The Weekly Watch

Regenerate!

Open Thread Image.jpg

Regenerative agriculture is a common topic in this column, but I've been thinking this week that it might refer to other things which are being regenerated. For example, perhaps the BRICS+ summit this week in Kazan is regenerating the world order and economy? Is there even a chance we could regenerate the nature of the US and use the Constitution as our guide? Maybe we should go even farther and totally re-invent the US...perhaps involving more direct democracy. A republic like ours is easily corrupted/purchased as we can clearly see. We certainly need to regenerate our health system, in part through regenerative agriculture providing nutrient rich foods. So let's dive in and regenerate some of our assumptions.

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Kirzhach Typography BRICS banknote design

The main motif of the symbolic BRICS banknotes that were unveiled at the summit in Kazan is equality and multipolarity, says Evgeny Fedorov, CEO of ARM-Registr – the company that designed the notes. He tells Sputnik that the very way a banknote’s value is denoted four times is meant to display multipolarity because “BRICS is literally a multiverse.” “It is a multipolar banknote by itself,” Fedorov explains. “This associative meaning is ingrained in the note. This is what BRICS original members are talking about, what the world is concerned with today.”
The depiction of BRICS member states’ totem animals on the 200 BRICS banknotes also holds a greater meaning, he points out. “I believe that BRICS is a Noah’s Ark of sorts, meant to save humanity from something terrible that rapidly approaches,” Fedorov says. “These totem animals are protective charms that symbolize the idea of salvation. The idea of a communal ark in which we all are sailing, that we are responsible not just for the people of Earth but for the environment and the animals as well, for everything. This is a huge metaphor and BRICS members, political leaders, journalists and regular folks may find new meanings in it.”
The banknotes also feature depictions of the “most popular symbols” of BRICS countries such as the Moscow Kremlin or the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. The banknotes will also feature depictions of BRICS members flags, Fedorov adds: one side will feature images of the BRICS founding members’ flags (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) while the reverse will be subject to change as flags of all the new BRICS members, whenever they may join the group, will be added there.

Let's begin with the BRICS+ summit. Did it usher in a new world order?
This was a great conversation...(pre-summit)
Pepe Escobar & Alexander Dugin | BRICS expansion, de-dollarization, Russia BRICS SUMMIT 2024

(58 min) Alexander Dugin and Pepe Escobar discuss BRICS expansion, de-dollarization, and the roadmap for creating a multipolar world order
(1:31) Geopolitical significance of 2024 BRICS summit
(7:19) Economic agenda for BRICS summit
(11:05) De-dollarization and alternative payment systems
(14:17) BRICS against Western liberal capitalist ideology
(24:09) Why are countries lining up to join BRICS?
(27:25) BRICS on Gaza and Middle East
(37:02) Why is Turkiye joining BRICS?
(44:35) BRICS and Africa
(54:03) BRICS and Latin America

After the summit...
IT was a tremendous SUCCESS! PEPE ESCOBAR on BRICS
PEPE ESCOBAR gave us his overview about the expectations and results of BRICs meeting 2024. (6 min)

Let's hear from some of the players...
Putin's Full BRICS Speech: Big Jibe At West With 'New World' Comment Amid Israel, Ukraine Wars
(5 min) He said, "It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest in strengthening ties with BRICS displayed by the countries of the Global South and East. Over 30 nations have expressed such aspirations in one form or another. At the same time, it is crucial to maintain balance and ensure that the effectiveness of BRICS is not diminished."

Iran Sends SHOCKWAVES at BRICS Summit: Unveils Lethal Plans Against the West!

(9 min) The past year has seen BRICS grow in both size and influence to nearly half the world’s population and a third of the global economy. An BRICS Plus/outreach format is also taking place, with world leaders and heads of the Eurasian Economic Union, Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, among many others.

South Africa's BRICS Closing Speech Shocks the World | Reveals Plans to Punish Israel!

(8 min) The BRICS Summit comes to an end in Kazan on October 24. More than 20 world leaders and over 30 delegations gather for the 16th BRICS Summit, set to be one of the major economic, political and cultural events of the decade.

For some reason Brazil vetoed Venezuela's entry into the BRICS+. None the less, Maduro made an interesting speech there.

Venezuela's President Extremely Angry: Declares West-Led System is Hypocrisy! (10 min)

There were encouraging meetings on the sidelines, too.
'Historic handshake': PM Modi holds meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit

(4 min) Perhaps the land/border dispute is finally settled? The meeting marked the first formal interaction between the two leaders in five years and follows the two countries reaching an agreement on resuming regular patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

BRICS Bridge & BRICS Clear, new financial architecture (38 min)
The Duran discusses the BRICS Summit in Kazan, focusing on new financial systems like BRICS Bridge and BRICS Clear. It analyzes the Kazan Declaration, highlighting plans for alternative financial structures and the potential shift in global economic power away from the West.

Richard D. Wolff & Michael Hudson:
BRICS Shocker: Russia, China & Iran Ready to Face Off w/ the US! (90 min)
I always get something out of these weekly conversations between Rick and Michael.

George went to Kazan this week...

(20 min) A new world is being born I don't know how to set and end time so watch 20 min to the end of his monologue. He also hosted the Judge later in the show.

Let's break to briefly discuss the Degeneration of SW Asia
First the good news. At least for this weekend we seem to have avoided WWIII. As you know by now, Israel carried out another attack against Iran Friday night. It was largely taken out by the Iranian (and Russian?) air defense systems. Iran expressed there would be no need for a retaliatory strike.
None the less:
Israel launched air strikes on the Iranian capital Friday night. While the extent of the damage is unclear, the US is expecting Iran to retaliate.
Hopefully that comment is premature.

Iran Says Four Soldiers Were Killed In Israeli Attack Involving 100 Warplanes

The Israeli 'retaliation' attack against Iran, which occurred in the overnight and early morning hours, appears to be complete, with Israel's military (IDF) having declared the response "concluded" after locations in three provinces of the Islamic Republic were hit.
Some 100 Israeli warplanes were sent, primarily across Jordanian airspace, for the unprecedented attack which reportedly included strikes on key missile, drone, and other military sites - including air defense installations. However, Iranians are mocking it as if it didn't even happen, and there's an emerging consensus among Western pundits that this was remarkably limited in scale. The attack did not involve Iranian nuclear or oil sites, according to Israeli military officials.

Larry C. Johnson & Andrei Martyanov: Israel Attacks Iran! (53 min)

Amb. Chas Freeman (53 min pre-attack)
Netanyahu’s Gamble BACKFIRES: Resistance Stronger Than Ever!

However, although WWIII is at least temporarily avoided, Israel continues killing civilians, mainly women and children Gaza and Lebanon...not to mention bombing sorties into Iraq and Syria.

Gaza.jpg

This is an extermination’: Israel’s assault on north Gaza’s last functioning hospital

Kill them all: Israel’s extermination of Palestinians in Gaza
Tel Aviv’s plethora of horrific war-crime strategies – from the Hannibal Directive to the Dahiyeh Doctrine – were nothing compared to the existential peril Palestinians face under Israel’s new Generals’ Plan: a systematic blueprint for ethnic cleansing and Jewish re-settlement of the strip.

While we're on war, let's not forget Ukraine...

Whenever there’s a propaganda push in play to misdirect the western public, whenever there’s a policy initiative to take away your freedoms, whenever there’s a regional war that might explode into a world war, I always end up finding the fingerprints of the Atlantic Council. The council was deeply involved in covid propaganda from 2020 onward and they also have their hands in climate change propaganda, but their bread and butter is regional proxy wars. In my recent article ‘Globalists Are Trying To Escalate The Ukraine War Into WWIII Before The US Election’, I outlined how the council is deeply interwoven into the escalation of the Ukraine war through their Eurasia Center and their Scowcroft Center. They have been stoking conflict in the region for at least a decade with the intention of drawing NATO forces into a direct confrontation with Russia.

Coup, coup, kachoo

The Duran:
Ukraine Selidovo collapse. North Korea in Kursk? (29 min)

While we're in degeneration mode let's touch on the election...
Trump Discussed A Wide Range Of Topics For 3 Hours On The Joe Rogan Show

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump covered a wide range of topics on the hugely popular “Joe Rogan Experience” Friday during a nearly three-hour interview. Rogan has an audience of about 14.5 million on Spotify and 17.6 million on YouTube, according to Fox News. He is the most-listened-to podcast host, and is considered very influential with young male voters, a demographic that Trump is attempting to reach during the remaining days of the presidential campaign. The episode already has over 10 million views. Among the topics they discussed were his opponent, Kamala Harris, in the race for the White House. They discussed his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan by the Biden administration, his former National Security Advisor John Bolton, how liberals became pro-censorship of online speech, and his relationship with Robert Kennedy Jr.

... Former US president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has told podcaster Joe Rogan that his “biggest mistake” was making a number of wrong personnel decisions during his time in the White House between 2017 and 2021.
My thought is: "No shit, Sherlock".

This is clown world...
On Ron Paul Liberty Report:

Turns out it wasn’t the Russians or the Iranians! A bizarre plot was uncovered this week involving operatives from the UK Labour Party being dispatched to the US to assist Democratic Party presidential candidate Kamala Harris. But the plot thickens more when it turns out this is part of a larger UK plot to smash our First Amendment!

The UK has lost it. Arresting people for tweets, for the crime of journalism, for "wrong thought".

George had it right decades ago...

(8 min) Now I intend to vote, casting a protest vote for Jill, but I sure appreciate George's sentiments.

Would it even be possible to regenerate the US? To my eyes it seems to be bought and paid for by the Oligarchs.

Let's get back to today's topic...
Regenerative Agriculture | What A Truly Regenerative Farm Looks Like (14 min)
I discovered this nearby farm on YT this week. They do a pretty good job of explaining regenerative agriculture.

We recently visited Bee Creek Farm a local regenerative farm in Crossville, Tennessee. We wanted to see how the sausage was made. Nutrition World currently carries their pork products and wanted to show you where and who our local product comes from. Owners John and Adlai were gracious enough to show us the ins-and-outs of how their farm works and why their method is important for a healthy, sustainable future. What we learned is that not all protein is of the same quality and that hard work must be done in order to produce a quality meat. Not only does the quality of the land affect the livestock, but the methods in which the livestock graze also affects the land.
“You can either enrich the soil with chemicals or with cows, we choose to do it this way (with cows)” - John, owner of Bee Creek Farms

Regenerating our health...

(19 min) Nina delves into the corruption and bias of big ag, big food, and big pharma.

At least for our health we can vote with our fork.

So as to Regeneration, my introduction really came from Allan Savory, who restored African savanna using dense herds of cattle moved daily. He brought back wildlife, water, and ecosystem stability.
Running out of Time | Documentary on Holistic Management (47 min)
One more from Allan...(20 min)
The Story Of Meat | Regenerative Agriculture Documentary
An entire series is available if you have an interest.
The idea of using mobs of cattle to restore worn out land is counterintuitive...but it works. the management practice works best with ruminants, but is also used successfully with chickens and pigs. Sure makes sense to me to regenerate soil health as we produce nutrient dense foods.
We're fortunate to have some local regenerative farmers where we source our meats.

So this week with the BRICS+ summit it came to mind that there might be a chance to regenerate our geopolitical system. Now, I know the US will fight it tooth and nail, because of the we're number one USA USA brainwashing in the states. However, in reality we are one of many and need to understand our place in a multi-nodal world. I hope we can look in the mirror and understand, but I'm not holding my breath.

So the thread is open. I hope you'll chime in with your favorite stories or just random thoughts. Have a great Sunday!

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Lookout's picture

of Iran and Lebanon. They speak for about 20 min each.

Iran DESTROYS Israeli Attack – IDF Crushed by Hezbollah Power

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

George Carlin He's last comment is spot on. The American Dream, You have to be asleep to believe it.

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Lookout's picture

@la58

Was insightful. Good to "see" you today.

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

QMS's picture

.
.
Regenerate indeed. Brings many other Re- concepts
to mind: Re-imagine, re-invent, resist repression, renew
respect, reconsider, repair, review and rejuvenate.

Thanks for the WW, always a pleasure.

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Lookout's picture

@QMS Reminds me of our neighbors telling us of the "Bresh" (brush) Arbor revival that used to happen on our place. We had never heard of a bresh arbor revival.

Hope all the boats are ready for winter, and your weekend is going well.

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

Cassiodorus's picture

circulating in the social imaginary about BRICS. BRICS, however, appears largely as a reactive concept, a reaction to the acceleration in US attempts to restore "full spectrum dominance" over the world. This reaction appears as an acceleration of the social time of BRICS, which appears as a reaction to the acceleration of the social time of Israel, Ukraine, and Europe.

You'll note that three of the BRICS members, Brazil, Egypt, and UAE, are still rather unfortunately beholden to the United States shadow government. And bringing in Turkey as a partner, which is to say a junior member? Turkey is also a member of NATO if I recall correctly. But, hey, if the US wants to create more wars here, there, and everywhere, we can easily expect the demand for BRICS financial architecture to increase correspondingly.

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“One of the things I love about the American people is that we can hold many thoughts at once” - Kamala Harris

Lookout's picture

@Cassiodorus

...rather than confrontation. At any rate I find hope in the BRICS+. The New Development Bank may play a role in liberating other members from the IMF debt obligations. We'll see what we'll see, but to my mind it is an interesting development/experiment to promote cooperation and win-win economic projects. Of course there is no silver bullet/ single approach toward peace and prosperity.

YMMV.

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

snoopydawg's picture

No wonder she is the lowest rated veep in modern history.

Notice that she either nods her head or cackles when she decides on her talking points? It’s a sign of a light bulb going off in her head.

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A leftist is someone with morally correct politics. A liberal is someone who wants to feel morally correct w/o ever putting themselves at odds with power or costing themselves opportunities or experiencing the uncomfortable emotions that truth causes.

@snoopydawg that everyone with a functioning brain can hold many thoughts at once, so I gotta wonder if that is a trait she loves about Russians, Chinese, Gazans, and so on?
Who took her California State Bar exam in her place?
Between her and Trump, the rest of the world has to be thinking we are a nation of idiots, and these are our top tier idiots that we support with a passion.
I am going to think long and hard before I have to show my passport in a foreign country again.

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

Lookout's picture

@snoopydawg

I think it was Alex who suggested she is the worse politician maybe ever.

The question in my mind is will the rethugs hold the exec, house, and senate after the election? And perhaps even more frightening what will the the Biden WH do as a lame duck?

Dangerous times.

@on the cusp OTC has it right...

Between her and Trump, the rest of the world has to be thinking we are a nation of idiots, and these are our top tier idiots that we support with a passion.

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

enhydra lutris's picture

links.

Thought I'd toss out a digression or two:

It looks as if Georgia is in for another Color Revolution, which will be their second,

Georgia election: calls for protests as ruling pro-Russia party declared winner

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/27/georgia-election-calls-for... Irony: Mikheil Saakashvili is cast as as a good guy this time around. This is despite the fact that

The EU economy is not growing as fast as it could be and productivity is a problem in every member country, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

https://www.rt.com/news/606520-productivity-declining-in-most-of-europe-...

Capturing carbon from the air just got easier https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/capturing-carbon-air-just-go...
ALSO: UC Berkeley scientists make groundbreaking climate discovery -- https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/uc-berkeley-scientists-make-clima...

Law enforcement reports successful Tor deanonymizations in Germany:
https://boingboing.net/2024/10/25/law-enforcement-reports-successful-tor... ISPs were complicit in the deanon,izations, but still ...

Walmart has reached a $7.5 million (paltry) settlement with CA over illegal toxic waste dumpint and more America's biggest retailer accused of endangering Californians for years https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/walmart-alleged-unlawful-dumping-...

FOR INT'L SOCCER and/or health supplement fans: Ronaldo invests in Russian-owned healthcare firm (PHOTO): https://www.rt.com/news/606424-ronaldo-invests-russian-owned-company/ Heh

That's enough for now Wink

be well and have a good one

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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's picture

@enhydra lutris

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

Lookout's picture

@enhydra lutris

Perhaps they can overcome western influence again.

Thanks for all the news!

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

@enhydra lutris

Carbon capture from air.

Thought for a minute there scientists had discovered trees.

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Perhaps the biggest "tell" that BRICS is a huge game changer is the near total silence of the MSM.
Erdogan is so dependable about talking out of both sides of his mouth, I wonder how is membership in NATO will affect his participation in these organizations.
Thanks for the WW, and I will dig into it as deeply as possible before we head out to the B&B for a night out and a concert tonight.
I hope you and your friends enjoyed your selves yesterday, 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

Lookout's picture

@on the cusp

went out for a colorful fall golf cart ride in the woods.

Y'all have a great B&B mini-vacation!

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

Pluto's Republic's picture

@on the cusp

But I don't think that matters. Muting the news is just how the Neocon coup government deals with everything. So far so good. They've been working on this Greater Israel moment since 9-11. They think the BRICS is just a distraction, a fad, and believe they will control all of the Middle East before the BRICS pacifists are in a position to call the shots.

Erdogan is so dependable about talking out of both sides of his mouth, I wonder how is membership in NATO will affect his participation in these organizations.

.

Erdogan is a power player and a big problem for NATO. Turkey has an enormous, well equipped combat-ready army. Turkey's army may be larger than all the EU armies combined. This is a dilemma that no one seems ready to address. The race for global control may have already started.

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IMAGINE if you woke up the day after a US Presidential Election and headlines around the the world blared, "The Majority of Americans Refused to Vote in US Presidential Election! What Does this Mean?"

@Pluto's Republic the suppression of MSM is the big tell that it is, in fact, a problem.
Always. Always.

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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

.

4 weeks old.

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7 weeks and 1st day at home with me.

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We have had so much fun these last 4 years. Lots of walks, road trips, camping trips, socks and of course empty toilet paper rolls. She wakes up with a smile and helps me start my day with one. And sweet. Just an amazing little friend.

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A leftist is someone with morally correct politics. A liberal is someone who wants to feel morally correct w/o ever putting themselves at odds with power or costing themselves opportunities or experiencing the uncomfortable emotions that truth causes.

mimi's picture

@snoopydawg
no comment comment

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Lookout's picture

@snoopydawg

thanks for sharing Sam with the C99 community. I think, like me, everyone enjoys her stories and tales..tails?

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

@snoopydawg Please continue to send pics of her having fun. It gives me such confidence my client is happy and runs things to suit her.
Lol!

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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

studentofearth's picture

@snoopydawg Her antics bring laughter to my household, especially the past two years after my last Aussie passed. I have always found dogs with a good sense of humor to be extremely smart. You are fortunate.

My new dog displays primarily her border collie heritage, but she is a 1/4 lab. Today she held a perfect retriever point towards the donkeys teasing her on the other side of the fence.

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Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Sima's picture

@snoopydawg
Those pictures, Sam was so cute as a puppy! Thank you for posting these Smile And Happy Birthday, Sam!

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If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

snoopydawg's picture

.

"But to anyone out there thinking about sitting out this election or voting for Donald Trump or a third-party candidate in protest because you’re fed up: Let me warn you, your rage does not exist in a vacuum.

If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage. So are you as men prepared to look into the eyes of the women and children that you love and tell them you supported this assault on our safety?”

– Michelle Obama

If she’s talking about abortion then she should look at her husband for not doing jack on abortion rights when he had the chance. And to all the democrats who failed to get them passed in 3 decades. That’s who failed the women present and future.

But what about those women and children in Gaza who have been slaughtered for over a year, Michelle? Don’t their lives count as much as the women and children here? But speaking of supporting women and children, Michelle which president kicked millions of welfare when he destroyed it in favor of creating more prisons?

Both she and Barry are trying to shame people into voting for Kamala instead of Kamala and democrats giving them something to vote for.

Shitlibs are overjoyed with her speech and wants to tie everyone down to listen to it. The only thing they are voting for is not Trump. What the hell is Kamala running on and why believe that she will help anyone after what she has done the last 4 years?

And her and Biden still owe me $600!

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A leftist is someone with morally correct politics. A liberal is someone who wants to feel morally correct w/o ever putting themselves at odds with power or costing themselves opportunities or experiencing the uncomfortable emotions that truth causes.

Lookout's picture

@snoopydawg

I bet it convinces no one.

Last night I asked, "Does anyone really think the President runs the country?" Everyone said "No".
So I continued, "If that's the case why does everyone think the election is so important?".

TPTB want we the people worked into a nonthinking frenzy about any crisis they can gin up. Especially elections. They are all the MOST important election of our lifetime. My 2 cents.

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

Lookout's picture

From Alex:

the entire clip is good, but I've cued to the topic.
So once again it does look like we may has (for now) avoided WWIII.

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

soryang's picture

...tearing out the house yet. When the tearing out is done, I think I will try to leave the house stripped like that for a while till the season calms down. The Caribbean and Gulf are still extremely warm. Some neighbors are way ahead of us in the stressful process of stripping and rebuilding their homes. Is it a competition? I'm not sure rushing to rebuild is such a good idea. Ideally, I would like to wait awhile. Fix the home slowly and get rid of it quickly.

After escaping the flooded home, we stayed at a friend's home for a couple of days, then ran off to daughter's home, to just leave the disaster scene for a couple more days to recover from the shock. Then came back to search for an apartment, and work fourteen hours a day putting our lives back together. Meanwhile Smokey is near death. Sounds like the proverbial tale of woe. I know others have it much worse than I, while I was set in my comfort zone in old age, I'm not attached to my material things. The loss of what remained of my library (all but the dictionaries) and some photo albums, only upset me for a day or two. Ms. So says I should have moved out when I had the chance. Now instead of moving once, we have to move two times.

So I took advantage of this Sunday break, to look at the news in Korea. The candlelight demo yesterday in Seoul was estimated at 12,000 (Impeach Yoon, investigate Marie Antoinette, his wife, etc.). Unfortunately, the demo today opposing gay rights legislation and abortion was estimated by police sources at 220,000 which was quite impressive in size if not mission. (edit: This number included 70 thousand at Yeouido the site of National Assembly). It was a religious organization, a federation of protestant churches, that sponsored the demo. One hundred and fifty thousand congregated from Seoul City, Seoul Station, to Namdaemun. These people a mainstay of right wing support. The religious sponsors claimed 1 to 2 million.

My blog which I had pretty much neglected lately started getting a large number of hits (for me) at the end of September, then dropped off to the usual almost nothing, and then starting Oct 20-21 getting a thousand views for the week. I estimate that its the rumors of North Koreans planning to go Ukraine to fight, allegedly at the behest of Russia. Other interest seems to be focused around the increased tension between North and South Korea since the East and West road/rail connections were blown up by North Korea, following by some kind of firing by South Korea in response, then South Korea flying drones over the DMZ into North Korea, one of which apparently entered Pyongyang airspace. I suspect these are not real views but visits by a spider from Singapore (five eyes partner?) mostly and US visits, 975 and 81 respectively. I don't think of this really as anything more than an indicator of tension in the area. A five year old article I had written about, a martial law plan during the Park Geun-hye administration got the most looks this week, I think. Perhaps because rumors of Yoon ratcheting up the tension with North Korea as a distractor from widespread criticism of his administration and the need to impeach him, may be prompting administration plans for martial law. Such an impeachment process would have to begin with an independent investigation of the first lady's "suspected crimes," which undoubtedly would lead to evidence of impeachable unlawful actions taken by Yoon as well. North Korea picked up the Marie Antoinette theme, in propaganda posters dropped on the presidential office grounds this week.

Hankyoreh has some interesting headlines and columns related to the topics above as usual. The first below on the unreasonable risks associated with the administration's continued tit for tat provocations with the North depicts the scenario where nuclear war risks emerge.

In the ugly divorce of the two Koreas, both sides threaten to go nuclear

South Korea’s Yoon says lethal weapon aid to Ukraine will depend on actions of NK troops

I don't place too much confidence on Victor Cha opinions as the CSIS Korea expert in this article-

Kim Jong-un’s big bet on Russia: The US expert view of North Korea’s latest moves

Thanks for the WW Lookout. Especially liked the article about collecting CO2 from the air.

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語必忠信 行必正直

QMS's picture

@soryang
.
storms are indiscriminate that way
after awhile it gets old
hope ol' Smokey doesn't suffer
best wishes

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soryang's picture

@QMS

Appreciate the kind words.

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語必忠信 行必正直

Lookout's picture

@soryang

that N. Korean troops are training in Russia near the Pacific. Probably not in Kursk as has been reported.

Sorry about your loss, and all the effort to revamp. Good luck with it all.

Thanks for the update. Keep a good thought!

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

soryang's picture

@Lookout

It was reported that N.Korea mobilized 8 artillery brigades to pose a threat to Seoul and other urbanized areas in the region. If the North is wary of more off the cuff, impromptu, military escalation from Yoon and his crew of national security idiots, why would N.Korea send some of the best forces to Kursk of all places? Ukraine reported that some had deserted their positions. I'll believe they're in Ukraine when I see proof. Yoon is going to use this to pose as a great world leader and friend of NATO sending offensive weapons to Ukraine. He's completely incompetent.

So is Shin Won-sik, his national security advisor, and worse still, the minister of defense, Kim Yong-hyun. Here's a profile of Kim Yong-hyun, presenting him in an ambivalent light.

Profile: New ROK Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun

As adviser to Yoon, during the transition to power in 2022, Kim advised Yoon to make the former MND building in Yongsan, his presidential office, because it was "more secure." Subsequent events proved his judgement faulty. It is well known that Yoon favors "yes men" and is consistently unreceptive to discussion of policy with others, let alone disagreement. This suggests it was Yoon's idea. Kim is also open to arming South Korea with nuclear weapons, and deploying more US THAAD batteries in South Korea which no doubt will trigger some sort of costly response from China. I guess having Russia and North Korea as enemies isn't enough. Yoon's proxies talk of South China Sea issues as well. I guess there is no limit to South Korea's military and economic power since the Yoon administration appears willing to make such military commitments in theater and also to far away regions.

Shin Won-sik met with Jake Sullivan Oct 25 and the Japanese National Security Advisor, Akiba Takeo, basically taking up US world wide commitments. Kirby said something like he hopes the new trilateral alliance will last for "years to come." Knock yourself out!

On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby

Only 13 percent of South Koreans approve of sending military support to Ukraine.

Thanks for the support LO. Hopefully, we can regenerate.

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語必忠信 行必正直

Lookout's picture

@soryang
...after natural disasters. Lord knows there have been many. What choice do we have?

All the best my friend!

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4 users have voted.

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

@soryang has you and it doesn't get any better than that.
I totally get your crisis. Been there, done that, although a hurricane was not the cause.
Hugs. Let us know if you need more than good wishes.

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5 users have voted.

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

GreatLakeSailor's picture

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4 users have voted.

Compensated Spokes Model for Big Poor.

QMS's picture

@GreatLakeSailor
.
some kind of misdirection bug

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snoopydawg's picture

@GreatLakeSailor

T PTB sure seem to have it out for them since they started exposing the lies about Russia gate. Probably even before then.

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9 users have voted.

A leftist is someone with morally correct politics. A liberal is someone who wants to feel morally correct w/o ever putting themselves at odds with power or costing themselves opportunities or experiencing the uncomfortable emotions that truth causes.

Lookout's picture

@GreatLakeSailor @QMS @snoopydawg

....as the game continues. It is one reason TPTB hate Elon...he won't censor (all) the media/sites they wish to be controlled. Of course Facebag, Yahoo, YT/Google, will reliably censor content for TPTB.

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6 users have voted.

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

weare headed to the music venue shortly, so I just wanted to tell you I enjoyed the info contained in the various and sundry videos I viewed this far.
Thanks so much.

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4 users have voted.

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

Lookout's picture

@on the cusp

we didn't play any tonight, but there's always tomorrow.

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3 users have voted.

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

studentofearth's picture

Cattle do make a significant difference faster than other livestock as mentioned in the video. What cattle do not eat they stomp into the ground. Also give the plant a slight tug to tear a mouthful with their tongue. Sheep and equine clip or cut the plant similar to a mower.

My pastures have had no cattle for for the past 2 summers. Watering the same, light grazing from a few geriatric donkeys and sheep, plus light mowing. Mowing killed alot of insects, rodents, snakes and other critters who hide in the tall grass/weeds. Bought a young cow and calf early August. The couple of small fields they have grazed already look better, with faster grass regrowth. The fields in the poorest condition only received mowing and no grazing.

Thanks for the variety of info.

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5 users have voted.

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Lookout's picture

@studentofearth

glad your homestead is going well.

The irony of high stocking density of ruminants takes a leap of faith. Much like the dietary leap toward low carb. Heal the earth, and heal your gut (biome). Kinda of a no brainer but difficult for most to grasp. Ironically our gut biome and soil biome have lots of commonality.

Thanks for coming by today!

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4 users have voted.

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

soryang's picture

The default US position seems to be to deny and denigrate China. Bertrand offers his review of the Paul Heer article in the National Interest. Heer offers the obligatory both siderism to make his mostly unpopular analysis more palatable to establishment hacks. What is interesting to me, is that such an important topic can be addressed without any reference to US imperialism in East Asia, and the US tradition of denigrating and discriminating against Chinese in that context.

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2 users have voted.

語必忠信 行必正直

Lookout's picture

@soryang
https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1850192589833769373
Some essential yet depressing observations on US-China relations in this article by @PaulJHeer, one of the only senior officials in the US who's worth his salt when it comes to China (Heer is the former National Intelligence Officer for East Asia)
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/diminishing-prospects-us-china-d%C3...

Heer describes his unsuccessful attempts at showing decision-makers in Washington that they misread China's intentions, that "China is focused on maximizing its wealth, power, and influence in a multipolar world rather than on making a bid for global supremacy and legitimizing its governance and development model rather than expecting other countries to adopt it".

Which I completely agree with: anyone who understands China and Chinese history even a little bit finds laughable this notion of a China hellbent on a Western-like global hegemony where it seeks to remake the world in its image. It's exactly what China does NOT want to do: it's completely antagonistic to their culture and diplomatic traditions. As Heer rightly writes, this image of China is a "bogeyman" created in Washington with very little to do with reality...

Yet, as we all know, in geopolitics perception is reality and "the central challenge of peaceful coexistence" is that you first need to acknowledge that the other side is ok to coexist with you: if you convince yourself that they're hellbent on destroying you, then you obviously simultaneously convince yourself that coexistence isn't an option...

All this, as Heer writes, results in a form of radicalization in Washington which "deems even Beijing’s minimal strategic goals to be both unacceptable and unchangeable", refuses to "acknowledge that China has legitimate interests and ambitions" and "blames Beijing exclusively for resisting compromise". He depressingly relates that at a private conference on China he attended in Washington, "most participants appeared reluctant to concede openly—or at least specify—any legitimate Chinese security or economic interests in the Indo-Pacific", which is pretty mind-blowing if you think about it, given that China is IN the Indo-Pacific...

The inverse is not true in Beijing as they are "genuinely interested in peaceful coexistence", although they are "skeptical that the other side is similarly inclined or has already concluded that it is not" (and who could blame them given what Heer relates above...)

This is not a good trend because, as Heer writes: "Beijing currently judges that Washington is resisting both multipolarity and the idea that U.S.-China coexistence could be peaceful. If strategic trends continue to reinforce the Chinese perception that the United States seeks to contain China, hinder its development, or deny the legitimacy of its ambitions, this will increase the chances that Beijing will feel compelled to adopt a more confrontational and aggressive posture."

Heer doesn't seem to be positive that the situation will change anytime soon but stresses, correctly, that it still must: "peaceful coexistence between the United States and China is imperative... The alternative is an escalating cold war based on false premises and faulty assumptions." Also, "most of the rest of the world wants Washington and Beijing to do this".

I'm personally, this might surprise you, slightly less negative than Heer: I think that China is nothing if not patient. They understand it will take a while for the US to adjust to their loss of primacy and accept the idea that others have legitimate interests too. I also think that China's strategy is to systematically blunt all US attempts at reasserting primacy and containing them, so as to impress this new reality upon them. The US aren't exactly fast learners and they're now in their tantrum/denial phase, but eventually they'll have no choice but to get there. If anything Heer's article illustrates that some preeminent strategic thinkers in the US are there already.

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5 users have voted.

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

soryang's picture

@Lookout

...he hits the highlights in Heer's essay, and leaves out the packaging I think Heer feels obliged to give in order to frame his views as within the acceptable ambit of the think tank milieu.

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3 users have voted.

語必忠信 行必正直

Lookout's picture

[Verse 1]
Now it's time to say good night
Good night, sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night, sleep tight

[Bridge]
Dream sweet dreams for me (Dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you (Dream sweet dreams)

[Verse 2]
Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night, sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night, sleep tight

[Bridge]
Dream sweet dreams for me (Dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you (Dream sweet dreams)

[Instrumental bridge]
Mmm

[Verse 2]
Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night, sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night, sleep tight
See upcoming pop shows
Get tickets for your favorite artists
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Revolution 1
The Beatles
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The Beatles
[Bridge]
Dream sweet dreams for me (Dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you (Dream sweet dreams)

[Outro]
Good night
Good night, everybody
Everybody, everywhere
Good night

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5 users have voted.

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

snoopydawg's picture

.

…to interfere in the election on behalf of Kamala and to steal our first amendment rights.

Britain has the Digital Service Act to counter disinformation and misinformation and of course Hillary was in the thick of it to get it passed. The British are talking to some congress critters to bring it here and to take down Musk.

John Kerry and Hillary are just 2 of the people saying that the first amendment needs to go. As the judge points out they both took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution which is the backbone of the US government. If they get the 1st amendment thrown out they should be charged with treason for trying to overthrow the government. Waltz says that the first amendment doesn’t protect hate speech…bull! It’s exactly what it does.

But what’s sad is how many Americans are okay with limits on it. Why? Because Putin uses it to hide behind spreading misinformation and disinformation…I’m serious. The shitlibs still have Putin/Russians hiding under their bed and in their closet even though every aspect of Russia gate has been debunked. Sadly kids are not learning civic lessons so they won’t have a problem if it’s destroyed. I’m just glad that I’m this old.

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8 users have voted.

A leftist is someone with morally correct politics. A liberal is someone who wants to feel morally correct w/o ever putting themselves at odds with power or costing themselves opportunities or experiencing the uncomfortable emotions that truth causes.

snoopydawg's picture

.

She says that she will try to get me to take more pictures of her so y’all can see how wonderful she is.

Thanks.

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6 users have voted.

A leftist is someone with morally correct politics. A liberal is someone who wants to feel morally correct w/o ever putting themselves at odds with power or costing themselves opportunities or experiencing the uncomfortable emotions that truth causes.