Open (Not Ukraine) Thread 2022-86
News & views (not related to Ukraine) ...
Posted by b on June 15, 2022 at 13:26 UTC | Permalink
next page »Smoking pot on a regular basis is known to create passivity and indecision. I think this is an explanation for why there are so many “elections don’t matter” and “ nothing ever changes” ninnies out there. Also an explanation for why democrats are always seeking to legalize pot and fill up family oriented neighborhoods with dispensaries.
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 13:45 utc | 2
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 13:45 utc | 2
Irrelevant "nanny state" gibberish.
Get a grip: Parents are first teachers.
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 15 2022 14:01 utc | 3
Bobolinski
Add to that copious cocaine use by all levels of US society, with the establishment the worst abusers,and you have a wonderful cocktail of passivity and exceptionalism
Posted by: Eoin Clancy | Jun 15 2022 14:05 utc | 4
@ Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 13:45 utc | 2
Actually, here in Colorado, which is neither red nor blue but small-l libertarian (and would be capital-L Libertarian if the party got any press), a majority of Republicans support legalized recreational marijuana too. In fact, the big roadblock on the way to marijuana legalization in the state was the erstwhile DINO governor (now DINO senator), John Frackenlooper.
That sulfurous smell around here must be whatever you're blowing out your nether quarters.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 15 2022 14:08 utc | 5
Recently, China starts to make it clear that Taiwan straight is NOT the so-called international water. Chinese MFA spokeperson said as follows on 2022/06/13 (source).
Bloomberg: We reported that Chinese military officials have repeatedly asserted that the Taiwan Strait is not international waters in recent months during meetings with US counterparts. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this?Wang Wenbin: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Taiwan Strait ranges in width from about 70 nautical miles at its narrowest and 220 nautical miles at its widest. According to UNCLOS and Chinese laws, the waters of the Taiwan Strait, extending from both shores toward the middle of the Strait, are divided into several zones including internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, and the Exclusive Economic Zone. China has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, it respects the lawful rights of other countries in relevant waters.
There is no legal basis of “international waters” in the international law of the sea. It is a false claim when certain countries call the Taiwan Strait “international waters” in order to find a pretext for manipulating issues related to Taiwan and threatening China’s sovereignty and security. China is firmly against this.
This QnA was 2 days ago but I didn't see this in any western media, especially in anglo sphere. It seems to me that China has put Taiwan reunification on schedule.
Posted by: LuRenJia | Jun 15 2022 14:10 utc | 6
@ LuRenJia | Jun 15 2022 14:10 utc | 6
By the same token, Taiwan has no sovereign air space, and its "Air Defense Identification Zone" has no status in international law.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 15 2022 14:16 utc | 7
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 13:45 utc |
You're a funny troll. "Is known" by whom and where's your proof? Of course your ideology would be against a relatively harmless intoxicant traditionally used by the working class and manual laborers. The right is every bit as classist as the PMC liberals in the US. You MAGA people are just the mirror image of those Boomer PMC Democrats. You only think you're different. Same problem, different name. That's why your savior screwed over the average american in all the same ways as every other democratic and republican president of the last 40 years.
Posted by: Lex | Jun 15 2022 14:18 utc | 8
Since conflicts over shipping of grains is dominating the news, I thought I’d take a look at the Canadian side of it.
So I found this Grain Shipping Calendar for 2021-22 —
https://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/en/protection/pdf/calendar-2021-22-en.pdf
The shipping year runs from August 1, 2021 to July 22, 2022. (And here we are, in week 46). What happens if grain is shipped in week 1 of the next shipping year, as opposed to in week 52 of this shipping year?? What effect would that have? (Not being rhetorical, I really don’t know.)
Canadian Grain Statistics Weekly 2021 for current week (which appears to be week 44 - my misspellings are only rivalled by my inability to manage the most basic numerical calculations but that’s what I think it is.)
https://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/en/grain-research/statistics/grain-statistics-weekly/2021-22/gsw-shg-44-en.xlsx
This spreadsheet tracks Canadian shipments of: wheat, amber duram, oat, barley, rye, flaxseed, canola, soybeans, peas, corn, canaryseed [which just became an official “grain”], mustard seed, beans, lentil, chickpeas
In other news, Canada remains neutral in all European disagreements, as always.
Russia lowers gas flow to Europe with part stuck in Canada [it seems “Europe” there actually means “Germany”]
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/gazprom-ap-europe-russia-ukraine-b2100937.html
“Siemens Energy said a gas turbine that powers a compressor station on the pipeline had been in service for more than 10 years and had been taken to Montreal for a scheduled overhaul. But because of sanctions imposed by Canada, the company has been unable to return the equipment to the customer, Gazprom.”
Stuck in Montréal.
Emmanuel Macron entre dans la bataille
https://www.lapresse.ca/international/europe/2022-06-14/legislatives-en-france/emmanuel-macron-entre-dans-la-bataille.php
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 15 2022 14:26 utc | 9
EoinC@4
“ cocaine use…establishment worst abusers”
Absolutely correct. I have been thinking that the overall insanity of Washington DC and Brussels has a lot to do with cocaine. It’s like the lead in the piping of classical Rome, slowly destroying the minds of the emperors.
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 14:42 utc | 10
@ Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 14:42 utc | 10
Nah. Not cocaine.
Just count the wrinkles. Adjust upwards for the pancake makeup.
Posted by: Otter | Jun 15 2022 15:05 utc | 11
Beside the EC intitiative to form a REPowerEU buyer cartel opposed to OPEC+ market power
To address concerns about continued high energy prices, the Commission has also adopted a Communication setting out the options for market intervention at European and national level, and assessing the pros and cons of each option. EU partnerships with third countries to collectively purchase gas and hydrogen can improve resilience and bring down prices. The Commission stands ready to create a Task Force on common gas purchases at EU level.
another disturbance in the free trade antitrust farce ...
Predatory or Below-Cost Pricing
... Pricing below a competitor's costs occurs in many competitive markets and generally does not violate the antitrust laws. Sometimes the low-pricing firm is simply more efficient. Pricing below your own costs is also not a violation of the law unless it is part of a strategy to eliminate competitors, and when that strategy has a dangerous probability of creating a monopoly for the discounting firm so that it can raise prices far into the future and recoup its losses. In markets with a large number of sellers, such as gasoline retailing, it is unlikely that one company could price below cost long enough to drive out a significant number of rivals and attain a dominant position.
obliquely related to PUTIN's WAR has surfaced. ...
With gas prices at $5 a gallon, Biden tells oil companies to cut costs for Americans
President Joe Biden told oil producers [not OPEC+ upstream, the other ones downstream] on Wednesday to immediately cut costs for Americans as gas prices exceeded $5 a gallon in some parts of the country.Biden in a Wednesday morning letter to the heads of top oil and gas companies said Russia's war against Ukraine is only partly responsible for the "sharp rise in gasoline prices" and asked them to work with his administration to increase the supply [sic] of gasoline to Americans.
...
"I understand that many factors contributed to the business decisions to reduce refinery capacity, which occurred before I took office," Biden said. "But at a time of war, refinery profit margins well above normal being passed directly onto American families are not acceptable."
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 15 2022 15:24 utc | 12
Hat tip to Malenkov @5 for Frakenlooper. I hope you continue avoiding the guys runnin' coal! Thank you!
Posted by: lex talionis | Jun 15 2022 15:29 utc | 13
I didn't see this in any western media, especially in anglo sphere.
Posted by: LuRenJia | Jun 15 2022 14:10 utc | 6
And you won't, because no matter how many times one links to CN state "readouts", data, or speeches translated into ENGLISH or myriad romance languages, western readers prefer western self-styled "geopolitical analysts" to interpret ENGLISH for them.
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 15 2022 15:33 utc | 14
https://archive.ph/MMTQy/again?url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-13/energy-prices-in-europe-are-creating-power-outages-in-pakistan#selection-3337.0-3337.65">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-13/energy-prices-in-europe-are-creating-power-outages-in-pakistan#selection-3337.0-3337.65">https://archive.ph/MMTQy/again?url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-13/energy-prices-in-europe-are-creating-power-outages-in-pakistan#selection-3337.0-3337.65
Europe's Plan to Quit Russian Fuel Plunges Pakistan Into Darkness
Posted by: Antonym | Jun 15 2022 15:42 utc | 15
Posted by: Antonym | Jun 15 2022 15:42 utc | 15
so-called secondary sanctions effect (derivative less "WAIVER" trading price) of US, EU attempts to "embargo" oil+gas exports that they not produce by imposing punitive, premium cost on "third country" importers of same oil+gas exported by "third country" producers
whose treauries, incidentally, were broke by WB/IMF debt service.
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 15 2022 16:16 utc | 16
The main actions of the world conflict will take place around China—expert (EurAsia Daily, Alan Pukhaev, June 13, 2022 — in Russian)
It is practically no secret to anyone anymore that the big game started by the West in the context of the ongoing geopolitical confrontation is pursuing global goals. The fate of the world order is at stake. At the same time, the West, which is defending its hegemony, in its usual manner, is trying to act by proxy, creating problems along the perimeter of its geopolitical enemies—Russia and China.East and South Asia
Outwardly, this looks rather confusing, but not for those who developed the ingenious schemes used today.
Today, the main direction of the front of the geopolitical struggle is the Ukraine, where Russia is conducting a special military operation, and where the collective West is investing huge financial resources. In this situation, it may seem that Russia is acting alone and China has taken a wait-and-see attitude.
However, according to the renowned sinologist Nikolay Vavilov, this is by no means the case. China is acting. Moreover, it is actively, conscientiously fulfilling the part of the tasks assigned to it.
The aggravation of the situation in the Taiwan Strait can serve as evidence of this. Despite U.S. dissatisfaction, Chinese Air Force planes are flying into the island zone more and more frequently, getting on the nerves of the Taiwanese administration and irritating the United States. This does not allow Washington to fully focus on the Ukraine, which is an obvious help for Russia.
At the same time, it can be noted that today, along the entire perimeter of the Chinese border, the hot phase of the Cold War unleashed by the U.S. against China has unfolded.
“Imran Khan flew to the opening of the Olympics in Beijing. After that, he flew to Moscow. In response, the United States initiated the overthrow of Imran Khan, bringing the pro-American opposition to power. And now a civil war is flaring up in Pakistan,” Nikolay Vavilov wrote in his Telegram channel. “Pakistan is China’s most important ally. The route from western China through Pakistan and on to the Persian Gulf is a strategic hydrocarbon supply route. Basically, a territory bordering China was struck.”
The sinologist draws attention to the fact that quite recently the pro-Chinese regime in the state of Sri Lanka was swept away with the support of the U.S. A government crisis is brewing in Nepal, which directly borders China.
“There was an active struggle for the President in the Philippines as well,” the expert continued. “The winner is a politician associated with Chinese monopolies. But the Philippine military department is pursuing its own pro-U.S. policy. Recently, the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, visited there. During his visit, a framework agreement on maritime security was signed between the Philippines and the U.S. In addition, the United States is trying to draw Vietnam into the anti-Chinese coalition, taking advantage of the fact that it has territorial disputes with China.”
He recalls that Biden has visited South Korea and Japan in May. These are the closest allies of the U.S. And many analysts believe that during his visit a proposal was made to expand Washington’s military cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo with the possibility of transforming Japan into a nuclear power and deploying tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of South Korea.
“We see that Biden is flying not to the Ukraine, but to East Asia,” continues Vavilov. “Meeting with leaders of Southeast Asian countries, focusing efforts in that region.”
The sinologist points out that nearly at the same time there was a coup attempt in the Solomon Islands, where China basically helped the government to stay in power by signing a bilateral security agreement. In addition, according to U.S. media reports, China intends to sign similar agreements with Kiribati and Vanuatu. This is how, according to the expert, Beijing is responding to Washington’s actions—by creating a security belt in the Pacific Ocean.
In addition, it is worth paying attention to NATO’s intentions to grant membership the countries of East Asia. Obviously, this is solely an anti-Chinese measure.
Central Asia
As a confirmation of the expert’s opinion, we can also recall the situation in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan, which also directly borders China. Recall that on May 17–18 this year, the Tajik security forces carried out an anti-terrorist operation there against organized armed gangs.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic has officially stated that the actions of the militants were coordinated from abroad via extremists wanted by the state, the main figure among whom is the leader of the National Alliance and the Islamic Renaissance Party (banned in Tajikistan) Muhiddin Kabiri.
Also bordering China, Kyrgyzstan was visited last month by British representative Richard Chalk (Richard Edward Oliver Chalk. Since 2011, he was heading UK special unit RICU—Research, Information and Communication—a secret service that is part of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism under the UK Home Office. He is now running UK NGO REOC Communications — EurAsia Daily). According to Kyrgyz sources, the main purpose of his visit was to convince the Kyrgyz authorities to start accepting Afghan refugees.
Of course, one cannot ignore the January events in Kazakhstan, which brought the country to the brink of civil war.
Thus, as Nikolay Vavilov noted, destabilization is taking place along the entire perimeter of the Chinese border, with the exception of Mongolia. At the same time, the weakest links, in his opinion, are Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Myanmar. Therefore, it can’t be said that China is sitting on the sidelines. It is fighting a cold war against the U.S.
“Another thing is that this war is still being waged via proxies, via allied political forces, but it is no less fierce,” Nikolay Vavilov continues. “Entire regimes are being demolished, governments are being replaced, and preparations are underway for a large-scale conflict.”
In view of the foregoing, there are reasons to believe that the main actions of the current world conflict will unfold in the Asia-Pacific region. And the Ukraine is a maneuver to distracts Russia.
Posted by: S | Jun 15 2022 16:21 utc | 17
Bruised Northerner
Appreciate the tidbit on Siemens outsourcing going awry. I was almost dizzy trying to wrap my head around Siemens not doing right to established customers. Over the years I have noticed that RF companies, strong industries are rooted in long term agreements, nuclear energy, petrocarbons, armaments. I just could not see Siemens jeopardizing that. Such a contrast to hyper-capitalist economies that are so hyper-myopic favouring the short term.
I an not keeping up with events up north. Been gone 5 years. Does CN and CPR still prioritize oil tankers over grain? I would just marvel at the 80-120 units several times a day of tankers going east on CN to (mostly) Superior WI refinery or south on CPR in Winnipeg.
Posted by: paxmark1 | Jun 15 2022 17:20 utc | 18
Not the cocaine or the wrinkles. It's the stupidity. Great explanation here:
https://principia-scientific.com/the-5-basic-laws-of-human-stupidity-according-to-cipolla/
Posted by: osi | Jun 15 2022 17:33 utc | 19
Posted by: S | Jun 15 2022 16:21 utc | 17
Thank you. Indeed there is now a world War already under way with one side facing immanent financial and social collapse and the other rising steadily and no longer willing to play second fiddle to corrupt regimes. It is fitting that the West chose Ukraine as their vanguard.
https://www.rt.com/business/557211-eu-russian-gas-cut/
German Sanctions Auto Asphyxiation Continue: Another Siemens™ Pump Station Goes Tango Uniform (TU). NordStream Going to 40% Overnight.
Die Deutschen have been Humiliated by Biden, Zelenskyy, and Melnyk, so there may be implications of BDSM Play here.
Will Trampolina Baerbock and Green Beancounter Haebeck chain themselves to Trees to resist the Die Deutschen Firewood Hunt starting this Autumn
Posted by: IronForge | Jun 15 2022 17:45 utc | 21
Amongst the “Ukrainian storm”, Turkey is destined to maximum cooperation with Russia—opinion (EurAsia Daily, Nikolay Arkhipov, June 13, 2022 — in Russian)
Recently, Turkey has been among the five most frequently mentioned countries of the world in the Russian press, which, no doubt, is due to the special position it takes regarding the military-political situation around the Ukraine. And this is not surprising if we consider in aggregate the statements and actions of the country’s political leadership in the context of the “Ukrainian storm”.Ankara, represented by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his closest associates, despite all the external pressure exerted on them, has repeatedly refused to make a choice between Moscow and Kiev, calling both Russia and the Ukraine their partners. Turkey is the only country among the NATO member countries that has not joined the anti-Russian sanctions and, moreover, continues to steadily increase the volume of trade with Russia, very frequently helping it de facto bypass the economic sanctions and restrictions imposed on Russia by the European Union, the Commonwealth and the U.S. (in Russia of today this is called “parallel imports”).
Particularly indicative was Ankara’s position on the issue of NATO expansion to Sweden and Finland, in relation to which Ankara, having linked the issue of their entry into NATO with their position on the Kurdish issue, has basically vetoed their accession to the North Atlantic Alliance (Finland has already announced that it will not compromise the principles of its foreign policy for the sake of membership in NATO, thereby recognizing that the doors of this military-political bloc, as long as Turkey is in it, or as long as President Erdoğan is heading the country, are closed to it).
Therefore, it is not at all surprising that publications by experts accusing Ankara of being friends with the Kremlin and condoning “Russian aggression” in the Ukraine are increasingly appearing in the Western European press.
If you look at the totality of the above events from Russia’s viewpoint, several completely rational and even financial reasons (or macroeconomic factors) immediately come to mind that explain this position of Ankara on the Ukrainian issue.
First, Turkey is objectively unable to ensure its food security due to natural and climatic conditions, primarily in terms of grain production—wheat for bread, barley for beer and livestock. Erdoğan’s government is perfectly aware of this fact. The traditional suppliers of these types of agricultural products to the Turkish domestic market were Russia and the Ukraine, which is why Ankara cannot, does not want to and will not unequivocally choose the side of Moscow or Kiev, in order to maintain the diversification of sources of raw materials and not become dependent on ever-changing geopolitical situation. That is why Turkey today is the main and, in fact, the only moderator of the negotiations, whose opinion the Kremlin will want to listen to when resolving the issue of blockade of Ukrainian grain exports from the ports of the Northern Black Sea region in accordance with previously concluded international contracts.
At the same time, Ankara is in an extremely uncomfortable ambiguous position: on the one hand, it cannot put pressure on the Kremlin, following the example of countries that have introduced restrictions against Russia, so as not to be left without Ukrainian grain, but on the other hand, it cannot at the same time sacrifice its own interests and food security, and against the backdrop of 80 percent annual inflation, also experience food shortages and, as a result, bread riots in cities.
Secondly, in the conditions when planned seasonal maintenance work begins on the Nord Stream gas pipeline and the flow of gas to Europe through it will be significantly reduced, Turkey will be able to turn into the main transit country of Russian gas to Western European markets for a while, situationally obtaining the maximum profit from this, and will get the opportunity to remain in this capacity for exactly as long as the Kremlin and Gazprom will be satisfied with such state of affairs. Turkey can receive payment for transit through its territory both in kind and in cash, giving it an opportunity for macroeconomic maneuver in the conditions of not-so-stable situation in the domestic market.
Exploration of hydrocarbon reserves on the Turkish shelf in the Aegean Sea does not in any way mean their imminent development and commissioning at an industrial level, even if there is comprehensive support from strategic ally Azerbaijan, which has rich experience in this matter. Therefore, loyalty to the Kremlin or at least preservation and development of partnerships with Russia are serving today as a guarantee and even a driver of internal stability for Turkey.
Thirdly, one cannot discount such a global macroeconomic factor as the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant by Rosatom, which will guarantee the independence and self-sufficiency of Turkey in the electric power industry (today Turkey is forced to purchase electricity from almost all of its small neighbors, including Azerbaijan and Georgia). President Erdoğan obviously does not want to and will not risk such a strategic project and the well-being of future generations of Turks in the face of the military-political situation around the Ukraine, so as not to deprive his country of a geopolitical and macroeconomic perspective.
It should be said that Turkey’s NATO allies are quite adequately aware of all the above reasons for Ankara’s “dissenting opinion” on the Ukrainian issue, which differs from the collective opinion of other members of the Alliance (with the exception of Hungary), and therefore, at the official level, they do not publicly condemn it and do not launch a massive propaganda campaign against Ankara to discredit it globally, like the one they are conducting today against Russia.
But that does not mean that Turkey ceases to be an “Achilles’ heel” for NATO, and not just on the Ukrainian issue. Today we are all witnessing a severe deterioration in relations between Turkey and Greece, at the root of which lie not political or religious contradictions, multiplied by mutual historical grievances that after many decades and generational change could be forgiven and forgotten, but purely pragmatic and financial reasons associated with control over newly explored hydrocarbon deposits on the Aegean Sea continental shelf, the possession of which will lead Turkey to the regional leaders of the Eastern Mediterranean, depriving Italy of this status. And that will result in a redistribution of force vectors not only in Western Asia and the Middle East, but also in Southeast and even Central Europe. Such prospects frighten NATO and are the main reason why the U.S., together with Greece, has announced the creation of four military bases at once, two air and two naval, on the islands of the Archipelago [it’s actually three new bases, all in mainland Greece; the base in Crete has been operating since 1969 — S]. And although they explain this decision as counteracting the “Russian threat” and claim that the bases are not directed against Turkey in any way, Ankara is well aware that that is not the case and that the main goal of this step is to contain Turkey’s political ambitions for regional dominance and counteract its claims to resources of the Aegean Sea continental shelf.
It is absolutely obvious that Turkey alone will not be able to realize all of its aspirations and expectations without serious outside support in the face of Europe consolidated by the conflict in the Ukraine, and that it can receive it in the here-and-now mode only from Russia, together with which (plus Azerbaijan) Ankara will be able not only to secure the de facto resources of the Aegean Sea, but also to begin their development and exploitation without any problems. So Russia and Turkey are destined to maximum cooperation during the ongoing global transformation of the world.
Posted by: S | Jun 15 2022 17:52 utc | 22
Hi paxmark1,
Canadian railways set grain shipping records in 2020-21
https://www.producer.com/markets/canadian-railways-set-grain-shipping-records-in-2020-21/
(I read on BNN Bloomberg complaints about lack of rail cars for the oil and gas sector sometimes. Alberta made a major investment in rail cars a few years ago.)
As I’ve learned this morning, the term “grain” is defined in different ways though. I’m assuming when talking about shipping, it’s what’s included as a grain under the governance of the Canadian Grain Commission… which doesn’t include buckwheat (organic or otherwise), sorghum, millets, teff , triticale, alfalfa and other forage, sunflower and safflower… pumpkin seeds…. wild rice… …. I wonder where all those products fit in the mix.
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 15 2022 17:55 utc | 23
17
Maybe China should set Taiwan a very tight deadline for a peaceful reunification based on the 1 country - 2 systems principle. I suggest September 1 of this year. There is not that much to negotiate really, the HK and Macau agreements can serve as the starting point and foundation, adapt them to Taiwanese details and that's it.
I would make it politely clear to Taiwan that the 1 country - 2 systems solution only applies to a peaceful reunification.
Posted by: Nico | Jun 15 2022 17:56 utc | 24
"...quite recently the pro-Chinese regime in the state of Sri Lanka was swept away with the support of the U.S.." S@17
It is not really accurate to call the government which fell in Sri Lanka "pro-Chinese." It was a disgracefully corrupt regime which had managed to alienate every religious group and the entire working class.
As it happens there is an excellent article about it here:
https://newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/nightmares-end
As for US support: that can't last. The whole basis of the crisis was IMF style austerity. The answer to which is an audit of the public debt and a repudiation of its odious elements.
Posted by: bevin | Jun 15 2022 17:58 utc | 25
rising
Posted by: Scorpion | Jun 15 2022 17:37 utc | 20
Rising from what?
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 15 2022 18:08 utc | 26
Re my @ 22
Oops! My mistake. Some are included in the Canadian Grain Commission , I just didn’t see them on the export spreadsheet. Buckwheat is. And triticale. … (why not on the spreadsheet? Is it there somewhere? Or was no buckwheat et al really not exported yet?)
I should probably read The Canada Grain Act to properly inform myself. But that’s unlikely. :-)
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 15 2022 18:10 utc | 27
Rising from what?
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 15 2022 18:08 utc | 25
The West is generally declining and Eurasia is generally rising and the current global conflict is accelerating both vectors it seems.
Spain may be left without Algerian gas. Russia is to blame (RIA Novosti, David Narmaniya, June 15, 2022 — in Russian)
The West, with a tenacity worthy of a better cause, continues to bear the burden of the white man—naturally, where no one asked for it. For example, thanks to the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the long-standing conflict in Western Sahara flares up with renewed vigor, and, of course, Russia is to blame for everything.The struggle for independence of the former colony of Madrid began in the distant 70s of the past century. Spain literally ceded this territory to Morocco and Mauritania, which themselves had previously belonged to France. In turn, the inhabitants of Western Sahara created the Polisario Front, an organization designed to fight for the country’s independence from the former metropolis and neighbors.
By 1979, with support from Algeria, the Front has managed to force the Mauritanians to abandon their territorial claims. The confrontation with Morocco did not develop as successfully, however, by 1991, the parties concluded a truce and agreed to hold a referendum to determine whether Western Sahara would be a sovereign state or become part of Morocco.
But the sides in the conflict could not agree on who can participate in the vote. The country was divided by the “Wall of Shame”—a chain of fortifications separating the territories controlled by Morocco and Polisario, and the referendum has not taken place so far.
However, the hot phase of the conflict was stopped, and the parties were observing the truce until November 2020, when the situation escalated. The reason for the escalation was U.S. “peacekeeping efforts”—where would we be without them?
In an effort to ensure the security of its main ally in the Middle East, Israel, Washington, then presided over by Donald Trump, secured the signing of the Abraham Accords, a series of treaties between Tel Aviv and several Arab countries, including Morocco. Moreover, as part of the deal, the States have recognized its sovereignty over Western Sahara.
And the confrontation broke out with renewed vigor. Because of this, the main ally of the Polisario Front, Algeria, severed diplomatic relations with Morocco in August last year and then stopped gas supplies to Spain via the Maghreb–Europe pipeline passing through Moroccan territory, depriving the neighbor of both resources and transit revenues.
At the same time, Madrid had an alternative route for obtaining fuel from Algeria—the Medgaz gas pipeline. It should be noted that last spring this North African country accounted for almost half of gas supplies to Spain.
Be that as it may, now Spain, which for almost fifty years has been an outside observer in the dispute over the fate of its former territories, has suddenly decided to become active. In April, Madrid announced that it supports Morocco’s position on a settlement in Western Sahara and will even begin a reverse supply of gas received from Algeria. The statement was made after the visit of Prime Minister Sánchez.
The Algerian authorities did not appreciate such a maneuver and stated that the transfer of fuel to any party not specified in the contract would be considered a violation of it. After that, the Spanish government was forced to announce that it was talking about liquefied natural gas supplied by a third party.
However, the relations between the North African republic and Madrid continued to deteriorate. Last week, Algeria announced the suspension of a 20-year Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation. Moreover, the country’s authorities instructed banks to stop servicing transactions related to trade with Spain. This decision has not gone unnoticed by Brussels: according to Josep Borrell, such a move endangers relations with the entire European Union.
At the same time, such activity of Sánchez surprises many in Spain itself: last year, the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, was treated there for coronavirus—with the consent of Madrid. And in principle, a sharp turn from such an important supplier of resources towards Morocco raises questions.
Part of this, of course, can be explained by the desire to please the U.S. The wording about support for sovereignty over Western Sahara, which should receive the status of autonomy, is fully consistent with the text of the Abraham Accords.
But, as we noted earlier, according to the West, Russia is always to blame for everything.
Algeria is one of Moscow’s main partners in the region. Sergey Lavrov has visited it in May, and the visit was reciprocal: in April, his colleague Ramtane Lamamra has visited Russia. One of the key results was that the parties reaffirmed their commitment to the obligations to distribute spheres of influence in the gas market.
This means that another key supplier of this resource to Europe has refused to occupy a niche that Brussels is rapidly freeing up with anti-Russian sanctions packages. The last remaining opportunity for a southern alternative is the Nigeria–Morocco–Europe gas pipeline project. Its construction has been in plans since 2016 and should begin before May 2023.
The problem for the EU is that Russian companies intend to invest in this project, with Nigeria openly declaring its interest in Russian participation.
Taking into account the active work and the strengthening position of Russia in Africa, the implementation of these plans will make the European goal of overcoming resource dependence on Moscow even more difficult to achieve even in the long term.
Posted by: S | Jun 15 2022 18:43 utc | 29
the term “grain” [deutsch, KORN; *English, CORN derived from koine GR, wtf] is defined in different ways though.
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 15 2022 17:55 utc | 22
NSS. What's more puzzling than specie of "grain" for brunch consumers , is "grain" grading: comestible, fuel, or feed stock? These commodities are differential priced by buyer demand (P). How many starving AFRICAN widows and orphans prefer Ukrainian feed "corn" to Russian (or even EU27) "cereal"? And why did AU pres. Macky Small ignore EU efforts to debunk PUTIN's food security propaganda:"Our sanctions don't affect the exports of food and fertilisers from Russia"
In its third forecast for the 2022 crop, COCERAL sees the total grain crop in the EU-27+UK at 309.5 mln t. This would be up from the 305.6 mln t forecast in March, but down from the 312.0 mln t harvested in 2021. Wheat production (excluding durum) is expected at 143.0 mln t, up from the 141.3 mln t in the previous forecast but down from last year’s 143.9 mln t. The forecast has particularly improved for Spain due to timely rains. The EU-27+UK 2022 barley production is forecast at 60.0 mln t, slightly up from 59.4 mln t last year. The EU-27+UK 2022 corn [maize] crop is now seen at 66.0 mln t (previous forecast: 67.3 mln t; 2021: 67.2 mln t). The EU-27+UK rapeseed crop is forecast at 19.5 mln t compared to 19.3 mln t expected in March and 18.5 mln t last year.
EU27 is the #1 producer worldwide of wheat YoY. US is the #1 producer of GMO maize ("korn"), surplus harvest of which dumped into ethanol.
Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets (circabc.eu), "Cereals Market Sitution," 2 June 2022, mostly MY 2022/2023 *.ppt presentation
Maize: driven by a smaller area, world production is projected to decrease by 2.5% to 1,183.8m t (-30.1m y/y) in 2022/23.
The monthly reduction reflects downward revisions for ARG, US and Vietnam. Consumption is forecast to decline by 0.6%
from last season’s peak to 1,199.8m t (-17.9m m/m; -7.7m y/y), potentially the 2nd largest on record, incl. 710.2m for feeding
(-0.6%) and 309.4m for industrial use (+0.3%).As for 2021/22, world production is estimated at a record 1,213.8m t (+7.3% y/y), 4m higher m/m, following upward revisions
for Ethiopia, Pakistan and Paraguay
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 15 2022 18:51 utc | 30
Sanctions going really well: 1 in 6 Germans skipping meals due to inflation price increases on food
Nearly one in six Germans (16 percent) have been forced to go without regular meals to make ends meet, and another 13 percent may face a similar situation if food prices continue to rise, a new survey by the Institute for New Social Answers (INSA) for Germany’s Bild newspaper has found.
Posted by: c1ue | Jun 15 2022 18:54 utc | 31
obliquely related to PUTIN's WAR has surfaced. ...
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 15 2022 15:24 utc | 12
------------------------
It is not Putin's war, but the demented Joe's proxy war in the Ukraine...to the last Ukrainian...😋
Posted by: ostro | Jun 15 2022 18:57 utc | 32
Australia energy policies going well
Sydney suburbs plunged into darkness as more power outages
Entire suburbs in Sydney were sent into darkness on Monday night, with concerns more power outages could hit areas of both New South Wales and Queensland over the next 24 hours.
It appears at least part of the problem is price controls imposed on electricity suppliers such that some are turning off generation rather than lose money on every kWh generated.
Posted by: c1ue | Jun 15 2022 18:57 utc | 33
Just when Syrians abroad were coming home to spend some time with their families, the Disneyland down south decided not to allow it. Not a word in the Western media, and no mention of the significant impact it has on the summer season. Each period of relative normalcy is followed by an escalation.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/11/syria-says-significant-damage-to-airport-from-israeli-strike
Posted by: Anon | Jun 15 2022 19:02 utc | 34
In his latest column, Chris Hedges is incisive on the bizarre congressional TV spectacle US Americans are currently treated to. It's an amazing new low, for those of you not willing or able to tune in: a party infomercial getting way more attention than the price of gas or that little problem Zelenskyyy has caused in Ukraine. They call it a "hearing", but it's mainly a "screening" of professionally produced videos -- I swear: everything excepting the bad music, thank goodness for small favors!
"Without objection I'd like to enter into evidence the following video" and off we go, scintillating episode after episode. I see (Trump's AG) William Barr using foul words to describe his own upright disgust for not playing strictly on the up-and-up, in a taped deposition with no taping-date disclosed. When did he say these things, and what kind of ratings-game is this, where they sit on crucial evidence an entire year? As in Uvalde, there's no explanation for the incomprehensible delay.
https://scheerpost.com/2022/06/13/hedges-society-of-spectacle/
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jun 15 2022 19:08 utc | 35
@ S | Jun 15 2022 17:52 utc | 21 / 28
s - thanks for these 2 articles on turkeys role towards russia - ukraine and on the dynamics at play with regard to spain and etc... much appreciated..
Posted by: james | Jun 15 2022 19:18 utc | 36
Posted by: S | Jun 15 2022 18:43 utc | 28
Thanks for posting RIA articles, RIA and RT are censored here, unavailable. Spain is a triple colony, of the Brits the Yanks and the Zionists. Morocco is the new hot toy for Zionists and Yanks, as a nation like the rest of Europe we're comitting suicide. My mind goes blurry when I think about those sinister clowns like Solana and Borrell, from the same party now in power, and they call themselves socialist and labor, labels do not mean anything anymore. The indignity of those guys is such a stress for me that I'll leave it there.
Posted by: Paco | Jun 15 2022 19:35 utc | 37
Know your enemy as I do, you will stumble, lose many midterms, shake many invisible hands. Joe Tzu.
Posted by: anon2020 | Jun 15 2022 19:37 utc | 38
We are all waiting on pins and needles for Biden to be viciously thrown under the bus. We just don’t know exactly when or by whom. It is going to be a spectacular downfall. This is probably why he was in a fit of rage yesterday at that Union meeting. Just a few unfortunately misplaced words on the teleprompter and it’s over for him…..
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 20:15 utc | 40
Just a few unfortunately misplaced words on the teleprompter and it’s over for him…..
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 20:15 utc | 39
Ronnie Raygun had full blown Alzheimer's for at least 2.5 years of his second term. The establishment doesn't care who their figure head is. There'll be nothing "spectacular" involved - just an electoral loss in 2024. The puppet masters have been at this game for a long, long time. What makes you think they're going to "fail" this time around?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 15 2022 20:19 utc | 41
Biden writes to the refiners...,
-----------------------------------------------------------
Vladimir Putin's war of aggression and bipartisan and global effort to counter it has disrupted the global supply of oil and driven up the global price.
----
----
I understand that many factors contributed to decisions to reduce refinery capacity, which occurred before I took office. But at a time of war, refinery profit margins well abovenormal being passed directly onto American families are not acceptable.
There is no question that Vladimir Putin is principally responsible for the intence financial pain the Americans people and their families are bearing. But amid a war that has raised gasoline prices more than #1.70 per gallon, historically high refinery profit margins are worsening that pain.
----
----
Vladimir Putin's Price Hike and are driving up costs for consumers. I appreciate your immediate attention to this issue and your efforts to mitigate the economic challenges that Vladimir Putin's actions have created for American families.
Signed Joseph R. Biden
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* USA is at war 🤨
* It's all Putin's fault
Posted by: ostro | Jun 15 2022 20:22 utc | 42
@ ostro | Jun 15 2022 20:22 utc | 41
There's a national campaign-motto trial-balloon for Nov 22 midterms: It's not our fault!
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jun 15 2022 20:28 utc | 43
TomQ@40
Apparently Biden is in a delusional state and says he’s going to run in 2024. Nobody can convince him to step down gracefully. He’s too ornery. This regime has always been a “ fly by night” con on the nation. Absurdity after absurdity is building up to a point where action will be needed before even the midterms possibly.
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 20:41 utc | 44
the HK and Macau agreements can serve as the starting point and foundation, adapt them to Taiwanese details and that's it.
Posted by: Nico | Jun 15 2022 17:56 utc | 23
Which is precisely why the Tsai regime in Taiwan financed a significant part of the failed color revolution in HK. They don't want 1C2S to be seen as a working example for the reunification road map.
Interestingly most of the participants of the color revolution who skipped bail to the "free and democratic" Taiwan are being treated as 2nd class (not even citizens) and have generally been thrown under the bus. Used and discarded.
Same with the fools in HK who thought they'd emigrate to Taiwan, turned out they only wanted the bright and rich. Surprise!
Pretty much the entire Taiwanese elite are in the pocket of the USA because that's where they've sent all their children and bought houses in socal.
I used to see recurring news coverage of fights with furniture being thrown in their parliament or whatever they call it. They're a mob. When it comes time for the election the candidates and their teams would wear hideously colored vests so the sheeple could vote with the color, because there's no platform.
The play for Taiwan in decades past was to study in usa, bring back the tech and exploit cheap mainland labor. Well that's coming to an end so they've now circled back to the last refuge for the scoundrels...
Posted by: A.L. | Jun 15 2022 20:45 utc | 45
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 20:41 utc | 43
He's saying whatever his handlers (both seen and unseen) are telling him to say. I agree that a 2024 run is going to be completely out of the question and I doubt he actually thinks he's going to run, but time will tell.
All of that having been said, the Democrats sure don't seem to be very worried about 2024 because if they were they'd openly be admitting the truth and actively seeking a new candidate.
My guess is we get Tom Cotton vs. Kopmala* which would be terrible choices for the public, but since when is the public consulted on who is going to pretend to represent us?
* Harris would be a HORRIBLE choice from the present vantage point, but count on the Dims to resuscitate her on an as-needed emergency basis. That's how out of touch they are.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 15 2022 20:46 utc | 46
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 15 2022 20:46 utc | 45
Clear as mud. Gonna be Intelligence's Pete Buttplug. And if they want to win, Tulsi Gabbard, who has a deeper voice.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/15/italy-drought-po-valley-ration-water
Italy’s river observatory said the Po was suffering its worst drought in seven decades, adding that demand for water in the Po valley basin was high, and supply was “running out”. With no rain forecast, the crisis was set to get worse, the observatory warned.Italy is experiencing a protracted heatwave, with temperatures in some areas of the Po valley forecast to hit 36C by the end of the week.
Severe droughts coincide, as usual, with unprecedented flooding elsewhere (closing Yellowstone, for instance). Warmer air simply has more storage capacity for water vapor:
For every degree Celsius that Earth’s atmospheric temperature rises, the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere can increase by about 7%, according to the laws of thermodynamics.
Steamy Relationships: how atmospheric water vapor supercharges Earth's greenhouse effect
Seven percent more water vapor capacity per degree Centigrade may not sound like much, but it's enough extra air-thirst to make our soil, here in western USA, the driest in 1,200 years. Later, when that payload of water vapor encounters a low-pressure system, we see much weightier downpours than before -- because Earth is a little bit warmer now.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jun 15 2022 21:06 utc | 48
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jun 15 2022 21:06 utc | 47
Are you aware of any credible studies analyzing the effects of water table mismanagent (i.e. shipping large volumes of water outside any given water table, like all the apples from NZ or Coca Cola shipping etc).
Monkeypox is coming via the very same scenario as Covid-19. (Why not, when it worked so well with Covid.)
The nightmare will continue in perpetuity. That is clearly the plan, which also clearly has multiple goals,in particular control over the masses that may rebel because of the rapidly worsening economic and general circumstances of life for the majority everywhere.
The news:
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/15-06-2022-statement---monkeypox--urgently-tackling-a-neglected-disease--together
The same elemennts in reports:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/world/europe/monkeypox-outbreak-europe.html
https://ednh.news/europe-epicentre-of-monkeypox-outbreak-who/
The EU announced Tuesday that it had purchased almost 110,000 vaccine doses to help tackle the outbreak, though the WHO does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox. (yet)
Posted by: JB | Jun 15 2022 21:16 utc | 50
@ Scorpion | Jun 15 2022 21:16 utc | 48
Humanity has huge, looming problems with aquifers. Freshwater aquifers are essentially non-renewable resources, because they take centuries to fill, and we're drawing them down so fast the level of the ground above measurably sinks. You want studies? Google scholar is a specialized search-engine for papers. We have a saying in the comments sections of some science blogs: lmgstfy (or let me google-scholar that for you):
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=aquifer+depletion
With regard to how much water the atmosphere holds, though -- keep in mind that seawater also evaporates, there will never be a shortage of liquid water to be absorbed as water vapor into a hot, thirsty atmosphere. So aquifers and other water-management issues could only have a very limited effect (relative to the quantity of available seawater on the planet).
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jun 15 2022 21:34 utc | 51
@ ostro | Jun 15 2022 20:22 utc | 41
On SMO. . .checking the minutiae. . .
Biden: "Vladimir Putin's war of aggression and bipartisan and global effort to counter it has disrupted the global supply of oil and driven up the global price."
also from a recent Blinken interview: ". . .the result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine"
It's no longer an unprovoked invasion! It's "aggression" or "war of aggression." . . .Who says the pope has no divisions? recent headline: Pope Francis Says NATO Started War in Ukraine by ‘Barking at Putin’s Door’
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 15 2022 21:50 utc | 52
TomQ@45
You mean “Kalamari” Harris? That cold, slimy, bug-eyed, multi-tentacled creature from the deep. Nobody likes her and she dropped out of the Democrat primary. I recall she was selected for VP because of her skin color. Wow, what great qualifications. No, I think it’s back to the drawing board for these people. The far left loons in the cabinet are all basket cases.
Posted by: Bobolinski | Jun 15 2022 22:04 utc | 53
Clear as mud. Gonna be Intelligence's Pete Buttplug. And if they want to win, Tulsi Gabbard, who has a deeper voice.I'll grant that Mayo Petebot stands a good chance, and for the reason you imply. But Tulsi is loathed with a white-hot passion by the entire Dim Party hierarchy and everyone who actually believes in that Party. (I canceled a friend of three decades for saying that she should be hauled up against a wall and shot.)Posted by: Scorpion | Jun 15 2022 20:57 utc | 46
I still wouldn't count Willie Brown's hummer out. The Party brass is really uncomfortable with her, and with good reason, but it's Her Turn Dammit, and in calcified hierarchies that counts for a lot. Speaking of Her Turn Dammit, I wouldn't count out Killary either. You know she wants it, and she has the Rolodex from Hell.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 15 2022 22:05 utc | 54
Posted by: Scorpion | Jun 15 2022 20:57 utc | 46
I had forgotten about Petey Buttplug.
Bobolinski - If you think there are any Leftists in Biden's cabinet, well, I'm not sure what to say...Maybe do some reading outside of the OAN/Fox News/Corporate Lie-beral Media ecosystem.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 15 2022 22:17 utc | 55
@ Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 15 2022 22:17 utc | 54
For a few weeks of 2021, some of us had hopes for (Interior Secretary) "Auntie" Deb Haaland. It's still difficult to find any Indian who will say a bad word about her -- American Indians have a thing about unconditional solidarity. But her actions in office are tearing our brothers and sisters apart, as well as the land. It's very difficult.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jun 15 2022 22:29 utc | 56
I'll grant that Mayo Petebot stands a good chance, and for the reason you imply. But Tulsi is loathed with a white-hot passion by the entire Dim Party hierarchy and everyone who actually believes in that Party. (I canceled a friend of three decades for saying that she should be hauled up against a wall and shot.)
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 15 2022 22:05 utc | 53
Ha! Well, first off I won't be surprised at all if there's no Presidential election in '24 but if there is chances are high that it will take place in a war zone of sorts, not normal times. There's two ways to deal with the independence minded citizenry many of whom are Trumpers (with or without him):
1. Let them win but control their opposition with same old BS/swamp etc. Then they will not revolt whilst they think they won.
2. Keep them out and be ready to push them down hard because these will be extreme times. And maybe the PTB want to go into crack-down mode.
But if they want crack-down mode, though Petey does know a thing or two about cracks, he doesn't hold a handle to the crack-down mode Tulsi might deliver. Only problem of course is that she won't want to play along, but when did something like that ever factor into anything?
he doesn't hold a handle
nope:
he doesn't hold a candle
Posted by: Scorpion | Jun 15 2022 22:36 utc | 58
..from Stripes
Russia's Gazprom announced a reduction in natural gas flows through a key European pipeline for the second day in a row Wednesday, hours after Germany's vice chancellor said its initial move appeared to be political rather than a result of technical problems.
The state-owned energy giant said on Twitter that deliveries through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany would be cut again Thursday, bringing the overall reduction through the undersea pipeline to 60%.
The new cut came a day after Gazprom said it would reduce flows by 40% after Canadian sanctions over the war in Ukraine prevented German partner Siemens Energy from delivering overhauled equipment. It blamed the same issue for the additional reduction.
Gazprom also told Italian gas giant Eni that it would reduce gas through a different pipeline by roughly 15% on Wednesday. The reason for the reduction has not been made clear, and the Italian company said it was monitoring the situation. . . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 15 2022 23:32 utc | 59
@ 29, sln2002
Thanks for the post, that’s great info. Yes, the debate on “grain”. In Canada, I think if something is a “grain”, then it has to be sold via the Canadian Grain Commission. But if it’s a “cereal” or “field crop” then perhaps not. I’m very new to this subject so that may be incorrect but that’s how it looks to me right now. So mustard seed and lentils are grains!! All right then!! (Maple syrup? Cherries? Hey, why not?)
It’s hard to see a pronounced food shortage in all this. Here in Quebec, La Presse ran an article about groceries, “Is it really more costly to buy Quebec?” Maybe that’s where this is headed. Although for sovereignty reasons, Quebec heavily promotes buying food produced locally anyhow.
Is the global problem with Ukraine’s grains remaining unshipped actually one of a grain dealer(s) not fulfilling its contracts for the shipping year ending in July? (Would that result in some kind of penalty?) I know grain is perishable too of course. And which grains are stuck unshipped in Ukraine? Just wheat and corn? Sunflower?
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 15 2022 23:49 utc | 60
Scorpion, I don't know why you keep on bringing Tulsi up. In the Dim Party she's not only persona non grata, she's anathema. She'd stand a better chance as an insurgent Rethug (which is to say none, but that's better than NONE). She might be attractive on some kind of third-party spoiler ticket.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 16 2022 0:07 utc | 61
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 16 2022 0:07 utc | 60
"Scorpion, I don't know why you keep on bringing Tulsi up."
Because if they want to go into full police state mode what's better than an attractive, deep-voiced military woman teamed up with the first (admitted) gay President? Perfect!
Remember, the assumption is that the country is on the verge of collapse so things will not be in business as usual mode so am thinking outside the current box.
Since I don't live in the country, though, I should probably pipe down, but you (or someone else) asked, and I answered.
If any of Biden's administration is not compromised by the upcoming epic fail in November 2022, then Buttigieg and Harris are both still in the running.
And if sheer incompetence isn't a barrier, then Harris will get the nod for 2024 because if its good enough for the Supreme Court, it is good enough for President. Pete and Kamala have both been epic fails as Transportation Secretary and VP, respectively but VP is a pretty much non-entity position to start with.
After all, there are many examples of VPs running for President despite not having any outstanding qualities to speak of: Biden himself, Bush Sr., Nixon and Truman to name a few.
Posted by: c1ue | Jun 16 2022 0:33 utc | 63
@C1ue: well, to be honest I'm in a state of semi-constant cognitive dissonance these days with anything involving the US. I cannot fathom just how insane everything is there on so many fronts. I call it a 'pathocracy' because no other conventional labels suit any more.
mayo petebot - pathocracy - you guys are on fire! I respect Tulsi, but some friends in the islands aren't totally stoked on her. I continue to hold a lot of respect for her, though. But i vote libertarian so i can get my sticker.
Posted by: lex talionis | Jun 16 2022 1:00 utc | 65
@Scorpion #63
It isn't just the US - the EU is no better.
Nor Australia.
Can't speak for New Zealand.
Posted by: c1ue | Jun 16 2022 1:03 utc | 66
and Willie Brown's Hummer. Ouch.
404 is done. I prefer the non Ukr..404 threads.
Spasibo
Posted by: lex talionis | Jun 16 2022 1:04 utc | 67
@ c1ue - Bush Sr was the head of the CIA. And rather polite when he spoke publically.
Posted by: lex talionis | Jun 16 2022 1:17 utc | 68
From iEarlGrey 15 June 2022 eight minute utooob
Open season on journalist bloggers intensifies.
In Germany they even hunt their parents!
"⚡️The German government is fighting against freedom of speech. I am a free journalist who covers the special operation in Ukraine. They are going to sentence me now to 3 YEARS IN PRISON for telling the truth⚡️
According to current German law, it is only allowed to publish one-sided information that benefits the authorities. Anything that goes against this unwritten law is punished by the biased judicial machine.
But: The independent blogging community is ready to resist censorship in the West.
👉 I continue to work in Donetsk. If you are interested in the special project I mentioned, email me at: [email protected]
My channel: @neuesausrussland"
Link: https://t.me/neuesausrussland/6787
Documents in the case against Alina Lipp: https://t.me/iEarlGreyTV/1887
German Version:
"⚡️Die deutschen Behörden bekämpfen die Meinungsfreiheit. Ich bin unabhängige Journalistin und berichte direkt aus dem Donbass. Jetzt drohen mir 3 Jahre Haft - weil ich die Wahrheit sage⚡️
Nach deutschem Recht ist es jetzt nur noch erlaubt, Informationen zu veröffentlichen, die einseitig sind und einem bestimmten Narrativ entsprechen. Jeder, der gegen dieses ungeschriebene Gesetz verstößt, wird von der parteiischen Justiz bestraft.
Doch: Die unabhängige Bloggergemeinschaft ist bereit, sich der Zensur im Westen zu widersetzen.
👉 Ich mache weiter mit meiner Arbeit in Donezk. Wer sich für das im Video erwähnte Projekt interessiert, kann mir gerne eine E-Mail schreiben: [email protected]
Mein Kanal: @neuesausrussland"
Link: https://t.me/neuesausrussland/6786
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jun 16 2022 2:19 utc | 69
So much going on. But first is this:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/06/14/why-it-matters-whats-going-on-right-now-at-the-wto/
Now I know some here don't favor Counterpunch because of the stance of some of its writers on Ukraine, but this article is about the World Trade Organization (WTO). Just as Michael Hudson says that the World Bank's primary mission is prevent countries from growing their own food, this article by Deborah James says the same thing, but goes into the details of the instrumentalization of the WTO for that. The western governments, led by the US and controlled by the corporations, are now trying to use the WTO to extend corporate sovereignty over the WTO members by essentially transferring power to the corporations, voiding the laws and constitutions of the member states similar to the way the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism was supposed to do in the still-defunct TPP. This is what the world war is really about, economic control under a still more intrusive and extensive corporate feudalism. This is why it is the struggle of the millenium. If countries won't stand up for themselves, the world can only look forward to an increasingly centralized globalist domination that will eliminate all local autonomy and introduce a worse autocracy than anything hitherto experienced.
Posted by: Cabe | Jun 16 2022 2:32 utc | 70
Posted by: S
S,
Thank you for posting here your interesting translations of russian analysis and points of view. I myself translated them in french to be published, next week, on Le Saker Francophone.
I am looking forward for your next translations.
Thanks again.
Posted by: Wayan | Jun 16 2022 2:48 utc | 71
@ S | Jun 15 2022 17:52 utc | 21
Thanks for this detailed analysis about Turkey, which is a significant cornerstone in the Middle East and also Europe. Turkey was adlected into NATO in the first place to try to break up the unity of the Muslim world and to reward a country that proclaimed itself secular nationalist in order to fit in.
Now, it is truly delicious that Sweden and Finland are blocked for now from NATO membership because they won't give in on Turkey's demands, and God willing Turkey won't relent on those demands. If Turkey is considered a liability to NATO because of its frequent refusal to go along, going back its refusing to let the US attack Iraq in 2003 from its territory, its loss to the alliance would be huge. That is why, as you observe, the real leaders of the so-called West refuse to attack Turkey directly; it is just too big and important. Nonetheless, it is an important part of the cracks appearing in NATO. For its part, Turkey can hardly afford to give up its ties with the West either, but that hasn't stopped it from keeping up decent relations with Russia and also occasionally blasting Israel.
The business over Greece is also interesting. The Turkish claim to the continental shelf in the Aegean is not legitimate according to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which gives the EEZ (exclusive economic zone) in each area of the sea up to 200 miles or more to the country whose land is closest. Since Greece basically possesses all the islands of the Aegean except for Tenedos and Imbros (Bozcaada and Gökçeada in Turkish), the islands' waters basically block Turkey from all but a tiny portion of the Aegean next to its coast. But Turkey also has about eight times the population and strength of Greece, and that was a major factor for Greece in joining the EU. When Greece was having its financial meltdown and being thoroughly abused by the EU, I asked some Greek professors if it wouldn't be better for Greece to rebel. They said, yeah, some Greeks proposed trying to align with Russia, a fellow Orthodox country, but the big fear was Turkey, and thus Greece had to stay in Europe. Because of this fear and Greece's dependence, the unelected EU rulers decided they could really beat up on Greece to make an example of it, and so they did.
Posted by: Cabe | Jun 16 2022 2:55 utc | 72
To bobolinsky, marijuana doesn't just create passivity and indecision; it promotes laziness and takes away ambition, education and above all leads to serious mental health issues.
Malenkov was right to point out that it is not only democrats but republicans also that promote legalization. Since legalizing dope, the Canadian government brought in 7.2 billion in revenue. Just like the legalized lottery and gambling brought in billions, while destroying thousands of people.
The downside is much more costly in the long run with mental healthcare, homelessness, poverty and social domestic dysfunction. But like with everything else; short term gain for long term pain. Band aids solutions for a decaying western world.
@ c1ue | Jun 16 2022 0:33 utc | 62
The Democrats just don't seem to have anybody convincing. Buttigieg and Harris already failed the taste test massively in the primaries last time and aren't going to generate any enthusiasm. Harris has about as much charisma as a dead flounder. Buttigieg, like Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania, has a resume which in theory should have been good with the voters say 30 years ago, but now everybody is scared and angry, and no one will go for these establishment types. I don't see anybody on the Democratic side at all. Tulsi Gabbard would be blocked, like Trump, not that she could be trusted to actually do anything good, but because she might speak her mind, the real masters would not allow her in. Sanders is finished.
But what will actually happen, and what will the masters do to try to save things? If they themselves really split on what to do, as is not unlikely to occur, there will be hell to pay. Their game has always been the agreed-upon revolving door of the duopoly, but that has worn thin. The devil is in the details, and the ruling class can still play with the Republicans, as most of their politicians are still old-time hacks just like the Democrats. So the electoral system might still weather the storm of the 2022 elections.
But there is big trouble brewing. First of all, the economic meltdown is dire and isn't likely to improve by November, nor next year. If gas goes to $10 a gallon, which certainly might happen, what are people going to do? If divestment in dollar-denominated holdings abroad snowballs, as seems to be happening, inflation could soar. Of course, the system does still have a lot of resources to fight back, but it does look increasingly on the defensive.
Second, there is a tremendous collapse of faith in the honesty of the elections, a collapse really concealed by the media. Both sides, Dems and Reps, are ready to accuse the other of fraud and not accept the results, and the larger group who don't vote are already cynical about it. That can't be good for the functioning of the system. Trump's charges of electoral fraud against him in 2020 have certainly resonated with his loyalists, who constitute about 35% of the voting public.
So, hold onto your hats; it really looks like it is going to be a wild ride.
Posted by: Cabe | Jun 16 2022 3:17 utc | 74
Today's market increases are proof that the Fed raising the interest rates is good for the economy joe tzu
People that come here disparaging marijuana usage probably have never heard of the cannanbinoid receptors in our bodies that have evolved over eons...such ignorance belongs over at ZH or nakedcapitalism, not at MoA
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jun 16 2022 4:13 utc | 75
@ Cabe | Jun 16 2022 2:32 utc | 69
thanks cabe.. good article.. yes - it aligns with michael hudsons viewpoint which i share), of the purpose of the world bank and the imf to impoverish developing countries in support of wall st and etc... it is all quite unfortunate and many are oblivious to it too..
Posted by: james | Jun 16 2022 4:21 utc | 76
@ psychohistorian | Jun 16 2022 4:13 utc | 74
i agree.. i wasn't following that.. was that bimbolinski saying that? looks like it was..
Posted by: james | Jun 16 2022 4:35 utc | 77
So, hold onto your hats; it really looks like it is going to be a wild ride.
Posted by: Cabe | Jun 16 2022 3:17 utc | 73
My ticket?
General Douglas MacGregor and Robert Kennedy Jr. They will get huge voter turnout from people of both parties and win a massive mandate. Mission: dissolve the USG and start over, whatever it takes, major reforms, national town halls, blue ribbon commissions etc. Independent ticket. Need to get all MAGA votes + Independents. Can sweep the House. Senate an obstacle first 2 years but they might fold knowing their Uniparty days are over. But a huge amount can be done with Executive Orders and the Courts.
My real ticket?
I think the Republic finally gave up the ghost after years of pretense on Nov 5 2020. So the sooner this is acknowledged the better. But the above is worth a shot and then if it fails: widespread secessions...
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jun 16 2022 4:13 utc | 74
Yes, cannabinoids etc. But NO: don't smoke the stuff! Does permanent, irreparable damage to the subtle inner body. Yogis know....
I did not know that MOA promotes marijuana as psychohistorian alluded to, but I have seen the effects first-hand.
When I was young, I got Columbian gold free, and even Jamaican was a joke.
I remember great times listening to pink Floyd, supertramp, zeppelin and many more great rock bands. After the jokes, we scrimmaged for food, became quiet and vegged out.
These days the THC content has increased 100 fold which blows the brains out of many people.
My son is one of them, who now has brain fog, memory lapses and not able to work. In Toronto, I see everyday, many on the streets, lost, aimless and wandering.
The police have now been given permission to stop any car at random and force you to take a test. It is all part of the system to increase the coffers of the government. But now labelled a criminal, you are denied employment or any future.
I can also show the history of how the west has always promoted drugs and the usage for profit. One example: The Taliban eradicated heroin growth and under the 20 year occupation of Afghanistan, the heroin output quadrupled from the past.
You will never see China or Russia and many others promoting this, just like LGBT, Homo, cancel culture etc.. while steadfastly promoting wars. It is all part of a package.
Below is a Xinhuanet posting showing how the screws are tightening on the gas supplies to EU coming out of Russia.
MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian gas giant Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it will shut down another turbine engine on the Nord Stream 1 natural gas pipeline, thus significantly reducing the amount of gas delivery to Europe.As Germany's Siemens, the manufacturer of the gas turbine engines, failed to provide the overhaul service in time, Gazprom decided to stop the second engine at the Portovaya compressor station due to its technical condition, the company said on Telegram.
The daily output of the Portovaya compressor station from 1:30 a.m. Thursday Moscow Time (2230 GMT Wednesday) will be no more than 67 million cubic meters, sharply down from 100 million, Gazprom said.
Citing the same reason, Gazprom said on Tuesday that the amount of gas supply via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would be cut from 167 million cubic meters per day to 100 million.
Completed in 2011, the Nord Stream 1 pipeline connects Vyborg City in northwestern Russia and Germany via the Baltic seabed. To relax its overload, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was finished in 2021 but has been halted since Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jun 16 2022 5:40 utc | 81
The gas was not shut down intentionally by Russia, it was because Siemens sent it to their factory in Canada to be repaired. Canada, due to sanctions ordered by their masters in USA, refused to give it back.
Russia needs the repaired turbine to keep the flow going and the sh.t blame game keeps flowing. I have no idea how more stupid the west will get. It has now disintegrated to screwing one another for a fantasy.
Despite western restrictions, the gas oil and everything else will flow to the East. Today, Putin ordered that needed wheat go to Afghanistan, and I am absolutely sure that the rest will flow to Africa and the ME.
Europe and USA is trying to extract Ukrainian wheat to the detriment of western Ukrainians. That summarizes their selfishness.
Another human rights outrage against an aid worker by the tyrannical scofflaw Bandit State, which is itself guilty of systematic state terrorism and genocide.
“...Today, Israel has convicted a man without any clear evidence against him,” Australia Palestine Advocacy Network President, Bishop George Browning said..."
https://apan.org.au/media_release/miscarriage-of-justice-as-israel-finds-humanitarian-hero-guilty/
"An Israeli court has convicted a Gaza aid worker of several terrorism charges in a high-profile case in which his employer, independent auditors and the Australian government say they have found no evidence of wrongdoing..."
Even the normally docile DFAT is dismayed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-21/no-evidence-world-vision-funds-diverted-to-hamas-dfat-says/8374078
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7782288/israeli-court-finds-gaza-aid-worker-guilty/?cs=14232
Posted by: Paul | Jun 16 2022 6:38 utc | 83
Posted by: osi | Jun 15 2022 17:33 utc | 19
A some what convoluted read so as to speak.
Then I noticed GIGO(garbageinGarbageout) recommended publications. All of whom are from authors well known for their basic incompetence in real science. Also not one of these books actually passes "Occam's Razor Test".
In addition, the authors receive documented bribes and annual stipends from both "Big Oil and the Koch Bros".
This raises one very big red warning flag..............
Whilst it looks good on the outside. The well documented and the better known "Peter Principle(1969)". Predates this 'johnny come later' sub variant. Dr Peters went on to explain why super competent persons were subject to instant dismissal..........
Ah, the bad old days. When incompetent USSAF officers of 'MACV'. Were assassinated by their own conscripted soldiers(Fragging).
Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jun 16 2022 6:47 utc | 84
Can't speak for New Zealand.
Posted by: c1ue | Jun 16 2022 1:03 utc | 65
Ah. A country that was once terrorized long ago in the Moruroa "Le Big Bangs" era. By the incompetent easily caught career (peter principle adherents) "DGSE" French Terrorists...............
Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jun 16 2022 7:02 utc | 85
I find interesting what parts of the shit show are being covered by the MSM and which are not
For example, where is all the press about the bombing of the Damascus Airport? The little I have read says it is totally shut down and will take quite a while to open back up. I have read others here asking about the lack of coverage of this also.
Will us riffraff ever know the straw that breaks the camel's back?
I expect Europe to have a very agitated populace quite soon that are also out of work and wanting to express their displeasure. It will be interesting to see how the MSM covers and portrays the public displays of frustration.
The shit show continues until it doesn't and Russia reducing daily gas to Europe by almost 100 million cubic meters (over a third?) seems significant to this US meatsack so maybe we are close to an inflection point.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jun 16 2022 7:08 utc | 86
Posted by: Karl luck | Jun 16 2022 4:59 utc | 79
You forgot to add. A USSA government financed 'Bayer Roundup(tm)' experiment in Colombia. Has produced a new super size me mutant "Cocaine Tree". Both the CIA. ATF and DEA sponsored Gun Runners/Drug lords. Use these new mutant trees to earn more cash from the USSA coke heads.
Though on the given sales figures, the Colombian next gen "Wannabe" illicit pharmacists. Are still well below the income levels of USSA 'Big Pharma's" legitimate sales of licit opiates................
Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jun 16 2022 7:34 utc | 87
Jimmy Dore interview with Julian Assange's brother
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GljfffIehAU
Posted by: pretzelattack | Jun 16 2022 7:52 utc | 88
In other news Google releases a new cloud based operating system. Called "CHROME OS Flex".
Tragically much like all US based computer operating systems using 'cloud'. One one must remember the the vil god of deleting all forms of privacy. The computer resident God in Maryland called MRZ . Will have installed the usual dirty open back doors . To access all that which is stored in cloud.
Truth will always be stranger than fiction. Wherever the mountain size footprint of god "MRZ" stands on the throats of all USSA corporations. Just like HAL5000.
Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jun 16 2022 9:41 utc | 89
Karl luck | Jun 16 2022 3:15 utc | 72
...marijuana doesn't just create passivity and indecision; it promotes laziness and takes away ambition, education and above all leads to serious mental health issues
There's an old Moroccan proverb that goes like this:
three bowls of kif before breakfast gives a man the strength of a hundred camels in the courtyard
Of course, like most proverbs, its origins are unknown and ancient...
certainly rooted in an era before time became money.
Posted by: john | Jun 16 2022 10:22 utc | 90
certainly rooted in an era before time became money.
Posted by: john | Jun 16 2022 10:22 utc | 89
That wins best line of the day award.
“We’re in for a rough ride,” says Canada’s John Manley. The ultimate Anglo insider, Manley speaks to the press frequently to bring to light some behind-the-scenes activity. He was interviewed yesterday on CBC’s Power and Politics.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2043676739581
Today, Finance Minister Freeland is giving a speech on the economy and inflation. I have to say… as a non-economist… much of the doom and gloom talk is not relevant to Canada specifically, which is making a lot of money both federally and provincially due to commodity prices. But there’s the North American continent to consider. (I’d wager that Mexico is profiting, like Canada, too. …)
From last night’s The National — 1:40 sec report on US raising interest rate
https://youtu.be/3tIHj-nF1Pg
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 16 2022 11:59 utc | 92
Thousands of cattle dead in Kansas
Ken Rutkowski
@kenradio
·
10h
Over 3,000 cattle were found dead in South West Kansas - any idea of what happened ?
Video of the dead cattle embedded in tweet
Posted by: Down South | Jun 16 2022 12:11 utc | 93
due to commodity prices. But there’s the North American continent to consider. (I’d wager that Mexico is profiting, like Canada, too. …)
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 16 2022 11:59 utc | 91
I would not take that bet. For one, evidently, haven't done your "commodity" stocks and utilization (S/U) pricing by country homework. Second, you mistake aggregate for personal income (the big per capita lie, GNI), ergo personal profit. Third, (and I'll stop there) your only source of information is the public broadcasting network of your home government.
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 16 2022 12:48 utc | 94
Taiwan's TSMC is said to deny Russian companies Baikal their already producee and already paid for microprocessors.
It is unlikely Baikal's low-level schematics can be transferred from TSMC to UMC or some mainland China factory.
Domestic Russian factory (ex-AMD pipeline from Dresden) can only produce 120nm chips.
Baikal could hypothetically go back to MIPS arch or try to join RISC-V movement, but this would take a real lot of both time and money.
If the news is correct then Baikal's strategic bet seems to be lost.
Discussion in Russian forum: https://habr.com/ru/news/t/671630/
Also in May: https://habr.com/ru/news/t/664580/
Posted by: Arioch | Jun 16 2022 12:57 utc | 95
@ 94 sln2002
All wishful thinking? You must be correct.
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 16 2022 12:59 utc | 96
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jun 16 2022 12:59 utc | 96
Given my professional and personal life project, I know this is true: I am a hardboiled skeptic. For this reason, I am also endowed with an extremely refined sense of humor.
Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 16 2022 13:28 utc | 97
Posted by: Arioch | Jun 16 2022 12:57 utc | 95
"If the news is correct then Baikal's strategic bet seems to be lost."
Hmmm.. maybe that call for SF vets????
@Wayan #71
I’m glad that you found those articles useful. There are many more available at EurAsia Daily:
Google-translated EurAsia Daily
EurAsia Daily traduit par Google
Russian-to-English machine translation is quite good nowadays. I use it as a starting point, then fix various errors in translation, apply standard spelling to names of people and organizations, and find English equivalents for Russian idioms that Google’s neural network does not know about.
Posted by: S | Jun 16 2022 14:04 utc | 99
@ Cabe | Jun 16 2022 3:17 utc | 74
I agree with everything you said about upcoming presidential prospects. I'd just like to add that one would have to be certifiably insane to want to be the next president! The country's problems are insoluble without a catastrophic loss of face, which would only provoke fury in the populace.
Just because Dims own and aggravate the current mess doesn't mean that Rethugs won't perpetuate it, or conceivably make it worse -- and third parties stand no chance whatsoever.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 16 2022 14:48 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
@Pacifica Advocate
If you have actual evidence, take screenshots and upload them to imgur, you don't need an account to do that.
Then link them here.
Btw, as it's been said lately, "so much winning", lol.
Posted by: Arganthonios | Jun 15 2022 13:37 utc | 1