Someone said

we now live in a nation where doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the press destroys information, religion destroys morals, and our banks destroy our economy.

Posted by: Vikichka | Jan 29 2023 14:58 utc | 1

I can only wonder what US was thinking by possibly opening another front in WW3 by attacking Iran.
As if the Middle East and Mediterranean Sea was so far from Russia it would have no effect on the European theatre and oil from the Persian Gulf was not desperately needed by Europe right now.

Posted by: Mar man | Jan 29 2023 15:03 utc | 2

@Vikichka | Jan 29 2023 14:58 utc | 1

That is so true!

Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 29 2023 15:08 utc | 3

Will the Adani crisis have any effects on British politics?

Posted by: bevin | Jan 29 2023 15:09 utc | 4

Kudos b :)

Your RAND article & analysis & "Moon of Alabama" were extensively quoted, referenced & linked, multiple times on TG 'IntelSlava' & other channels.

Unsure of the originating channel.

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 29 2023 15:15 utc | 5

@ Outraged
See you a Danny Boy, raise you a Danny Boy…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnLnwWjrIyk

And from this tormented soul,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PweUGhCZNiM

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 29 2023 15:27 utc | 6

Vikichka no. 1

Whoever said it is spot-on.

Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jan 29 2023 15:45 utc | 7

For James, because you are a drummer.

For Outraged, because you sound like you could use inspiration.

For Old Microbiologist, because you know Hungarians.

For anyone, because we all need some good news.

Steve Hideg

Posted by: waynorinorway | Jan 29 2023 15:47 utc | 8

I think it's important for all of us to understand that the USA ruling class is highly robust and at the same time chaotic. There is no central "plan" to do anything. There are multiple factions each competing with each other to try to take daily and weekly advantage of each other based on whatever the current Narrative is. Since war and conflict have been and continues to be the way personal ambitions can be realized war emerges. Washington has gained power through war and crisis since WWI and, later, the Depression. The reason why this tendency of the schemes of various "gangs" within the power structure is so robust is that it now involves all major sectors in a weave of neural network like arrangements. No one seriously thinks long-term, or worries about the consequences of actions. Limits are enforced out of a kind of "emergent" consciousness now increasingly mediated by AI--what I mean by that is that the ability to network via technology and share data has increased dramatically as has the means to evaluate that data using algorithms.

What has changed dramatically since 911, are the rules of the game of political economy. If you remember the mantra imneadiately after 911 is that "everything changed" by which they meant the reward/punishment matrix. The impetus for 911 built up and "something" had to happen to get the US on the road to be a genuine empire that featured coercion, lies, where only the fist prevailed. All other considerations like Justice, the health of families in the US (note that for years before the COVID experience lifespans decreased), or any long-term plan about anything. Everything became about manipulating the population to be a non-factor in the exercise of power. No matter what the population thinks the science of manipulation has become so sophisticated that all attempts at reform (like the election of Trump) will fail. All "soldiers" of the Empire will coalesce in eliminating ANY threat to the current power arrangements.

This begs the question about who was responsible for 911--but I'm not going to go there. Individual factions internationally felt that the New Roman Empire had to be established after the Soviet Union fell apart and they spent the 90s plotting a New Pearl Harbor which brought us to the current network of forces.

There is no way we can change any of this through elections, demonstrations and so on--it can only be changed through work-arounds and alternative structures. Two things are necessary--an armed populace and a relatively unhindered internet this will provide "room" for positive change away from the virtual Satanists who are the most powerful nodes in the current System. What used to be called "people of conscience" have either been purged or find no foothold in the System that includes all industries.

Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Jan 29 2023 15:48 utc | 9

Thanks for a great week b.

The I, we, individual, collective question.

Are we responsible for the actions of a state/country? Actions of others?
At what point do we have agency? How can we affect decision making process, as it stands today? How do we save humanity?

How can we take war out of humanity?

We could sit here and casually talk about, oh yeah, did you know, the atomic clock was moved to 90 seconds before midnight? Humanity is this far away from nuclear annihilation. 90 second. Not much time to say hi to a friend, and have dinner too, as if it were.

Sure, we could casually talk about the new round of “lawn-mowing” in the apartheid state under nutty.

In a related note, I recently ranted against Texas for being racist — proposing laws that would prevent land ownership for certain foreign citizens/entities. I was properly put in my place by the barfly Grieved, re racist acts committed in Texas, as he said he was horrified by the actions and what happened. I fully agree with Grieved, and he’s one of my favorite reads at the bar/ barring the c19 obsession. But, the question remains: if you live there, are you one of THEM? How can we differentiate? Can one denounce ones geo-location? [side-bar, the saying, wherever you go, there you are, comes to mind; but irrelevant to the discussion]
I looked up the most racist rankings in US and found Texas to be in third place, by most reports.

If you live in the empire, are you responsible for the actions of the hegemon around the world? What would you do to change what you perceive as wrong? Anything?

Other than rants, what have we got left? How can we affect change? Bits, bytes, and pixels ain’t cutting it.

Humanity depends on our collective agency.

Apologies for such a pessimistic attitude. I was actually having good day out in the winter sun.

p.s. beware of the new word, Scholzing, standing for dilly dallying on tanks.

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Jan 29 2023 15:58 utc | 10

Swamplandia... brings to mind the archaeology of digging mummified remains and other things out of bogs.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 29 2023 16:01 utc | 11

@ Melaleuca | Jan 29 2023 15:27 utc | 6

Judith & Sinéad, cannot go wrong there. Cheers.

Choral Scholars of University College Dublin

@ waynorinorway | Jan 29 2023 15:47 utc | 8

Good news makes a pleasant change. Cheers.

Minnus Trelligh plus Pipes & Drums of Saint Petersburg featuring Natasha Korzh

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 29 2023 16:06 utc | 12

The day Russia will join EU will be the day that EU will truly have fulfilled its purpose. EU's greatest goal is to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in Europe. For that, Russia, which is Europe's largest country and biggest power, is absolutely essential. No true peace or stability could happen without Russia's cooperation.

Unfortunately, Russia will have a long, long way to go before being ready to join EU and I wouldn't just be talking about issues like corruption, flawed democracy and the influence of the military in pretty much everything. That's just as much about Russia's mentality. Russia hadn't gotten over the collapses of Russian Empire and Soviet Union yet. Russia would still see itself as an empire. That still has an old-fashioned imperial mentality and that would mean this isn't going to join any union like EU. Russia is only going to join any organization where that could be the dominant, leading power. This isn't going to join as an equal power in an union with the likes of Poland, Germany or Estonia. That would hurt its pride. Russia ruled all of those territories in the recent past. This is not yet ready to see these as equals now.

Maybe in time, Russians will be able to come to term with the loss of the empire, just as other countries had... Then, maybe, they will also come to the realization that Russia might be the biggest country in Europe but that when compared to the vast populations of China, India or USA, Russia is actually quite insignificant. In the end, Russia will have to work together with other powers in order to stay relevant in the world... Unless Russia is satisfied with becoming China's vassal, this would benefit most from seeking that cooperation with Europe.

Without such a change in mentality, Russia's membership in EU would be a rather bad idea. Russia is big. Russia is the most populous country in Europe. Russia is one of the three greatest military powers of the world. The influence and power that Russia would wield over the rest of EU would be disproportional. Admitting Russia into EU now would effectively change EU into Novorossiya Empire. Without Russians willingness to cooperate on equal terms, Russia in EU just wouldn't be going to happen.

Posted by: Great Rolmops | Jan 29 2023 16:07 utc | 13

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Jan 29 2023 15:58 utc | 10

I would suggest you look at Texas growth economically and in population
a bit more and ridiculous Critical Race Theory a bit less. People of all races and types continue to stream into Texas, it's called opportunity.

Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Jan 29 2023 16:15 utc | 14

Integrating Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in EU was the biggest mistake of Berlin and Paris, especially for Berlin. Helmut Kohl might've believed Berlin could vassalize these countries but blind loyalties over Washington and russophobia are ruining Germany and its plan of leading Europe.

Warsaw and Kiev might become Europe's leaders while Berlin and Paris might become completely irrelevant within five decades.

Posted by: Ymacai | Jan 29 2023 16:25 utc | 15

Video:
🇺🇸 In United States, under mysterious circumstances, 20 LNG plants have already burned down in a few months.

The same problem with the refinery. Just yesterday, one of the oil refineries on the border with Mexico burned down.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/31308

Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 29 2023 16:26 utc | 16

Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Jan 29 2023 15:48 utc | 9

Great post, thanks. You are no doubt right that there are different factions laced together in eternal combat - so it always is with titan/asura mentalities since fighting for power is simply what they do. That said, some strains are more powerful than others and I suspect many of the old banking/credit cartel dynasties which have receded from public view of late are still in the mix. For example the following article mentions in passing how the undermining of the petrodollar now underway has been in part underwritten by BlackRock et alia, who are clearly high level agents of entrenched Money Power networks. This indicates that the forces undermining the US$ hegemonic Empire are some of its most dominant networks making the globalist RoW initiative something they are helping to facilitate not fighting against. This then raises questions as to whether or not the conflict in Ukraine, for example, is not yet another staged conflict serving as cover for massive power shifts and transfers which of course nearly always involve 'them' taking more money and power away from 'us' under cover of some great new progressive innovation.

'Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive...'

https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/84026/a-dollar-collapse-is-now-in-motion--saudi-arabia-signals-the-end-of-petro.html

One of the key pillars keeping the dollar in place as the world reserve is its petro-status, and this factor is often held up as the reason why the Greenback cannot fail. The other argument is that the dollar is backed by the full force of the US military, and the US military is backed by the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve – In other words, the dollar is backed by…the dollar; it’s a very circular and naive position.

These sentiments are not only pervasive among mainstream economists, they are also all over the place within the alternative media. I suspect the main hang-up for liberty movement analysts is the notion that the globalist establishment would ever allow the dollar or the US economy to fail. Isn’t the dollar system their “golden goose”?

The answer is no, it is NOT their golden goose. The dollar is just another stepping stone towards their goal of a one-world economy and a one-world currency. They have killed the world reserve status of other currencies in the past, why wouldn’t they do the same to the dollar?

Globalist white papers and essays specifically outline the need for a diminished role for the US currency as well as a decline in the American economy in order to make way for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and a new global currency system controlled by the IMF. I warned about this years go, and my position has always been that the derailment of the dollar would likely start with the end of its petro status.

In 2017 I published an article titled ‘Saudi Coup Signals War And The New World Order Reset’. I noted at the time that the sudden power shift over to crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman indicated a change in Saudi Arabia’s relationship to the US. I stated that:

“To understand how drastic this coup has been, consider this — for decades Saudi Kings maintained political balance by doling out vital power positions to separate, carefully chosen successors. Positions such as Defense Minister, the Interior Ministry and the head of the National Guard. Today, Mohammed Bin Salman controls all three positions. Foreign policy, defense matters, oil and economic decisions and social changes are now all in the hands of one man.”

The rise of MBS was backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a fund comprised of trillions of dollars supplied by globalists within Carlyle Group (Bush family, etc.), Goldman Sachs, Blackstone and Blackrock. MBS garnered the favor of the globalists for one specific reason – He openly supported their “Vision For 2030”, a plan for the dismantling of “fossil fuel” based energy and the implementation of carbon controls. Yes, that’s right, the head of Saudi Arabia is backing the eventual end of oil based energy, and part of that includes the end of the dollar as the petro currency.

In exchange for their cooperation, the Saudis are being given access to ESG-like funding as well as access to AI advancements and the so-called “digital economy.” It sounds crazy, but there is much talk of AI developments to cure numerous health problems and extend lifespan. With those kinds of promises, it’s not surprising that Saudi elites would be willing to dump the dollar and even oil.

Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 29 2023 16:30 utc | 17

According to the study, the increase in life expectancy and GDP growth rate are negatively correlated.

Clearly, life needs to be forfeited for the sake of economic "growth".

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ecoj.12261

It also exemplifies how modern medicine wastes resources.

Posted by: Colin | Jan 29 2023 17:04 utc | 18

Mohammed bin Salman would be delusional to believe Saudi Arabia could survive without oil. The oil rents were about 24% of its economy in 2019.

Posted by: Syra | Jan 29 2023 17:14 utc | 19

thanks b for the week and the many interesting links to read...

i found kennans thoughts in that article a very interesting perspective regardless of the time he articulated all that..

thanks to the many wonderful posters who grace moa!

waynorinorway... thanks for the article on steve hideg.. john densmores involvement was very touching.. it is rather sad his situation and yet he seems to remain positive which is a powerful and uplifting reflection of his character...

a whole lot of danny boy today! wow... the version that ouraged shared from ireland is amazing... i am doing an important choir gig in early march and will be on stage with over a 100 singers.. as a drummer, i am looking forward to this gig as you can imagine!

this is a recording a friend shared with me earlier this week that some of you might enjoy.. it was recorded in 2000..

Oregon - with Moscow Symphony (FULL ALBUM)

Posted by: james | Jan 29 2023 17:27 utc | 20

According to the study, the increase in life expectancy and GDP growth rate are negatively correlated.

Clearly, life needs to be forfeited for the sake of economic "growth".

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ecoj.12261

It also exemplifies how modern medicine wastes resources.

Posted by: Colin | Jan 29 2023 17:04 utc | 18

I did not purchase the document, as even the abstract uses language and structure that is intended to obfuscate rather than enlighten. Your statements do not appear to be congruent with what I was able to decipher. ;-)

A quick reminder: "Correlation does not equal causation".

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Jan 29 2023 17:34 utc | 21

@ Great Rolmops | Jan 29 2023 16:07 utc | 13

your post touches on some interesting philosophical touchstones for me.. we all need to learn how to get along in the world.. the onus is not just on one country, but on all countries... in this regard those countries that sabotage the well being of others, or interfere in the affairs ( or best intentions) of others have a role to play that needs to change! so, while you have only addressed the short comings of russia, you've clearly overlooked the short comings of the europeans, not to mention the manipulations of the usa in all of this... i think this matters a great deal!! there needs to be an appreciation or understanding of history and that is so often missing in one's analysis... are these omissions intentional? i tend to think they are in the western corporate media today.. the populace remain largely ignorant and influenced by fleeting events without proper and full context... cheers james

Posted by: james | Jan 29 2023 17:36 utc | 22

Posted by: Great Rolmops | Jan 29 2023 16:07 utc | 13

It is not that Russia was not willing to join the EU, but that the EU is not willing to accept Russia on an equal footing

"Unfortunately, EU will have a long, long way to go before being ready to accept Russia and I wouldn't just be talking about issues like corruption, flawed democracy and the influence of the US in pretty much everything."

Apparently, the demand that Russia "accept" the collapse of the Soviet Union, which caused it so much damage, is only to condemn the victims.

Nice try, NATO ChatGPT bot.

Posted by: Colin | Jan 29 2023 17:39 utc | 23

@Outraged | Jan 29 2023 16:06 utc | 12

That first video had me thinking my former Prime Minister (Jacinda Ardern) can sing...

Posted by: HOBO 3 | Jan 29 2023 17:40 utc | 24

B, are you sure Jamestown is a good source? I read this article “Prospects for Ukraine’s Economy in 2023 Remain Cautiously Optimistic”. It was… intriguing, as sevenofnine would say.

Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Jan 29 2023 18:23 utc | 25

Posted by: Vikichka | Jan 29 2023 14:58 utc | 1

Excellent! I am definitely going to steal this one...

Posted by: Lemming | Jan 29 2023 18:28 utc | 26

Mar man @ 2

I can only wonder what US was thinking by possibly opening another front in WW3 by attacking Iran.

The attacks was supposedly launched from Mossad bases in Azerbaijan, if true maybe USA and Israel would like to see Iran invade it. Same kind of provocation and trap used against Russia in Ukraine from 2014 to 2022.

Opening a second front on Russia using Armenia and Russia and Nagorno-Karabakh is very problematic for the west. Armenia is a christian country that suffered pogroms at the hands of Muslims, it has a very large emigre population much of it prosperous and influential spread throughout the west. The west is for historical, ethical, and political reasons bound to protect it.

Instead Armenia is dutifully protected by arch-enemy Russia who is also largely christian. Evil boogieman Muslim Iran is also oddly and inconveniently allied with Armenia. Iran invading peace loving, minding their own business Azerbaijan would be just the opportune clusterfuck needed to set the Caucasus on fire and obscure the perfidy and shallowness of western ambitions.

I’m just throwing thoughts out there, I really have no idea. But, expect to see both good peeps and trolls all wondering why Iran again failed to take the bait and wantonly lash out.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 29 2023 18:46 utc | 27

How amusing.

As usual "PROJECT VERITABLE LIES" James O'Keefe. A person who has been convicted of serial lying. Is dispensing the usual 2% travesty of the truth, mixed well with his pure fantasy fiction poopaganda.

On a credibility scale of one to ten. Where one equals garbage in garbage out pure trash. Ten is the basic unadulterated truth. Since he has been convicted of serial lying. The rating of Project Veritas(veritable wholesale pack of lies) should not exceed one at any given point in time.

RT exposes the man who cannot tell the truth to save his own posterior. The irony is the fool takes the original "Free Speech amendment" as gospel! Yet then completely ignores all subsequent amendment laws tacked on since that date. A fool one could say quite literally! This makes him such an easy target for all the "slander and libel" legal eagles in the USSA.

On a side note, no animals or primates were harmed. All testing was done in secure class three Biolabs. Results were analyzed and recorded.

Truth is stranger than fiction: Mark Twain

Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jan 29 2023 18:50 utc | 28

Posted by: Great Rolmops | Jan 29 2023 16:07 utc | 13

The EU is a corrupt entity meant for totalitarian control. They sell it with "open borders" and "freedom" but thats just marketing. Even Bojo recognized at some point that the EU is what the Germans did twice in the 20th century militarily and failed, but now by different means. And not only because you are a criminal if you disrespect the EU flag or the EU anthem. It should have been obvious to anyone in 2008 by the latest, when Germany took control over the EU economy and while the EU perifery got poorer, Germany got richer. When Merkel decided to steal the money of the Russians in Cyprus. Then the English left. Then the polish decided they can use the opportunity and take control for their own nationalistic purposes. Then COVID came and the Germans realized that their country of "unity and justice and freedom" is totally disunited and unjust and in lockdown. And the police jump on you and drag you off the train if you are unvaccinated. The war on Russia they fight since forever.

The day the EU is no more will be celebrated by many.

Posted by: Vikichka | Jan 29 2023 19:03 utc | 29

In the past 12 hours Reuters has reported a 4-star US general saying the US is going to war with China this year and now they have a posting title

Odds 'very high' of U.S. military conflict with China, top Republican says

At least it won't be a proxy war like Ukraine....grin

The shit show continues until it doesn't

######

Hey, Bad Deal Motors On | Jan 29 2023 18:50 utc | 27

What does it say about you when you attack the piano players instead of the notes of the tune being played?....back to ignore now....

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 29 2023 19:08 utc | 30

test

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 29 2023 19:19 utc | 31

Mar man @ 2

I can only wonder what US was thinking by possibly opening another front in WW3 by attacking Iran.

The attack was supposedly launched from Mossad bases in Azerbaijan, if true USA and Israel might want to see Iran invade it. Same kind of provocation and trap used against Russia in Ukraine from 2014 to 2022.

Opening a second front on Russia using Armenia is very problematic for the west. Armenia is a christian country that suffered pogroms at the hands of Muslims, it has a very large emigre population much of it prosperous and influential spread throughout the west. The west is for historical, ethical, and political reasons somewhat bound to protect it. Indications are that Macron and France have a problem making Armenia an enemy of NATO. Imagine that!

Instead Armenia is dutifully protected by arch-enemy Russia who is also largely christian. Evil boogieman Muslim Iran is also very inconveniently allied with Armenia. Iran invading peace loving, minding their own business Azerbaijan would be just the opportune clusterfuck needed to set the Caucasus on fire and obscure the perfidy and shallowness of western ambitions.

I’m just throwing thoughts out there, I really have no idea. But, expect to see both good peeps and trolls all wondering why Iran failed to take the bait again and wantonly lash out.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 29 2023 19:20 utc | 32

There has in the past been discussion about Russia joining the EU. The conclusion was that as a raw materials economy it is too different from the rest of the EU and would do better to stay outside connected by some treaty - just like Norway.

Posted by: Wim | Jan 29 2023 19:36 utc | 33

Consideration for membership into the EU nowadays tends to be contingent on being a member of NATO, and that in itself contingent on several conditions and criteria, not to mention the unanimous agreement of other NATO members.

Even if a nation were already a member of NATO, achieving EU membership can still be an obstacle course subject to the whims of individual EU members as Turkey discovered through repeated attempts to join the EU. The EU was not ready to accept as a member a large Muslim-majority nation with a sizeable low-wage labour force that had a history of being highly mobile and willing to work anywhere and everywhere, potentially undercutting the wages of labour forces in potential host countries.

Apart from the above, Great Rolmops @ 13 does look rather like a chatbot troll.

Posted by: Jen | Jan 29 2023 19:51 utc | 34

as a raw materials economy it is too different from the rest of the EU

Posted by: Wim | Jan 29 2023 19:36 utc | 32

Hahahahahhahhaaaahahaaha

Posted by: Vikichka | Jan 29 2023 19:53 utc | 35

In other news.

A prez hopeful candidate corporate company was convicted of 19 years worth of tax fraud. The wannabe prez in 2024. Threatens to ban EV's.

Now for the bad news the USSA Federal EPA was blown away Cal State CARB.CO

Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jan 29 2023 19:57 utc | 36

Scorpion no. 17

In addition to that:

"Layoffs expand in US manufacturing and retail amid deepening economic slowdown"
(WSWS.org)

Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jan 29 2023 20:27 utc | 37

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Jan 29 2023 15:58 utc | 10

You can only change yourself. Make the right choices for your self in ALL things, pretty soon those around you will wonder why you are so batshit crazy happy; that they will unconsciously want the same. Here is where changing others minds happens.

Do the things that make bad days better and good days awesome:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOLiguB_ZyY

Posted by: Tannenhouser | Jan 29 2023 20:30 utc | 38

b, you may have missed another much longer article from Matt Taibbi where he specifically called you (Moon of Alabama) out and said you should take a victory lap. Obviously all of us, your readers, agree.

https://scheerpost.com/2023/01/28/matt-taibbi-move-over-jason-blair-meet-hamilton-68-the-new-king-of-media-fraud/

I asked for comment from a huge range of actors — from the Alliance for Securing Democracy to Watts and McFaul and Podesta and Kristol to editors and news directors at MSNBC, Politico, Mother Jones, the Washington Post, Politifact, and others. Not one answered. They’re all going to pretend this didn’t happen. The few reporters who got this right contemporaneously, from Glenn Greenwald to Max Blumenthal to Miriam Elder and Charlie Wurzel of Buzzfeed to sites like Moon of Alabama, can take a victory lap. Almost every other news organization ran these stories and needs to come clean about it.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 20:38 utc | 39

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 29 2023 19:08 utc | 29

I would read that as a soon-to-retire four-star general is seeking a new job selling new space war toys to his former employer. As it is a given even his generous govt retirement pay plus free medical care is being destroyed by USSA's hyper-stagflation.

As for the former nameless monopolar superpower country currently sinking in a sea of unsustainable debt. The money to pay for war toys post-2024 no longer exists. An all-volunteer army that has been fighting nonstop since 1945. Is just plain worn out and on its last legs. Use the N option and ten thousand smoking craters would dot the USSA landscape. Not a good option.

The war with China is a complete joke! The USSA retail-only-based economy allied to a now worthless air dollar. Mired in a South American Banana Republic debt. Has reached the point of no return!

Does China care? Not really. As the local home market would slurp up the entire current USSA import market. With nary a burp or a belch. A war with 1.4 billion versus 300 million. The Quickest way for China to win without firing one shot. Is surrendering 3 million troops per month? After month three the good old USSA will haul up the white flag of total surrender!

The bankrupt USSA on the other hand would fall straight into Depression 2.0. Force to bring home all its troops stationed overseas. Should it lose even a mere 5% of its current import levels? With zero local industries to pick up the slack. Since everything was destroyed in the dead at the wheel red legless donkey Prez Reagan/Bush snr era.

Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jan 29 2023 20:41 utc | 40

The Adani brouhaha is part of an attempt to colour revolution Modi. I have been warning on Indian online fora for a long time (at least 2021) that the CIA would try to colour revolution Modi and put the useless and unelectable Rahul Gandhi (of the Congress Party, which Modi virtually wiped out) in power. Gandhi has been making pro Ukranazistan noises, right on cue; if he has any other foreign policy positions at all they're unknown.

Meanwhile Modi worshippers, Bhakts as they're known in India (it means "disciples") blithely assume that their god (literally; there are at least two Modi temples) is unassailable. They have a point only as long as Modi has the corporate support to finance his personality cult and projects like gigantic statues and a new Parliament building in Delhi. That's why instead of going directly at him the colour revolution stared out attacking his primary corporate backer Adani.

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jan 29 2023 20:42 utc | 41

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Jan 29 2023 15:58 utc | 10

I didn't see the exchange you're referring to in the other thread, but as a long term Texan having lived in every major metroplex and all corners of the state, I can tell you that the reason foreign property/land ownership is probably excluded is not xenophobia, but rather to keep rich foreign speculators from artificially driving up property value and/or having a means of blackmail should those properties fall into the hands of a so-called "hostile foreign power" (ex. Evil ChinaTM). Don't get me wrong, there could in fact be some anti-_____ (insert name of country) sentiment in some people regarding these laws (if and where they exist), but the fact of the matter is that brown folk (Mexicans, Spaniards, Mestizos) have been Texas far longer than any white Europeans or their descendants. There are ranches owned by Hispanic families that pre-date any settlers arriving here from the east, IIRC.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 20:44 utc | 42

For those who were kind enough to wish me well my covid is still with me.

I have never been this sick in all my 53 years. Not hospitalised but a zombie, unable to move from aches, stiffness, delirium, headache, fever. Pumping Vit C (3g/day), D, zinc, gallons of water.

It's goddam evil. It's an opportunistic virus that gets you where you're weakest. I've forgotten what being well is like.

Don't get it.

Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 29 2023 20:48 utc | 43

@ Jen | Jan 29 2023 19:51 utc | 33

last sentence... yes, probably good odds on that.. thanks..

Posted by: james | Jan 29 2023 20:48 utc | 44

@ Patroklos | Jan 29 2023 20:48 utc | 41

i think i got it 2 christmas's ago... i was out of it for 3 solid days - like rip van winkle - i could only sleep... i never got tested, but i think that was it.. i read somewhere earlier today that pfizer was working with a number of variations on the covid symphony... that wouldn't surprise me... i am in my 60's.. it hits everyone differently it seems, which might explain the variants... cheers..

Posted by: james | Jan 29 2023 20:51 utc | 45

@ James

Yes quite right. It finds your health weaknesses and settles in. My wife and daughter recovered faster because they are fit, whereas I'm out of shape and a bit overweight.

The key is pain management: paracetamol does bugger all except alleviate fever. I'd go for something harder but in Oz you need a prescription for anything with coping power. I'm too wiped out even to drag my carcass to the doc and go through the BS. What I wouldn't give for some morphine...

Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 29 2023 20:58 utc | 46

Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 29 2023 20:48 utc | 41

Sorry to hear it's lingering so long. I do believe my family had it in early 2020 before it was 'officially' in the US, and I can attest to the misery you are feeling.

This product worked wonders for me; as soon as I thought to try it, the COVID was gone within 36hrs. My wife didn't use it and hers lasted another 72hrs (although with diminishing symptoms, naturally).

https://www.zicam.com/our-products/cold-shortening/nasal-spray

This also works if you have it in your throat (sore) but it tastes like shit and does ruin your sense of taste for hours. Just don't drink any liquids for 30 min after dissolving the lozenge on your tongue.

https://www.zicam.com/our-products/cold-shortening/rapid-melts-citrus

I don't want to promote Jeff Bozos by any means, but it's likely Amazon is the quickest way to get some.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 20:59 utc | 47

Patroklos,

Also, should have told you a couple of things:

1. They do sell at least some forms of those products in Oz. Not sure about the nasal spray - see below.

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zicam - See the part about loss of smell and litigation. The nasal stuff was pulled from the US (and likely Oz) market in the early 2010s. They have since changed the formula sometime around 2013-2015 and I've used it every time I've had a cold or COVID since and it had no effect on my ability to smell both while using it and after.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 21:05 utc | 48

@ 45 Tom Collins

zicam is sold at pharmacies, over the counter...

zinc ... serves as a prophylactic also.

I take 25 mg zinc ea day... have not even had a cold in three years or more... am in my 80s, no COVID, no mask ... except for two doctor's visits

Posted by: crone | Jan 29 2023 21:14 utc | 49

bevin #4

Will the Adani crisis have any effects on British politics?

Good possibility. My first thought was are british politics/banksters driving the share price rumble After all the Indian marketing of Russian oil is an intolerable interference in the englanders great game of isolating/starving Russia.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 29 2023 21:28 utc | 50

The US Debt clock (bottom row) shows that total liabilities recently passed total assets for the first time. The USA is technically bankrupt, but still spending more than it takes in. How much longer can that continue?

https://www.usdebtclock.org/

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Jan 29 2023 21:31 utc | 51

@ 44 Patroklos

Here is yet another anecdotal story about getting over flu/covid.

I just got over flu/covid again for my second time in two years.

Other than vitamin d, c, zinc, quercetin and imbibing some green tea, I also sniffed gin from the bottle every couple minutes and put myself on my elbows and knees to drain the lungs towards the front of the chest.

The cough has been the biggest pain, not to mention that it lingers in your chest for a good 5 days or so. I could not expectorant any of it...nothing. it just got incrementally better as the days wore on until I could no longer feel it in my chest.

God speed and better health soon.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 29 2023 21:40 utc | 52

Again gonna post this, I think that everyone is probably being played by the international bankers (Rothschilds etc.) as has been the case for the past century or more: https://urlis.net/my34err

It's a good read, might put things in perspective for many here!

Posted by: just somebody | Jan 29 2023 21:49 utc | 53

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 29 2023 21:40 utc | 50

That's good advice re: draining the lungs. I'd also recommend elevating the lower part of the body while sleeping or laying in bed. Not sure the gin is really doing anything for you tho...

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 21:50 utc | 54

Posted by: just somebody | Jan 29 2023 21:49 utc | 51

My Malwarebytes extension blocks access to that URL and says it has malware?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 21:51 utc | 55

In response to the comment below from the current Ukraine thread
"
There are certainly two fairly diametrically opposed financial/political systems at work... curious as to your thoughts on bitcoin though?

Both china/public and western/debt systems have proven reticent to "accept" bitcoin, yet it just keeps on producing blocks of transactions with no regard for either giant... it is tiny in usage/size but it also seems quite Lindy at this point, no?

Posted by: EJ | Jan 29 2023 20:46 utc | 117
"

I see the fiat US dollar and bitcoin as coming from similar unknown mothers and since they are not creations of sovereign nations I see them as bad for society, IMO. That said, I am a fan of permissioned blockchain which is being used for China's "crypto" currency.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 29 2023 21:51 utc | 56

oops, apparently the previous quicklink doesn't work. Here's a working one: tinyurl.com/2p8re79x

Posted by: just somebody | Jan 29 2023 21:52 utc | 57

@Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins

Mine just refused to connect, wtf some time ago it worked and wasn't malware. I made another one, check that out!

Posted by: just somebody | Jan 29 2023 21:54 utc | 58

Would an example of 'asymmetrical warfare' be the destruction of Raytheon headquarters? Asking for a friend.

Posted by: gottlieb | Jan 29 2023 21:54 utc | 59

@ Patroklos about their Covid experience......sorry to read about your discomfort which sounds worse than my Covid event in December.

I hope you get better soon

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 29 2023 21:56 utc | 60

Link to study showing better results for recovery when inhaling ethanol.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 29 2023 21:56 utc | 61

According to the Spanish judge in charge of the investigation, "Gonzalez acted alone, the judge wrote. He said the suspect's alleged actions showed his intent to alter the public peace and to give the impression they were carried out by people with ties with Russia as retribution for Spain's and the United States' support for Ukraine amid Russia's invasion of the country."

I find it somewhat strange. Loners (and gregarious types) can develop intense animus toward some people and institutions, and that would be most natural motivation for "letter attacks". Or they may expect direct benefits, as in the case of motivation attributed to the (alleged?) perpetrator of the original anthrax letters. But the motivation attributed to Gonzales may be natural to Atlanticists, perhaps Spanish small town municipal offices are full of them?

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 29 2023 22:06 utc | 62

b's link to Yurtugh Tactical is a worthy read.

The wests grubby shenanigans are interesting in regard to this group and its headquarters in Idlib city. They train jihadis to be highly proficient weapons handlers. All this under the watchful and tolerant eye of Turkey and its aging leader Erdogan. Except that he is no clown.

There is one mention of Albania -

Since August 2021, Yurtugh Tactical has started to spread its propaganda on various messaging apps and social networks, as well as on the battlefield. [6] In 2022, Yurtugh Tactical released videos, posters, and photos in ultra-high definition. These included 15 HD training videos showing pistol training courses, shooting in raised and lowered positions, unblocking malfunctioning or jammed rifles, exercises to improve speed in hitting targets, two-weapon shooting exercises, 50 and 75-meter pistol shooting exercises, night shooting exercises, and reloading a weapon with a wounded limb.

However, the longest and most important video was published on September 25 in cooperation with Albanian Tactical and subtitled in English (only two videos to date have been published with subtitles). Entitled “Training of the Day,” the video was filmed in Idlib and showed a team leader and four fighters first explaining the four basic rules of firearms safety and then showing different types of training, modalities, contexts, and weapons (Yurtugh Media, September 25, 2022). Members of Yurtugh Tactical also appeared in a seven minute TIP video entitled “Shooting Competition” but they were only supervisors (Islam Awazi, October 25, 2022).

Besides these productions, Yurtugh Tactical published 15 online posters of high-quality graphics and design and over 80 photographs either individually or in photo streams. They have depicted moments of preparation, study, and training with different types of weapons, and/or have displayed their tactical and military weapons and equipment. This shows the equipment that members use and demonstrates that Yurtugh Tactical has constant activity.

Interesting. As the NATO crazies need Albania in cohort with its Kosovo proxy BS 'state' as a constant irritant against the Serbs. Meanwhile Erdogan no doubt is comfortable with this arrangement as it feeds his desire to build historic Turkish roots (extending across Eurasia to Uyghur homelands in China) into a vast empire once again.

It seems to me that any real result from the current discussions between Syria/Turkey leading to a meeting between Assad and Erdogan will be limited to what to do about the Kurds along the northern Syrian borderlands.

Perhaps any discussion of the Idlib province remnant will be set aside. It depends how precious this 'vision' is to Ergogan. This is doable but could only be credible if Syria (Assad) regains sovereignty over the entire northern border strip. Certainly Russia (and China) have an immense interest in this circumstance. Of course the englanders with their great game mendacity will be batting hard and Erdogan only needs this talk talk stuff to last until his re-election.

IMO the Kurdish side have to be subjugated and denied access to UKUSAI mendacity.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 29 2023 22:06 utc | 63

just somebody #55

It certainly is a headfake.
Meanwhile I hear Havana is to be the capitol of the new eastern world order and there is already a secret tunnel joining Havana and Beijing.

Spare me this torture.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 29 2023 22:12 utc | 64

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jan 29 2023 20:42 utc | 39

How is this post different from the "Modi worship" you appear to disdain? And why would anyone oppose any "colour revolution" and instead take the side of Modi, the face of the BJP's fascist ideology?

Posted by: Inkan1969 | Jan 29 2023 22:20 utc | 65

@uncle tungsten #62

Can you explain why you feel that way? The bankers were behind both WW 1 & 2, the current crop of leaders both in the west and the east are all talking about "New world order", it all seems to line up. The way outlined in that article seems to fit neatly. Make the West and the East wage WW3, and from there a One World Government. They already have a "World Government Summit" too, don't they? https://www.worldgovernmentsummit.org

Posted by: just somebody | Jan 29 2023 22:21 utc | 66

The study linked was specific to inhalation of ethanol spray at roughly the same concentration as what you might find in gin. Unless you're atomizing it and spraying it into your nostrils, though, I don't think that study is relevant to the practice of simply smelling gin from the bottle.

Side question: Did COVID/flu affect your sense of smell?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 22:23 utc | 67

Also, if you look at the trajectory from WW1 to WW2 and now (probably) WW3, after the first world war we got the League of Nations. After the second, United Nations. Now, after the third, they want a One World Government. The Rockefellers themselves bemoaned after they got the UN up and running that it didn't meet their expectations in gaining power over the individual countries.

Posted by: just somebody | Jan 29 2023 22:25 utc | 68

And isn't it true, that the West *does* does look like the bad guy here, and Russia & China the "good"? At least more moderate, and pragmatic compared to the West's antics? To me it seems so, at least. And apparently to many others on this site, too. For the general populace in the West, maybe not, not yet, but if there are already people who do see the West as the bad actor, then what if World War 3 really does break out, and the East happens to win? Wouldn't many people by then also "see" that the West was "bad"? When the reality is, that all this was orchestrated just so (our leaders are in on it) that the East looks better compared to the West.

You might ask, why would our leaders make themselves look bad on purpose. Well, that's because they have been promised good positions in the coming "New World Order" or One World Government. Doesn't that make sense? It does to me. Like, our leaders really can't be this stupid and arrogant and bloodthirsty, can they? Or maybe they can, I'm not saying that the conspiracy theory is 100% true, but it looks at least plausible to me. All these things that have happened and are happening currently aren't a coincidence, but a part of a bigger plan. That's my view, after reading a lot about what has happened in the last century and the early part of this. There are people who are really, really powerful (and evil) and they want to rule the whole world.

Posted by: just somebody | Jan 29 2023 22:48 utc | 69

Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 29 2023 20:58 utc | 44

I had the worst flu in my life in March 2020, probably early covid but no test at that point. (We were in a beach town with hundreds of Italians so most likely it was their strain which came via Wuhan early on from Chinese textile workers returning from their New Year.)

We both took HCQ which I had purchased after reading articles about the famous doctor in France who recommended it (before Trump!) and within 8 hours the whole thing cleared up. Never had that dramatic an experience with a flu medicine before. Now unfortunately it's a controlled substance where I live and cannot easily get it any more. Ivermectin helps too with flus, I've found, but nothing as dramatic as that HCQ. Of course, that was just both me and my wife. Others' mileage may vary.

Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 29 2023 22:52 utc | 70

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 29 2023 22:58 utc | 71

I see the fiat US dollar and bitcoin as coming from similar unknown mothers and since they are not creations of sovereign nations I see them as bad for society, IMO. That said, I am a fan of permissioned blockchain which is being used for China's "crypto" currency.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 29 2023 21:51 utc | 54

Thanks for your thoughts! While it's possible that the US could "weaponize" bitcoin at some point (or just about any other large actor could), the vocal opposition to it from the DC uni-party over the years and the Ross Ulbricht, Assange, Snowden etc stories are plenty of evidence to me that it is not a US-engineered Trojan horse for a new syst3m that they will somehow control

(When I use "weaponize" above, I mean, create global FOMO by pumping the price)

In my own Canada, last year, bitcoin was the only effective tool to financially support those protesting vax mandates... as an aside , Canadian society is pretty broken... :(

Posted by: EJ | Jan 29 2023 22:59 utc | 72

Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 29 2023 22:52 utc | 68

HCQ is especially helpful if you have an overactive immune response (or autoimmune disease). Calms the cytokines IIRC. In my case it wouldn't have really helped since I didn't have the "cytokine storm" symptoms. Strange to hear that it's a controlled substance south of the US border. Getting antibiotics and antiparasite meds was always pretty easy when I lived on the Rio Grande.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 23:06 utc | 73

test

Posted by: just somebody | Jan 29 2023 23:10 utc | 74

Thank you all whom replied to my post.

Tannenhouser @36. re “You can only change yourself. Make the right choices” — believe me Tannenhouser, every day I try. That’s one of the reasons, I am here, as b and the barflies try to find what the truth is. I try to educate myself, and hopefully along the way, others. And making right choices, I am anal enough to care about my carbon foot-print, water/fuel usage, amongst other things.

Yet, I can’t see how I can move the atomic annihilation clock further back.

Tom_Q_Collins @40, I was referring to proposed Senate bill 147 excluding the baddies — China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran — from land ownership.

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Jan 29 2023 23:13 utc | 75

Thanks b - lots to look at!

Sakineh Bagoom at| Jan 29 2023 15:58 utc | 10 asks, how do we save humanity?

Big question.

And I'm so sorry Patroklos - you are doing all the right things. I do wish you well. If you are anywhere near the sea, I'd suggest sea and sun; they helped me a lot when my immune resources (and just about everything else too) were extremely low. That plus walking, very slow pace on that at first, but down under nature is a big big help. Been there, done that. The very best exercise is nothing painful, just move a bit each day and let your body be the boss of everything.

Back on karlof1's link a few days ago to Putin's address to school goers, Putin mentioned Prince Trubetskoi as the founder of their educational group. That made me return to a small work I have by Prince Eugene N. Trubetskoi - three of his lectures on "Icons: Theology in Color." So, in answer to Sakeh, I would say - maybe humanity is a big ask, given the state of the world today, but it might be good if each of us looked around for inspiration to pass on to our sliver of the world, so that's what I will do in the next few posts, concentrating on this small link back in a time when everything was looking mighty dark and did become so, but hey, here we still are.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 29 2023 23:14 utc | 76

Iran
The attack on Iran is ongoing, with a convoy at the Syrian border bombed in the past few hours.
Useful Tweets at this account:
https://twitter.com/WarFrontline
>…Statement by Israeli PrimeMinister Netanyahu:
“Tonight we decided to attack
Terrorists organizations. Our response will be strong, fast and accurate. Whoever wants to harm us, we will harm him.”

>Air raid alarm in the city of Baneh Iran
> image reportedly showing the aftermath of the airstrike on a convoy belonging to a resistance group near the border of Iraq and Syria
> Hebrew sources: 25 trucks belonging to “pro-Iranian militias” were attacked in Al-Bukhmal region on the border of Syria and Iraq.
> Hebrew sources: 25 trucks belonging to “pro-Iranian militias” were attacked in Al-Bukhmal region on the border of Syria and Iraq.
——-
And Erdogan not happy that Ukraine may get planes denied to Turkiye
>…Turkish President Erdogan:
We’ve asked for F-16s, but you don’t give.
You’ve said F-35s, but didn’t keep your promises even though we’ve paid about $1.4 billion.
If you don't give these to us, there will be a cost.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 29 2023 23:18 utc | 77

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 29 2023 23:22 utc | 78

@ 65

You should probably just stick to remdesevir then if you are going to challenge everything someone puts forth anecdotally. For myself, inhaling it frequently alleviated the heaviness in my chest.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 29 2023 23:24 utc | 79

Eggs
Only a few are noticing the frequency, size and inflexion point of the food production and food supply enterprises destroyed in the past two years…
Here’s some twitter comments about the Egg factory fire:
Extremely large fire started by jews in Bozrhah, CT
Hillandale Farms produces hundreds of millions of eggs making it a very large producer.
On January 2nd, 2023 a very large hatchery was also burned to the ground in Elkin, North Carolina
“Eggland's Best” are half the eggs at every US grocery store.
Hillandale Farms is among the Top 5 largest shell egg producers in the United States and is directly involved in every aspect of egg production and distribution. The company’s market area spans from the Dakota’s to the East Coast.
According to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, the company houses 12.5 million hens.
Safe to say millions of hens were destroyed today.
§§ deleted the link that may have produced one of my more erudite posts (above)

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 29 2023 23:25 utc | 80

Strange to hear it's a controlled substance south of the US border. Getting antibiotics and antiparasite meds was always pretty easy when I lived on the Rio Grande.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 23:06 utc | 71

Welcome to the New Normal!

As to cytokine etc: it was developed by USG decades ago and has prevented deadly malaria infections for hundreds of millions if not billions where it is taken weekly as a prophylactic. So I suspect your description is overly limited. I'm not a doctor nor pretend to be one but just followed the guidelines by Europe's leading epidemiologist (before all the politicization set in).

Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 29 2023 23:27 utc | 81

Erdogan survived one U$ assassination attempt….
He’s putting a larger target on himself with this:
>…… Turkish President admitted that Iran could join the planned talks between Turkey, Russia and Syria at the highest level.
“Let's come together as a trio, Russia, Turkey, and Syria. We can even add Iran to this. Let Iran also come" - Turkish President Erdogan.
https://twitter.com/AZgeopolitics/status/1619771541633536000

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 29 2023 23:32 utc | 82

Did Jacinda Ahern read the briefing?

Is natal data an indicator that the lab rats might revolt?

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 29 2023 23:48 utc | 83

Never forget the real reason the U$ went looking for Saddam’s “weapons of mass destruction”…
The one weapon of destruction to the fiat U$D
https://twitter.com/QTRResearch/status/1619526717072347136

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 29 2023 23:52 utc | 84

Following on from my post at Jan 29 2023 23:14 utc | 74, I'll begin with the first lecture, given in 1916:

The meaning of life may never have been a more pressing issue than it is today, when the world's evil and senselessness stand exposed for all to see.

I am reminded of visiting a cinema in Berlin, some four years ago [1912], and seeing a film on the life of a predaceous water beetle in an aquarium. It was a vivid illustration of the ruthless struggle for survival that goes on in nature. Creatures were shown devouring one another, and the beetle invariably got the better of fishes, mollusks, salamanders, and so on, thanks to the technical perfection of two weapons: the powerful mandibiles with which it crushed its victims, and the toxic substance with which it poisoned them...If the spectacle repels us, if we experience a sense of moral nausea at the sight of such scenes as were filmed in the aquarium, this proves that in man there exist the seeds of another world, a different plane of being. It would not be possible for us to feel so revolted if this animal life were the only kind of existence we could imagine, if we did not feel an inner call to bring about a different way of life.

Second quote:

Among animals, the perfection of deadly weapons bespeaks merely an absence of spiritual life: these weapons are gifts of nature, independent of their consciousness and will. In the human world they are, on the contrary, inventions of the mind. We can see entire nations concentrating on one primarhy aim -- to create big mandibles for themselves with which to crush and devour other nations. The subjugation of the human spirit to gross material intersts is shown most clearly by the power of this single aim over our lives -- an inescapable power, for the pursuit of this aim becomes mandatory: as soon as one aggressor appears on the scene, one nation wholly devoted to perfecting the techniques of destruction, other nations must follow suit, since a lag in armaments could mean their undoing...This degradation of mankind is the main, intrinsic horror of war, before which all its other horrors pale. Even the rivers of blood are a lesser evil!

Bear with me.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 29 2023 23:56 utc | 85

Melaleuca #78

Fire suppression apparatus installed in such enormous animal enclosures would seem to be a good idea even if there are no regulations mandating it. Even more so when fierce commercial competition abounds is cowboy country. When corporate capitalists get so lazy they cannot even install elementary safety to protect their cash cow, then they deserve to be stamped out.

Beekeepers in Australia had to install security cameras for their hives in an endeavor to deter repeated insecticide attacks in remote forest locations. Industrial capitalism and sabotage are hand in hand.

Consumers suffer when thieves fall out.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 30 2023 0:13 utc | 86

How likely is this???
Tiny radioactive capsule goes missing in Western Australia

BBC News An urgent search is under way in Western Australia after a tiny capsule containing a radioactive substance went missing. The casing contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause serious illness if touched. It was lost between the town of Newman and the city of Perth in mid-January - a distance of roughly 1,400km (870 miles). The public has been warned to stay away from the capsule if they see it. It was being transported on a truck between a mine site north of Newman in the Pilbara region and the north-eastern parts of Perth between 10-16 January when it was mislaid. Caesium-137 is a substance commonly used in mining operations. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has said the capsule cannot be weaponised but could cause radiation burns and have other longer-term risks like cancer. The object emits a "reasonable" amount of radiation, Dr Andrew Robertson, the state's chief health officer and Radiological Council chair, said. "Our concern is that someone will pick it up, not knowing what it is," he said. "They may think it is something interesting and keep it, or keep it in their room, keep it in their car, or give it to someone."

DFES has released an illustration of the object, which measures 6mm by 8mm.
The sites where the transportation began and ended have been searched and efforts are under way to figure out the exact route and stops that were made to narrow down the field of search.
Anyone who sees the object is asked to call the DFES and to seek urgent medical assistance if they think they have come into contact with it.

Curious… Can this turn up in some False Flag operation?

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 30 2023 0:19 utc | 87

Consumers suffer when thieves fall out.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 30 2023 0:13 utc | 84
Yep. Egg production capacity of 28,500,000 eggs per year has been destroyed with this fire.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 30 2023 0:22 utc | 88

Following my post at juliania | Jan 29 2023 23:56 utc | 83, I'll post one more excerpt from Prince Trubetskoi's first lecture in the book I'm reading, ending with a question or two (or more):

On a cold, clear day not long ago, finding myself on the outskirts of Novgorod,[lucky him!]I saw all around me an endless desert of snow -- the best possible image of our earthly poverty. Above it, like distand symbols of otherworldly riches, glowed the golden domes of white churches against the deep blue of the sky. I have never seen a better illustration of the religious idea that is embodied in the Russian bulb-shaped, pointed dome...The Russian dome is like a tongue of flame topped by a cross, pointed toward the cross...When you look from afar, in bright sunlight, at an old Russian monastery or a city with many churches, all of it seems to glow with multicolored lights...

I believe it was only in WW2 that many Novgorod churches were destroyed - they are being restored but that is a huge task.

Well, questions.

My first one is - Putin dropped the name "Trubetskoi" why? And what does it tell us that his students are familiar with that name?

We have had more than a hundred years since the words I quoted were written - have there been advances? I'd say yes, and no.

At the very least, we still have blogs like this one, which, in spite of much rhetoric is not an instrument of war. That's progress. Where we are going backwards ... well, I've said enough. I'll leave it to others to say.

Thanks, b.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 30 2023 0:22 utc | 89

@77 - You should probably try harder to avoid straw man arguments and putting words in others' mouths. I started off my first reply to you by saying part of what you suggested was good advice. Which you now characterize as criticizing "everything" put forth.

Regardless of whether sniffing on gin helped you feel less heaviness in the chest, the study to which you linked doesn't provide evidence for your method; instead for the use of an aerosolized/atomized solution of 35% ethanol sprayed directly into the nostrils. Also unclear how that would help with chest congestion - there are ways of inhaling through the mouth for that.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 30 2023 0:23 utc | 90

Melaleuca #82

Same story in West Papua only the natives are not yet as restless.

Forbes Wilson got the information about Dozy’s exploration note from Jan Van Gruisen, an executive from East Borneo Company.

He is the first to continue the hunt for “treasure” from Dozy’s exploration note, while in the same year, Freeport lost nickel ore mining in Cuba because of the nationalization of the company under the leadership of Fidel Castro, the legendary president of Cuba.

Wilson was really amazed by Dozy’s founding and interested in exploring Ertsberg. “I will see Ertsberg for myself, and I will try it until I die,” said Wilson, who showed his commitment to exploring the legendary West Papua mining territory.

Freeport supported the exploration with an amount of 120.000 USD, which had the same value of one million dollars back in 1996.

Even though Wilson was 50 years old at that time, he was a dedicated person to reaching that goal. He even stopped smoking after 30 years and received vaccination for many diseases that were known to humans for the sake of expedition. He also trained himself to live in the forest and mountain, which is well-known for its cold temperature.

Exploration that was held by Wilson was accompanied by geologists, engineers, botanists, and even policemen. The inspired Freeport man made a special note regarding his exploration in a book named “The Conquest of Copper Mountain.”

Indeed the magnificent West Papuan people would dearly love their independence from the crushing authority/genocide of the Indonesian/USA scavengers.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 30 2023 0:26 utc | 91

Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 29 2023 23:27 utc | 79

Re: HCQ and COVID - I believe that the mechanism by which it helps most is in reducing inflammation that is caused by the immune response to the virus. Some people's immune system 'over' reacts and the cytokine storm causes a lot of excess swelling, inflammation and other nasty stuff, so I do think HCQ would definitely help with that. Personally, I didn't experience those symptoms, so I don't think it would have been a benefit to me. That said, it probably is a good idea to keep some around in case a harsh immune response does happen if I ever catch it again.

What hoops do you have to jump through to buy it in MX these days? Seems a doctor's prescription would suffice, or have they made it even more controlled than benzos, painkillers, opiates and the like?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 30 2023 0:27 utc | 92

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 29 2023 22:23 utc | 65

No, my sense of taste and smell are not affected, though my wife's was. I also have had no sore throat or chest infection (mild cough). It's almost completely musculo-skeletal with headache and bouts of fever and a terrible fatigue. Climbing the stairs wipes me out.

Strangely, the headache and nausea/delirium are reminiscent of a classic old school hangover, a throwback to my younger days out on the tiles drinking and smoking. I'd wake up the next day feeling just like this... Covid does not lack for a sense of humour.

Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 30 2023 0:27 utc | 93

Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 30 2023 0:27 utc | 91

Those were almost exactly my symptoms; might've had a mild sore throat the first day. I wasn't able to move from the bed for 2 days, felt hungover and had sinus congestion/sneezing with no significant cough. Also had a fever and it didn't affect my sense of smell or taste. The Zicam nasal stuff and zinc lozenges did help. As soon as I started using them the symptoms started to diminish.

Really hope you get to feeling better ASAP.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 30 2023 0:31 utc | 94

@83 juliania | Jan 29 2023 23:56 utc

Oh, that's lovely. Keep it coming.

~~

In the Buddhist view, all sentient beings are of equal substance, all imbued with Buddha nature as their true nature, and with each being deluded to a greater or lesser extent away from that true nature. This same view further talks about rebirth into different realms, one of which is human and another of which is animal.

I said all that because I've been thinking a bit lately about the predatory nature of the major players in this material world (many of whom we probably don't even know), and how they emulate the predatory creatures of the animal world. Your own thinking and excerpts seem to resonate with this.

In my own view, I wonder if, when these predators die - which one day they must, no matter what they hope for - will they be reborn as human? Or is it more likely that their predatory inclinations will lead them into the animal realm?

It's not a question that can be asked or answered in practical terms, and I don't expect an answer. But I wonder, if some succeed in reducing the population of humans on this planet, how much more jostling must there then be for a human rebirth, in such a limited population? In those few remaining human wombs not destroyed by the weapons and profit instruments of those very predators?

~~

I like your quoted lectures, and the line you emphasized is a priceless observation, about how we feel because of our inherent aspiration. I wanted to add that even animals, according to the view I cited, have that higher call, it's just that they are so deluded and born into the embrace of physical instinct that they can't see this calling, or break out of their condition - in this lifetime.

But I have heard of a wolf heeding the plea of a mother sheep to spare her lamb, and turning away in pity (and hunger). Many animals resonate this closely to "human" values, in the right set and setting. And really they're not "human" values, they're "Saint" or "Bodhisattva" values, and we humans aspire to them also, as well as the animals - to the extent anyone sentient being can in one's current condition.

In this same view, all of us currently humans have all been animal and much worse, through countless lifetimes, across "beginning-less" time. And as Krishna told Arjuna, we can slip, and fall all the way to hell. And we can also walk the upward path, and rise - and history shows that humans can attain even the highest state.

~~

And I say all this in order to stand up for the animals. And perhaps even to stand up for the human predators - not for their crimes in this life but for the possibility of their delusion evolving out of human society over time.

More than anything, then, it's to stand up for the notion that all beings can be inspired to better things - and therefore we must continue to strive for this, and believe that we truly can evolve our fabricated society into better forms.

Posted by: Grieved | Jan 30 2023 0:40 utc | 95

Posted by: Vikichka | Jan 29 2023 14:58 utc | 1

Attribution: Chris Hedges

Posted by: FormerMilitary | Jan 30 2023 0:57 utc | 96

Here we have astounding video of Pfizer executive caught on camera talking about how pfizer is making mutations of C19 to keep the kaching flowing in!

Notice how EVERY damn MSM has a black hole on this huge story. Same as the one of Pfizer CEO refusing to answer on why Pfizer's stated efficacy kept shifting.
​Note in this video he said C19 didn't pop up from nowhere.
​
​https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/covid-19/watch-pfizer-exec-on-hidden-camera-were-exploring-mutating-covid-ourselves/
​​

Posted by: Surferket | Jan 30 2023 0:57 utc | 97

Norwegian @ 16
???
North American LNG Export Terminals

I do not recall a refinery that has entirely burned down in North America. Usually it is a unit or two. Sometimes the refinery is so old is does not pay to bring it back up online like what happened to the Sunco refinery in Pennsylvania recently.

I think they have issued a retraction, sort of so to speak

Posted by: circumspect | Jan 30 2023 1:13 utc | 98

Jen and others suspect a chatbot in our thread.
For the scoffers:
>…This week, OpenAI's ChatGPT:
- passed MBA exam given by Wharton
- passed most portions of the USMLE
- passed some portion of the bar
https://twitter.com/unusual_whales/status/1619818040543035397

But it has to be a whole lot smarter to fool MoA… 😎

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 30 2023 1:29 utc | 99

@ Melaleuca | Jan 30 2023 1:29 utc | 97

we get these one off posts from time to time.. they are immediately suspect... cheers..

Posted by: james | Jan 30 2023 1:57 utc | 100