Open Thread

Open Thread 08-09-15

Good Morning 99percenters!
Morning news dump and music by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

The U.S.-Russia “phony war”: How Washington warmongers could bring us from stalemate to catastrophe
One of two outcomes is likely: Another long Cold War, or a great power conflict

The Ukraine crisis and the attendant confrontation with Russia assume a “phony war” feel these days. As in the perversely calm months between the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 and the Blitzkrieg into the Low Countries the following spring, nothing much seems to be happening.

Cartoon: Les Beastiables -- Senator Ted Cruzmel, Presidential Candidate!

Les Beastiables ("Les Bez"): Beasties say the darnedest things!

Hey everybody! It's hump day Friday! Today's Beastiable is Senator Ted Cruz(mel). He has said and done beastly things for many years now, and so he has earned his turn as one of Les Beastiables.

Ted Cruzmel, Les Beastiables, Les Bez, Ted Cruz, Republican, Elections

NOTE FOR NEW READERS: This series features a new Les Beastiables cartoon every Wednesday about 1:45 PM Eastern. We indulge in a little Franglish because the French are tres classy. But I digresse.

For serious discussion of the issues, please join me below the break. Then you'll be able to "cleanse your palate" with a cute photo before you leave.

Open Thread 07-30-15

Good morning 99percenters!
Morning news dump and music by Little Feat.

Revealed: The Private Firms Tracking Terror Targets at Heart of US Drone Wars
Corporate staff are reviewing top-secret data and helping uniformed colleagues decide whether people under surveillance are enemies or civilians

The overstretched US military has hired hundreds of private sector contractors in the heart of its drone operations to analyse top secret video feeds and help track high value terror targets, an investigation has found.

Open Thread - Wednesday July 29, 2015

Good Morning, 99%'ers! For the last three months, it seems as though I have been on the road a lot and have not been keeping up with all the news and developments in the outside world, especially on the international front. With all my traveling, I have been eating out far too often and not exercising enough. I used to run but quit about ten years ago due to chronic foot problems. Now my exercise of choice is walking, but I had not been as consistent during this traveling time.

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