystopian's picture

@on the cusp Hi PtC!

Outstanding JtC got to see a Baltimore Oriole there! It is a beauty of an American bird. The like fruit bearing trees in fall passage, and water, and sometimes hummingbird feeders. Kathy gets the drop on me for birds at the bath all the time, since I put it out 'her' kitchen window.

Dove is a bit gamey and strong. Lots here say jalapeno is the key to taking the edge off it. We ate a huge ziplock full of it a few years ago that a local gave us. Darkish dryish meat. I think the things like the small quail and game hens (Cornish) are much better. I just shoot birds with a camera as it requires far more skill than a 12 gauge. Have no qualms eating them, know which ones taste best! Wink John James Audubon noted how every bird he painted (from specimens he shot) tasted. Smile

How would you pronounce Bedias? Or, Colmesneil?

I get the sense this is one of those Texas trap thingies? Smile I may have failed to mention, that I embarrassed myself by initially mis-pronouncing most of those towns when I rolled in. But no one strikes a fool or idiot. I do not know either of those places, so can only imagine what trickery might be lurking, causing one to question everything they thought they knew about the English language. No onever got Bexar right first try. And Uvalde is named after a dude named Ugalde. You can't trust any letter in TX town naming to be pronounced what it looks like. Being raised on good proper English in LA, my instinctive reaction would be to pronounce them how they look. Which I know life ain't that simple in TX town names. So since I was a quick learner after about 10 times of looking like the new idiot in town, I learned it was the first thing you did when you got to town. Find out how they say it. ASK! So, tell me, what did they do to those innocent looking seemingly easily prouncable words?

happy trails

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

@dystopian Colmesneil is pronounced "colmuneel". Bedias, a logging town where my Dad was born in a covered wagon at a logger's camp, is pronounced bee die.
We just put too many letters in our town names!
I do not eat wild game because it has a strong taste and smell. Like, deer meat should be soaked in milk 24 hrs before cooking. Well, if you have to go to that much trouble to get a meat fit to eat, I will just pass on it.
I have several hunter friends who travel to other states or to Canada because they love quail that much!
Good for Kathy!!!

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

dystopian's picture

@on the cusp Hi OtC!

I would have NEVER gotten those town names right. Tripping us furriners up! Wink Mass. is bad too, in an old English way.

I clean fish like a pro, but do not do the hunt and field dressing game thing. Not for me. I do like venison though, and the backstraps are like filet mignon. No one gives those away. I'll eat it but do not want to know how to field dress it. I have butchered pigs after field dressed, done that, don't like it, but is sure is delicious. Will learn field dressing when the collapse comes... Smile

Quail is great. For me, it is Cornish Game Hens for the win. Wink

happy trails!

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

@dystopian is the gold standard for venison.
But the real trick is what the deer is doing at the precise moment of the shot. If they are frightened, they rage with hormones and adrenaline. If they are quietly standing and eating, there is much less preparation needed.
Most game hunters do thrill kills, eat little of the game, and then when they get old, they can't do it anymore, become the deer feeders, protect the raccoons, feed the birds, feed the squirrels, etc...They finally internalize their cruelty and try to atone. I have witnessed this transformation over and over.
We will all learn to field dress if things continue as they are.
Yeah...Bedias kicks ass.

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

enhydra lutris's picture

followed by the local town fall festival. A bit more political this year because election, but we mostly ignored that. Local water district really pushing reducing water for landscaping and gardening. Also says rules have changed for using grey water for landscaping, much less onerous, which is a good thing, the old rules were brutal. Found a place selling Jalapeño infused olive oil but they didn't have any for tasting. I'll hit their retail shop next week for a taste and maybe get some.

Haven't checked out the global news yet, so I guess I'll get started on that and then routing chores and stuff.

be well and have a good one

wrote this then forgot to save it, oops

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris I avoid politics as much as possible in what used to be polite conversation. It ain't polite no more...
On a whim, I bought some jalapeno mustard maybe 4 years ago. Well, I now have to keep the pantry stocked with it. It is simply delicious.
It has been a chef's trick to put a dash of cayenne in all kinds of dishes, from soups, stews, and even desserts with chocolate. Well, jalapeno is another pepper that wakes up flavors. That olive oil laced with it just might be a real game changer.
I have done a bit of yard work again today, given the temp drop, and the pleasant breeze. The big party/festival here is the annual fair and rodeo. It comes at the precise time I will be out of state. Oh, well! I hope yours was enjoyable.
Chores. Never ending list. I totally get that!
I haven't run across any breaking news regarding the Gazan genocide today, and did see that Russia took control of another town in the Donbass. Germany and England are becoming more fascistic by the day, and the Cheneys love and fully support K-Hive.
I haven't run across any good news about anything, so taking a day away from it all ain't a bad choice if you actually want to experience a fun time.
Well, friend, thanks for dropping in, and enjoy a great meal and a great bottle of wine paired with it.
Take care, dear friend!

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

snoopydawg's picture

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In Africa because it uses a live virus.
We know that Israelis see all Palestinians as animals and if they can’t bomb them to death then they will starve them to death. Either works for Israel. So what’s really behind this vaccine plan in Gaza where only one baby has supposedly gotten polio and only 6 water tests showed positive.

https://www.unz.com/mwhitney/vaccination-campaign-in-gaza-polio-eradicat...

While international organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) will regularly boast about ‘eradicating polio’ with vaccines—the opposite seems to be the case, with vaccines causing the deaths of scores of young people living in Africa. Health officials have now admitted that their plan to stop ‘wild’ polio is backfiring, as scores children are being paralyzed by a deadly strain of the pathogen derived from a live vaccine – causing a virulent wave of polio to spread.

Anyone think that Netanyahu gives a damn about saving kids from polio when he’s going to continue bombing them or his gestapo troops will just shoot them?

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“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt

@snoopydawg It would be cheaper, save bullets, give soldiers a rest, if polio eradicated the Palestinian kids.
Thanks for the link to the polio info in Africa! I am gonna check it out right now.

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

usefewersyllables's picture

@on the cusp

who thinks that the Israelis will swap out the polio vaccine for something else, like live ebola virus or maybe a Zyklon-B cocktail?

Just joking, of course. The Israelis would never do anything that genocidal…

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Twice bitten, permanently shy.

@usefewersyllables joker, friend.
The IDF wants a moving target kid to shoot in the head because it makes a better video. s/, of course.

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

with Garland Nixon and Scott Ritter that speaks to nuclear war. The last 20 minutes or so is about money and elites controlling the country since its' inception.

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

interviewing Joti Brar, "The Fall of Imperialism", 1:17 minutes.
I am 10 minutes in, and it is good.

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