To all commentators here a big "Thank You!" for giving me so much.
My wish for the next year: May it be less pandemic and more peaceful than this one.
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December 31, 2021
A Happy New Year To All Moonkind
Comments
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 1 2022 5:38 utc | 64A
Artemesia’s Restaurant? Well, it does rhyme with “Alice’s Restaurant”, doesn’t it? The US of A does have some good things, though it has been awfully crab-like lately!
Go for it!
Posted by: juliania | Jan 1 2022 19:25 utc | 101
“You can get anything you want
at Artemesia’s restaurant….”
Posted by: juliania | Jan 1 2022 19:36 utc | 102
Are we celebrating the death of COVID or the death of the utterly shameless Covid death cult? (With thanks to the Saker for the nomenclature.) Very fitting graphic for the New Year’s celebration message too, b. It took me a few hours to see it from the viral perspective. Anyway – I’ll raise my glass, filled with a leftover sparkling wine cocktail, and say, here’s to the end of the pandemic and to the end of death-promotion! Cheers!
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jan 1 2022 19:42 utc | 103
Circe @82
Welcome back! It’s good to see that David Brock renewed your contract. It’s a bad time of the year to be unemployed. Did you take advantage of the free seminars on making your posts stand out in social media without using ALL CAPS? You would definitely find those helpful.
In any case, your return signals that the US 2022 elections have officially started. I look forward to hearing what the Democrat wing of the establishment political machine wants us to believe, so do keep us informed.
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 1 2022 20:26 utc | 104
Thanks for all the analysis on geo-politics.
For that: Kudos.
Avoid commenting on the coof, other than government tyranny and global subordination of citizens.
It’s the ‘Flu, Bro’.
Posted by: bike-anarkist | Jan 1 2022 20:49 utc | 105
LOL. Gruff-man dials the snark to “11” — and scores! Me likey.
Posted by: son of spam | Jan 1 2022 21:01 utc | 106
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 1 2022 9:32 utc | 73
Go Shiraz!! Tempus Two 2019 is good ($~60 for six from Dan Murphy’s). Had a Penfolds Bin 8 2015 on NYE: wow. And Pepperjack. Aussie Shirazes kick ass.
Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 1 2022 21:23 utc | 107
Circe reminded us not to expect linear progress to better and better, although I wondered why she did not change her keyboard name to Cassandra. For the sake of balance, I would like to share the most optimistic video I encountered in the last week of the last year, the balance of good news for Rosatom, the customers, the clients and all stake holders:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p_wxYN2x8I
The first 10 seconds of the report is that Rosatom last year fulfilled the orders of the Ministry of Defence of Russian Federation in 100% “and that is everything we can say on this subject”. Wide smile.
Then completions of nuclear reactor, new orders for the subsequent ones — the largest portfolio of foreign orders in the world, start of the construction of the reactor that will “close the fuel cycle” on the industrial scale (with extra goodies like seriously variable output, fixed output is the Achilles feel of nuclear energy, the ability of delivering half of the daily output within 8 hours is exciting), floating nuclear plants and images of hitherto dirty Arctic port now spotlessly clean and enjoying emission-free energy, while seals cavort in warmer water surrounding the floating power stations (this is Arctic Ocean, so warmer is still comfortably cool for seals), environmental cleanups, new achievements in high tech materials etc etc.
Those of you with good credit rating or reliable customer base should seriously consider ordering a new nuclear power plant.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 1 2022 21:40 utc | 108
The queens of Halicarnassus and Caria were named Artemisia, not Artemesia.
Posted by: Lysias | Jan 1 2022 22:10 utc | 109
I wonder if Circe now regrets her support of Biden.
Posted by: Lysias | Jan 1 2022 22:15 utc | 110
Biden has still a chance to shine this January. Some sensible compromise can be reached with Russia, and subsequently, with China. Trump was not able to deliver anything of the sort, so he deserved to be replaced (with other reasons too). The requirements for the second term should be higher.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 1 2022 22:31 utc | 111
Happy and Healthy 2022 for everyone!
Gute Besserung b! Thank you!
Posted by: lulu | Jan 1 2022 22:50 utc | 112
BLAME THE PEOPLE
Circe #82
We are closing in on a well-deserved catastrophic credit bubble implosion and financial collapse, irreversible global warming fueling environmental destruction and maybe war initiated by the most nuclearized, technologically armed countries, while the greatest generation and their creative offspring die off, and the world is being left in the hands of the least inspired, most mediocre, coddled, entitled, irresponsible, self-absorbed, most unprepared-for-real-life generations to ever disgrace the planet.
So how does happy emerge from that equation except as a pretend illusion that promotes the inertia of selfish temporary ignorant bliss?
Can we start with – Terminate (the power of) the elite.
Elect an intelligent, sincere, President to serve THE PEOPLE.
Failing that, watch the collapse and trust that the people might find a path as there are many successes to model on. The Cubans succeeded.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 1 2022 23:28 utc | 113
Birds of a feather flock together….
The Observer
Tony Blair
Speaker defends Tony Blair knighthood after backlash
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/01/speaker-defends-tony-blair-knighthood-after-backlash
Yup.
The Garter Knights.
The insider’s deep state. Or, as someone once boasted…l’Etat, c’est moi.
Posted by: John Cleary | Jan 2 2022 0:10 utc | 114
send the fucker to belmarsh… that is where tony blair belongs… uk is like alice in wonderland at this point… everything is upside down and fucked up..
Posted by: james | Jan 2 2022 2:07 utc | 115
I hope everyone here managed to find some joy over the holidays. I sure enjoyed it and kept my time on the internet to a minimum which certainly helped. Unfortunately, I don’t share b’s optimism for the coming years; not just for this “new” year. Reading up on that old hag granting Blair Knighthood today sickens me to the core. I hope for the best for Russia but, I don’t expect them to get much mileage for their efforts nor will the Empire be held accountable.
Although I missed seeing those purged post here, I am disappointed that b believes libertarianism is bullshit as many of them are anti-war. Sure you may not like their economic view points but they’re not all that bad. And The Don doesn’t come from that ideological group as he’s more of a conman to be honest. BTW Circe, how’s Brandon working out for you? ROFL The timing of your reappearance is interesting as noted by Gruff.
Posted by: Ian2 | Jan 2 2022 2:19 utc | 116
As Trudeau would interject, its not mankind its people kind lol
https://youtu.be/ItsGW1Nlm3c
Posted by: Baumanskevich | Jan 2 2022 3:00 utc | 117
Biden wont be able to make any agreement with Russia, the US is simple agreement incapable on the international level every US congressman and senator will puff their chests out and proclaim that any agreement with “Putin” is appeasement, a new Munich and that only a hardline stance will force the Russians to “back down” and “look for a way out”. Bottom-line, my prediction is that the Putin-Biden summit will feature a lot of US talk and posturing but no positive actions, just a promise to keep discussions open. 2 weeks or so after the talks, US neo-cons will arrange another provocation to threaten and annoy the Russians (more NATO ships in the black sea, spy planes buzzing the Russian boarder) to scupper the talks and push through more sanctions (probably expel more Russian diplomats, maybe from the UN assembly building in NY). The only thing i’m not sure about, is will the Neo-cons get US proxies in Ukraine to do something so monumentally stupid (like attack Luhansk and Donetsk, or try to forcably cross the Kerch straits again) that it triggers a Russian military response (not necessarily an invasion, perhaps missile and artillery strikes).
The Neo-cons in the west would love to arrange a full a severing of US and EU relations with Russia as it would solidify US political control of Western Europe, cripple the European economies, making them totally depended on US energy aid and unable to compete against US-based businesses. Although this would permanently push Russian into a Chinese alliance, the Neo-cons, filled with Hubris, are convinced that they can defeat China, regardless of Russia’s support.
In 2022 US-Russian relations will nose-dive!!! Best case scenario, the US and Russian ambassadors are recalled again
Posted by: Kadath | Jan 2 2022 3:50 utc | 118
For the MICIMATT/US elite/neocons, the problem is the conflict of two things:
1) The MICIMATT/US elite/neocons want and believe they deserve to have their “full spectrum dominance,” which they continue to strive for, that is, complete control over the earth.
2) But China and especially Russia possess the Great Equalizer, nuclear weapons. While China has enough nuclear weapons probably to end civilization, Russia likely has enough to end the human race, and in any case no American empire or state can possibly survive a full nuclear attack or exchange.
The second fact completely negates the intent expressed in the first point and totally checkmates the neocons. They can rage and howl like the herd of baboons they are, but they simply can’t go all the way successfully. They can harass Russia and China in petty ways, but they cannot attack their national territory or sovereignty. If they were thinking straight, they wouldn’t even contemplate it, but because of their fatal hubris, they are always coming up with schemes to overcome the fact of others having the Great Equalizer. Such schemes include anti-missile missiles, plans to destroy the others’ nuclear weapons before they can be fired, and sabotage, are hare-brained schemes, as well as propaganda campaigns to support the idea of the survivability of nuclear war, a very stupid but dangerous idea that they might even convince themselves of. So far, however, they have exercised such caution that even North Korea’s tiny nuclear arsenal, which can’t even hit the US directly, has been enough to scare them off, which is good.
If we were talking about more “normal” human beings, there wouldn’t even be a problem, because the impossibility of their nefarious schemes would be obvious, and they would give them up. But, like nationalist fanatics everywhere, you can’t tell them anything; they won’t listen to any opposition and even try to ban it (Assange, Manning, Snowden, etc.). So, while logically they can’t do anything against Russia or China, one can’t conclude we are safe yet, because they might do like the great powers in the First World War and decide to commit suicide by total destruction. This could especially happen if their own position is threatened at home. Rather then lose power, they might prefer to destroy the world.
So I would like to reemphasize Circe’s well-put phrasing @#82: “…and maybe war initiated by the most nuclearized, technologically armed countries, … and the world is being left in the hands of the least inspired, most mediocre, coddled, entitled, irresponsible, self-absorbed, most unprepared-for-real-life generations to ever disgrace the planet.” I presume here that “the least inspired, most mediocre, coddled, entitled, irresponsible, self-absorbed, most unprepared-for-real-life generations to ever disgrace the planet” refer precisely to the MICIMATT/US elite/neocons and not to the common masses, which have their responsibility too, but not as much.
If humans are to survive for long on earth, we are all going to have to become more cooperative toward each other. It’s that simple.
Posted by: Cabe | Jan 2 2022 5:07 utc | 119
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 1 2022 23:28 utc | 113
Elect an intelligent, sincere, President to serve THE PEOPLE.
If there is one new years wish I could make it’s that humankind ceases to elect rulers of one kind or another over themselves and instead adopts a collaborative, distributed, non hierarchical mechanism for managing it’s resources.
One which respects the needs of the many and the liberty of the individual equally.
Until then, we will be forever doomed to one form of serfdom or another.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jan 2 2022 7:38 utc | 121
Happy arbitrary day of the calendar assigned as ‘New Year’ to all of the barflies.
World has changed a fair bit over the last 2 years. It’s quite staggering to look back and see the changes.
Thanks go to MOA for keeping us all up to date. This is not just b. This place would not be the same without all the input from the well read and up to date patrons of the bar.
Special thanks goes out to Karl Sanchez and your blog, Peter AU when you’re not angry, Grieved, Uncle Tungsten etc. Too many to list all of you.
Raspberry awards for the year go to m and antonym.
Happy new year and best wishes for you all.
JustAnotherAussie
Posted by: JustAnotherAussie | Jan 2 2022 8:37 utc | 122
Speaking of Blair….Maria on fire.
Josep Borrell said in his interview that he wanted “to discuss all violations since the Helsinki Final Act was adopted in 1975.” So, we guess the EU is ready to discuss in detail how NATO, a defensive alliance according to its Charter (with which the EU intends to continue promoting partnership) was destroying Serbia with cassette bombs and ammunition with depleted uranium for 78 days in 1999 in violation of all norms of international law. Its actions killed 2,500 people, including 89 children. Brussels representatives did not take part in any marches with the portraits of these children. Do you want to discuss this? Please do.
https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1792974/
Has Lavrov delegated the EU and its pompous “High Commissioner” to Zakharova for her “on the job” training?
Posted by: John Cleary | Jan 2 2022 10:08 utc | 123
Hope all had some celebration. I did. Plenty drinking dancing and some snogging.
I spent most of day with hangover yesterday and am grateful that it is Sunday today and a bank holiday tomorrow.
These inconsiderate to have caused b to sweep this thread yesterday are gormless pillocks who probably still can’t change their own pants and do their own laundry without their mummy.
Posted by: D.G. | Jan 2 2022 15:10 utc | 124
@123 John Cleary- Wow! Thank you for that link.
I am glad the Russians are finally saying somewhat outloud
what they think of their “partners.”
Every Slavic person I have had the pleasure to know has been
a person of manors and grace. It seems like the gloves are off.
I’m kinda scared of 2022. especially 2.2.2022 or 2.22.2022.
Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 2 2022 16:01 utc | 125
Hey lex, thanks, and I agree.
I re-read it and wondered what a “cassette bomb” is. I think it’s a slight mis-translation.
They mean cluster bombs don’t they? Which is a war crime by definition.
Posted by: John Cleary | Jan 2 2022 18:02 utc | 126
lex talionis @83
Looks like you read interesting books, lex. Happy New Year.
I second lex talionis @125 – Thanks for the link, John Cleary @123!
Posted by: spudski | Jan 2 2022 19:08 utc | 127
@Circe 82 happiness emerges wherever you aren’t. Please please please fuck off.
Posted by: Tannenhouser | Jan 2 2022 22:03 utc | 128
@121 Arch Bungle – “If there is one new years wish I could make it’s that humankind ceases to elect rulers of one kind or another over themselves and instead adopts a collaborative, distributed, non hierarchical mechanism for managing it’s resources.”
Now that’s an interesting concept.
We’re basically saying here that no social action of governance should ever have to go through the topmost authority of its jurisdiction in order to happen, or to take formal effect.
The purpose of that topmost authority, then, would be to act as a final resort to make sure that all actions happen below that level.
Kind of like a supreme court, but for the executive rather than the judiciary.
Hmm..
~~
It sets my mind alight – and I’m sure there are flies in that ointment – but if any others here find the same kind of fire in the idea, I’d love to hear about it.
Posted by: Grieved | Jan 3 2022 1:02 utc | 129
My best wishes for 22 to Moa denizens and to Bernhard.
Posted by: Tuyzentfloot | Jan 3 2022 10:12 utc | 130