Posted by: A User | Aug 3 2019 3:15 utc | 50
I have used the Yandex browser 14-15months now and never had any issues like yours, mine is set to Norwegian and auto translate to english.
I use Nord vpn

Posted by: Per/Norway | Aug 3 2019 16:20 utc | 103

https://m.ok.ru/dorogamipamyiti/topic/69986218161536
Navalny, the passionate leader of Free Russia who makes Putin shake in his boots….
Guess he needs to be nemtsoved ASAP before he totally discredited cultivated image of pro-western opposition.
….and just few years ago he was so macho!
To compare photo and
photo

Posted by: Arioch | Aug 3 2019 16:28 utc | 105

@ Posted by: donkeytale | Aug 3 2019 16:00 utc | 103
I know the hate towards Japan is genuine.
It doesn’t change the fact that South Korea’s industrialization in the late 1980s was sponsored by Japan, and that the South Korean elite supports the Japanese elite behind the curtains.
We live in capitalism, which means we live the economic age: everything political has an economic background. Narratives that go against wealth accumulation is either suppressed or avoided at the macro level (e.g. South Korea will never declare war against Japan).
Or do you think today’s Middle East conflicts are happening on the scale they are now (with full military equipment) because of an old rift between Sunnis and Shiites that begun some hundreds of years ago? Well, religion doesn’t explain why Saudi Arabia is an ally with Israel (when, if the religious hypothesis was correct, it would ally with Iran against Saudi Arabia, since Iran has a Jewish population), or why Europe and the USA is ally with Saudi Arabia but not with Syria (which has a secular government right now plus a significant Christian population who supports said secular government).
Or why doesn’t South Korea go all in, breaks up with the American alliance, allies with China (which also suffered, worse than Korea, at the hands of the Japanese) and strike right away a peace accord with North Korea? Again, if we used the colonial past card, that’s what shoud’ve been happening right now — but it isn’t. South Koreans may say they hate Japan — but, as a country, they are certainly not acting like they do.
There’s no love in the real world, only proof of love. And proof of love, in capitalism, comes in the form of economic ties with your allies and economic sanction against you enemies.

Posted by: vk | Aug 3 2019 16:50 utc | 107

Alastair Crook’s new article:
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/08/03/citadels-america-elites-fractured-and-at-odds-with-each-other/
The essence of the article: US is fixing to get into a century of conflict. And the main enemies are Russia and China with Iran, Syria as honorable mentions.
If there was any appropriate time to form a military alliance between Russia, China and Iran, this seems like it would be it. Fangs are being sharpened for something sinister and there is bipartisan consensus. The only consensus between the two.

Posted by: Uncle Jon | Aug 3 2019 16:57 utc | 109

Jackrabbit #106:

Butt-hurt NWO ‘globalists’ installed Trump to rescue the Empire as per Kissinger’s 2014 WSJ Op-Ed calling for MAGA.

Kissinger who said that US should restore relations and team up with Russia against China. With 3 great powers in the world the US could never defeat the other two, so it must have an ally against the third. Sure that’s gonna happen – when pigs fly. Why would Russia suddenly trust Americans and betray their own neighbour China? The multipolar world order according to Putin is not about world domination but that concept is very hard to grasp by the average US politician. Perhaps Trump and a few others get it, but for the other sore loosers its just game over.

Posted by: Joost | Aug 3 2019 17:09 utc | 111

VK – OK thanks for that explanation. That does make some sense to me and I agree that the elites of S. Korea and Japan (and the US, China, Russia, the EU and all developing countries) “behind the scenes” are locked into a mutually beneficial system as the ruling economic class.
And the yes the growth of S. Korea as an industrial cum technological power resulted from stages of capitalist development in relation to the more advanced Japanese society as well as the US and Europe too.
Now, both Japan and S. Korea experience the issues with reaching the advanced stage. Japan for decades now and Korea more recently. Japan has managed its domestic political affairs rather well in comparison to the US and EU and seem to have kept its society from succumbing to ravages of neoliberal imperialism, that is the gutting of society along class lines.
Korea is also a more cohesive society and may follow the Japanese path of relative harmony as its maturity continues into old age.
China being more of a multiethnic empire than either Japan or Korea will be interesting to follow into capitalist maturity and old age especially given the nature of its political economy. As it stands today Chinaexhibits much greater wealth inequality than either S. Korea or Japan so will the government actually close these gaps, as you and others insist they will, or will the tendency of capital to find its own freedom win out long term?

Posted by: donkeytale | Aug 3 2019 17:26 utc | 113

@ Ghost Ship re: The Guardian
Ever since Jonathan Freedland became head of the editorial board, his almost-obsessive campaign to extend the definition of ‘anti-Semitism’ to include criticism of the Israeli State as being ‘anti-Semitic’ has substantially succeeded … when Corbyn’s consistent support of the Palestians is twisted to be defined as ‘anti-Semitic’, the Guardian’s foremost campaign: the destruction of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party is well-served
;

Posted by: chet380 | Aug 3 2019 17:46 utc | 115

The situation in the USA continues to deteriorate:
US employment report weaker than it looks: The average workweek fell to 33.3 hours from 33.4 hours and gains for May and June were revised down sharply
From the article:

Total hours worked (payroll employment times the average workweek) is the most comprehensive measure of labor in the US economy. The year-on-year growth rate of this comprehensive measure has slowed from 3.8% at the end of 2018 to 3% in July. As the chart shows, the decline in the growth rate of total hours worked tracks the fall in the National Association of Purchasing Managers’ composite index.

I remember a lot of neoliberal trolls rolling over Li Keqiang’s infamous speech in 2011, where he stated that electricity consumption was a better indicator for him than GDP growth (of China). With that in mind, they rushed to “study” China’s electricity consumption to “conclude” China was no growing 10%, but 4% (with some bolder experts even claiming China was actually in recession).
As History shows us, that extrapolation was completely off the mark: China overtook the USA in GDP PPP in 2017-8 and recently elected POTUS Donald Trump issued a WH paper officially declaring China “a superpower” (and, therefore, to be treated by the USA as such).
Now, it seems the reverse case is not true: the USA changed its unemployment rate methodology during Bill Clinton, which effectivelly halved America’s unemployment rate overnight. Experts shamelessly claim American is “in full employment”. Why don’t they pay attention then to the hours worked and medium wages? Everybody and their mothers know the USA is rapidly becoming a post-apocalyptic subemployed wasteland — why don’t they candidly admit the official unemployment rate is bullshit, admit and try to address the problem?
This is a clear case of unequal treatment by the Western experts in economics: they give the USA the benefit of the doubt and malefice of the doubt to China.

Posted by: vk | Aug 3 2019 17:59 utc | 117

craig murray has an article up from yesterday in case anyone missed it..
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/08/boris-johnsons-fake-radicalism/
from the article –
“It may seem strange that Johnson’s very first executive decision on coming in to 10 Downing Street was to cancel the long delayed judicial inquiry into UK involvement in torture and extraordinary rendition. On the face of it, there were political attractions for Johnson in pursuing the issue. The policy of complicity in torture had been established by Tony Blair and Jack Straw, with as ever the active collaboration of Alastair Campbell. A judicial inquiry would hold them to account, and given they are not only New Labour but a leading Remainer posse, you would think Johnson would have pushed forward with the chance to expose them. Plus he likes to pose as something of a social liberal himself. So why was Johnson’s urgent priority to cancel the torture inquiry?
The answer is that scores of very senior civil servants were deeply implicated in British collusion in extraordinary rendition. Those directly guilty of complicity in torture include Sir Richard Dearlove, Sir John Scarlett, Sir William Ehrman, Lord Peter Ricketts and Sir Stephen Wright. It was Johnson’s fellow old Etonian, Sir William Ehrman, who chaired the series of meetings in the FCO on the implementation of the policy of getting intelligence through torture.”

Posted by: james | Aug 3 2019 18:44 utc | 119

james @ 63 asked;”you mean like wall street circa 2008??? is wall st now socialism?? looks like it..
Absolutely, Socialism for the rich. God forbid we bail out the ” we the people” segment of society.

Posted by: ben | Aug 3 2019 19:14 utc | 121

Piotr @ 120
Interesting comments which I believe correspond with my belief that capitalist relations tend to develop through peculiarities (or spontaneous events) that subsume national political, historical and cultural differences into deterministic economic relations which systematically accrue to the greater benefit of the bourgeoisie…regardless of nation or national political intentions.

Posted by: donkeytale | Aug 3 2019 19:22 utc | 123

Fox news is making noises like they want to throw DJT “under the bus”. If the Dem nominees are Biden and K. Harris, they really can, because Biden and Harris are subservient to the uber-rich..

Posted by: ben | Aug 3 2019 19:38 utc | 125

Stever @ 98
It seems like they are pushing Kamala after Tulsi threw water on her in the debates and she melted.
Shadow banned on Twitter, adds blocked on Google, now a Russian agent, opposition research going full blast and she has zero chance of winning the nomination.
What the hell are they afraid of? The National Security State has always thrived on its own paranoia. In reality they know how popular the message is and they really fear us more than anything on this Earth.

Posted by: dltravers | Aug 3 2019 20:40 utc | 127

ben @129, dltravers @130
OMG! the establishment hates Bernie and Tulsi. The anti-war and economic justice left should MUST FIGHT for these candidates that choose to work within the establishment power structure!!!
Wait … what? Why do Bernie and Tulsi run as Democrats when the establishment hates them so much?
Bernie is a national figure with a determined following. Does he need the Democratic Party? Tulsi tells us that she’s oh-so-committed to her principles (backed up by her personal story!)
Why doesn’t the anti-establishment candidates candidates collectively jump ship?!? Why haven’t the anti-establishment candidates learned from Sanders experience in 2016? At the very least, form a committee for media fairness composed of 4 or 5 candidates! That’s what would happen if these candidates had integrity instead of just working for their own advancement.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 3 2019 21:27 utc | 129

ben @125: what can individuals do to mitigate the status quo?
#1 recognize the dangers of “managed democracy” (money-in-politics, media capture)
The situation is dire: we are on the brink of war; a looming environmental; and we face a severe economic downturn. Hoping for the best from a selfish and uncaring establishment is foolish.
#2 Don’t just vote – organize and join Movements
#3 Learn about Direct Democracy and the Yellow Vest Movement

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 3 2019 21:37 utc | 131

@ 134: Thanks rabbit. All good ideas, but, without a committed cadre of citizens who are willing to put a little money where
their hearts are, nothing happens.
The rich not only have ideas on a model society, they use $ to effect change by buying politicians. Until the masses do that by contributing to the people and movements they believe in, nothing changes.
Until the working classes get off their dead asses and do the above, workers are screwed.

Posted by: ben | Aug 3 2019 23:27 utc | 133

@132 jr
They are trying to work in the realm of possibility. One slip-up, one kooky revelation or promise can doom one in the primary. Have you heard about “keeping the wheel in well-worn ruts?” No independent has ever won the prez. Those that have taken votes from either party as indy have had their future ruined by heaps of scorn from the electorate that has blamed them for their party losses.
I don’t blame Gabbard at all for trying to legit win the primary.
America is simple in their desire for a prez. No outlandish socialist bs and have heaps of confidence and pussy-grabbing is acceptable because it means non-homosexual and manliness.
I still think that Sanders/Gabbard ticket is basically a spam-dunk and probably the only thing that will derail Trump. Who Sanders picks as running mate if winning nom or going indy will be very telling.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Aug 4 2019 0:19 utc | 135

ben, nemesis
I’m not under any illusions. I’ve written before that Americans don’t want to confront their corrupt political system because they are a combination of lazy/ignorant, selfish, or complicit.
Americans only change via war and economic depression. Both are now teed up.
Anyone that places their trust in the electoral system should make a serious effort to ensure the integrity of the system. But Americans allow a corrupt system to continue. And ignore evidence that their politicans are also corrupt participants. Prime example: Sanders sheepdogging (“enough with the emails!” and unwillingness to attach Hillary on ‘character issues’).
And, while it’s comforting to believe that there’s someone in the race that’s anti-war, that is not actually Tulsi Gabbard’s position.
Furthermore, Gabbard’s attack on Harris was in support of Biden. Has Gabbard attacked Biden for having been supportive of the stupid regime-change wars that Gabbard opposes so much that she entered the race for President (well, that’s the her story)? I haven’t seen any such attack.
It’s much more likely that Democrats nominate Biden than Sanders and Biden is likely to pick a person of color as a running mate. Also likely that his pick is a woman. That means Harris or Gabbard and it’s not looking like Harris at this point.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 4 2019 1:51 utc | 137

@ 140 & 141:
It’s unlikely Tulsi is going after Kamala in support of Biden, per se. Two options: 1) Kamala is such an abhorrent character (which she is indeed) that Tulsi sees it and just wants to knock her off (which benefits us all); or 2) Tulsi is trying to signal to Biden: “Pick me! Pick me!”
Tulsi’s changes in personal conviction seem a sign of genuineness and thoughtfulness rather than self-serving caprice. (Yet, I’ve been wrong before.)

Posted by: Anacharsis | Aug 4 2019 4:47 utc | 139

@ Jen 123
Tens of millions of Iranians live under the absolute and relative poverty lines. Many government officials, including the Supreme Leader, have blamed corruption for many of the country’s problems. No sanctions are not the primary reason for why there is so much corruption in the country. The Iranian government has released many studies on corruption over the years and it has identified as the primary causes: power of the monopolies, the structure of political power, government inefficiency, the failure of oversight and acceptance of responsibility and we could add lack of political and civil rights.
Here are some more recent charges. Funny accusations coming from the judiciary which is ran by one of the Larijani brothers, who is corrupt as hell.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/07/iran-crackdown-corruption-jail-sentences.html
You can find many many more examples online
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/en.radiofarda.com/amp/30048946.html

Posted by: Ninel | Aug 4 2019 4:58 utc | 141

It’s a Capitalist Socialist mix. re. USA, ben at 27. – As are all OECD.
Imho, the USA is super socialist in two **narrow** senses.
1. Highly re-distributive. As a Federation it has medium high fiscal transfers. Other ‘federal’ actions aim to even out States incomes – e.g. setting up prisons in poor states. All Federations implement such, part of > keeping it together, which one can consider admirable (union) or not (separatists..)
Individuals. The true USA labor participation rate is around 50%. (Ppl working for free, for 1.5 hours a week, etc. should not be counted in the LPR.) One working-age adult / 2 is supported by other family member(s), friends, etc. and/or the Gvmt/State, the relative proportion is unknown. Note, the black economy never appears in US stats (contrary to for ex. Italy, Switz..) So it is almost impossible to figure out a full picture.
There are 100s of Gvmt. ‘aid’ programs (outside of education and health, see ex. Pell grants, Medicaid, CHIP – other topic, in the sense that the costs of these services should be shared imho…) that help the poor survive:
Housing sec. 8, WISC, SNAP (food stamps), EITC (‘tax credit’ or pay-back), SSI, TANF, ‘disability’, and much more. (link, a surface ex.)
https://www.cbpp.org/research/various-supports-for-low-income-families-reduce-poverty-and-have-long-term-positive-effects
When ppl starve, when their children cry for hours, they go out on the streets and riot, then kill. To control the poor, the ‘scattered’ aid keeps them on perpetual tenterhooks, running from one agency/request to another, hoping for help, then being turned down, etc., an engineered rat-race.
2. The economy of the USA is incredibly dirigiste, thru the melding of lobbyists, Corps, Pols, the Gvmt. The MIC is tops of course.. Big Tech Cos. pay no tax as for various reasons .. Big Agri: farmers are almost entirely dependent on the Gvmt., in the sense of subsidies awarded (v. high in OECD comparison, take into account the Gvmt. buy back of surplus fed to kiddos and prisoners..), constrained by laws, rules, imposed contracts, forced into buying, using, X products and machines, growing this or that.. As well as relying on infrastructure out of their purview (water!, roads, trucks, tractors, parts, etc.)
Farmers are captives in a system where they take on the risks with no counterparts. To, some say, feed junk food to the poor.. > becoming victims of Big Pharma..
The dirigiste aspect can be seen as socialist or communist; the enslavement of the farmers is perhaps the result of capitalism creating monopolies that have a stranglehold.
The Socialist/Capitalist split is a construct to hoodwink ppl into some illusory ‘tribal’ belongings, in first place in the USA.
see also vk @ 19 and psychohistorian generally

Posted by: Noirette | Aug 4 2019 13:26 utc | 143

Jackrabbit @140

It’s much more likely that Democrats nominate Biden than Sanders and Biden is likely to pick a person of color as a running mate.

The term “people of color” is very manipulative (I know you didn’t invent it). If I am not a “person of color” then what am I, colorless?
Biden likes to groom little girls. Is this ok for the average US-american?

Posted by: Norwegian | Aug 4 2019 15:44 utc | 145

@vk #110
I’d like to see some validation of your statement that the South Korean industrialization was because of Japanese investment, as opposed to US and Korean government policy.
Is it your assertion also that the ongoing decline of Japan’s economy – due in no small part to South Korean competition – also a function of Japanese elites?
There are a number of signs that point in a very different direction:
1) The destruction of the entire Japanese semiconductor industry, outside of a handful of base commodity manufacturers, by Samsung, LG and other Korean producers
2) The ongoing attack on the Japanese cosmetics industry worldwide
3) The recapitalization of the Korean treasury via the Korean people giving up all their gold etc after the 1998 collapse
Did some Japanese money go into South Korea – certainly. But to say that it was a major push or a major factor – that’s where I would like to see evidence.

Posted by: c1ue | Aug 5 2019 17:54 utc | 147