An open thread?
Hoo boy … this ought to bring out the nut cases. I mean, here I am!

Posted by: rg the lg | Jan 14 2017 16:49 utc | 4

@rg the lg | Jan 14, 2017 11:49:03 AM | 4
Yippee!

Posted by: OJS | Jan 14 2017 17:10 utc | 6

It was never us westerners who pursued Empire, it was the Oligarchy that rules over us from the shadows.
The election of Trump marks the first serious revolt against the Oligarchy.
The revolt came from the long suffering central region of the US, the very place where the backbone of the empire’s army is recruited. Think about that. This is not about race, this is about the economic demise of the working and middle class at the hands of the costal elites. They are tired of the foreign wars and increasing federal interference in their lives and more and more, they see Washington as the enemy, and not some foreign bogey man. They are angered that the “left” is obsessed with figuring out who can use what bathroom, but don’t care a whit that families are having a hard time paying the rent.
Think about it. You on the left have come to despise the “stupid bigots” of the working class and have abandoned your traditional role as their defenders for the cult of Cultural Marxism.
In abandoning Clasical Liberalism for Cultural Marxism, you on the left are now more aligned with the Oligarchy that runs the empire than you are with defending the rights of the plebs. Remember, the Oligarchy also hates the working class because they have the power to rebel.
The left have become the useful idiots of the Oligarchy. It is not the right who is calling for censorship. It is not the right who is questioning the value of democracy. It is not the right who are engaging in increasingly violent behavior towards the common man. It is you.
Nobody has really noticed, but these last 10 years everything has become the opposite of what it is supposed to be.
The revolution against the Oligarchy that the left has been waiting for these last 100 years has finally arrived and lo, you are aligned with the Oligarchy, and are on the wrong side of history. If you succeed in keeping Trump out of office, what comes next is much much worse.

Posted by: Anon | Jan 14 2017 17:16 utc | 8

Rohrabacher: Trump ‘Reaching Out’ to Russia, ‘Rather Than Beating Them Up’ All the Time
http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2017/01/06/rohrabacher-trump-reaching-out-russia-rather-than-beating-up/

Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 14 2017 17:22 utc | 10

@5
The UNZ article conclusions are supported by the recent Israeli attack on the Syrian airfield, the rapid NATO military buildup in the Baltics and poland, as well as the attacks on Trump and his support team from every direction. The near total brainwash of the American public is certainly as great if not greater than what the Nazis accomplished in Germany.

Posted by: Musburger | Jan 14 2017 17:34 utc | 12

@ 2 and 3, I’m pretty sure the significance is that Israel is now piling on to the anti Trump coup.

Posted by: Lysander | Jan 14 2017 18:10 utc | 14

“Trump suggests he may do away with Russia sanctions if Moscow helpful: WSJ”
Cue charges of blackmail.

Posted by: dh | Jan 14 2017 18:13 utc | 16

8
Your ‘revolution’ (sic) was just the matzo ball mafia doubling down on the galvanizing OWS psyop campaign, pandering to the meth heads in middle america where the future is past. Rabbinical endtiming tent revivals and The Donald riding a white unicorn farting rainbows, with neo-fascist hatred mongering of the still-thriving west coast economy.
You can confirm that in just 15 minutes of browsing the propaganda machine at matzo ball central, drudge and breitbart, brushing off all trump’s lies: hillary won’t be indicted, americans will have to pay for ‘The Wall’ (National Police State) out of their own SS and MC, the Goldmans and Generals filling his cabinet, ‘Mr. Anti-Establishment’ (sic), China’s Jack Ma at his Left Hand, Bibi Netanyahu at his Right Hand, and a now $29 TRILLION platinum card for mayhem and mischief, high crimes and misdemeanors.
Everything Trump pledged was a lie! He immediately shucked off every pledge when the selection was over, and the voices of the flyovers and repugnant rabble are now drowned out forever by the relentless Sethian chorus of paid Zook posters and right wing fake news casters, the false-flag psyop that Trump is ‘under attack’, the huge screaming TRUMP banner at the inauguration, leadership by phone-in, tweeting from his 24k gold penthouse.
Someone once said that ‘goyim’ was actually a pretty accurate description of middle america, because the cattle could always be relied upon to vote against their own best interests. And so it’s all Zooks and Generals now, with a $10 TRILLION credit-debt hellstorm about to visit humanity, in what, 6 more days?
I’m willing to bet the hysteria will be whipped so high, deluded followers will be laying palm fronds at Trump’s feet, and women will be fainting in his presence, or holding up their children offering. ‘Take me!’ ‘Choose ME!’
A story as old as the rolling rock and the matzo ball. A sad tale, billions slaughtered.

Posted by: chipnik | Jan 14 2017 18:16 utc | 18

The “dossier” is being used to cement the Russian-hacking allegations (still no evidence) at true-fact … as well as Comey-cost-Clinton-the-election as true-fact … as well as Comey-the-partisan-protects-Trump as true-fact.
Americans don’t understand that “sanctions” are a form of economic warfare.and psst, tend to be rather blazingly ineffective except as a excuse to mount the bully pulpit and lambast the enemy-du-jour and back up bluster with “more sanctions” …

Posted by: Susan Sunflower | Jan 14 2017 18:24 utc | 20

Anyone at the bar that is planning to be in D.C. for inauguration?
If so, hope you will post your thoughts on the happenings.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 14 2017 18:41 utc | 22

@ 2 and 3, I’m pretty sure the significance is that Israel is now piling on to the anti Trump coup.
Posted by: Lysander | Jan 14, 2017 1:10:12 PM | 14
Yeah and that’s like saying Friedman, Kuschner and the other Wall Street Goldman Zionists on his team are going to hog tie him and put him on display in the rotunda.
Honestly, do you expect us to believe the crap you just pooped? TRUMP has his A..s all in for Israel. He’s twisted into a pretzel for ZIONISM.
And then we have someone linking Breitbart….H…AYE. The Zio-goebbel hasbara on steroids.

Posted by: Circe | Jan 14 2017 18:57 utc | 24

Outraged, there is a thread related to Trump and the attacks on Trump. Why spoiling the other thread?
Should I simply get back on the 21st?
Does US hysteria have to monopolize every screen, every news, every broadcast on the planet (it is very much the case, we can’t turn a radio OUTSIDE the US without hearing as facts that the Russians have hacked the DNC, bought Trump etc).
I know that was a trap. You made me write about Trump and the US…

Posted by: Mina | Jan 14 2017 19:03 utc | 26

Fine — CNN says that Poland is welcoming Nato troops …
Poland welcomes thousands of US troops in NATO show of force.
utterly unrelated.

Posted by: Susan Sunflower | Jan 14 2017 19:24 utc | 28

@ Posted by: Mina | Jan 14, 2017 2:03:24 PM | 26
Sorry, don’t understand what you mean in your first two sentences.
Otherwise :)) LOL
Real life calls, gotta go, cheers.

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 14 2017 19:34 utc | 30

Mina@17 – “…What’s the point in having an open-thread if they start with Trump here too?”
Agree wholeheartedly.

Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 14 2017 19:41 utc | 32

DID CYBERBERKUT RELEASE A FORGERY?
– Moved from previous thread.
CyberBerkut published a yesterday an alleged screenshot of a leaked or hacked email related to the claimed US plan to fabricate evidence of Russian involvement in the cyber attacks:

13.01.2017 г. США планируют сфабриковать доказательства причастности России к кибератакам – ”CyberBerkut”, January 13, 2017

The photo was also published by ”Novorossia Today”:

Trump In The Clear From Secret Dossier As U.S.chan Try To Destroy And Cause A Coup On New President (Enclosed Secret Document) ID: Z4k N0VA7
Our whistleblowers gave us information that Russia was going to face great provocation. The Americans intend to manufacture false evidence of the Russian security services’ involvement in cyber attacks during the U.S. presidential elections 2016.
We cover the names of the provocation facilitators in order not to expose our sources. It is worth saying, a famous American politician and major financier took part in the plot.

All the names have been blacked out. The screenshot has not been manipulated, but all names in the email file have been replaced with “█” characters (Unicode Character ‘FULL BLOCK’ U+2588) before the .eml file is displayed in the email program. The email is displayed in a monospaced font, so it is possible to count the number of “█” characters. If the number is equal to the number of deleted characters, it may be possible to reconstruct the original email, or at least the intended content of the forgerers who created this prank.
The email also has a boilerplate disclaimer that has been cut short in the image. A Google search however reveals that it is proprietary to Soros Fund Management LLC. Use of the iPhone suggests that the email could be for example from Michael.Vachon@soros.com – Here is a link to one Podesta email on Wikileaks for comparison.
Here is my attempted reconstruction:

From: Michael.Vachon@soros.com
Subject: Re: Elections 2016 1/8/2017 10:03 PM
To: Hillary.Clinton@█████
Date: 1/8/2017 10:03 PM
Dear Hillary,
We all agree there is a need to provide technical details on Russian hacking.
George urges you and John to bring up again the issue with ██████. It’s quite important, especially as we approach the hearings.
If there are no technical details we have to find some by all means. I am sure his guys can do it.
We are short of time.
Regards,
Michael
Sent from my iPhone
********************
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail message and any attachments are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, proprietary or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and permanently delete this message and any attachments. Nothing contained in this message and/or any attachment(s) constitutes investment advice or a recommendation to purchase or sell any financial product and you may not rely upon the sender or Soros Fund Management LLC or its affiliates for any investment advice. We may monitor and retain email communications for legal and regulatory compliance purposes.

The name of the purported leading intelligence operative is 6 characters wide in the email. Therefore it cannot be Comey, Brennan, or Clapper. Michael Morell would fit in the space.

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Jan 14 2017 20:07 utc | 34

Open thread, closed minds.

Posted by: stumpy | Jan 14 2017 20:15 utc | 36

one other thing …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98uXevPGbYc

Posted by: ALberto | Jan 14 2017 20:16 utc | 38

@jfl That was a great quote by Hannah Arendt on imperialist Cecil Rhodes you posted on some other thread. I remember her from that astute observation about the “banality of evil”, still relevant after so any years in the context of the imperial terrorist assaults in MENA, Ukraine and elsewhere nowadays.
What Arendt missed was the second component involved in that evil, namely overarching controlled chaos created by the global cabal hqed in the City of London in order to “divide and conquer”, pushing weak individuals over the border of becoming criminals and terrorists at the service of their empire.
Arendt also signed this letter about, inter alia, the Deir Yessin massacre:
Albert Einstein Letter to The New York Times. December 4, 1948 New Palestine Party. Visit of Menachen Begin and Aims of Political Movement Discussed : Albert Einstein, Hannah Arendt, Sidney Hook, et.al.
Apparently not much has changed since then, except that so many fewer prominent Jewish voices can be heard now in defense of what is humane and righteous.

Posted by: ProPeace | Jan 14 2017 20:18 utc | 40

Dear Moonkind,
For those of us who’ve had the misfortune of dealing with the troll Louis Proyect in the MoA comments forums, you’ll be comforted to know that other blogs (among them Off-Guardian.org) and websites (the World Socialist Web Site in particular) have had similar problems with LP over his selective use of information, his reliance on links to sources that turn out to be extremely fishy (to say the least) and his abuse.
This article by Ben Norton on Louis Proyect is something to bear in mind for future MoA posts and forum discussions:
http://bennorton.com/reminder-louis-proyect-has-expressed-support-for-al-nusra-al-qaeda-in-syria/
Off-Guardian published a post recently on the propaganda videos being made in Egypt that would purport to show more Syrian government atrocities against civilians in east Aleppo. The comments forum attached though is becoming the star attraction due to commenters calling out Louis Proyect for citing propaganda from a pro-jihadi source (the UK-based Syrian Network for Human Rights – not to be confused with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights) to bolster his belief that the Syrian government attacks and brutalises Syrian civilians under cover of war.
https://off-guardian.org/2017/01/11/when-blood-is-a-lie/
World Socialist Web Site on Louis Proyect’s fabrications:
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/06/08/proy-j08.html

Posted by: Jen | Jan 14 2017 20:38 utc | 42

Thanks for the link, mauisurfer@29. I thought the article excellent broadly speaking, though something was troubling me, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it until I read the following comment at the site:
george jonisch DEC 29, 2016
By building a straw man of two extreme choices, cooperate or dominate, the author paints in black/white colors rather than the more realty based grey shades. Have our attempts at cooperation been smart? Have we paid attention to citizens welfare if they happen to live in the US? Does China work in the interests of its citizens? A new approach was voted for by the noncoast, nonelite. Considering their welfare is not a lack of cooperation.
[There’s that tricky word ‘reality’ again.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 14 2017 20:44 utc | 44

I quite like Chipnik and Circe’s passion. I like a good rant, especially if it is well written and sort of brilliant and cynical as Chipnik’s latest most definitely is. I have been following the quite acrid debate going on at MOA vis-a-vis Trump without commenting, but I see it as a valuable debate and definitely one worth having.
It annoyed me that Outraged dismissed these people as trolls.
That Trump is up the ass of the Israelis is undeniable. I think it’s all down to the dollar as reserve currency. Wall Street is totally dependent on this, Russia has rebelled, and encouraged the BRICS to rebel, therefore Russia must be taught.
I disagree with Mike Whitney’s latest that it is all down to a geopolitical loss in Syria.
Without the reserve currency the US is basically toast as an economy. I think there is a huge overestimation of the military industrial complex as a dominating force. The power is in Wall Street and its media – as psychohistorian would say…

Posted by: Lochearn | Jan 14 2017 21:03 utc | 46

> Without the reserve currency the US is basically toast as an economy.
The entire resource consuming West is toast.
Now go and review Trump’s statements on Japan & Saudis & later China on youtube. (Lateshow, Oprah, etc.) He plays dumb and expresses outrage. This “world order” they keep talking about it all about the global funny money reserve currency. And lest you get excited about China et al, they proudly joined the IMF basket a while back.
If US ever dares to confront the global oligarchs they will demand payment on TRILLIONS of debt. If US then says “it was illegal and we ain’t paying” welcome to Rogue Nation club. And if you say we are self sufficient, DECADES of planned gutting of education and industry done precisely to insure that US can NEVER afford to cut lose will place a newly independent US of A in 2nd world category.
Nothing short of a global revolution will save us nobodies.

Posted by: nobody | Jan 14 2017 21:11 utc | 48

Today, is the day before tomorrow; there is this other Countdown
Today:

Abbas inaugurates Palestinian Embassy in the Vatican, meets Pope Francis

[.]Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in May 2015, despite opposition from Israel, which said that it would damage prospects for peace in the region. Days after the Pontiff met Abbas in the Vatican, and said he was “an angel of peace” who would destroy a “spirit of war.”
In January 2016, the Vatican announced that a “comprehensive agreement” with the “State of Palestine” signed in June 2015 had come into force. Vatican referred to Palestine as “a state,” giving it full recognition as an equal partner.
The treaty secured the rights and privileges of the Catholic Church in the Palestinian territories in exchange for brokering a two-state solution as well as giving more weight to Palestine’s political stance in the world. It also included clauses on safeguarding the holy sites in Palestine, equally important for all three Abrahamic religions.

and tomorrow, January 15, 2017 the 70 Nations Peace Conference on Palestine – following UN Resolution 2334 – all eyes will be focused on Paris: A very Unhappy day for Israel’s Bibi and fellow Khazars. US’ SoS, John Kerry will attend.

Israeli defense minister calls Paris peace summit a ‘tribunal,’ compares it to Dreyfus trial

[.] Israel’s Security Cabinet on Sunday reportedly discussed the possibility that a new set of measures unfavorable to Israel might be agreed in Paris and be voted for by the UN Security Council before US President Barack Obama leaves office on January 20. Israeli media said the concern is that the members of the Middle East Quartet, comprising the UN, the EU, Russia and the US, may find common ground during the meeting, so it could pave the way for further punitive resolutions by UN Security Council against the Israeli settlement policy in Occupied Palestinian Territories, The Times of Israel reports.[.]

Posted by: likklemore | Jan 14 2017 21:20 utc | 50

ALberto 37:
Interesting theory but doubtful. But speaking of the Tsar and his family, here is a pic of the Lovely Romanov princesses with shaved heads.
https://youtu.be/N7yIc3Nw3Rw?t=39m28s
Thank God there is a God and the crettin in guise of humans that killed these innocents will answer for it.

Posted by: nobody | Jan 14 2017 21:23 utc | 52

@47
Thanks, james. Yes, it slips under the radar as it is supposed to do. It took five years and 150 books to enlighten me, plus lots of other stuff. You could call it a late PHD.

Posted by: Lochearn | Jan 14 2017 21:37 utc | 54

* have renounced their adhesion to the god-given right.

Posted by: Laguerre | Jan 14 2017 21:43 utc | 56

> should have renounced
Nicholas II abdicated, as a matter of fact.
None of these young women claimed the Romanov throne. What sort of monster would approve of killing innocents?
In any event, have you ever heard of trials, juries, defence, and all that jazz?

Posted by: nobody | Jan 14 2017 21:49 utc | 58

The Soviets learned the lesson from the English and the French, when setting up a commonwealth or republic it is not enough to execute the reigning monarch. You have to kill all putative heirs as well if you are to prevent a later monarchical restoration.

Posted by: Paul Cockshott | Jan 14 2017 21:54 utc | 60

6 more days until a totally new reality folks.
I wouldn’t call it a cause for positivism – Trump’s admin could be irrevocably sabotaged from the start, and so far it looks like the oppositional elites *finally* see an opportunity to do so.
Of course, we have no idea what Trump Inc. has in store either. Based upon his rhetoric, his appointments and their rhetoric, Iran has a huge target,Israel has full support, Russia maybe getting conned, and China being successfully intimidated and/or brought to heel are the apparent geopolitical objectives.
This, of course, is in a reality of 20~60trillion (USA) in debt, rampant privatization, resource depletion, possible climate chaos, overpopulation, underemployment, a fraying social net, deforestation, ETC ETC. There may be overall global extremism and violence coming that surpasses any previous era.
BTW, how do thermonuclear warheads or nationwide EMP strkes on major affect economists’ models and forecasts? What effect do 100 or so nuclear meltdowns have on the Dow Jones moving average or on Marvel movie release dates?

Posted by: bbbb | Jan 14 2017 22:12 utc | 62

Circe @63
So now Putin is a Zionist? LOL.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 14 2017 22:49 utc | 64

@58,
Read the Old Testament and get back to me on who you represent.

Posted by: Jonathan | Jan 14 2017 22:56 utc | 66

Erdogan is facing a looming humiliation in Al Bab. Before it gets too bloody for the Turks , he is rushing to establish the presidency of his dream: Total power.
Trump administration will soon declare the Moslem Brotherhood, the core of Erdogan ideology, a terrorist organization. That will hurt Erdogan and may weaken his position. One more reason to rush.
My prediction is that even he succeeds in changing the Constitution, he wont be the one who will enjoy it.
There is too much frustration hatred in and around Turkey for him to survive the next attempt to eliminate him.
2017 may see the liberation of Turkey from the Erdogan’s oligarchy.

Posted by: virgile | Jan 14 2017 23:00 utc | 68

@ bbbb 62
Of course, we have no idea what Trump Inc. has in store either. Based upon his rhetoric, his appointments and their rhetoric, Iran has a huge target, Israel has full support, Russia maybe getting conned, and China being successfully intimidated and/or brought to heel are the apparent geopolitical objectives.
Oh, but we do know.
Paul Craig Roberts,former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy under Reagan and former WSJ Associate Editor , reflects that Obama promised “Hope and Change.” We were hopeful and got change, but for the worst.
Dr. Roberts observes the confirmation hearings for Trump’s nominees and asks; “Is Trump Already Finished?”

It did not take long before we knew there was no hope of change from President Obama. But at least he went into his inauguration with an unprecedented number of Americans on the Mall showing their support for the President of Change. Hope was abundant.
But with Trump, we are already losing faith, if not yet with him, at least with his choice of those who comprise his government even before Trump is inaugurated.
Trump’s choice for Secretary of State not only sounds like the neoconservatives in declaring Russia to be a threat to the United States and all of Europe, but also sounds like Hillary Clinton in declaring the South China Sea to be an area of US dominance. One would think that the chairman of Exxon was not an idiot, but I am no longer sure. In his confirmation hearing, Rex Tillerson said that China’s access to its own South China Sea is “not going to be allowed.”
Here is Tillerson’s statement: “We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that first, the island-building stops, and second, your access to those islands also not going to be allowed.”efore he even takes office:[.]
Judging from their public statements, Trump’s announced government has targeted Iran for destabilization. Trump’s appointees as National Security Advisor, Secretary of Defense, and Director of the CIA all regard Iran incorrectly as a terrorist state that must be overthrown.
But Russia cannot allow Washington to overthrow the stable government in Iran and will not allow it. China’s investments in Iranian oil imply that China also will not permit Washington’s overthrow of Iran. China has already suffered from its lost investments in Libyan oil as the result of the Obama regimes overthrow of the Libyan government.
Realistically speaking, it looks like the Trump Presidency is already defeated by his own appointees independently of the ridiculous and completely unbelievable propaganda put out by the CIA and broadcast by the presstitute media in the US, UK, and Europe.[.]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What I would like to ask Mr. Tillerson is this:
If Russia is such a threat to US and all of Europe, sure this threat did not occur overnight, why then, as CEO of ExxonMobil, did you partner with Rosneft? Should ExxonMobil now dissolve the Rosneft partnerships in Alaska, Texas, the Gulf of Mexico and Russia? These are hefty ExxonMobil and Rosneft partnering
~ ~ ~ ~
USA debt is way more than 20-60 trillion. Add the unfunded liabilities of over 100 trillion that excludes the states’ munis’ and underfunded pensions never will be paid.
Our Chipnik has been sounding the fire alarms. He should not be dismissed.

Posted by: likklemore | Jan 14 2017 23:18 utc | 70

China brought to heels by Trump ? yeah right, they just have to sell some of the massive billions pile of US bonds they still have in stock and america will be made cosy again ^^

Posted by: ratatat | Jan 14 2017 23:20 utc | 72

From Facebook:

A public service announcement to all Americans, from Poland:
“A quick note to my US friends. Please share this with your own friends and familes, co-workers, bowling team members, office mates, guys you hang out with at the local bar, etc. Despite what you may be seeing and hearing on your TV news, Putin is not threatening Poland. Russia is not interested in attacking my country. As I look out my window right now I can see the other side of the Vistula river. I can assure all of you that here are no Russian soldiers, tanks, APCs, helicopters or jeeps visible on the other side of the river. Our borders have not been violated by Russian forces. We are not being attacked or even threatened by our neighbor to the east. Relax, USA, it’s just a quiet Saturday afternoon in Poland. We’d like to keep it that way.
Oh, and could you please take YOUR troops back to Colorado? Thanks.” Roger Domagalski

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Jan 14 2017 23:26 utc | 74

– Pentagon passed on information to Assad because Turkey didn’t want to support the “moderate rebels” in Syria but instead Turkey “re-directed” US support to ISIS and its affiliates.
Google the words: “seymour hersh pentagon is passing info to the syrians” (Several links pop up)
Or:
https://www.democracynow.org/2015/12/22/seymour_hershs_latest_bombshell_us_military
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n01/seymour-m-hersh/military-to-military

Posted by: Willy2 | Jan 14 2017 23:46 utc | 76

Behind the CIA’s Covert Ops Against Trump – with Ray McGovern (Brian Becker, Loud & Clear)
https://youtu.be/_gMd64Jb0k8
https://sputniknews.com/radio_loud_and_clear/201701121049500452-behind-the-cias-covert-ops-against-trump/

Posted by: x | Jan 15 2017 0:04 utc | 78

Is Trump really the populist he ran as?
Trump Team Will Not Attend Davos: “Would Betray Populist-Fueled Movement”

Posted by: Tobin Paz | Jan 15 2017 0:50 utc | 80

@54 lochearn.. i agree with former t bear @ 57 sentiment… formal ed isn’t all it is cracked up to me.. nowadays it is just a way for the millennial’s to go much deeper into debt then the group before then. i have a friend who is turning 70 this year studying physics.. here in canada seniors can take courses at a real discount, especially if you aren’t interested in collecting credits.. of course in the Scandinavian countries one gets free ed right up and thru university.. sure would be nice to have that in canada especially for the younger folks enrolled at present.
buy your tickets to saudi arabia now! don’t expect to be able to go see ‘lala land’ whatever the latest movie is..
“I hope those in charge of the Entertainment Authority are guided to turn it from bad to good and not to open doors to evil,” Al al-Sheikh said on his weekly television program on his website, adding, “Motion pictures may broadcast shameless, immoral, atheistic or rotten films.”
He said that the nothing good can come from mixing sexes.”
Saudi Arabia’s radical top religious authority FREAK! , Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz, has denounced the Saudi governments plan for opening cinemas and concerts in the puritanical kingdom as bringing immortality.

Posted by: james | Jan 15 2017 1:09 utc | 82

@83 paulmeli..the us$ has the reserve status thanks the bretton woods agreement, the imf arrangements and ”international” agreements like that.. it’s a fixed ponzi scheme that works well for the reserve currencies, especially since they went off the gold standard… the classification of ‘developing’ verses ‘developed’ in the imf lingo is especially ”class status” telling too as it dictates the % of voting rights a country does or doesn’t have… and it all has bearing on gatt and every trade agreement that has come after it.. lawyers make up this crap.. the financial sanction game is another part of the ponzi scheme challenge for anyone who wants to contemplating stepping out of line.. that bozo samantha powers, or was it the new bimbo here in canada – crystia freeland that was suggesting russia be shut out of the bank of international settlements? folks know a mafia system when they see it.. it is presently rigged for the us$.. it can’t last forever..

Posted by: james | Jan 15 2017 1:21 utc | 84

re the freak in my @84… apparently singing at concerts is harmful and corrupting as well!~ gotta love the good friends of the usa/uk – saudi arabia/etc and the liberated and tolerant ideology towards women and just about everything else that goes with that bastion of ‘democracy and freedom’ lol…. stand tall america, lol..

Posted by: james | Jan 15 2017 1:29 utc | 86

@87 penelope… yeah sure… just opt out of it all and see how you get along.. this shit takes time.. unfortunately when a country is dealing with a mafioso system, it doesn’t exactly work in a black and white only manner.. typically one has to play the game until they can find a chance to alter the arrangement.. now maybe someone wants to create an alternative system to the imf ponzi scheme… any alternative would be a good alternative to those left out on the cold shoulder of that arrangement..

Posted by: james | Jan 15 2017 1:33 utc | 88

@91 I was going to say shopping but I guess if we didn’t have oil there wouldn’t be any shops, not much in them and no way to get there.

Posted by: dh | Jan 15 2017 2:10 utc | 90

Starvation hits Yemen under Saudi bombardment and U.S. embargo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYHprhvez0
Meanwhile, the “moral authority” of Saudi Arabia is concerned about movies and concerts:
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/saudi-arabia-cleric-grand-mufti-abdulaziz-al-sheikh-warns-of-depravity-of-cinema-concerts-4473981/
“Saudi Arabia’s highest-ranking cleric has warned of the “depravity” of cinemas and music concerts, saying they would corrupt morals if allowed in the ultra-conservative kingdom. “We know that singing concerts and cinemas are a depravity,” Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Sheikh said in a television interview cited by Sabq news website late Friday”
And the neoliberal Democrats like Pelosi and the neocon Republicans like McCain remain firmly in support of Saudi war crimes:
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/files/2015/03/arabia-mccain-polesi-1024×712.jpg

Posted by: nonsense factory | Jan 15 2017 3:30 utc | 92

@ likklemore who provided links to 2013, 2014 and 2015 articles on potential demise of US Reserve Currency status.
Where/when is the tipping point? I continue to think it is a big part of the geopolitical stink going on but I also write about it on textual white noise outlets to extreme because the US public have no idea of the adjustment they and their children will make because they will no longer have private finance (assuming it stays in control) as a primary backer of their government…..and through that the Western world.
Private finance, assuming it maintains control of international financial transactions and investment like it does, will spread its still overwhelming wealth around to countries that support strong private ownership of property, beneficial inheritance legal posture and allow continuing influence of private finance in geopolitical machinations.
Will humanity evolve beyond its more craven neanderthal roots?
Can someone explain to me the difference in big money backing for the US circus sides and then explain to me the sides with Russia and China again……any fake news in there?
Who are the Hollyweed producers behind what we are about to behold by the end of this week, month, year?
I now have a vision of a political cartoon with Trump standing on a world street corner with his Hurdy Gurdy/Twitter machine and the monkey attached is labeled as “US Public” begging for pennies from the rest of the world…..tell me when you see it.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 15 2017 3:57 utc | 94

@ 46 & 47 & 57
Fully comprehend and understand why you may perceive that & have drawn those conclusions.
Hm, lol. My ID is not ‘representative’ re etymology of, hubris, either, far from it.
My tone/voice may grate to some because of my, background … rigidly formal & firm given being defined by service/experience … not by a purely academic, life. Though do love the classics of antiquity …
Have been a bar patron and contributor to the Barflies efforts from Billmon thence thru to our Patron & Host b, Bernhard, for almost 13(14?) years. And thru most of that in service of our gracious & generous host b, who knows me well … throughout all that time, and, … ‘understands’. It’s b’s blog, his open Bar, not ours, we’re but merely Bar patrons.
So, unfortunately, you may be disappointed with speculation re, ‘staying power’, unless one suddenly takes a dirt nap 😉
The last few years have been a daily lurker, when able, due to serious health issues.
Old Moonbats, are well aware of the reason & true, inner meaning of my ID, and it has nothing to do with a superficial speculation re etymology of Hubris, etc, nor reflective of or chosen in relation to character.
The supposed ‘attack’ on certain poster IDs, which some attribute to selective Outrage,Hubris,Intolerance etc is, nothing of the sort. One did not continue with it, has not resumed, and all interaction with said IDs ceased after one post and one reply each … co-ordinated/purposely/pre-planned … given your specious premise re oneself, would that not be ‘odd’ ? Would that not be ‘out of character’ of the one proposed, re this poster. ? Anomalous, not ?
Unable to go into that anomalous sequence further for now, than other than to say, was not by accident, nor driven by any form of emotion, intolerance of others viewpoints, etc, whatsoever. Was specifically NOT done to discredit nor ‘shut-up’ the IDs, exactly the opposite, was intended. see previous.
You may wish to reconsider what you believe/perceive you know/assess re, as ol’ kameraden, R’Giap might say, ‘Moi‘ 😉
With respect & nil animosity whatsoever, white-anting is, well … as opposed to discussing/challenging content, civilly … if y’all truly believe the comments you’ve made and are committed to them after the above, then, these have merely only been wasted pixels/bytes and, re-affirmed your judgement. Nil harm done.
This poster won’t ‘bite’ and doesn’t have rabies 😉 Should you wish to engage/discuss/clarify, civilly, as opposed to ‘white-anting’, or, not.
Regardless, Vale. Pax vobiscum.
Peace.Salaam.Shalom

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 15 2017 4:05 utc | 96

Paulmeli @ 83
Penelope @ 87
Et all
The US$, in and of itself, is not the problem. The US$ is merely a conduit, a vehicle if you will, as are all currencies that are imposed by the state.
Now, if a sovereign currency is tied to the US$ as is the case for all members of the Floating Exchange Rate Mechanism (FERM), that does have consequences of course. But, once again, that is not the problem.
What I am about to write is to be read through the prism of the right to private property.
The key to understanding our predicament is to understand that, though presumably democratic, modern nation states:
Impose one arbitrary unit of account by force of law
Impose one arbitrary and unelected owner of said unit of account
Run perpetual fiscal deficits
The arithmetical underpinnings of these arbitrary but deliberate choices have real life consequences that must inherently and inevitably result in the concentration of title thus the concentration of wealth and power.
The Network That Runs The World
Since the Renaissance of the 1600s, Western societies have developed along 3 very well defined principles. Namely:
The right to self determination
The right to private property
The right to economic freedom
Since the early 1900s however, the imposition of our modern monetary systems have laid the foundations to gradually roll back the benefits and wealth that had been accumulated by the many since the 1600s.
The problem is not what vehicle is used for interaction between individuals or states.
The problem is that in our modern monetary systems, in exchanging labor for money, the individual exchanges something he owns outright for:
Something he does not own
Something that is constantly devalued
Something he owes taxes on
Since modern states run perpetual deficits, then the following is an arithmetical consequence:
The money is constantly devalued
As money is constantly devalued fiscal pressure must increase
As fiscal pressure increases, legislation must be brought to bear to justify same
All along, individuals are gradually divested of their property in exchange for debt.
This same dynamic works at sovereign level too.
This is where the IMF and World Bank come in and this is what they have been doing to all peripheral countries in the past 60 years.
Interestingly enough, the IMF seems to have run out of peripherals to run their scheme on. Now the IMF has turned its guns towards Europe and Greece is but the first victim.
Study in this regard the Bank Recovery And Restructuring Directive that has become law in Euroland as of January 1st, 2016
Bonus info
A corollary of the monetary dynamic is, of course, off shoring
As fiscal pressure increases and as legislation becomes more restrictive, industry and business are encouraged to set up abroad. This dynamic is reinforced when, using deficit spending, the state gives subsidies to preferred economic entities.

Posted by: Guidoamm | Jan 15 2017 4:34 utc | 98

Saudi media are claiming that the Russian Ambassador to Yemen was killed when gunmen stormed the Russian Embassy in Sana’a.

Reports appeared in Saudi Arabian media that the Kremlin’s ambassador was shot in Sanaa – the largest city in Yemen.
The assassination was first reported by Saudi Arabia’s Barq news agency.

Russia has strongly denied this.

The Russian embassy in the Yemen has reportedly said “no one’s been shot”, telling NBC there had not been any attack.

Did someone in Riyadh fuck up by releasing the announcement of the attack before the attack was actually carried out?

Posted by: Ghostship | Jan 15 2017 4:44 utc | 100