caucus99percent

free-range politics, organic community

Here's Richard Wolff, describing the predicted effect of Donald Trump's erratic tariff policies upon the American economy. The whole thing is three hours but it's broken up into sections and don't worry, you won't have to watch for long past my bookmark to get the point:

You can't have stupidity without intelligence to compare it to. And our received intellectual culture firmly believes in the wisdom of, and the need for, the measurement and ranking of smartness. This paradigm first affected me when I was five years old and the Dallas Independent School District tested me along with all the other kids about to start the first grade. Based on that event, I was assigned to a normal (i.e. ungifted) class.

The Disastrous Economic War
Tariffs, Taxes, and Terror

I suspect the economic chaos created by the tariffs was called off by Trump's billionaire buddies. The Trumpeteers claim it is 5D chess, but I'm sticking with chaos, mayhem, and blunder. The outcome is an economic war with China which the US is bound to lose. An economic war supposedly declared because of China's counter tariffs, but I might point out the EU and Canada both planned counter-tariffs and have escaped Trump's wrath so far. Meanwhile the US continues its inane bombing of Yemen (to no avail) as the Houthis continue striking US ships. Bibi came to the White House this week to encourage a war with Iran. There's debate about whether Trump will acquiesce. The demands being made to Iran are unacceptable. So here we are on the brink of economic and military disaster. Let's dive deeper below the fold....

Afternoon folks!

This week there's some great stuff, starting with Chicago blues guitarist Magic Slim recorded live, followed by some great late 40's through early 50's r&b recordings from piano player Jimmy McCracklin and the Blues Blasters. Following that there are albums from harmonica guy Mark Hummel and a really excellent, not to be missed Mike Bloomfield album. Shifting gears a bit, we've got a mid-60's album from Doc & Merle Watson and in that country-folk vein with a little added electricity is a live album from Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels (featuring Emmylou Harris). Finishing up, get ready to get spaced-out with Stomu Yamashta, Steve Winwood and Micheal Shrieve.

Enjoy the tunes and have a great weekend!

Let's start with the general state of affairs:

Good morning, good people!

I hope everyone has a planned and well-executed fun weekend ensuing. I encourage you all to jump for joy that you aren't Mahmoud Khalil, who had some bad luck from a Louisiana Immigration Judge.

He has 2 weeks to come up with a response to the ruling, but will at least be free on bail until his fate is decided. Rubio said his behavior posed a threat to US foreign policy. I think the definition of "threat" to include peaceful protests against genocide is as cowardly as it can get. Oh! Oh! I am afraid for my foreign policy! is also something pretty damn cowardly. Policy protection? Is the policy that weak and spindly?

I am hoping his appeals will work. If he can be deported for wrong-think, who can't be? There is this beautiful prison in El Salvadore, after all.

Welcome to Friday Night Photos everyone. Your once a week break from the daily madness of the crazy world we live in. Post any photos, memes, music, or whatever else you find of interest that helps you escape the madness.

It's spring. That means it's time for the annual butterfly exhibit at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I stopped by the park on Monday to check it out. The variety and total number of butterflies and the length of time the exhibit runs varies from year to year. This year the variety and total number were the smallest and the length of run is the shortest I've seen in the dozen years I've been a zoo member. I hope the low numbers this year were an anomaly and not a sign of things to come.

Blue Morpho