caucus99percent

free-range politics, organic community

This will probably not surprise anyone.

The Hobbit is one of those childhood stories we think about as a grand adventure, but what we don't take into account is how Bilbo lived his life AFTER the war.

This is some philosophical rambling about the nature of the Veteran, so forgive me if I state truths that would have been obvious to any reader of the Lord of the Rings upon first publishing, but modern disconnect from the war experience has relegated to the "Footnotes" category.

This is, as of yet, only a small story but one which could have immense repercussions politically.

Federal judge casts doubt on a Mueller case. The case in point is against the unsavory, money-laundering, playing both sides Paul Manafort.

Good evening everyone. Savour the moment.

Steaming flax …

Condensation …

In appreciation of riverlover …

There’s only one thing to say about this: it’s about damn time we quit funding these terrorist thugs. I’m sure you’ll notice that it’s one of Obama’s dishonest, discredited accomplices who, right on schedule, is out front of the media throwing a hissy because the funding for the bastids has been cut off for their favorite child killers. Samantha Power is up to her neck in this barbarity and the RUSSIA! fraud as much as anyone else who served under The Empty Suit.

Dear Washington D.C.,

Are you ok? We haven't heard from you in a while.

You've been spending a lot of time over at Mainstream Media's house, and you frankly never call or text. Hell, you could just open a window and look out, but you seem to have installed security filters on those.

Look, I know you're really Gung Ho about this new WAR(tm) you want us all to buy into, but I need to ask you a serious question here.

This was posted on Facebook today.

This is Claudia’s daughter, Lydia. I am deeply saddened to announce that my mother has passed away. I do not have any further information to provide. My family and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask for privacy during this difficult time.

I knew when I saw this article yesterday that there had to be more not being said.

It looks like both sides are playing the exact same game.

Today, ten days after the proverbial SHTF, one day after a news-worthy gaffe-fest by the CEO of said bank, there was not one story about this trainwreck on Google News. I asked for "more world stories" and "more business stories", but zilch. To find the story, I typed "TSB bank" into the search bar on Google News.

What is the purported popularity of Congress--both R & D? About 15%--maybe.

MSM is more disrespected every day (only 39% of adults believe MSM trustworthy).

What is the utility of an average congressional committee meeting? Close to nothing except to compose talking points.

How much do the Suits (lawyers)get paid per hour for keeping their poor schmo client outta jail? Lots more than any of us.

Iran did 9/11? That is some serious Orwell.

Never, in 16+ years has any remote connection ever mentioned/points to Iran. Perpetrators Saudi, lawsuit belatedly seeks to obtain civil damages from SA, and judge rules, Iran responsible? Yes, we've always known Iran was culprit, a la Orwell.

When I posted essay recently with a link to the video from Tim Black's call in show featuring a call from a wonderful lady named Laura from Alaska, Mark from Queens asked if anyone could do a transcription of what she had to say. Eyo volunteered to try and posted her transcription in the original essay. The call lasted over 24 minutes and presented a daunting task, but eyo took it on and did an excellent job.

I didn't even know his name. I have no idea what his political platform is.
But I can say with absolute certainty that I support him.

The quote above is by Myron E. Forbes, President, Pierce Arrow Motor Car Co. (January 12, 1928).
However, the same could be said by forecasters today.

Coincidence? There are no coincidences in politics or war. There is a fog of war, true. The plan of battle disappears with the first shot. But certain things are just to large to be ignored. Last week in Syria (this should be the title of a soap opera if it weren't so tragic).

Teachers in Arizona and some in Colorado remained on strike today.
In both states there is a building anti-union backlash from the right.

I am going to do something I never do and that is post a video without analysis. Tim Black has posted this video from his call in show. It is almost 25 minutes long and is the audio of just one woman who called in recently. He has posted her call as a stand alone video without any comment because of the importance of what she had to say about our government and our society.

Pulitzer Goes Full Orwell, Gives Prizes For Pushing RussiaGate Hoax (NYT, WashPo)
We’re living in truth-is-stranger-than-fiction times.

I was unable to find a compact, easy to read list of the CIA Dems on the web. The WSWS article is too prose-y and inconsistent in its details. So, I took an hour to create my own version of that list.

Mayday May Day Beltane?

Mayday is from the French m'aider ('help me'). It is usually repeated three times to make clear it is an emergency ...equivalent to the Morse code SOS. May Day is a different matter. It has ancient roots. It is mid-spring. Halfway between the equinox and the solstice. Often called the Beltane , from the Irish Lá Bealtaine, it has been (and is still) celebrated in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man for centuries. Many other cultures celebrate this seasonal corner as well. There's yet another May Day which celebrates International Workers Day and the Haymarket protests in Chicago May 4th, 1886. On the first of May "all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all countries should demonstrate energetically for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace “. So mayday, mayday, mayday – we face an emergency. It is time to connect to nature and promote and protect workers.

The left has never been welcome in the Republican party; and since the neoliberal Clinton machine showed up, they have not been welcome in the Democratic party either. As Clinton debauched the historical, FDR/JFK/LBJ meaning of the word "liberal", the left started calling itself "progressives".

Yep, no snow in sight. And the sun is shining (miracle!). Wandering the neighbourhood is a lot easier and warmer. Here's a shot from last year: our obscure branch line of the old Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad.

We have a trip to Colorado coming up. A ham-fisted panorama from our last trip:

"If you're not against it, you're for it."