@ Bruised Northerner | Feb 11 2022 16:57 utc | 297… hard to know what that collection of clips is about…. as you are probably aware, splicing and dicing footage is a very effective tool of the empire…. perhaps you saw the clip posted in uk media yesterday that showed truss alone at the podium – supposedly lavrov deserting her…. a wide lense frame shows lavrov holding the door open for her as the talk was finished…. the msm cheats regularly to push an agenda…. so, it is hard to know what the collection of photos you have shared are about, but it is definitely pushing an agenda…i personally am not buying it… cheers.

Posted by: james | Feb 11 2022 17:37 utc | 304

psychohistorian @296
Hey, I’m all for social distancing, and I am glad the pandemic made it fashionable, but this hate and “triggering” nonsense is something else entirely. As my post above implied, the hate was there well before the pandemic. I could be wrong here, but it seems like the people cursing the unvaxxed and wishing doom on them are the same ones that cursed “deplorable Trumpists” prior to the pandemic. The trend of blaming others for “triggering” instabilities in one’s own head was gaining traction years before the pandemic as well.
[Aside to the “triggered”: What happens inside your own head is all your responsibility and none of my own. Stop blaming others for your own frailties and take control of your own mind. There are a number of posters even in this thread who have mentioned differing techniques to do that very thing over the years. Ask them for pointers on how to tame your own inner demons that other people’s words appear to unleash. My favorite is Buddhist meditation, but there are other approaches that work too.]

Posted by: William Gruff | Feb 11 2022 17:44 utc | 306

dh @305: “…you might be accused of excessive use of the ‘F’ word.”
I have friends and family for whom no sentence is complete without “the ‘f’ word”. Subject, object, predicate; it serves for all parts of a sentence. Of course it is a favorite adjective too. I suspect they may view my prose and speech as lacking in passion and sincerity due to how sparingly I use “the ‘f’ word”. I was unaware that such a versatile word could be used excessively. 😉

Posted by: William Gruff | Feb 11 2022 18:00 utc | 308

@librul#274…my original covid, just being very sick, 21 days, and another month to recuperate. Sounds like your wife may have covid, not a variant. From what I’ve read, none of the varients are worse than cv19. Most being milder, which follows basic viral pathology…well it used to. With so much new science being mandated it’s hard to keep up with all the really amazing changes….like herd immunity only being achieved by a needle….from apes to humans over million of years and we need needles to survive….
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 11 2022 18:32 utc | 310

@ William Gruff | Feb 11 2022 17:44 utc | 306 who wrote about triggered
”
There are a number of posters even in this thread who have mentioned differing techniques to do that very thing over the years. Ask them for pointers on how to tame your own inner demons that other people’s words appear to unleash. My favorite is Buddhist meditation, but there are other approaches that work too.
”
I continue to be an MoA barfly that shares his healing of inner demons (TBI and infancy trauma) by use of over 250 QEEG type neuromodulation sessions over 3+ years and 3 providers. I have been inner demon free for the past two years of my life and am joyful as I watch the shit show of humanity roll on.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 11 2022 18:36 utc | 312

I suggest that Mr Putin should address the great people of Germany explaining that it is and has been Russias intent to work together for mutual benefit, but that he cannot do it alone, but awaits and will respect their choices on the matter. He would only ask that it would be the choice of the people via its elected leaders, not to result of coercion by a third party pursue other interests.
He should arrange photo op with Germen and French leaders posed wearing their MEGA hats – suggests attractive green or blue rather than red (or purple).
Then arrange a get together for joint excersizes with separatist regions – a weiner roast say.
Then the part of NATO advance into whats remains of Ukraine is a bit of a thorny issue. I can only say patience is good but at some point one must do what one must do – looking toward the future.
I would ask that B might use his influence to pass my comments along to President Putin. If Mr Putin (Vladimir if I may) should need any follow-up, B you have my permission to release my contact details (or perhaps NSA could provide).
Best wishes and Yours Truly, Jared (no, not that Jared and not the paedophile one either).

Posted by: jared | Feb 11 2022 18:48 utc | 314

Updates in no particular order, but point to a clusterfuck coming up.
***
Lavrov has cancelled his visit to Israel.
“Syria cause deep concern. They are a crude violation of Syria’s sovereignty .. [and] may trigger a sharp escalation of tensions.” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
Russia says that they do not accept the replies of NATO and the EU to their security demands. Maria Zakharova again.
***
it was suggested that the hostilities would start after the Olympics. However, as Putin is still not going to jump in, a Ukie FFlag may now happen before the February 15 presumed start date. Imported Jihadis and mercenaries – those who are most likely to attack Russian forces, are in place.
Note that as the US and UK continue their build-up and arms transfers, this may put a “best use before” date on the Russian side. 15 flights from UK, 18 from US and others.
****
All sorts of countries have suddenly recalled or demanded that their citizens leave Ukraine. UK; US, Israel, Norway, Latvia (I think).
**
Wallace and Shoigu had a “military” style “frank talk”. Nothing settled or reported for the moment.
“Britain’s Defense Minister just like Macron says Russia promised not to invade. So I guess that’s it. Party is over lets go home…whatever…”
******
Now what? Blinken expects every man to do his duty, or something, as long as they don’t point to where he is hiding.

Posted by: Stonebird | Feb 11 2022 18:59 utc | 316

Peter AU1 @303–
I’ve looked but it seems most are classified. Here’s what was published in Russian at the RMoD website. Others might be found via its main page.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 11 2022 19:01 utc | 318

I don’t actually believe that scenario. Rather, I ascribe to the scenario where the seeding of the virus in China was a colossally bad idea by a small clique in the oligarchy of incompetent and “diverse” phuquetards with enormously overinflated opinions of themselves. In this scenario the production of the vaccines was a genuine, if incompetent, effort to limit the damage that the rogue spooks had unintentionally inflicted on the empire itself.
Posted by: William Gruff | Feb 11 2022 17:00 utc | 298
I concur
reposting
Soldiers came to the games
with a virus in their veins
giving all their Crown of Strains;
a present from Fort Detrick
Homeward bound contestants
all sickened with the flu
were carrying contagion
deployed by you know who
We must be number one
we must kill the competition
even if it takes
a biological emission
Once the enemy is ravaged
we’ll sell our vaccination
but not too soon until we prune
our elder population
The gift that keeps on giving
to the Super Pharma Suits
aiding in the sieving
of the coughers that it loots
When the gravy train is slowing
we shall keep it going
Let it spread so the dead
can keep the money flowiing
Dissenters will be broken
better get on board
the Overlords have spoken
take the prick or get the sword
Which jab do you prefer
heart attack or stroke?
if you wanna work or have a roof
better come and take a poke

Posted by: ld | Feb 11 2022 19:55 utc | 320

Freedom Convoy in action this afternoon. One minute video clip — warning – for those with sensitivities, this is from a mainstream news reporter’s Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/grahamctv/status/1492224151255490568?s=20&t=ykRvZoz3hFhVv1XVwLi3Fg

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Feb 11 2022 20:11 utc | 322

karlof1, I must have hit a wrong key because that posted unexpectedly.
I was going to add that Biden is again winding up the war propaganda, saying Americans and other foreigners should get out of Ukraine now as Russia is quite likely to attack while the olympics are on. I think the US/UK really believe Russia will backdown/capitulate when push comes to shove. If that is the case, then they will keep pushing until Russia has to either fight or capitulate.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 11 2022 20:30 utc | 324

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 11 2022 17:34 utc | 303
Seems like there is not a full transcript, they have a summary at the Defense Ministry’s site. Sounds like it was a lot more relaxed and serious than the pitiful performance of Truss at the FM. Here the link in Russian.
https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12408394@egNews

Posted by: Paco | Feb 11 2022 20:42 utc | 326

Gruff @298
I don’t subscribe to the notion that depopulation has been planned/ is being implemented. To believe such would required access to all sorts of information that I do not have and that very few would have. Though the thought has occurred to me, as it plainly has to you.
Whatever scenario you have imagined that justifies putting unknown substances into your body is just as likely to be wrong as other imaginings. If anyone were keeping track of the experiment, which they are not, five to ten years hence would be a good time for making the decision you have apparently made.

Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 11 2022 20:48 utc | 328

Thnks Paco. I had found it and read through the printout with the link karlof1 provided. Your take on the tone of the meeting according to what is in the printout looks to be similar to mine.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 11 2022 20:51 utc | 330

An interesting show this morning on RNZ.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday
Other MOAites might find something interesting too. The 9.05 Nils Melzer: the political persecution of Julian Assange interview was very good. I haven’t listened to anything else yet, but will – expletives ready for the Marples one.
Saturday 12 February 2022
On today’s show
8.10 Andriy Dubchak: reporting from the frontlines of Ukraine
Andriy Dubchak is the founder and CEO of Donbas Frontliner, a independent media outlet based in Ukraine and reporting on the escalating military tensions with Russia. Dubchak is usually based in Kyiv – but recently has been reporting from Mariupol, a port city in south eastern Ukraine which is home to about 500,000 people, and seen as a likely target for Moscow.
The city, which was briefly captured by Russia-backed separatists in 2014, holds a highly strategic position. If Mariupol was captured, Moscow could create a land corridor between Russia, the separatist territories, and annexed Crimea.
8.20 Prof David Marples: Russia has reached point of no return
Professor David Marples says the Russian leadership has reached a point of no return in its conflict with Ukraine. In his recent piece published on The Conversation, Marples argues that to withdraw troops would be humiliating for Putin, who relies on machismo to bolster his popular support.
He says it is clear that Russia will not be satisfied by talks, and there will be another attack on Ukraine in the next few weeks.
Marples is a distinguished professor of Russian and East European History at the University of Alberta, Canada. His recent books include The War in Ukraine’s Donbas and Understanding Ukraine and Belarus.
8.35 Alex Ross: ‘it’s nice to see Spotify suffering a bit’
There’s been unprecedented fallout for Spotify since musician Neil Young withdrew from the music streaming service in late January. Young’s move was in protest over the site’s publishing of Joe Rogan’s podcast, which is widely accused of spreading Covid-19 misinformation. This week CNN reported that traffic to Spotify’s Premium cancellation page tripled in a week. Yet Spotify’s business model has long been of concern in the music industry in relation to its poor payment policies for musicians.
New Yorker music critic Alex Ross has written on the injustice of the streaming economy in response to the Neil Young saga. Ross’ books include 2009’s The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century and his latest, Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music.
9.05 Nils Melzer: the political persecution of Julian Assange
Nearly 12 years ago Wikileaks published the Afghan War Diary, one of the biggest leaks in US military history. More was to come. To avoid extradition to the States to face espionage charges, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years, before Ecuador turned him over to Britain in 2019. He is currently in Belmarsh Prison, south-east London.
Nils Melzer, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Torture initially declined to get involved in Assange’s case. But as he writes in his new book The Trial of Julian Assange, when he started to look closely at the facts he found Assange to be a victim of political persecution.
9.40 Julie Zhu: the tamariki behind the takeaway counter
Growing up behind the counter of a dairy, takeaway or restaurant is a common experience for immigrant children in New Zealand. Mini-documentary series TakeOut Kids on The Spinoff looks into the lives of four such young people and the impact such a life has on their upbringing.
Julie Zhu is a film and theatre maker born in Xi’an, China and raised in Auckland. She is passionate about using the power of art and storytelling to enable positive social change, with a strong focus on immigrant stories. Her play Chinese (Other) saw 100 Chinese Aucklanders telling their stories and she has produced two seasons of RNZ podcast Conversations with My Immigrant Parents.
10.05 John Tucker: celebrating Aotearoa’s house trucks of the 1970s
Bringing together a treasure trove of photos by the late Paul C. Gilbert, new book Road People of Aotearoa chronicles the early days of the phenomenon of DIY house trucks, which appeared on New Zealand’s roads around the mid-1970s as part of an alternative lifestyle movement.
John Tucker was an earlier adopter of the house truck lifestyle, building his own out of necessity due to his personal circumstances. But the subculture that surfaced around him was a community that travelled together and played together – converging on music festivals of the time such as Nambassa in the 1970s and Sweetwaters in the early 80s.
10.35 Prof Robert Stickgold: how advertisers want to hack our dreams
It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but marketing companies are now exploring the potential of advertising their products to us while we sleep. New technology created by scientists at MIT uses ‘targeted dream incubation’ to affect dream content, with the goal of being used for therapeutic purposes.
However, a recently conducted Future of Marketing study in America found that 77 percent of marketers aim to deploy dream-tech for advertising in the next three years.
Robert Stickgold says this type of dream hacking could have consequences on how we function psychologically. Stickgold is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Center for Sleep and Cognition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
11.05 Kaya Wilson: near death experience a catalyst for change
In 2016 tsunami scientist Kaya Wilson survived an accident that doctors say should have killed him. While out surfing on the New South Wales coast, Wilson landed headfirst into a sandbank, breaking and dislocating his neck. He was told by medical professionals they expected him to be paralysed from the neck down.
Up until then, Wilson had been living as a woman and questioning his gender — but the near-death experience was the catalyst for him to make the transition to a man.
His story is now documented in his memoir As Beautiful As Any Other – which he will be discussing in conversation with Pōneke writer Emma Barnes as part of the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts.
11.30 Richard Smart: the labour of love that is the Hundertwasser
When celebrated and rather unconventional Austrian artist, philosopher and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser died in the Bay of Islands in 2000 part of his legacy were designs for an arts centre for Whangārei. That long-awaited arts centre – complete with the largest afforested roof in the southern hemisphere – opens 20 February.
Hundertwasser emigrated to New Zealand in the 1970s to realise his vision of living closer to nature. Carpenter and architectural designer Richard Smart worked with him for the eight years before his death and is the sole New Zealand representative of the Hundertwasser Foundation. Due to Covid, Hundertwasser curators were not able to come to install the opening exhibition, so instead Smart flew to Austria last year to learn the “Hundertwasser way”.

Posted by: tucenz | Feb 11 2022 21:33 utc | 332

rjb1.5 various posts
I appreciate your comments. Your response to the poster who claimed that China is not making MRNA vaccines response was excellent.
s far as I know China makes both traditional and MRNA vaccines and also citizens can even get Pfizer in China if they prefer. The big difference in China is that vaccines are not the main event as they have become in the west, they are a backup for a comprehensive public health policy that is based on public hygiene and quarantine and isolation of the virus, traditional Chinese medicine also plays a part. They have a lot of past experience with Sars etc.
I don’t agree entirely with you about the truckers, I do not think that the 200K children losing their primary caregivers is relevant to their protest. In the US those deaths happened for a complex of reasons including an historically abysmal public health system and a nation with the highest number of co-morbid citizens in the developed world. I do not think you can say that masking, distancing and vaccinating would have saved those people, without all the other factors that countries like China bring to the table.
And moreover what about all the people who have died of other preventable causes all the while this farce has been unfolding.
Throughout the covid crisis, working class people of all kinds have been hugely disadvantaged by government policy. Truckers are working class people and they have a right to express their concerns. I am well aware they are not your traditional trade union lefties, but where are all those unionists from a bygone era anyway?
I do 100% agree that our freedoms are being further eroded during covid, do truckers have the only answers? of course not, they are self interested. But if they are shining a light on the issues, then I support them.
On another note I am sympathetic to the theory that rogue western elements planted the virus in China, it would explain a lot. ButI have no way to back it up, it just makes sense.

Posted by: K | Feb 11 2022 22:18 utc | 334

Thanks again to Paul, and also James – Hugo of course wrote “Les Miserables”, and it is a long novel, so – I was almost going to say you have to have your ‘wellingtons’ on to go through it. (Of course, for kiwis, gumboots would be the issue.) It is sort of a French “War and Peace”, and I’ve found interesting this second read, having before skipped through much of the historical/philosophical bits (as I did my first read in high school of the Tolstoi.)
I hadn’t seen Paul’s news about the protest in New Zealand when I started posting, so then I had a bit of fun with ‘Wellington'(the capital city where the protest is encamped on the Parliament lawn) as that of course is the name of the British general who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Hugo starts off his description of the battle by saying it was delayed by rain, so then of course in Wellington came the turning on of sprinklers to discourage the protesters (they were not discouraged; they simply covered them with orange highway cones, the ground becoming plenty muddy as a result, apparently.) Pardon my levity, the coincidental juxtaposition is probably foolish of me, but let it stand, I’m often foolish.
You can’t be a New Zealander without knowing some maori, though when I was growing up the announcers and general public did mangle maori place names, of which there are plenty. Nowadays pronunciation, if not completely accurate, is much more carefully recited, and the maori version of the national anthem is lovely. My grandmother was raised maori and spoke it melodically; sadly I don’t.
Yes Paul, kia ora katua – I remember it as a toast, so ‘to your good health!’

Posted by: juliania | Feb 11 2022 22:50 utc | 336

an interesting and rare comment coming from a Canadian Soldier speaking out in support of the truckers
video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a8ZRipbeRo

Posted by: ld | Feb 11 2022 23:11 utc | 338

Does anyone here have a cogent reason why a Vax that doesn’t stop infection and only up side “I wont get as sick” can easily be explained using demographics, should be mandatory? Serious? I’m really struggling w the disconnect here. Help please.

Posted by: Tannenhouser | Feb 11 2022 23:56 utc | 340

@ Tannenhouser | Feb 11 2022 23:56 utc | 340… there is no rational explanation for this, other then some have adopted the official narrative, no matter how fractured it is 2 years in.. i agree with your conclusion at 341 as well..

Posted by: james | Feb 12 2022 0:31 utc | 342

Thanks James. The whole Alice in wonderland scene where the Queen expects Alice to believe impossible things then decrees that she believes many impossible thing before noon, and so should Alice, comes to mind.
Interested in other thoughts from anyone as to a cogent reason for vax mandates for a vax that dont work?

Posted by: Tannenhouser | Feb 12 2022 0:41 utc | 344

Posted by: ld | Feb 11 2022 18:58 utc | 315
One work around is to open several pages for the same thread. Use one page as the primary read, keeping your place, and the other(s) to locate the referred to comments.
After a while, usually, posters are known almost at first glance because everyone has posting uniqueness. If not recognizable, glance at the bottom first.
I’ve grown to appreciate this system over what you are asking for. It smooths out, balances, dialogue and has the positive effect of not allowing a thread to be easily hijacked.
_____
Posted by: james | Feb 11 2022 2:41 utc | 247
who wrote, “how do we come together with those who hold diametrically opposite views? there has to be some gentleness in our actions with each other”
Indeed.
——
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Feb 11 2022 2:54 utc | 250
If I want to torture myself it sounds like all I need to do is turn on a tv. I can’t even bear public radio’s incessant ad breaks. Idiocy. How can they still call themselves “public” radio when there are so many ad interruptions? And that ignores the content issues.
I feel fortunate that the MOA bar is here for me to “waste my time.” I don’t drink whiskey but I love the intelligent diverse company.

Posted by: suzan | Feb 12 2022 1:23 utc | 346

Just saw this from Dr John Cambell. Hard data for myocarditis is in from Israel and reviewed in JAMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb1Xm1uaedU

Posted by: ld | Feb 12 2022 1:43 utc | 348

Posted by: juliania | Feb 11 2022 22:50 utc | 336
The NZ Herald have a live feed of the scenes in Wellington. The rain will come.
The chant in Wellington yesterday was Kia KAHA.
Kia: let [express a wish] when, so that, until.
Kaha: strong, able, strength.
Rough translation: let’s be strong or “be strong”.
Example, RNZS Te Kaha, a corvette: The Strong.

Posted by: Paul | Feb 12 2022 2:14 utc | 350

c1ue | 351
The “smart” money (GoldmanS, jpmordor say the price is head to $120-$150.
By end 2022.
Gas prices in Europe will remain high beyond the 2022-23 heating season.
source: “the internet”

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 12 2022 3:38 utc | 352

So now it’s Biden’s turn. I am having a pretty hard time processing this. What kind of straight talk may one expect from this conversation? Pieces are moving into place. The scene is set. There will not be enough time to “grab the popcorn”. It will be too real. Reminds me of an old song I have on an 80s mixtape -“if there’s nobody left to flash two fingers, how will we know we’ve won?”

Posted by: thecelticwithinme | Feb 12 2022 3:47 utc | 354

thanks Id… the respect and appreciation is mutual…

Posted by: james | Feb 12 2022 3:54 utc | 356

@don bacon.. look at bc hospital records 2015 – 2021 to see how the icu rates remained the same over this period, thanks to someone asking for the information…
Records showing hospitalizations and ICU admissions in BC during the Covid-19 pandemic. (Date Range for Record Search: From 1/1/2015 To 8/27/2021)
sorry don, but something is not jiving here..

Posted by: james | Feb 12 2022 4:30 utc | 358

Posted by: Tannenhouser | Feb 12 2022 0:41 utc | 344
There is zero reason for mandating vaccines. Even hospitalizations and deaths with Omicron are significantly down relative to former variants.
It seems that the Canadian government wants a crisis and are deliberately creating this crisis, threatening violence and heavily demonizing democratic dissent. There can be no other reason for not revoking mandates to take vaccines.
The question is why is the government deliberately creating a crisis. Is it to institute even more drakonian measures akin to Martial law.
Perhaps, it is connected to the coming attack/false flag on Donbass and/or Russia. Once Russia is accused of an aggressive attack, Canada, with military advisors/trainers in Ukraine, can enact some sort of authoritarian measures to further lockdown society here at home with a full propaganda blitz shutting down all dissent on anything.
Who knows what the criminal classes have in mind. We only know who will accrue the benefits.

Posted by: Blue Dotterel | Feb 12 2022 6:33 utc | 360

George Soros addresses the Hoover Institution on China.
24 minutes published February 1, 2022

Ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Open Society Foundations Chair and Founder George Soros speaks on the threat China poses to open societies around and why 2022 will be a pivotal year in the growing conflict between open and closed societies. The remarks were delivered at the opening of a Hoover Institution panel—China on the Eve of the Winter Olympics: Hard Choices for the World’s Democracies—on January 31, 2022.

Strong drink is useful.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 12 2022 7:12 utc | 362

@rjb1.5 | Feb 9 2022 23:22 utc | 66

what the anti-vaxing intellectual Anders Breiviks like Norwegian prove is that the war hysteria of the west, inter alia, is a cover up for their ongoing operation of murder by covid.

What the hell are you afraid of to say stupid shit like this? You are trying to stir the pot and associate the worst kind of lies with criticism against other lies.
Grow up.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 12 2022 7:49 utc | 364

Oh my dog! Just idly watched Australian Channel Seven news. They are now evidentially-challenged claiming that RUSSIA now has 130,000 troops muscled up to the 404 border.
Strongly suspect they are double-counting those 30K-odd Russian military that are running exercises with Belorus. But who cares, hysterical headlines gets ratings and sells newspapers!
That’s all that matters. WW3 is irrelevant compared to profits.

Posted by: Ant. | Feb 12 2022 8:23 utc | 366

oldhippie 367
They are online. Read something about it the other day. Not sure if I can find it again but it was mainstream media. Some along the lines of being on the lookout for terrorism or violence or something. Usual shit I guess – throw a government troll factory at the social media and I guess that would include sites like this.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 12 2022 8:41 utc | 368

We all saw the furious claims that Iraq had WMD’s, nuclear, chemical and biological, in order to justify an illegal invasion. Unsupported by the the UNSC (look up the Nuremberg Principles of War).
Seeing the similar propoganda, although NADA simply doesn’t have the same numbers yet. It took the Almighty a good six-nine months to build up the logistics for a full-fledged invasion of Iraq, a country of 20-25 million, whose military was dissapated by sanctions.
Not seeing that, just a few thousand Yankees thrusting themselves into places they aren’t needed. Poland, Rumania, 404.
It’s all theatre. Think what you’re told to.
Having declared my opinion, I’m worried about the Thucydides Trap.

Posted by: Ant. | Feb 12 2022 9:06 utc | 370

Just so. The war-drums are pounding, and it’s all from US/UK and their sycophants in Can/Aus.
Of course, the Yankee-Doodle-Dandee’s couldn’t care less. The US is perfectly prepared to fight the RUSSIANS to the very last European,

Posted by: Ant. | Feb 12 2022 9:43 utc | 372

Macron’s DNA.
No idea if it is true or not, but I do know this.
Back when she used to travel a lot the Mouldy Old Ho* used to take her own personal private Gary Glitter** along with her. That was specifically to prevent enemies from collecting and analysing the Royal Faeces.
I suspect her idiot son does the same, but have not heard anything to this effect.
* Fifty years ago this month! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTVuBcrD8ic
** Gary Glitter = Cockney Rhyming Slang

Posted by: John Cleary | Feb 12 2022 10:27 utc | 374

This article in Financial times looks to cover much of what I have picked up on including Russia cutting back it Ukraine embassy staff. https://www.ft.com/content/214559c2-c5f1-414e-a6f3-8d8fbea9ec30
A couple of middle eastern news sites also said Russia was cutting back staff after Lavrov’s meeting with Truss. As yet, anything Zakharova has said after the Lavrov Truss meeting is not showing on either the English nor Russian foreign ministry site.
This piece in the article makes me wonder if the US/UK have pallets of explosive stashed around Kiev ” The US believed that an invasion was “likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality”

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 12 2022 11:46 utc | 376

Ontario’s PM Doug Ford is declaring a state of emergency for the trucker road blockade in Ottawa since January 22 (so after 20 days). In New Delhi road blockade protests were left going for 101 days in the case of CAA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaheen_Bagh_protest and about one 365 days in the case pf farmers protests https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_Indian_farmers'_protest
Where are democratic rights better protected, in India under “facist” PM Modi or in Canada under “left liberal” PM Trudeau/ Ford?
Trudeau even lectured India at that time about these rights after his tour to woe Sikh Canadian voters abroad.

Posted by: Antonym | Feb 12 2022 11:59 utc | 378

Could be that the long table parade was payback for the EU refusal to approve Russian vaccines.
Could be that Macron is HIV positive and the French don’t want to hand Russia the facts.
After all, DNA could be collected from any glass Macron drank out of or any of the numerous of hairs that people shed daily. But for ascertaining HIV antibody status, a swab would be required.

Posted by: Lurk | Feb 12 2022 12:28 utc | 380

Time for the next pandemic.
Near 100% vaccination rate has failed to provide cover for BigPharma.
The goal was to delete any control group – the unvaccinated –
by vaccinating everyone.
If a plethora of ailments eventually show up in the vaccinated
which are not showing up in the unvaccinated then that is
evidence that the vaccine was the cause. This makes the unvaccinated
a control group. Without the control group, though, the lawyers for BigPharma
could win in court.
So how will the plethora of ailments be covered up, now that
a near 100% vaccination rate will not be achieved?
Answer: the plethora of ailments are caused by a new disease.
Is the “new disease” already entering the headlines?
Perhaps. People are now being fed fear porn about a so-called new variant of HIV.
Is this what the doctor ordered?

Posted by: librul | Feb 12 2022 12:49 utc | 382

Lurk 380
He has used the long table for others that are friendly or neutral. I think it is exactly as the french said. There is a procedure to be closer which takes a few hours, testing and so forth. The ones that have time to go through the Russian testing sit at normal distance, those that don’t have time and also there may be some that simply don’t want to, get to sit at the long table.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 12 2022 13:01 utc | 384

The piano playing comedian is somewhat confused.

https://tass.com/world/1402209
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky asked, when speaking to journalists on Saturday, for information on the alleged Russian invasion planned for February 16, if such information is available, and pointed out that the information space was abundant in reports related to a potential incursion.
“Should you or anybody else have additional information about a 100% invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, starting on [February] 16, please give us such information,” Zelensky asked.

I think he should be wondering why US ensured chocolate man would not be prosecuted when he returned to Ukraine. He is like a sacrificial goat bleating because he is somewhat confused about the proceedings.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 12 2022 14:09 utc | 386

*Warning: links to mainstream journalism*
Early Saturday morning, protestors at the blockade on (American-privately-owned) Ambassador bridge start packing up the BBQ gear
https://twitter.com/thomasdaigle/status/1492501136770744325?s=20&t=zf_c2tpssetutuXY6kXHOw
40 secs of Trudeau discussing his convo with Biden on Friday
https://twitter.com/Gray_Mackenzie/status/1492215946659909639?s=20&t=HFws-AqpNXzK1Y1ldhDdLQ
FOX News live from the Ottawa blockade
https://twitter.com/CarymaRules/status/1492504641015357441?s=20&t=i9h_DoeJk6lNzb67B1bu-A

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Feb 12 2022 14:30 utc | 388

@Don Bacon #357
The WA state data is interesting but rings false as follows:
1) Note the Page 11 data. It says from Feb 1, 2021 to Feb 1, 2022 – 32.3% of all COVID cases were vaxxed out of 76.1% of the population being vaxxed.
The problem is: WA state didn’t start vaccinating until maybe January 2021. It seems highly unlikely that 76.1% of COVID cases from Feb 1, 2021 to Feb 1, 2022 are vaxxed since WA state overall vaccination levels didn’t even go above 50% until May 2021.
2) Feb 1, 2021 is also very conveniently placed to have excluded the 2020-2021 winter spike but include the 2021-2022 winter/let ‘er rip spike.
3) WA state also has a very odd age grouping setup: 12-34, 35-64, 65+. Most places have a break around 50-55 – because that’s right where you start seeing significant increases in COVID mortality rates. Given the rough rule of thumb that every 10 years is 10x difference in mortality rate – it is very possible that 85%+ of the mortality in the 35-64 group is 55-64.
4) It is also curious why no raw data is provided for the “relative” comparison periods.
How many actual hospitalizations and deaths are there in the 2021-2022 winter spike?
Fortunately, the data that is provided allows for an interpolation. The report contains data for (2/1/21 to various 2022 dates – Page 11) plus (2/21 to 12/21 – Page 12) data. If we subtract the latter from the former, it should give us the actual 2022 performance.
COVID cases, Page 11 (2/1/21 to 2/1/22):
vaxxed: 333770
unvaxxed: 659624
COVID hospitalizations, Page 11 (2/1/21 to 1/25/22)
vaxxed: 7243
unvaxxed: 26015
COVID deaths, Page 11 (2/1/21 to 1/11/22)
vaxxed: 1232
unvaxxed: 4104
Now compare this data to the overall data from later:
COVID cases, Page 12 (2/21 to 12/21):
vaxxed: 134740
unvaxxed: 333318
COVID hospitalizations: Page 12 (2/21 to 12/21):
vaxxed: 4396
unvaxxed: 21574
COVID deaths: Page 12 (2/21 to 12/21):
vaxxed: 1054
unvaxxed: 3919
Subtracting the latter from the former, we get
COVID cases, Page 11 & 12 (12/21 to 2/1/22):
vaxxed: 199030 (333770-134740)
unvaxxed: 326306
COVID hospitalizations: Page 11 & 12 (12/21 to 1/25/22):
vaxxed: 2847
unvaxxed: 4441
COVID deaths: Page 11 & 12 (12/21 to 1/11/22):
vaxxed: 178
unvaxxed: 185
The result is a very different picture.
Yes, there are more unvaxxed cases vs. vaxxed in all 3 categories – and since the vax% in this period (2022) is likely 70%+ – the “relative” COVID impact is clearly reduced by vaccines.
But the absolute numbers of hospitalizations and deaths are very low and the overall percentages of hospitalization and death is actually LOWER for the unvaxxed.
Overall hospitalization rate:
vaxxed: 1.43%
unvaxxed: 1.36%
Overall mortality rate:
vaxxed: 0.089%
unvaxxed: 0.057%
Now this is curious – why would overall hospitalization and mortality percentages, overall, be lower for unvaxxed vs. vaxxed?
Certainly the dates for the 2 data sets may not align well: 2/21 may mean January 2021 data with 12/21 referring to November 2021 data. Yet if vaxxed vs. unvaxxed is a consistent ratio, this shouldn’t matter – and anyway, it seems highly unlikely that the absolute numbers of hospitalizations and deaths is going to dramatically change: the absolute numbers of hospitalizations and deaths is clearly low vs. the COVID case numbers.
Anyway, the purpose of this exercise is to show that it is very likely that whoever prepared this WA state data is some doing some skewing – intentionally or unintentionally. The emphasis on “cases per 100,000” is always a tell when someone is trying to underplay the actual numbers.
Use of data extending from February 2021 – when vaccination levels were very far under the present vaccination levels – is clearly not representative of what is happening with the 2021-2022 winter/let ‘er rip/Omicron spike; neither is both the lack of actual raw numbers and only showing 65+ mortality.
That’s why raw data is always more useful than these curated reports.

Posted by: c1ue | Feb 12 2022 14:44 utc | 390

Shoplifting is out of control
Shoplifting retail crisis
People like Wolf -> Wolfstreet downplay this, but there is very clear evidence that shoplifting is worse and is a bad problem.
1) My wife went to buy some gum at CVS earlier this week. While the store closures are very possibly due to CVS over-expansion as Wolf noted, the lone store in our area remaining (ironically the smallest of the 5 of which 4 are now closed) had a lot of empty shelves. She asked and was told that a significant part of that was shoplifting – for example, one woman would come in almost every day to steal cosmetics.
2) I went grocery shopping at a Safeway – they have ended the practice of allowing shopping carts outside of the store! What few carts remain are all fitted with a pole that prevents them from leaving the store; quite inconvenient when I had bought 4 – 12 packs of diet coke. This along with the 3 (!) armed security guards always present.
The reality is that these “new generation” shoplifters aren’t stealing for subsistence per se – they’re stealing to sell online. That woman in the example above isn’t painting her face with a whole new set of cosmetics every day – she’s got a store somewhere online.

Posted by: c1ue | Feb 12 2022 15:15 utc | 392

@ Antonym | Feb 12 2022 11:59 utc | 378
you are exactly right here as i see it…. for once we agree!!! i’m in canada.. trudeau is a hypocrite…

Posted by: james | Feb 12 2022 16:10 utc | 394

@ jared | Feb 12 2022 16:18 utc | 395 about the drums of war
My fantasy is that an ultimatum is given to empire about their illegal occupation of Syria and they have 24 hours to remove all troops……Its called control of the narrative and it must be taken away, IMO
After that occurs and the God of Mammon cult crashes the world economies, the China/Russia alliance start explaining to the world about the current private finance cult led form of social organization in the West. One hopes that then humanistic leadership emerges in the West that is no longer murdered in their attempts to evolve society in the West beyond the top/bottom class system of present.
I am a dreamer but I am not the only one

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 12 2022 16:29 utc | 396

Posted by: retiredmecheng | Feb 12 2022 16:29 utc | 397
Or maybe chasing it with active sonar buoys? Sorry I’m outta my league on this one…

Posted by: retiredmecheng | Feb 12 2022 16:31 utc | 398

It will need to be senseless and tragic and only enough to trigger nato clause to enforce termination of trade or cooperation with Russia.
An interesting prospect will be that Russia punches through as Biden is quite vulnerable – weak and decrepid even.

Posted by: jared | Feb 12 2022 16:36 utc | 400