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August 24, 2018
Open Thread 2018-42
Comments
Does anyone think the US weapons and vehicles captured from the ISIS buffer between Syria and the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights have all got trackers on them and maybe do work don’t work switches. I can’t think of a better way to plant intelligence into the enemy and tactical advantages. A good bit of forward thinking I thinks
Eva Bartlett’s RT op/ed on Bolton’s ordering al-Qaeda to stage a chemical attack within Idlib is an extremely powerful indictment and links to one of b’s articles as supporting evidence. Greatly approve of her framing and rhetoric. Hope it gets shared as widely as possible.
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 24 2018 18:03 utc | 2
Love b’s response to the NYT’s “Kremlin sources go quiet” propaganda piece!
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 24 2018 18:28 utc | 3
One weird thing I noticed… a few articles mentioned a fundraiser being setup for Maria Butina. But there is no link or any other info about it. I searched extensively and found nothing.
Posted by: gogaijin | Aug 24 2018 18:36 utc | 4
Helen – that would be impressive forward thinking for 4 to 6 years ago. I don’t think it would have occurred to the US that Assad would still be around in 2016 until some time after Russia intervened. And then the US became caught between rhetorics of “every bad thing we do is against terrorism”(torture, drones etc), and “moderate rebels”. So they started buying old soviet weapons for ISIS instead.
Of course they might have passed on new tracking bugs via modern ISIS (via say white helmets). But I don’t think they can bomb Syrian troops many more times now.
Posted by: mdroy | Aug 24 2018 18:48 utc | 5
This will certainly be noticed Comrade b, somebody will report it and hell will break!
Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Aug 24 2018 19:01 utc | 6
Google terminates ‘Iran, Russia-linked’ accounts
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/08/24/572091/Google-Iran-Russia-Youtube-Blogger
Is this censorship even legal?
Posted by: Zanon | Aug 24 2018 19:05 utc | 7
And b frankly, I spend too much time talking too myself, the problem is I tend to agree, and can never have a solid argument (Monthy python clip here).
Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Aug 24 2018 19:46 utc | 8
mdroy I would have thought tracking hardware and weapons was standard practice, especially if you’re giving them away.
Zanon @7–
See Adam Garrie’s initial discussion of that issue here and his follow-up from today here.
As earlier court cases on related issues suggest, the censorship we’re seeing is unconstitutional within the Outlaw US Empire. Trump’s tweet on the issue’s being hailed by his most bitter opponents as a very worthy statement. And if you’ve never been exposed to the brilliance of Frank Zappa, you’ll be treated to a heavy dose at the first link.
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 24 2018 20:14 utc | 10
John McCain has decided to stop treatment for his cancer. Not that I wish anybody dead, can’t say I’ll be sorry to see one less war hawk.
Posted by: Woogs | Aug 24 2018 20:20 utc | 11
karlof1
Thanks, will read those.
This must end, but I assume we have only seen the start of it,
Social media companies meet in secret at Twitter building to tackle “fake news”
https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1033001242379907072
Posted by: Zanon | Aug 24 2018 20:28 utc | 12
@Zanon Great pick-up. “They” are coming for “us” now. In this case, they is the American social media companies under the guidance of the alphabet security agencies (a.k.a. the Deep State). Us are those people dedicated to sharing real news and hidden stories and uncovering the deception of the MSM. We (or most of us) are dedicated to trying to wake our comatic fellow citizens.
B’s investigative summaries have been particularly insightful and timely this year. Not surprised to see MoA slowly sliding into the crosshairs of the social media barons. Glad so many of us are able to help him make it happen. We must not let the naysayers, cynics and spammers slow the momentum.
After reading through the 100+ posts on Democratic Party Strategists, I typed a rather long response into the second page. Basically our challenge is not politics, it’s not the economy – it’s the sixth great extinction event we’ve already initiated.
@14 ‘Not surprised to see MoA slowly sliding into the crosshairs of the social media barons.’
Let us hope Angela Merkel registers a strong complaint when they try to extradite b.
Posted by: dh | Aug 24 2018 21:59 utc | 15
The US has reactivated the Atlantic Fleet to respond to perceived Russian military expansion:
The U.S Navy on Friday formally reactivated the Cold War-era naval command it relied on for decades to confront adversaries in the waters off North America — the latest in a series of efforts to check Moscow’s military expansion.
The move comes as Russian submarine activity surges in the Atlantic.
The 2nd Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia, which was deactivated in 2011, will once again be assigned ships, aircraft and Marine landing forces for potential operations along the East Coast and in the North Atlantic, where melting Arctic ice has also heightened the competition for natural resources.
“We as a Navy, as a nation, have not had to confront such peer competitors since the Cold War ended nearly three decades ago,” one of the Navy’s top officers, Fleet Forces Command chief Adm. Chris Grady, said during a ceremony in Norfolk aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/24/navy-atlantic-fleet-russia-751660
Posted by: sleepy | Aug 24 2018 22:19 utc | 16
Heaving myself up my long steep hill trundling provisions, my one thought (after satisfying myself that I had done so with no breaks for only the second time in my life) was a cuppa tea (my preference is gunpowder, not the real thing) and M o A.
How very satisfying to come into the realm of sanity and cognoscenti! (Not sure that is the right word, but too flat out but enjoyably spent to worry – you all know what I mean.) Thank you for links, karlof1 – I’ve only done the first couple, but on the further conversation about control of the media, there is a link today over at nakedcapitalism.com to a Jeremy Corbin proposal to shake the cobwebs out of the BBC that will probably get him elected in a romp. I liked especially his proposal to have big corporations and billionaires pay their ‘fee’ online so as to take the burden off lesser mortals.
Now that’s an idea that ought to go exponential.
Too bad the Russians couldn’t have jumped in before, Bolton with something like:
“…and if there’s another false chemical attack harming any persons or facilities in the area, followed by Tomahawk missiles or any such pomposities doing the same, you sirs (and you know who you are) are going to be frogmarched to the Hague or any other court that will have you!”
Posted by: juliania | Aug 24 2018 22:52 utc | 17
Next financial collapse the big banks will be entitled to confiscate deposits to bolster reserves instead of being bailed out by government, like in Greece a few years back. Even those deposits insured by FDIC. Government may eventually reimburse some of it . Best stuff some cash (or gold) in the mattress though, i have a feeling things could get interesting this fall. Perhaps starting in the emerging markets first , but it’s all interconnected now and over a quadrillion in derivatives floating around , some of which may drop like WTC 1.2,7.
MSM starting to talk about Trumps Russian mob connections. LOL. These were all known before the election but nobody would talk about it because the Deep State wanted Trump elected. Why? Perhaps to bring him down and start a Civil War. Something. Who can know anything for sure these days
Book called House of Trump House of Putin by Unger just out. He tries and fails to make the Putin and Trump connection, but makes a lot of the mob/oligarch connections that have been known for awhile but may be new to those who get their news from mainstream sources. The timing is very telling IMO
Posted by: Pft | Aug 24 2018 23:16 utc | 18
Pat Lang reports approvingly that: Turkey accepts Russian views on Syria, which is sourced from almarsdarnews.com.
Maybe I am too cynical but I’m very skeptical about anything involving Erdogan who seems to play both sides. So I looked at the story at Almarsdarnews. It says:
Turkey is ready to work together with Russia in Syria’s Idlib province to eradicate militants in the region …
According to Cavusoglu, it is also important to make sure that the fight against militants does not threaten the civilians in the region.
Lavrov noted that Moscow and Ankara “are interested in establishing conditions for Syrian citizens’ secure and decent return to their motherland.”
Does these statements align? Is there really an agreement?
A close reading is warranted as there is so much propaganda going around (note Yeah, Right’s push-back of Zanon’s persistent mis-interpretations of Russia’s stance regarding Iranian forces in Syria)
It seems to me that Cavusoglu is being slippery here. “Ready to work together” is vague and Turk-Syrian cooperation is not mentioned. Even more worrisome is that Cavusoglu’s concern for civilians appears to be a caveat that makes any agreement that might have been reached tentative and conditional. In fact, Cavusoglu’s caveat reinforces Bolton’s warning to Assad not to use chemical weapons.
Then there’s this:
Turkish-backed NFL Puts Forces On High Alert And Calls For All-Out Mobilization In Northern Syria:
… on high alert to repel any possible attack of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies.
If Turkey is “working together” with Russia, then why are their proxies preparing to repel SAA?
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 24 2018 23:56 utc | 19
@19 Cavusoglu’s concern is probably mainly for the Turkmen in Idlib (estimated by some accounts to be over a million). This would be out of some kind of pan-Turkish ethnic loyalty although the Turkmen in Turkmenistan don’t seem very involved..
Posted by: dh | Aug 25 2018 0:40 utc | 20
So… I listened to the news conference.
The reporting from Almarsdanews seems rather optimistic.
Cavusoglu decries the use of force in Idlib:
… of course we need to separate … uh … terrorists and civilians, we need to fight against terrorists but, when we use force – military force – it will just be a catastrophe… a humanitarian disaster.”
Cavusoglu seems much more interested in pushing for a political settlement via Constitutional reform. He specifically references coordination with Steffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy to Syria. Importantly, the ‘Assad must go!’ Coalition supports the UN process while Russia has abandoned that and initiated the ‘Astana format’ instead.
Also, the personal interaction between Cavusoglu and Lavrov reflected a lack of agreement. Their demeanor was serious and business-like. They barely looked at each other.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 25 2018 1:04 utc | 21
Guess b called it:
…moments ago Trump tweeted that he had asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea because he feels “we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
Uh, yeah…I think they are confused about what NK actually agreed to…
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-24/trump-tells-pompeo-not-go-north-korea-not-making-sufficient-denuclearization
Posted by: rico | Aug 25 2018 1:40 utc | 22
This week, the USA officially (through the US State Department) threatened El Salvador for cutting ties with Taiwan and establishing ties with China.
On the same day [that the State Department…], GOP Senators Cory Gardner (Colorado) and Macro Rubio (Florida), threatened to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 that would “block US foreign assistance to El Salvador” for committing such a “grave mistake.” [From the link]
Question is: why didn’t the USA just cut the aid to El Salvador silently? It’s in its own sovereign rights to do so, as much as it is in El Salvador’s sovereign rights to severe and create diplomatic ties with any other country it wants to. I’m sure the Salvadorean diplomats and government were already aware of that, and had already weighted the risk before taking the decision.
My hypothesis is that the USA has a strategy of always letting the door for a military invasion and/or economic embargo open. This is particularly true for the Latin American and South Pacific nations (i.e. nations weak and small but important enough to be easily invaded by the Marines and Navy), while at the same time letting the door of the risk of the desintegration of the global alliance (the “new world order”) as close as possible. The aim is to clearly draw the line its allies can, and cannot, cross (i.e. the de facto international rules).
Say, for example, that the USA spoke nothing or stated officially El Salvador did what was in its sovereign rights, and, because it hurt American geopolitical interests, it would be cutting its aid to it. In that case, there would be no room for a future embargo and/or military invasion — if that happened, the alliance would feel insecure as to its status. An incident like that happened when Trump allegedly spoke he wouldn’t send American soldiers to defend Montenegro, the Western European MSM almost had a heart attack with that.
Now, if the USA officially spoke that, maybe, El Salvador is “threatening democracy”, “world stability”, “the liberal consensus”, or, on a deeper level, “financing terrorists”, “financing drug cartels” etc., the Americans would then have a casus belli to siege or invade it in the near future, without the other small allies feeling threatened.
On another note: the Guardian is recycling the Venezuelan “exodus” story again. It seems they were really just waiting for the UN to recycle the Voice of the Venezuelan Diaspora Observatory “data” (note: obviously, the Voice of the Venezuelan Diaspora Observatory is never mentioned as the source, but always the UN). The headline is bombastic: “Venezuela heading for ‘crisis moment’ comparable to refugees in Mediterranean, UN says”
The article of today is mainly a recap of the past article.
But the most absurd part comes when it states “Venezuela’s information minister, Jorge Rodriguez, said a new package of economic measures meant to address hyperinflation would win over Venezuelans who had left the country.” Thing is, the link redirects to an opinion piece by the Guardian itself (from Larry Elliott). Not only that, the piece by Elliott doesn’t have this quote by Jorge Rodriguez at all!
In the opinion piece, Larry Elliott basically uses IMF theory of “conquering back business confidence to the country” to explain why he thinks Maduro’s financial reforms will fail.
# vk with the El Salvador move to the China side
I saw that and wonder how long this choosing of sides is going to go on before the dust settles and we can see more clearly.
Then again, this process may continue for years before erupting into embargoes and such or not.
The debt overhang internationally is beyond a joke but can continue as long as the printing presses keep running. When the music stops the global elite will come forward to the Bretton Woods meeting of the day with their proxies/lawyers proving that they do own everything and what will whomever else is in the room say? Will Rule-of-Law-of/by/for-the-Rich continue as now?
I think change is coming.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 25 2018 2:28 utc | 25
@19 jackrabbit.. good post.. i am with you on the skepticism towards erdogan and any russia/turkey agreement..
in fact, pat langs batting average isn’t that good on syria as i see it..
the nfl – turkish backed national front for liberation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Front_for_Liberation looks like a repackaged group of former (so called) moderate headchoppers – “Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki” and etc. etc.. that turkey is backing them looks like a repackaging job to me…
and @21 jr.. i think you are reading that right.. they are looking for a political settlement.. previously turkey was looking for a military solution, aiding and abetting the ‘moderate headchoppers’.. personally i am not buying what they say or what i think is a fairly lame repackaging game they are working on.. if i was russia i would continue to be suspicious of turkeys game plan here.. they supported the terrorists and now they are in a dilemma about how to find a political solution to come to terms with all the friendly headchoppers they were supporting previously.. turkey is playing a really treacherous game as i see it.. i would like they have flipped sides to russias side, but i remain unconvinced.. i hope i am wrong..
Posted by: james | Aug 25 2018 4:02 utc | 26
25
The private Fed Bank cannot create debt. They must create Treasury bond IOUs, then sell those, then use the sale of Treasury bonds to finance US government. The SS and MC Trust Funds are mandated by Congress as the buyers of last resort. So we’re now in the absurd position of paying interest-only to *ourselves* to secure those IOUs that nobody wants, and that’s why MC and Health and Human Services in general are dying out, as now Trump’s No Taxes for the Rich has created an -$800B Deficit, and Congress is creating a next fiat -$1,500 Omnibus Debt Bill Two, for the Continuity of Government, aka Deep Purple Mil.Gov UniParty. USA is dead busted hillbilly broke, and November 14th when oil blockade starts on Iran, we will be in WW3.
Posted by: Chipnik | Aug 25 2018 4:21 utc | 27
When does MofA go dark…? Can someone prepare me for the upcoming purge…? What tools will I need for my mind to remain my own…? It has sure been a nice 3 and a bit years reading b and the commentariat.
Posted by: MadMax2 | Aug 25 2018 7:20 utc | 29
The advantages of talking to yerself are vast – even the weird looks from the ancient housefrau locked into an internalised debate at the freezer while deciding whether to buy straight or ‘crinkle’ oven fries cannot detract from the certainty that yer talking to someone who ‘gets’ what yer on about plus any disagreements are more likely to be of the constructive dialectic variety than the pointless name calling and personal denigration which informs most contentious discussions with other humans.
I occasionally pretend to be talking with my son but that is just cover since he learned to block out my expressions of disgust and derision at the current state of things a long time ago.
I’m sure I’m not the only person forced to shop in huge monopolistic stores who can be set off by the sight of ‘wipes’ from israel, slave picked californian oranges or 100% leather free boots made to resemble actual leather ones. What is with that last one? If yer manufacturing footwear that contains no animal product wouldn’t it be smarter marketing to celebrate footwear made without the deaths of sentient beings rather than stamping “non-leather upper” in tiny script in some totally inaccessible spot on a boot painted to look as tho it has been made with ‘real’ dead animal parts?
Despite the digressions there is much to be said for conducting a conversation with oneself even if it is only because this is the only way you can be certain that someone is listening to ya.
The odd glances and avoidance-behavior from the bourgeoisie is an extra benefit as well. Kinda reminds me of when I was a kid with long hair, people would frequently stand rather than sit next to me on the bus, so I could stretch my arms and legs out & enjoy the ride.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Aug 25 2018 7:49 utc | 30
Regards the comments about Social Media. I’ve now been deleted twice by Facebook for ‘violating Facebooks terms and conditions’ after posting numerous fairly provocative comments on ABC News (Australia) about Imperialism, Neoliberalism, and how mainstream ‘journalists’ are merely stenographers and presstitutes for those who rule and cheerleaders for Western Imperialism. Oh dear. Tried to join Facebook for a 3rd time, and message kept coming up: ‘an error has occurred, try again.A t least can still make comments on the excellent Moon Of Alabama site, a beacon of truth.
Here we go again,
Terrorists readying chemical attack to frame Damascus & provide pretext for US strikes – Russian MoD
https://www.rt.com/news/436812-syria-chemical-weapons-provocation/
And this the US Russia naively met with to discuss Syria! Russia could stop this dumb path and instead give Syria S300, that would stop this idiocy.
Posted by: Zanon | Aug 25 2018 9:31 utc | 32
Health Warning
Anyone who daily
Looks at Nikki Haley
Will very quickly find
They have lost their mind.
Posted by: Willie Wobblestick | Aug 25 2018 10:49 utc | 33
When we talk about debt I think it’s important to distinguish between private and public debt.
The private debt problem of student debt is huge and would be a great place for a debt jubilee. Student Debt Cancellation (Stephanie Kelton)
“”These results suggest that policies like student debt cancellation can be a viable part of a needed reorientation of US higher education policy.””
———-
The 2008 financial crisis was largely due to the private debt problem of home ownership. The correct solution here would have been a debt jubilee for the people with the exorbitant mortgages and prosecution of the fraud that went into providing these mortgages. Instead we saw the Fed and Treasury make the banks whole while forcing millions of people into foreclosure. A huge and destructive waste of fiscal policy which could have been used productively for things like single payer medical care or to enhance social security or for a job guarantee program.
These are the types of choices that can be made with public debt. Making banks and real estate whole (Michael Hudson’s detested FIRE sector) isn’t the right road.
Posted by: financial matters | Aug 25 2018 12:45 utc | 34
financial matters @33
couldn’t agree with you more except the writedown of massive private debt load will trigger a stock and bond market crash which neither party in control of the federal government apparatus (Dems in 2009, GOP today) will allow to happen as it will exterminate their short term future prospects at the polls.
I believe the government should have forced the banks to reset the mortgage principle and interest rates for all underwater homeowners as a pre-condition of the bail out. Instead, bailout came quickly followed by the willy nilly and limp Obama HARP re-financing “solution” too late for the most vulnerable and only worked for people who didn’t actually need the assistance in the first place.
Posted by: donkeytale | Aug 25 2018 13:13 utc | 35
Agree donkeytale @ 34
The stock market is another propped up asset similar to real estate mainly benefitting the top 20% and especially the top 1%
It’s sad to see stock market indices being used as a measure of success of the US economy rather than things like the number of living wage jobs or work toward solving inequality problems. Another problem I think of identity politics overriding more class oriented politics.
Posted by: financial matters | Aug 25 2018 13:31 utc | 36
@33 fm
The problem with these schemes is that once again, the people who were honest in their buying, purchasing reasonable mortgages which they could afford, would be left out from the benefit. This would contribute to massive resentment. Debt forgiveness equates to kicking the can down the road, just as TARP did little to nothing to get greedy banks back in line.
The only real solution would be to let them fail. Both banks in 2008 and consumers in the next crisis. This would structurally erase the issue of insolvent lending and force a turmoil which would lead to reenacting of legislation with teeth like Glass-Steagall and reasonable loaning requirements.
Gov’t meddling in loan forgiveness is meddlesome and overreach. My skin already crawls when consumers are allowed foregiveness and debt consolidation through the IRS, with the only lesson learned is their credit will be poor for around three years and then be free to be rescued from their bad decisions afterward.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Aug 25 2018 13:50 utc | 37
We might also want to get fully rid of individual debts, by simply forbidding them. When people can’t borrow money, they won’t become indebted or bankrupt.
Of course, that’s anathema to the Kapital, because most of it is fuelled by people getting loans to buy stuff they don’t really need, or at the very least they can live without.
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Aug 25 2018 14:06 utc | 38
@1 helen
They could’ve but transmitter will release detectable signal. It’s why the Israeli fake rock can be found.
Posted by: cbrown | Aug 25 2018 14:26 utc | 39
Eva Bartlett’s piece on a possible new false flag chemical attack in Idleb province, which could then be blamed on Assad, is missing the point. Why would another such attack be more convincing than all the previous ones, and have consequences and results different from all the other unsuccessful attempts to implicate Assad in war crimes? If the logical argument that the Syrian regime was near to winning the war, and had no need to employ such drastic and desperate methods was then convincing, it is doubly so now. But what if the chemical used in such an attack was a Novichok agent? Now, that would herald a whole new ball game! It would explain the events in Britain and the attempt to point a finger at Russia. That would serve to demonize Putin, heighten tensions, and create a rift in the Russia-Turkey alliance!
Posted by: SPYRIDON POLITIS | Aug 25 2018 14:28 utc | 40
35
As the heat blister finally pops on the runaway Seattle R/E market, we are seeing a virtual tidal wave of FOR SALE signs from those who held out for top dollar. So we have the insanity of a 1930s 2-story flophouse I’m living in just listed for $675,000, and rows of 1960s bungalows down by the railroad tracks hoping for High Fives.
Townhouses in tight 3-story 175-unit clusters beside the freeway have huge banner signs crowding each other out on the offramps YOU COULD BE HOME RIGHT NOW! And once again we’re seeing logging trucks barreling around with full loads, as the suburban hillsides become stump farms for the view of some now-rancid with fertilizer scum pond.
In Seattle itself, after the Coucil lifted the building height restriction and threw out the condo-liability buyer-protection law, it’s become a tight packed domino board of caveat emptor condo towers. My city buddy was paying $2,750 a month for a concrete shoebox 1BR lease in a neighborhood of concrete mixed-use ground-floor food franchises. Visiting him gave me PTSD for a week.
Within one generation, the parents of millenials will have sold out and become half-millionaires, while their job-hop gigging, student-loan shackled, 2-hour commute public-transit riding kids inherit the whirlwind.
But it’s the sub-text, the New Yorkers clipped speech, the fake smile What can I get you?, food that tastes like it came from cans, bright store displays with underpaid, over-worked no-benefits low-hours employees pulling the rotting fish, vegetables and fruit into tubs destined for some rural pig farm, or god knows, maybe Salvation Army.
Here, a happier day. We used to go to Myra’s store to gas up on our way down-valley, and during berry-season, you could always stop for a slice of home-made berry pie and hot black coffee, just the tinkle of the bell over the door to break the silence, and the occasional jake-brake rumble of a logging truck thundering by, looking out at the wide silver river against the close-in dark mountain forest, as it slowly spun its way down to the sea.
Posted by: Chipnik | Aug 25 2018 14:28 utc | 41
Yes, I remember these arguments against debt forgiveness and they definitely have some validity. There’s probably a reason Michael Hudson’s new book has a religious theme.
I think there are similar issues with student loans where students were probably encouraged to take out more than they needed. I think it’s important to remember the predatory nature of these private loans.
Posted by: financial matters | Aug 25 2018 14:31 utc | 42
@10 – karlof1
And if you’ve never been exposed to the brilliance of Frank Zappa, you’ll be treated to a heavy dose at the first link.
Another Frank Zappa fan here. The court case concerning case Zappa in London was a rather hilarious affair. At one point the elderly lady next to me laughed out loud confronted with Zappa texts. When I asked her how this could square with her basic position, she turned around to me telling me: Yes, but the kids. …
That said, I once had to translate an interview closer to Frank Zappa the musician, in that interview he claimed no one had ever interpreted Edgar Varése the way he should have been. Asked why he didn’t do it himself, his answer was: No one is going to pay me for that. (not verbatim). I have to admit, I found this slightly sad.
Flakes, flakes!
Flakes, flakes!
They don’t do no good
They never be workin’ when they oughta should
They waste your time
They’re wastin’ mine
California’s got the most of them
Boy, they got a host of them
Posted by: Snow Flake/LeaNder | Aug 25 2018 14:49 utc | 43
ooops, rarely use them lately. It’s Varèse, of course.
Posted by: Snow Flake/LeaNder | Aug 25 2018 14:50 utc | 44
I’ve come across a trove of Zappa material on Spotify which I had not heard. Hollween 1977 is superb!
I was reminded of (amongst other things) just how amazing Frank is as a guitar soloist. He does so much without heaping on needless complexity.
Posted by: Chevrus | Aug 25 2018 15:53 utc | 47
I’m of the Zappa overrated persuasion myself. He was best in my opinion during the earlier doo-wop incarnation of the Mothers (Ray Collins on lead vocals) and some of early 70s jazz/rock fusion ensembles which included Jean Luc-Ponty and George Duke.
He was an excellent troll and self-promoter though.
But for the most part, his so-called serious compositions sound like hack movie background music. Not bad, but hardly in the same universe as Varese.
“Peaches en Regalia” a pretty good tune in this vein, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGQxI0G6mKk
“Willie the Pimp” with Captain Beefheart lead vocals from same solo album (Hot Rats) a great tune in my opinion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKYGaEafv4g
Posted by: donkeytale | Aug 25 2018 16:12 utc | 48
I attended a Zappa concert on the Venice Beach pier in the early 1970s. His group featured,
as I recall, four drummers, and Frank made the gesture that he was pissing on the audience;
I supposed at the time that his was a genuine disdain for the would-be hippies in attendence.
But what about the recent-day allegations that he, like Jim Morrison and other bright stars
of the first blush of modern rock were sons & daughters of high military intelligence officials?
Excellent very thorough analysis on alleged Syrian “chlorine attacks” by the British academic Working Group on Syria, Propaganda, and Media:
http://syriapropagandamedia.org/working-papers/briefing-note-the-alleged-chemical-attack-in-douma-on-7-april-2018-and-other-alleged-chlorine-attacks-in-syria-since-2014
Posted by: jayc | Aug 25 2018 17:03 utc | 50
More dubious commentary from Pat Lang (see @19, 21):
Trump’s hand is not visible in this for me. Power appears to have fractured in Washington with regard to ME policy.
“Power has fractured” is a common theme employed by snake charmers to calm the cognitive dissonance felt by Kool-Aid drinkers when ‘shining city on the hill’ propaganda narratives don’t reflect real-life action.
Trump’s hand is “not visible” just as Obama’s hand was “not visible” in the many covert ops during his time in office. What pl has failed to hear clearly is the silent “BUT”: Trump wants peace with Russia BUT …; Trump wants to pull USA out of Middle East BUT …; Trump represents all Americans BUT…
If faux populists didn’t hide their ugly BUTs, they might not be so popular.
The Israelis seem to be out of the game on this one having made a deal with Russia and Syria over stability on the Golan front line.
The Israelis are NEVER “out of the game” on important events and contemplated action in ME. In fact, Bolton just met with Natanyahu.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 25 2018 17:29 utc | 51
The comments about the late Mr Zappa are curious, but today the focus seems to be Germany. Pepe Escobar notes Putin’s Austrian wedding feint, links to the trial-balloon article by Maas I provided yesterday, hints that this masterly analysis by Rostislav Ishchenko is key to attaining a deeper understanding of what’s happening, while also providing us juicy anonymous insider tidbits. But the important quotes belong to Peter Spengler who seeks Law & Order:
“‘SWIFT, the world’s largest cooperative payment network, operates under Belgian – that is EU law – which the US Treasury warriors, plus the British GCHQ and the NSA, have been breaking for more than 10 years now, despite protests from the European Parliament,’ he said.
“‘Europe and associated countries and currencies do not need another system, but international law enforcement, and the elimination of the US dollar and hence the New York Fed from payment transactions for real neutral and multilateral clearing.'”
Outlaw US Empire indeed!
Pepe concludes: “Now, imagine all this being discussed in the open at the planned, one-off, Russia-Germany-France-Turkey summit. And all this because Putin went to a wedding.”
Quick note about Pepe. He’s been on a writing tear since taking a working vacation. This links to the listing of his articles.
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 25 2018 17:30 utc | 52
Trouble on the streets of Turkey ! A peacefull demonstration of the mothers of detained sons. Tear gas, big sticks ect. 80 year old lady roughly dragged away ! I think this is today!
Posted by: Mark2 | Aug 25 2018 17:37 utc | 53
“But what if the chemical used in such an attack was a Novichok agent? Now, that would herald a whole new ball game! It would explain the events in Britain and the attempt to point a finger at Russia. That would serve to demonize Putin, heighten tensions, and create a rift in the Russia-Turkey alliance!”
Posted by: SPYRIDON POLITIS | Aug 25, 2018 10:28:22 AM | 39
That was probably their original plan; a Syrian FF was to happen immediately after with both events blamed on Russia, but Russia managed to out it.
This time they have significantly tightened the noose around the alternative media prior to the next FF. They are going to run one and Russia knows it will be pinned on them. They have to rein in the dissenters in the EU and give them an excuse to seize all Russian assets west of Ukraine.
They also have a probable Trump win coming in November and that lends wings to their heels, never wound a king…
Posted by: frances | Aug 25 2018 17:52 utc | 54
@33 financial matters.. good comments.. thanks! however i do agree with @36 NemesisCalling in their conclusion on all this..
@50 jackrabbit.. see my comments to your posts @19/21… i agree with you here @50… i really don’t think pat lang is all that insightful, unfortunately.. he might know a few things, but in his desire to venerate trump he loses contact with what isn’t being said in all this.. trump continues to turn a blind eye to his own hypocrisy in his words and actions.. for example – why can’t we get along with russia- meanwhile trump pours on the sanctions non stop… i think i see some disconnect with what trump professes and what trump does..
@51 karlof1 – good quotes from peter spengler, in particular this one – “‘Europe and associated countries and currencies do not need another system, but international law enforcement, and the elimination of the US dollar and hence the New York Fed from payment transactions for real neutral and multilateral clearing.'”
my view on frank zappa… i personally think he was brilliant.. he seemed to have a particular sense of humour that focused on stupid shit, but musically he was quite amazing, as a composer, leader, conductor, arranger and etc. etc.. hot rats was the first album i bought.. the grand wazoo is brilliant, but alas – didn’t make the charts, so probably most folks are unfamiliar with it.. the yellow shark highlights his continued development and talents.. i think a person could be distracted by his humour, but in the final analysis for me anyway – the guy was brilliant.. that he ripped off the mothers of invention is unfortunate, but i still think he was a gifted artist of great stature..
i think it was the barry miles book on zappa 2004, that i read, that gave me greater insights into the man.. can’t remember and i passed it onto another musician for them to enjoy.. zappa himself wasn’t fond of the book, but i felt it gave a more neutral overview of him..
Posted by: james | Aug 25 2018 18:03 utc | 55
@ Debsisdead | 30
The advantages of talking to yerself are vast
I do it, proudly if not pompously. I long ago overcame the nominal shame, guilt, and apprehension that keeps conventional, conformist Normals from doing it– or, more likely, admitting it.
It helps that I live alone, which may not be a coincidence. 😉
It might have something to do with my experience of my Self as a committee “in there” somewhere– a feeling that there is an ongoing internal discussion, debate, and tug-of-war between distinct, if elusive, sub-selves.
I want to call it “polylectic” discourse, but apparently that term is assigned to pollen-collecting insects.
Mentioning this to others is itself a litmus test for Normalcy; once I casually brought up the “committee” of selves concept to a reasonably intelligent associate, and they were briefly horrified to think that I was confessing to being, or becoming, a “multiple personality” lunatic. I finally had to back off and pretend that I was “just kidding” to relieve their nascent anxiety and concern.
But I continue to have conversations with myself, and generally this is helpful.
Then again, I also freely talk to the squirrels and other critters in my tiny back yard, which I call the Peaceable Kingdom. They pretend not to understand, but this doesn’t faze me.
During the holidays, I usually see an in-law’s sibling who is familiar with my Peaceable Kingdom habits. She’s friendly, even affectionate about it, but she always asks me what my neighbors think about my talking to the critters. The answer is “don’t know; don’t care”. I can’t figure out whether she forgets that she always asks me about this, or if she’s needling me.
Normals is the cwaziest peoples.
Posted by: Ort | Aug 25 2018 18:07 utc | 57
One of the likely topics discussed between Putin and Merkel was the upcoming FF ordered by Bolton and how the response will be organized. Merkel’s offer to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding the frozen Nagorno-Karabakh conflict quite likely resulted from a suggestion by Putin which marries with Merkel’s desire to diversify gas imports with Azeri gas. I was somewhat surprised that Lavrov wasn’t asked about the FF possibility yesterday at his presser with Cavusoglu.
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 25 2018 18:18 utc | 58
@james
I saw your comment @26. I think SST provides some good info & analysis as long as you mentally brace yourself for pl’s political bias.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 25 2018 18:19 utc | 59
FWIW, I’m fascinated by the Zappa discussion. I’ve had a hangup about Zappa since the 1970s: a nagging feeling that I should, or could, really get into him, combined with a stubborn refusal to do so.
The idea of an intellectual social-critic rock-music virtuoso was right up my alley. I perceived Zappa’s work as a sort of hard-rock version of the “Firesign Theater”, which theoretically was the best of both worlds.
Yet I somehow found the Mothers, especially Zappa, intimidating. I remember hearing back then that Zappa was fiercely anti-drug, which naturally chilled my cannabis, etc.-loving heart. I just now flashed upon the realization that I was put off by what amounts to a strong “Stern Parent” vibe from FZ.
I was also embarrassed by the suspicion that in Zappa’s contrarian weltanschauung, “middle-class” white, Beatles-loving teenagers and aspiring “hippie/freaks” like me were part of the problem– i.e. that he was sneering at me, not with me.
The only Mothers album I ever bought was “Live at the Fillmore”. I like it, and still listen to it once in a while.
OK, I feel better after making this unsolicited confession. If “I don’t know what I’m missing”, I’d appreciate recommendations for a starting point; there’s too much posthumous Zappa/Mothers material out there to choose randomly.
Posted by: Ort | Aug 25 2018 18:30 utc | 60
46 to 49 Zappa
I watched a video yesterday from HDPinkFloyd of a jam of Frank Zappa with Pink Floyd at a show in 1969. Typical for the two for that time period. Another reason to thank the internet.
Just when we thought the Trump WhiteHorse had abandoned the BS of Syria, Bolton from Israel issues another warning, directive. Americans are mostly complacent about this abuse of power so it’s vapid PR to justify the actions to themselves and their cohorts.
Debisdead 30
Sometimes years ago I would talk out loud about what technical thing I was going to do next (at work). My answer was I talk to myself because I’m the only one who listens. Of course, if they’re listening I’m not talking to myself. These days with blue tooth headphone-mics people look like they’re talking to themselves all the time. So the next time someone asks, tell them your blue tooth device is an advanced implant they can’t see.
Posted by: Curtis | Aug 25 2018 18:39 utc | 62
Then again, I also freely talk to the squirrels and other critters in my tiny back yard, which I call the Peaceable Kingdom. They pretend not to understand, but this doesn’t faze me.
@Ort | Aug 25, 2018 2:07:31 PM | 57
I have a little black cat, and sometimes, just occasionally, she will come and sit nearby and just look at me. I recognise the cue and start talking to her. I don’t think what I say matters so much, but she just likes to listen and will slowly start purring and close her eyes in a state of contentment. It’s a lovely moment, communion, and somewhere out in that all-encompassing unified energy field a waveform resonates harmonically. Keep talking to the little critters my friend, it does everyone good.
Posted by: Ross | Aug 25 2018 19:12 utc | 63
Do the well-informed minions of MoA have fresh information regarding Frank Zappa’s being the son of high-ranking military intelligence officials? Jim Morrison the offspring of a Navy Admiral, Joni Mitchell the issue of police copulation, likewise several other participants in the early “Laurel Canyon scene”. Would it be relevant if the 68 Generation musical heroes were certifiable as agents, and “peace, love & rock and roll” were a “Deep State” minted operation?
And what is the meaning of “Admiral Halsey?”
Hands across the water indeed.
And remember, Paul is dead!
Posted by: donkeytale | Aug 25 2018 20:05 utc | 65
I hoped to post a link to the @ 2hr Zappa interview I watched about 6 months ago, but was unable to unearth it from the vast collection of interviews with him available online. It was very revealing in a positive manner. Several years ago at Eugene, Oregon I took my mom to see Zappa Plays Zappa with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever band as co-billing–what an awesome show and quite fitting for the last one my mom was able to attend. Almost 4 hours of music interspersed with talk, the final 90 minutes a jam by the two bands. Oh to have recorded it! The vinyl version of Overnight Sensation I played to death I enjoyed it so much. If you get the opportunity to see his kids play, do so as they’re even better musicians than their dad!
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 25 2018 20:21 utc | 66
james says:
…that he ripped off the mothers of invention is unfortunate…
so james, ole buddy, you either have some documentation to back that up, or you’re slandering a dead man. which is it?
Posted by: john | Aug 25 2018 20:25 utc | 67
Willie Wobblestick | 33
That’s the most beautiful health warning I’ve ever read! And I’m a hypochondriac…
Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Aug 25 2018 20:52 utc | 68
Cohen here. I monitor blogs for the ADL for any signs of hate-speech.
Recently a commenter going by the name Nicole posted a comment on M of A that was sympathetic to revisionist history concerning World War II
It was comment #21 on “Facebook Kills “Inauthentic” Foreign News Accounts – U.S. Propaganda Stays Alive”
Nicole was upset because she claimed that 89 year old Ursula Haverbeck and 80 year of German-Canadian violinist Monika Schaefer (along with her brother and others including Germar Rudolf), have been imprisoned in Germany for the crime of asking questions about the Holocaust
While it’s true that these two individuals, among others, have been imprisoned in Germany, let’s be clear that they have NOT been imprisoned for merely asking questions about the Holocaust. They’ve been imprisoned for Holocaust denial which is a crime in Germany
Here at the ADL we were closely watching Nicole’s comment to see what the response would be.
To its credit, Moon of Alabama passed the test with flying colors!
No commenter engaged with Nicole’s hate-speech, and the comment was quickly censored and deleted except for the first sentence.
Our impression is that this happened as soon as the hate-speech comment was brought to the attention of the blog’s moderator.
Congratulations to b, and to everyone commenting at Moon of Alabama!
Also while I’m addressing this issue, I’d like to address the rumour going around the Internet and Social Media that between 20 and 25 million Germans and collaborators perished in the years AFTER World War II had officially ended.
These neo-nazi revisionists would have you believe that millions of German POWs were deliberately starved in Eisenhower’s “death camps”, that Stalin’s Commissar Ilya Ehrenburg was a lascivious advocator of rape of German women and helped the Red Army perpetrate the largest gynocide and mass rape in recorded history, that the Allied bombing campaign was deliberately targeting German civilians, that Frederick Lindemann (Lord Cherwell) actually said: “The bombing must be directed essentially against working class houses. Middle class houses have too much space around them, and so are bound to waste bombs” etc etc
I would just like to set the record straight: ALL these rumours are FALSE
The truth about World War II is exactly what you’ve been told: the good guys won, and the bad guys lost
Now carry on, and keep up the excellent comments!
Posted by: Cohen | Aug 25 2018 21:13 utc | 69
Zappa antidrug PSA on KMET (from drug addled memory)
Kids, dont do speed. Speed will turn you into your parents
Posted by: donkeytale | Aug 25 2018 21:29 utc | 70
Hi Cohen @ 69
While your here thank you for that interesting information. And can I ask your view on the shooting of child protesters and medics in Palestine ? Warm regards
Posted by: Mark2 | Aug 25 2018 22:09 utc | 71
And to add to my above comment—I do feel the prolonged accusations being made against Jeremy Corbin are both wrong and harming our democracy and also amounts to hate speech. Could you also look in to that please ! In the interest of an in unbiased media. Thanks
Posted by: Mark2 | Aug 25 2018 22:44 utc | 72
@64 Guerro
princeray would have covered those topics specifically. Unfortunately his search doesn’t easily point you to answers specifically. Here’s a link to the query but there’s a ton of reading that you’d have to dig thru for the answer.
https://mindcontrolblackassassins.com/?s=frank+zappa
All the houses and movie sets in laurel canyon are owned by the DIA; so you might substitute those terms for a secondary search. Hope this works out and helps.
Posted by: mrd | Aug 25 2018 22:53 utc | 73
Cohen @69–
Not all the good guys won. Today’s Outlaw US Empire used that event as its springboard to gain its current, unwarranted position.
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 25 2018 22:59 utc | 74
@ Mark2
The wars of Israel are mitzvah wars, and as such they differ from the rest of the wars that Gentile nations wage among themselves. Since essentially a war is not an individual matter, but rather nations wage war as a whole, there are cases in which the value of the individual is “erased” for the benefit of the whole. And vice versa: sometimes you risk a large unit for the saving of an individual, when it is essential for purposes of morale. One of the important and critical values during war is maintaining the army’s fighting ability
As in war the prohibition against risking your life is broken for the benefit of others, so are the prohibitions against immorality and of kashrut. Wine touched by gentiles, consumption of which is prohibited in peacetime, is allowed at war, to maintain the good spirit of the warriors.
Consumption of prohibited foods is permitted at war (and some say, even when kosher food is available), to maintain the fitness of the warriors, even though they are prohibited during peacetime.
Just so, war removes some of the prohibitions on sexual relations (gilui arayot), and even though fraternizing with a gentile woman is a very serious matter, it is permitted during wartime due to the hardship endured by the warriors.
The same would apply to the shooting of child protestors and medics, this is a very serious matter, however it is permitted during wartime due to the hardship endured by the warriors
And since the success of the whole at war is our goal, the Torah permits the individual to satisfy the evil urge (yetzer ha’ra), under the conditions mentioned, for the purpose of the success of the whole.
Posted by: Cohen | Aug 25 2018 23:35 utc | 75
But what if the chemical used in such an attack [in Idlib] was a Novichok agent? Now, that would herald a whole new ball game!
Posted by: SPYRIDON POLITIS | Aug 25, 2018 10:28:22 AM | 40
Nope. The point is that even Russia, evil as it is, recognized that denizens of Wiltshire, a delightful part of southern England (not some semi-wild shire in northern England) cannot be treated like some barely human cannon fodder in Middle East. Poisons have to have original formulations and serve in properly brewed tea, or as an ointment or perfume, artisanally crafted in small batches. But as they are made in minute quantities, they are utterly improper for mass scale application on peasant hordes.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Aug 25 2018 23:43 utc | 76
@69 cohen
Brilliant, mate! I had a nice chuckle at the schtick.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Aug 25 2018 23:53 utc | 77
Thanks for your detailed and honest reply — Cohen @ 75
I can only hope you and Israel fail. I have to tell you your explanation is shocking . To cold bloodily shoot inocent children is just wrong !
I speak as I find,it’s not a question of religion, race, politics ect ect and I have to say if you are what you say you are, you do your self a great harm. My advice to you is, when free speech is prevented as a form of comunication! That is when people turn to violence.
You would do a whole lot better treating Palestinian people as your equal rather than murdering them !
Your detailed explanation has made me all the more determined to vote for Corbyn ! And i’l be using your comment to persuade others to do likewise. I hope you have the life you deserve !
Posted by: Mark2 | Aug 26 2018 0:18 utc | 78
Modern Monetary Theory seems to get it right
http://archive.economonitor.com/lrwray/2014/06/24/modern-money-theory-the-basics/?utm_source=feedly&utm_reader=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=modern-money-theory-the-basics
Interesting bit by the same authour on taxes. They are not required but serves useful purposes like discouraging bad behavior, reducing inequality, creating demand for the fiat currency/control inflation, etc
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/05/randy-wray-taxes-mmt-approach.html
The take home point is government can spend whatever they want without borrowing or taxes to attain full employment or at least provide a social welfare safety net. Orthodox evonomic theory perpetuates the myth government is constrained to pursue austerity measures or go bankrupt.
So long as a governments debts are in its own currency, it can never go bankrupt.
Posted by: Pft | Aug 26 2018 0:35 utc | 79
Modern Monetary Theory seems to get it right
http://archive.economonitor.com/lrwray/2014/06/24/modern-money-theory-the-basics/?utm_source=feedly&utm_reader=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=modern-money-theory-the-basics
Interesting bit by the same authour on taxes. They are not required but serves useful purposes like discouraging bad behavior, reducing inequality, creating demand for the fiat currency/control inflation, etc
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/05/randy-wray-taxes-mmt-approach.html
The take home point is government can spend whatever they want without borrowing or taxes to attain full employment or at least provide a social welfare safety net. Orthodox evonomic theory perpetuates the myth government is constrained to pursue austerity measures or go bankrupt.
So long as a governments debts are in its own currency, it can never go bankrupt.
Posted by: Pft | Aug 26 2018 0:35 utc | 80
Modern Monetary Theory seems to get it right
http://archive.economonitor.com/..
Interesting bit by the same author on taxes. They are not required but serves useful purposes like discouraging bad behavior, reducing inequality, creating demand for the fiat currency/control inflation, etc
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/..
The take home point is government can spend whatever they want without borrowing or taxes to attain full employment or at least provide a social welfare safety net. Orthodox evonomic theory perpetuates the myth government is constrained to pursue austerity measures or go bankrupt.
So long as a governments debts are in its own currency, it can never go bankrupt.
Posted by: Pft | Aug 26 2018 0:36 utc | 81
Has the Nobel Peace Prize been awarded this year? If not, is it too late to give it to John McCain’s brain tumor? Because it finally got rid of the POS, undoubtedly saving many people from the wars he otherwise would have lived to help start.
Link
Posted by: Timothy Hagios | Aug 26 2018 1:12 utc | 82
jackrabbit @ 51
Connecting the Dots Behind the Curtain
Posted Aug 24, 2018 by Martin Armstrong
There is an interesting piece running around the internet that someone has put together. Other than Lisa H. Barsoomian, the connections are true. Indeed, the characters in the play are all incredibly connected and it certainly appears that there is a deep and dark conspiracy against Trump. But this is not against Trump simply because they do not like him personally. This is about removing an outsider from Washington. These are just the tip of the iceberg.
The New Yorker has revealed part of the conspiracy has been highlighted by a memo which has surfaced from an Obama aid who set up a war room to undermine Trump and his foreign policy. They are managing much of the media. A new report from The New Yorker reveals some details of a “conspiracy memo” that has been circulating behind the curtain for the past year. What seems to be operating is a massive campaign to actually disrupt the Trump Administration and prevent it from actually managing anything. This is far worse than pretend Russian hacking. This is a real covert ops to prevent the opposition from doing anything and this undermines the government – not just Trump. This is very strange and may be one reason in the years ahead we face a civil war.
Connecting the Dots Behind the Curtain
The Conspiracy Memo About Obama Aides That Circulated in the Trump White House
The 2017 document, titled “The Echo Chamber,” accused former Obama officials of undermining the incoming Administration.
By Adam Entous and Ronan FarrowAugust 23, 2018
The memo claimed that the “communications infrastructure” that the Obama White House used to “sell Obamacare and the Iran Deal to the public” had been moved to the private sector, now that the former aides were out of government. It called the network the Echo Chamber and accused its members of mounting a coördinated effort “to undermine President Trump’s foreign policy” through organized attacks in the press against Trump and his advisers. “These are the Obama loyalists who are probably among those coordinating the daily/weekly battle rhythm,” the memo said, adding that they likely operated a “virtual war room.” The memo lists Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national-security adviser to President Obama, as “likely the brain behind this operation” and Colin Kahl, Vice-President Joe Biden’s former national-security adviser, as its “likely ops chief.” Rhodes and Kahl both said in interviews that the allegations are false and no such organization exists.
The Conspiracy Memo About Obama Aides That Circulated in the Trump White House
Posted by: pogohere | Aug 26 2018 1:18 utc | 83
@ pogohere with all that documentation about the efforts against Trump
Not to put too fine a point on it but the manipulation against Obama probably surpasses the antics against Trump….not supporting war criminal Obama, just a bit clearer perspective.
@ financial matters and Chipnic that have posted about how money and debt are created….and others interested in the subject
There is a ZH article by Nomi Prins about https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-24/nomi-prins-fed-will-not-give-dark-money that folks should find educational.
Some take away quotes
”
The “dark money” comes from central banks. In essence, central banks “print” money or electronically fabricate money by buying bonds or stocks. They use other tools like adjusting interest rate policy and currency agreements with other central banks to pump liquidity into the financial system.
That dark money goes to the biggest private banks and financial institutions first. From there, it spreads out in seemingly infinite directions affecting different financial assets in different ways.
”
”
This week, elite central bankers are having their annual confab at luxurious Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The Federal Reserve chair invites elite central bankers to wine, dine and fish. In between the schmoozing, they will talk monetary policy.
This year, new chair Jerome Powell will be the master of ceremonies. He will be addressing the elite group on “monetary policy in a changing economy” this Friday.
The speech title alone casts a broad net. He will certainly discuss the tools available to the Fed when the next downturn occurs.
Given that rates are still pretty low, despite 175 basis points of tightening since December 2015, there’s not a ton of room to lower them should a recession or crisis happen. The Fed still does not have enough “dry powder” to fight a recession.
One of the items on the agenda at Jackson Hole will also examine the appropriate size of central bank balance sheets, and what they should be used for.
Even though the Fed has touted its march to quantitative tightening this year, in reality its balance sheet is barely $200 billion lower than its peak of $4.5 trillion. That’s basically a drop in the bucket, not much more than a rounding error.
Expect major central banks to end the year, on average, with asset books in total size right where they started.
While there will be some minor rate hikes here and there by the Fed, and mild tweaking of massive asset books, the overall story will remain the same.
It is worth noting that this Jackson Hole gathering might be more urgent than usual because of the situation in Turkey. You should pay considerable attention to what language they use when discussing contagion amongst emerging markets.
The bottom line is, the likely result of this rendezvous will be a bias toward the status quo of dark money.
Dark money rules the world, and it could keep the bull market running longer than most people expect, even though the eventual turnaround could be ugly.
”
Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 26 2018 1:48 utc | 84
@pogohere: conspiracy against Trump
Sorry, I don’t buy it.
IMO Trump is a faux populist leader. He is the Republican Obama. Each served/serves the establishment very well. Each have faced crazy opposition that focused on their loyalty to the country (Birthers, Russian influence) and general unfitness for office. Each has also had apologists (known as “obamabots” and “trumptards”) to defend the betrayals of the false hero.
The fact is, the US political system is designed to prevent any “outsider” populist from winning the Presidency; an office that is crucial for the smooth running of the Empire. Just ask Jill Stein who was handcuffed to a chair to prevent her participation in Presidential debates.
Parties and personalities are used to distract us. There is a near complete agreement at the upper echelons of power about policy matters. And controlled opposition and propaganda ensure that it stays that way.
I’m not trying to dissuade dissent or protest. I’m not saying that things can’t change. But the fact is, as long as the establishment provides some sort of economic progress, most people will be unwilling to challenge the status quo.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 26 2018 1:50 utc | 85
I really did provide a link that is the same as the one below but it didn’t work for some reason…sigh
Dark Money
Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 26 2018 1:53 utc | 86
I was about sixteen when I first bought one of the kazillions of different ‘early’ mothers compilation albums. It was a double and I grabbed it because it included “Brown shoes don’t make it” and in the process discovered “White Pork & Lemon juice” plus many other greats eg “Concentration Moon”, “Call any Vegetable” etc. It saddened me that so many would absorb themselves in the dialog from Live at the Fillmore but fail to listen to the music which a bloke who also worked at the same fish processing plant as I during the Uni vacation & who walked to work with me was totally stricken with.
He attempted to explain to a musical philistine whose rhythmic abilities are still largely confined to 2/4 & 4/4 the amazing shifts Zappa’s band could make, seeming at the drop of a hat but which were the result of his demand that band members rehearse all day every day.
I hafta laugh at the drongo troll upthread who claimed Zappa was a ‘lefty’ or some such. The man was a far rightist conservative who churned out songs like:
“Rudy Wants To Buy Yez A Drink” (from “Chunga’s Revenge” (1970))
Hi and howdy doody
I’m the union man
You can call me Rudy
Any of you boys not paid up on your cards? Huh?
You know I’m pleased to meet ya
Been tryin’ all day to reach ya
The union’s here to help everyone of you
Rock ‘n Roll stars
Rock ‘n Roll stars
You always know we care so much
About the way they treat ya
They say they got a lot of reasons every day . . .
Just to get
A chance to meet ya
To check and see
No wrong been done
That’s one good reason
I carry a gun
I hope the bulge
Don’t bum you out
Wanna get a good look?
Let me pull it right out!
For anyone interested the rest of the lyric can be found here
Altho the lyrics in that song decry Rudy for being a gangster, Zappa’s real objection was to anyone/anything which could obstruct his ability to make money. He exploited his fellow musicians who he treated as lowly employees, but they all made great music together.
Zappa was a greedy misogynist creep whose music transcended all that nonsense and that was one of the hallmarks of the period he performed in, where the world wasn’t divided into cliques of cloned minded individuals who only knew/interacted/were interested in others who shared exactly the same lifestyle and worldview.
My friend Henry – who I walked to work with and who later formed a band dedicated to Zappa’s most out there compositions (it was successful within the Aotearoa music scene) was a staunch Maoist and he used to despair at some of Zappa’s statements, although not for a moment did he believe Zappa was some sort of amerikan intelligence plant – this was a guy whose academic output was dedicated to Zappa study, so if there was any indication of that he would have unearthed it, the point being as many of Zappa’s cast off musos have commented, the man was a reactionary of the worst and greediest type, but he was a great artist. Imagining a Dali with real talent is, imo, the best way to consider Zappa.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Aug 26 2018 1:55 utc | 87
@ Cohen 75
“It is permitted during wartime due to the hardship endured by the warriors.”
You mean like the hardships these warriors are enduring . . ?
Motionless Palestinian Shot by Israeli Sniper to Sound of Soldiers’ Cheers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjTkJIPKj80&feature=youtu.be
Posted by: AntiSpin | Aug 26 2018 1:55 utc | 88
@67 john.. read the barry miles book on zappa.. essentially a lot of the humour was a result of the collective mothers of invention.. zappa had the tapes and used the material afterwards it wasn’t all his to use! as memory serves – the book articulates some type of out of court settlement reached.. might be why zappa didn’t like the book..
Posted by: james | Aug 26 2018 2:11 utc | 89
I don’t know; for me, Captain Beefheart was much better than Zappa. Unless someone
informs me that this man was also born in an underground facility in Plattsburg New York.
For me the most egregious example of US intelligence penetration of popular music is “Police” Sting’s launch vehicle. The drummer in that band was an amerikan by the name of Stewart Copeland whose father, Miles was station chief Beirut for the CIA and the architect behind the zionist funded, mercenary led destruction of Beirut.
Stewart Copeland’s brother Miles III, managed Police and went on to manage Sting’s solo career. No surprise then that Sting was one of the earliest (pre-Bono) advocates of global neoliberalism.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Aug 26 2018 2:35 utc | 92
@Guererro 64
The late Dave McGowan wrote a riveting expose on the Culture surrounding the Laurel Canyon during the 60-70’s as well as decades before.
I believe he cleaned it up and published it as a book, but it is also archived and can be red via the interwebz. Zappa is mentioned briefly and some of the above tendencies are addressed. Bed on your comments I thought you might have read: Inside The LC, or Weird Scenes Inside The LC. Great writer and with a wry sense if humour. His treatment of NASA is gut wrenching.
As far as the ‘snake oil comment’ : I also had to laugh. Frank may have started out the cesspool from which sprang the bulk of the hippie generation icons but he appears to have quickly made an about face and was nobodies bitch.
Zappa ‘ripping off’ The Mothers is three shades away from an oxymoron but to be fair there are entire camps of people who think the best bit were from the earlier period. Listening to a great live cut of King Kong and I’m inclined to agree.
Like most mediums those that utilize them have a distinctly different perspective from those who do not. George Duke and Jean-Luc? Both veterans of the The Mothers!
Posted by: Chevrus | Aug 26 2018 3:01 utc | 94
McCain dies at 81.. I’ll not shed a tear. IMO, hope he learns something from this life, that he will apply in the next.
He’s got some massive Karma to deal with. Next life, I hope, a Yemen goat herder..
Posted by: ben | Aug 26 2018 3:02 utc | 95
@89 guerrero.. beefheart was quite eclectic and had a pretty strange voice.. he was popular with my friends. first time i heard him was on zappas hot rats recording.. he was no where as prolific as zappa in terms of output, but many people dug him..
@91 debs.. i see you are picking up on @64 guerreros comment… stings autobiography ‘broken music’ goes into all that and more..
Posted by: james | Aug 26 2018 3:18 utc | 96
world policeman talking ““We are prepared to stay here, as the president has made clear, to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. We remain focused on ensuring the withdrawal of Iranian forces and their proxies as well,” said former US ambassador to Bahrain William Roebuck, after meeting with the Shadadi Civil Council.”
the usa is going to stay in syria until iran leaves? huh…and if syria wants iran their? does syria want the usa their? i can imagine how this would go over in the usa if another country said something as brain dead as this.. usjackassA could be a new name for usa..
Posted by: james | Aug 26 2018 3:24 utc | 97
The most of EU airlines have canceled its flights to Iran. There are rumors that Israel, NATO, USA are GCC have been in the midst of intense preparations for joint air strikes against Iran. Surprisingly there has been no articles about it on MOA?
Posted by: Dave | Aug 26 2018 3:40 utc | 98
Dave -I imagine flight cancellations are due to the expectations demand for seats will drop due to to sanctions. Plenty of rumors around but no way to verify them
Posted by: Pft | Aug 26 2018 4:38 utc | 99
Barretts article touches on a topic I have broached at times, but he writes better. Worth a read over at saker
https://thesaker.is/spiritual-empowerment-and-defense-readiness-irans-trump-card-against-us-israeli-aggression/
This dominant Machievellian view has been influenced by Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan. Hobbes famously argued that humans have emerged from a state of nature, the war of all against all, by gradual conquests of ever-larger kingdoms, each of which is tyrannically ruled by a single sovereign. The sovereign tyrant crushes anyone who spreads disorder or challenges his authority, thereby pacifying his realm and facilitating commerce and technological innovation. All human progress, according to Hobbesians, is the product of tyranny. Therefore, tyranny is good! What’s more, by wars of aggression the tyrant enlarges the boundaries of his state, brings more peoples and lands into his realm, and thereby creates even more peace and prosperity. Therefore, wars of aggression are good!
The Machievellian-Hobbesian view, through a Nietzschean transmutation of values, takes what all non-psychopathic humans know is evil—tyranny and aggressive warfare—and redefines it as good. Simultaneously, it takes what all non-psychopathic humans know is good—resistance to tyranny and refusal to submit to, or perpetrate, aggression—and redefines it as evil…..
…..The triumph of psychopathy in Western statecraft is the product of the West’s post-Christian culture. Christianity, more than any other religion, rigorously preaches peace, as exemplified by the prophet Jesus’s (PBUH) injunction to “turn the other cheek,” his refusal to support anti-Roman militancy, and his insistence that “the meek will inherit the earth.” Unfortunately, even after the teachings of Jesus had spread, it became obvious that no then-existing human society could organize itself according to such principles and survive. Mainstream Christianity, largely authored by Paul and institutionalized by the Nicean Council, became the official religion of the warlike Roman Empire by emphasizing Jesus’s statement “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s” and telling people to let the psychopathic Caesars rule. This amounted to abdicating religion’s role as the foundation of human society, fostering a schizoid split between “good” religion and “evil” politics. (Why good people would and should allow their societies to be dominated by evil leaders was never adequately explained by Constantinian Christians.).
Western civilization was constructed around this schizoid split between religion, the realm of mere ideals, and a completely different and vastly uglier set of political and social realities. This framework fostered the emergence of Machievelli, who threw religion and its ideals out the window. As Christianity lost its hold over the West, materialist-atheist Machievellianism, barely tempered by wooly-headed and rationally-indefensible humanism, became the order of the day.
Today, psychopathic Machievellians rule the West. Their subjects, who are mainly either wooly-headed humanists or residual Christians, are not psychopaths. They feel an instinctive revulsion toward aggression and tyranny. So the Western rulers are forced to dupe their subjects by disguising aggression as defense, and disguising tyranny as “freedom” or “democracy.”
Following the reformation and enlightenment, and adoption of social Dawinism and neo-malthusian thought, Evil has been on steroids.
Posted by: Pft | Aug 26 2018 5:12 utc | 100