Saturday Open Thread - 6/21/25: Odds and Ends

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 7:00am

Good morning, good people! I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

I want to share a link I spent 3 or 4 hours yesterday absorbing. It is about war. It is about the demise of the US Empire. It is about Trump's mental and physical decline, a Biden cover-up 2.0.

I read the info posted by b, not the comment thread, will get around to it today. https://www.moonofalabama.org/

The link b said was good is this one: Why Iran? The Context & The Consequences

My opinion of the best of the lot of videos in the Boyd article is this one:

It wasn't always this way.

I have mentioned a lone doe that shuns or is shunned by the Fab Four herd. Well, we suspected she had a baby in the bushes, and sure enough, she brought it out into the open for us to see. She is sorta reconnecting with the Fab Four, so success all the way around. We had at least an hour of baby romp viewing.

I don't know, friends, what we can expect from one day to the next. Let's just hang in there together, share info and opinions on this opinion thread, and keep rolling along. It is open to whatever you wish to share with us.

Your turn, friends!

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Submitted by QMS on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 8:48am
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.
Unable to focus on war related topics.
Would rather use whatever brain space left
on home projects. Trying to keep-up.

Thanks for the OT.

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Zionism is a social disease

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 10:06am

@QMS The wars are frightening and heart-wrenching. I had taken 2 days off, thought it might be an opportunity to do something fun, but home projects stopped that idea in its' tracks.
I am concerned about US boots on the ground and what might happen to the US dollar. I hope I have the skills and will power to endure a Great Depression. I hope we all do.
Have a great weekend, my 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

Submitted by Lookout on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 9:05am
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Another day without WWIII nuclear disaster...at least so far.

We're looking at a hot week coming up...well it is summer in Alabama. We've been getting regular rain, which has been nice. Hopefully the spigot won't be turned off.

Glad you're enjoying your deer. Thanks for the OT!

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

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 10:25am

@Lookout We have had a lot of rain this year. No complaints from me! The extreme heat hasn't arrived here, but it will. Outdoor projects have to be done in between the drenches.
I am watching some doe behaviors towards their off spring, such as eating side by side, sharing a mouthful of grass, pausing to put their heads together in cheek to cheek mode.
Never boring, friend!
Hope everything is peachy in The Holler, 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

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 11:47am
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@on the cusp and are watching the first explorations of fawns with their mothers this week.

Already impacted by two man made fires with evacuation warnings this season. Both caused major power outages for the two power companies in the local area, fortunately only experienced one of the outages. My layered emergency backup plan of batteries at the initial level worked pretty well. I had plenty of time to take care of all little and unexpected stuff that needs to be done in an emergency, then could start working on issues requiring electricity at a steady pace.

Two thirds of the winter hay is already in the barn. This morning cool enough to start a fire to warm up the house and skip the heat pump. Fresh picked strawberries and cream for breakfast inside crepes make with eggs collected yesterday. (1 egg, 1 tablespoon sifted flour plus 1 tablespoon water grilled in butter on the flat iron = 1 large crepe or two small crepes). Sipping coffee made from the beans roasted yesterday evening. Need to get back on the mower and finish the last 3 acres of dried annual grass. Fourth of July is not too far away, have a little more protective landscaping work to complete. The cattle and deer are doing an adequate job on the irrigated acres.

Listened to this yesterday and it had the clearest explanation of the concept on only needing 3% of a population to change a governing body. The other person I have heard explaining the concept is Mark Levin whom I have a hard time listening to even in small doses. The complete 2 plus hours is a discussion on how to save Taiwan for "we and us", definitely no concern for a quality life ( or even life) for anyone on the island. Interesting insights on techniques to take over a geographic area being implemented around the world by various groups.

(2 hr 16 min starts at 1:08:58)

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

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 12:24pm

@studentofearth Your breakfast sounds wonderful! As does your power outage energy system. I still resist getting a generator because of the slim chance my office electricity would not be out for long. With grids, it's all about location. 1 block from the courthouse, 2 blocks from the jail and Sheriff's office, 3 blocks from the county emergency housing center. My theory will be tested if hurricane season is as bad as predicted.
How many cuts do you get on your hay field? On a bad year, I got 2, and on a rainy year, 4.
I am pretty sure the herd of 4 consists of 2 moms, 2 of their offspring. When grazing, the slightly smaller does stay close to a larger one. They were the crazy kids that raced in circles and figure 8s last summer.
Get mowing, friend! Dear One will be doing the same here, and I will be giving him my moral support, of course!
Have a great weekend!

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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

Submitted by soryang on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 11:30am
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I understand Japan's car exports are taking a hit along with car company profits margins under Trump's tariffs.

Actually, I suspect it's the other way around. Right wing youtubers in Korea get their talking points, tactics, and sloganeering from CPAC, US NGO's, "think tanks," etc. "Stop the steal!" "Chinese interfering in S.Korean elections," and "Democratic party in Korea infiltrated by communists."

Here's another example below, disappointing that Rashid buys into this.

The real problem is that Kim Min-seok, the prime minister nominee of South Korea is smart as a whip, and a brilliant politician like Lee Jae-myung. God forbid, South Korea now has a former human rights lawyer as president, and a former student activist opposing dictatorship, nominated for prime minister. South Korea has a lot of problems, some of which need to be addressed immediately, namely rooting out and prosecuting the traitors who attempted to overthrow South Korea's constitution and sovereignty by military coup, and risked starting a war to do so. Second, restoring the checks and balances in the government by checking the power of the public prosecutors officers which had been functioning as a political enforcer for the "corrupt special interests." Third, trying to recover economically in the face of US attacks on South Korea's trading interests and political priorities.

In light of all these, finding homophobic tropes by Kim to delegitimize the nominee for prime minister, takes place in a political cultural context that most westerners can't possibly understand. The disastrous birth rate decline in South Korea is a primary economic, social, and national security issue. Overcoming South Korean rigid social conservatism by imposing western cultural norms is simply an attempt to change the subject from blunt US interference in South Korean domestic economic and social policies, international trade, and defense priorities. Prioritizing sexual equality and equity issues upfront in South Korean politics is the fast track to political oblivion in South Korea. Such issues need to be addressed subtly and with finesse. Brandishing the US LGTBQ cudgel is for political dumbasses in South Korea. That this issue is a foreign press priority is a tell. Who would better lead on issues of fairness and equality? The fringe Justice Party which is the primary promoter of the LGTBQ legislation? The conservatives? The far right Christian conservatives?

The fact that the current administration had overwhelming support from young women on the streets and at the polls, reveals that the current administration's prime minister nominee isn't the neanderthal that Rashid and the "foreign journalists" try to portray. Is there anyone who thought the prime minister would be someone else? This was obviously the likely outcome before the election took place June 3. I fear no effort will be spared to derail his nomination by the west.

The effort is really to deprive the new President of his best and most able choice for prime minister. A similar effort was made during the democratic administration of President No Moo-hyun, Lee's mentor in the past. By isolating the president this way, the opposition and their foreign sponsors seek to disable the administration and its agenda.

Thanks for the O&E OntheCusp. I was trying to add a more relevant link to your theme there, but ended up almost entirely losing my comments here. Maybe I'll try again later.

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語必忠信 行必正直

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 11:41am

@soryang Any geopolitics is relevant to war, isn't it?
I am sorry the idiotic tariff war is hurting Japan. Japan is not alone in being angry about being told to increase defense spending.
Maybe the US will pull out of NATO? One can dream...
I find it odd that LGTBQ was vaulted to the lead in politics globally, all at once, as though it is some plan to continue division in populations. A distraction if there ever was one. It doesn't have the feel of a natural, universal cultural progression to my mind.
As we plan on various home improvement projects, we are finding it harder to find contractors. You are quite familiar with that dilemma, aren't you?
Enjoy your weekend, 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

Submitted by soryang on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 11:57am
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@on the cusp

...from the home rebuilding effort. I'm hoping it's behind me, once and for all. I'm thankful, Ms. So and I appear to have gotten through this, unlike some of our neighbors who also suffered a great deal. Health is everything! No Hurricanes, Please! My late brother introduced me to a great trotter once, it was called No Rain, Please! (if I remember correctly).

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語必忠信 行必正直

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 12:36pm

@soryang fence clearers. The guys I hired for years are now old, slow, unable to work in intense heat.
Young guys who are able are typically unemployed for good reason. They suck. Both I and the mayor hired a tree removal company to do some work. Yes, they did a good job, but both he and I wound up with cartel markers on our property. He had to call in the police. After that experience, I am hesitant to hire a Hispanic owned landscaping company. Cartels are very close to my hometown.
We want to focus on weeds and small brush removal, not our personal safety.
I am happy you got the repairs done, 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

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 12:21pm
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@soryang

the excuse regimes use to avoid scrutiny by citizenry
uncle sam made me do it

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Zionism is a social disease

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 1:01pm
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@QMS

Notice the rising hysteria in the West (especially US/UK) over trans issues and "men in women's sports". (Also notice that it's in direct parallel with non-Western women athletes, especially women of color, becoming good enough to defeat Western ones.)

So what "norm" are They pushing today, tomorrow, the day after?

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 1:58pm
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@TheOtherMaven
.
wish I could care which way the rivers run
on any given day but it seems to take up all
my time to adapt to yesterday, let alone today
Wink

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Zionism is a social disease

Submitted by Linda Wood on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 1:21pm

about Iran's attacks on Israel:

https://x.com/HussainShafiei/status/1936220199687950648

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Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 1:38pm

@Linda Wood So much for the mighty Iron Dome, eh?
Did Israel think it was gonna be another Gaza conflict?
I am sort of monitoring the Moon of Alabama comment thread. Seems Iran sends a drone/missile attack, waits a couple of hours, does it again.
I wonder if Huckabee's love for Well, keep us informed, Linda. We appreciate it, chica.
Enjoy your weekend!

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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

Submitted by Linda Wood on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 1:28pm

brief interview, but significant:

https://t.me/Middle_East_Spectator/20608

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Submitted by Linda Wood on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 1:36pm

to order Israel to give up nuclear weapons:

https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/10/31/un-vote-israel-nuclear-weapons/

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Submitted by Linda Wood on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 1:41pm

supported in this artwork, reposted again because I think it's important:

https://x.com/Ahmed_hassan_za/status/1936078700858294501

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Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 06/21/2025 - 1:51pm

@Linda Wood I can't say the same for Israel.
I admire Iran for their support of the sick and starving Palestinians in Gaza.
This is the lowest point in US history. That's saying a lot.

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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