Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
May 25, 2023

Open (Not Ukraine) Thread 2023-124

News & views (not related to the conflict in Ukraine) ...

Posted by b on May 25, 2023 at 14:05 UTC | Permalink

Comments
next page »

The popular anti-imperialist program 'Mother of all talk-shows' hosted by George Galloway now has a German version-
'MOATS auf Deutsch'
-led by (it seems) a German look-alike of Galloway, Diether Dehm.
The first episode was on Sunday 21-05

https://youtu.be/watch?v=JPvb1qDJPSE

...

Some may find this website interesting - it's an interactive map of Russian territories over centuries. Drag the slider to any year to see the changing borders

https://map.runivers.ru/?year=850

Posted by: Browser | May 25 2023 14:49 utc | 1

For the time being under the radar, the Eurasian Economic Forum. Karlof1, check out the speech by Tokaev, I did not quite understand his comment about the Union State, is he hinting at joining or to the contrary fearing that the relation will be unbalanced between first and second class members.

http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/71198

Posted by: Paco | May 25 2023 14:51 utc | 2

"The first boat we read of, floated on an ocean, that with Portuguese vengeance had whelmed a whole world without leaving so much as a widow. That same ocean rolls now; that same ocean destroyed the wrecked ships of last year. Yea, foolish mortals, Noah’s flood is not yet subsided...
-----
Wherefore, for all these things, we account the whale immortal in his species, however perishable in his individuality. He swam the seas before the continents broke water; he once swam over the site of the Tuileries, and Windsor Castle, and the Kremlin. In Noah’s flood he despised Noah’s Ark; and if ever the world is to be again flooded, like the Netherlands, to kill off its rats, then the eternal whale will still survive, and rearing upon the topmost crest of the equatorial flood, spout his frothed defiance to the skies."
--Melville

will the whale survive?

Melville was most definitely not a Christian, but after the buffalo, the indians, the whales, the elephants, etc., etc., he felt kinship w/this saying of "the man of sorrows,"

No sign shall be given this wicked generation, except the sign of Jonah...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTlsSXNT2bg

Posted by: rjb1.5 | May 25 2023 14:58 utc | 3

Looks like the Burning Platform website has been removed from the internet.

Posted by: YourAverageJoe | May 25 2023 15:07 utc | 4

M2 money supply down sharply for a second month.

US has maintained a plausible simulacrum of an economy for a long long time. Houses of cards meet an end.

Posted by: oldhippie | May 25 2023 15:59 utc | 5

China is USA's largest economic partner and USA is China's largest economic partner. Beijing as a threat is propaganda. Wanting war with Beijing is propaganda. Beijing supporting Moscow is propaganda. The war in Ukraine is Beijing and Washington splitting Russia between themselves. That's a partnership.

Posted by: Myrk | May 25 2023 16:36 utc | 6

Great conversation about the UK, how it quite recently threw away its good relationship with China and other nations that it desperately needed after the disaster of Brexit. I saw one forecast that said that the UK average income will be less than Poland's in 2030, I can believe it. Even the City of London is rapidly declining after the Russia sanctions showed the world's rich that London is not a safe place for their money. Inflation raging and destroying real incomes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6ovnqz0Eb4

Posted by: Roger | May 25 2023 16:41 utc | 7

Posted by: Roger | May 25 2023 16:41 utc | 7
after the disaster of Brexit.

How many of how many EU laws on the UK's statute books have been repealed so far?

Posted by: GT Stroller | May 25 2023 16:52 utc | 8

Paco @2--

I just turned my attention to that meeting which has both an closed format is rather important given what Armenia's experienced over the last two years. I didn't bother cleaning up the transcript:

Beginning of the SEEC meeting in a narrow composition:

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

We have almost started working, quite actively now We discussed the economic situation in our countries and analysed how it is going our cooperation, and we have even managed to dive into the details of some specific industries.

But at the beginning of our meeting, I would like to emphasize that cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union is advancing, Indeed, very successfully. As the President of Kazakhstan has just said, the main beneficiary is Armenia, because Armenia has the highest rate economic growth. Nikol Vovayevich, how much, seven [percent]?

Nikol Pashinyan: No, 12.

Vladimir Putin: 12.5? 12?

Nikol Pashinyan: Last year it was 12.6, if I am not mistaken, this year it is 12.1.

Vladimir Putin: 12.1 percent of the country's GDP growth. This, of course, is a serious, very serious figure.

Naturally, Russia highly appreciates the close partnership with everyone member states of our association, which consistently is built on the principles of mutual benefit, respect and consideration of each other's interests Other.

Today, we will first have to exchange in a narrow format More precisely, we will continue to exchange views on the main directions of our development, according to the mechanisms that we use for our development, and then we will continue our meeting in an expanded format, in which President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will also take part via videoconferencing (As you know, its internal political processes are at an important, high stage are, so he asked him to understand, since he does not take part in a personal format, but nevertheless he will participate), as well as invited guests - President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Tajikistan Emomali Sharipovich Rahmon, who will also take part in our work via videoconferencing.

Yes, that's a very serious number, but consider where the base began from. It's Armenia's economic development that belies what's said about Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The transcript for the expanded session is as long as yesterday's Plenary Session, so it will take me awhile to assess and answer your question about it.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 25 2023 16:55 utc | 9

GT [email protected]
brexit was a very good idea. But in order for it to work there had to be a plan, involving strict governmental controls over the economy, and a commitment to re-industrialisation and mych else.
Instead there was simply leaving the EU and the vague aspiration, onthe part of the Tory thinkers, to reduce the working class to such desperate straits that extreme neo-liberalism- no Unions, low wages, no social services, back to Dickens' day- would seem attractive.

Under the EU the market, regulated by the Brussels bureaucracy for capitalism's benefit, ruled. Any proper Brexit strategy would have involved regulation of the market, including exchange controls, widespread nationalisation including land nationalisation and smallholders' leases, and reaching out to BRICS for alliances. The benefits would have been immediate, palpable and earth shaking.

Instead, we had BOjo, the Labour Party smashed up (over Brexit and the SNP too) and if areferendum were held to today, so frightened and leaderless are the people, there would be a landslide in favour of rejoining and being punished.

Posted by: bevin | May 25 2023 17:06 utc | 10

One of Washington's vassals will expand export restrictions on Russia and Belarus.
https://tass.com/economy/1608479

Posted by: Trojan | May 25 2023 17:36 utc | 11

@9 Cont'd--

In the open format, I went and read Tokayev's remarks to answer Paco's question. What he and his colleagues all want is increased integration at all levels to facilitate the rise of the entire Union. IMO, it's important to know why that issue exists. First there was the Russian Empire, then there was the USSR, which was essentially a renamed Russian Empire. Then came dissolution of the USSR, of the Empire, and formation of a group of independent states that had once been connected and were "advised" to sever ties with the former Empire and essentially start from scratch. This problem was immediately seen which is why the CIS was formed. But it was undermined from the start by Ukraine. (Some of that history was related in yesterday's Plenary Session.) It took awhile to form a new union-like arrangement as the CIS wasn't working, although it still exists; so, the EAEU was formed nine years ago shortly after the BRI ideas were announced in Kazakhstan in 2013 by Nazarbayev and Xi. The inclusion of the word Union IMO is very important as it was aimed at reminding members of its roots in the USSR and Russian Empire where a single economic space existed. When you read what all the presidents said, the clear aim is to recreate that single economic space in a manner similar to the EU but different politically and financially.

In other words, the EAEU was designed to facilitate the rebuilding of the economic space that once existed within the USSR/Russian Empire and was torn up by the Neoliberal Parasites from the Outlaw US Empire, which set back development by decades. Armenia's rocket-like growth results from finally overcoming the artificial barrier that was erected. As the economic data published by the Valdai Club that I shared here last week showed, all the Stans are growing but at very uneven rates with some very dependent on transfers from migrants working in Russia. What's needed is to move some development projects to those nations that would otherwise be constructed in Russia to take advantage of the labor forces available there that aren't within Russia. In that vein, there were several remarks made that anyone from the EAEU must feel at home wherever they find themselves employed, as Tokayev stated:

"This is fundamentally important, because economic integration is primarily a key tool for achieving economic growth and the well-being of our citizens. Accordingly, the success or failure of integration efforts will be measured very simply: businesses and citizens should feel that they are working and living better as a result of the Union's work. Only in this case will they give the authorities a mandate of confidence for further integration steps."

To attain that, he suggests:

"I am sure that at this stage of integration development, we should move away from the tactics of making targeted decisions, situational agreements and manual management. We need a full-fledged, systematically functioning internal market of the Union. Only in this case will national businesses and foreign partners fully believe in the potential of the Union.

"Further. It is important to work together to expand sales markets for our exporters ' products. One of the key goals of creating the Union is to obtain the most favorable trade conditions from third countries based on a strong coordinated joint position."

It's odd that there's this Union State configuration with Russia and Belarus along with an Economic Union of Eurasian Nations. The main reason for that is geopolitical. But the reason for the EAEU is also geopolitical. This leads to a crucial question about the future: Will humanity at some point realize that it will be more efficient and beneficial to have a global economic union along with the multipolar political union that's forming--something that's the polar opposite of what the WEF and its Neoliberal Parasites envisioned?

Posted by: karlof1 | May 25 2023 18:05 utc | 12

Posted by: bevin | May 25 2023 17:06 utc | 10
brexit was a very good idea. But in order for it to work there had to be a plan,

The plan was laid out in UKIP's 2015 manifesto. Sadly, Farage was exhausted after the referendum victory and stepped down as leader, the infighting began, and the party collapsed. Having attained 13% of the votes in the 2015 general election, but only getting 0.2% of the seats in parliament, there was no way to implement the manifesto or even argue for it, once it's sole MP left the party.

The parliament was infested with a large majority of remainers, which did its utmost to undermine the result of the referendum. Although the UK technically left the EU in Jan 2020, it remains in lockstep with EU law and regulation. BoJo the clown continued with Treason May's NetZero lunacy, which will wreck the economy.

The shitshow continues until it doesn't.

Posted by: GT Stroller | May 25 2023 18:31 utc | 13

Hello. I'm for the freedom of speech. I hate humanity. I just want to destroy the world.
Thanks
https://youtu.be/LUyQING2cG0

Posted by: Gary Cooper | May 25 2023 20:34 utc | 14

FYI some recent youtube interviews with Dmitry Orlov, he doesn't show up often, I don't grok all of it but he's always interesting:

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKAarkNdnDo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se6Pobr7k0w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdXTFVugZEs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuUPhSisv4g&t=619s

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | May 25 2023 20:50 utc | 15

@12 Cont'd--

It took awhile for the transcript to be completed but it's now finished, translated and posted for all to read here, Meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. And yes, I'd even say it was exciting as the ending proved to be very dramatic as both Azerbaijan's Aliev and Armenia's Pashinyan were present and rhetorically crossed swords, which Putin as Elder Brother solved. At the end of their tiff, Putin said the following before moving on to close the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: I will allow myself to react. Our colleagues expressed their position and stated that this is important for them. I want to say this at the end of this part. It seems to me that the terminology that the three of us, at least, know very well about is called "legal technique"in other words. "Corridor", "road", etc. are important – and there are certain contradictions here.

But what is much more important is what you just said – both the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia-that there are also agreements of a fundamental nature on the issue of territorial integrity. This is indeed the basis for reaching agreement on other issues of a secondary nature, although they are also of significant importance.

We will now have the opportunity, as we agreed, to discuss everything calmly and in a businesslike manner in a trilateral format and, I hope, reach some agreements that will put the situation not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also in the region as a whole, on the path of constructive development.

I want to assure you that everyone here is absolutely interested in this. Alexander Grigoryevich [Lukashenko] spoke about this quite convincingly today in a closed format. Because after all, what can I say, these are all former republics of the Soviet Union, we lived in a single family of peoples. Unfortunately, we have many contradictions, including armed conflicts. And in Russia, the same thing is happening in a certain direction. Therefore, all this is very sensitive, all this is connected with human tragedies. We are all interested in seeing these problems resolved.

As for this situation, I repeat once again, we will have the opportunity to talk in a trilateral format. In this regard, I am also grateful to the President of Azerbaijan for coming, and to the Prime Minister of Armenia for not blocking this visit, and that we have all gathered to discuss these sensitive issues. [My Emphasis]

I wrote my preamble above without knowing of that altercation or of Putin's closing words. Mending the Union is an ongoing process that several nations want to see fail. IMO, geographic proximity will help the Union mend along with the many decades of shared cultural affinity. The centuries-old animosities between the Armenian and Turkic peoples is at the root of the problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan that began well before the USSR's collapse. Making amends will be much easier with the alleviation of hard times for Armenians.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 25 2023 21:21 utc | 16

Posted by: Some Random Passerby | May 25 2023 20:55 utc | 16

Fewer people had been turning out for elections because it didn't matter which party you voted for, they were all lying about having different manifestos because they were all going to have to follow the same policy dictated by Brussels. I fought for Brexit because I wanted British people to be able to vote for parties with different agendas which could actually deliver on their manifesto commitments. I was never under the illusion that UKIP would be in government anytime soon. Nevertheless, the voteshare we got in 2015 meant the winning party had to steal UKIP policies to win. Brexit meant they could actually implement them, and would have to, as the old excuse that "Brussels won't let us do it" no longer held water.

Posted by: GT Stroller | May 25 2023 21:48 utc | 17

COVID-19 pathogen engineered, not by China, but by/in the US to deploy against China. Skip ahead about 11 minutes if you are in a rush.

https://twitter.com/KimDotcom/status/1661698114917646336?t=99_Zr7IjVUZkFtZIPNykaQ&s=08

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 25 2023 22:24 utc | 18

Matt Taibbi asks "Is Putin Trolling?"

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 25 2023 22:40 utc | 19

Afghanistan doesn't get much mention at MoA anymore, which has its good and bad points. Today at the CSTO Defense Minister Conference in Minsk, as reported by TASS Shoigu made some provocative statements, "US wants to destabilize whole region using terrorists in Afghanistan":

Washington intends to use the potential of illegal armed groups in Afghanistan to destabilize the situation in the region, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at a meeting of the CSTO defense ministers in Minsk on Thursday.

"Afghanistan remains a hotbed of instability. The main threat comes from illegal armed groups that have significantly strengthened their positions in that country after the Islamic movement Taliban (a terrorist organization banned in Russia - TASS) came to power. We believe that the United States intends to use the potential of these terrorist organizations to destabilize the situation in the region," said Shoigu. "For this purpose, the redeployment of fighters from the controlled gangs in Middle East to Afghanistan has been organized."

"In the future, their infiltration into neighboring countries is possible for committing terrorist acts," Shoigu said.

"Under these conditions, we believe it is important to coordinate efforts on the Afghan track and to pay due attention to joint exercises - both bilateral and multilateral," he added.

Shoigu noted that "instead of working for the reconstruction of Afghanistan after the hasty withdrawal from it, the NATO countries are trying in various ways to restore their military presence in the Central Asian region. We regard this as a direct threat to stability there and in the CSTO space in general," the Russian defense minister said.

I wonder how the rat line functions? Turkey/Iraq/Jordan to Pakistan and into Afghanistan? IMO, Shoigu's revelations is yet another example of Russia's ability to obtain "illegal intelligence."

Posted by: karlof1 | May 25 2023 22:55 utc | 20

Posted by: oldhippie | May 25 2023 15:59 utc | 5

" M2 money supply down sharply for a second month. "

Be careful with that it is a Monetarism addiction that doesn't really tell you anything anymore. From the mid 1980's onwards anyway.

http://www.bondeconomics.com/2016/11/is-high-money-growth-telling-us-anything.html#more

Austrian's and the Hayek brigade throw around M2 like confetti. Mainly because of their sentimental attachment to the Quantity Theory of Money. Which is very deeply flawed.

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 25 2023 23:01 utc | 21

Just discovered Ben Norton has done another podcast with Michael Hudson about his latest book, this one entitled "How Society Became Dominated By Debt". Ben starts the podcast off with the following questions:

"Why in 2023, or in the past few years, why have you spent so much time writing about the emergence of debt and this history from 2,000 years ago?

"Why do you think it’s so relevant for us today in the 21st century?"

And you'll need to click the link to find out how Michael answers.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 25 2023 23:03 utc | 22

The amount of propaganda around M2. Comes from the very same people who report on Ukraine. It is bad, very bad and fooled millions of people for decades.

The main failure of the Quantity Theory of Money is the decomposition of Turnover into 'M' and 'V' without taking into account that some 'M' is held out of the flow as saving in any transaction period. Only money that moves affects transactions and prices.

It's a mistake to assume it all moves.

And even if you could get that break down, you run into difficulties if there is a shift in income between groups with different stock-flow norms.


Quantity Theory Of Money:


http://www.bondeconomics.com/2021/08/primer-quantity-theory-of-money.html

When Does The Quantity Theory Of Money Make Sense?:

http://www.bondeconomics.com/2014/10/primer-when-does-quantity-theory-of.html#more


It's really just another left over from the gold standard. Amazing how many people have been potty trained to overlay either gold standard or fixed exchange rate analysis on money today.

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 25 2023 23:15 utc | 23

Posted by: karlof1 | May 25 2023 23:03 utc | 23

" And you'll need to click the link to find out how Michael answers. "

I love Hudson read everything he has ever written. Only complaint is You have to understand when he is talking about private debt and public debt. Many times over the years he doesn't make that clear in his writing or his talks.

I know when he is talking about private debt or public debt because I've read everything he has ever written. Discovering him for the first time the distinction between the debt confuses a lot of people.

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 25 2023 23:27 utc | 24

M2 money supply down sharply for a second month.

Posted by: oldhippie | May 25 2023 15:59 utc | 5

__________________________________________________________________
The decline in M2 is due to the decline in US bank deposits (bank deposits includes deposits in credit unions and thrift Associations). The other components of M2 have gone up.

There are only 3 ways bank deposits can decrease:
1) Bank loans are paid back (in excess of bank loan creation)
2) Bank loans default
3) a) Deposits are exchanged for Federal govt back securities by depositors
b) Deposits are exchanged for Federal govt back securities by banks
c) Deposits are exchanged for Federal govt back securities by the Federal Reserve

Methods 3a and 3c account for the recent decline in bank deposits.

Regarding 2c: From 2009 until the end of 2021 the Federal Reserve had been buying up privately held govt backed securities.
In other words, QE increased bank deposits. A little over a year ago QE stopped.

2 months ago the Silicon Valley Bank dog and pony show revealed to many large depositors that their deposits might not be insured (apparently those idiots did not know this). So now large depositors are exchanging their deposits for Federal govt back securities. The banks and the Fed have a surplus of Federal govt back securities to sell.

Posted by: jinnh | May 26 2023 0:03 utc | 25

The main failure of the Quantity Theory of Money is the decomposition of Turnover into 'M' and 'V' without taking into account that some 'M' is held out of the flow as saving in any transaction period. Only money that moves affects transactions and prices.
Posted by: Derek Henry | May 25 2023 23:15 utc | 24
______________________________________________________________

Yes, There is that, but also the definition of money is flexible. At any point in time lots of different things are counted as money. What happened in 2008 was that something like 10 trillion dollars that were counted as money in August of 2008 by lots of people with lots wealth suddenly were no longer counted as money by anybody in September of 2008. And that was just the U.S. Similar contractions in what people believed to be money also happened the rest of the world.

You might like this if you are not already familiar with Philip George.


Posted by: jinn | May 26 2023 0:24 utc | 26

Moscow has always been the wannabe that got shut out. That's history. The western bloc did everything in its power to keep Moscow down, as this very day. All of mentioned things are literally tricks to gain control of and debt-slave Moscow like the western bloc did to the rest of Eastern Europe.

People would pretend the western bloc would send money with interest with the intention of helping. The second world war was literally suiciding Slavs and, now, the western bloc rewrote history to pretend USA saved the world from nazis, while, in reality, soviets saved Europe from Adolf Hitler.

Again, Moscow would want to be aggresive and imperialist but could only wish to be so. The real ones, historically, are London and Paris, as well as Washington.

Posted by: Biden's Not Enough | May 26 2023 1:02 utc | 27

@ jinn | May 26 2023 0:24 utc | 27

Thank you.

You have a malformed link. This is what you intended for the link to Philip George.

Posted by: Grieved | May 26 2023 1:51 utc | 28

@ Tom_Q_Collins | May 25 2023 22:24 utc | 19

Thanks for the link. It looks very juicy. Downloaded and just started watching it.

Thanks again - glad we can drop these viral pieces in the thread from time to time. 7 Million dead - jeez. And many more to come I'm sure.

Posted by: Grieved | May 26 2023 2:11 utc | 29

I apologize for posting this message here. I could not find any admin contact info to send this message. Is there a reason the access to this site from Iran is being denied? When I try to access, I get the message below:

Access Denied Error code 1020
You do not have access to www.moonofalabama.org
The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site. Error details:

I got an error when visiting www.moonofalabama.org/.

Error code: 1020
Ray ID: 7cd276cb8f392bba
Country: IR
Data center: fra10
IP: 91.98.51.10
Timestamp: 2023-05-26 02:07:20 UTC

Again, I'm sorry for posting a message of this nature here and I appreciate if I could get a response. Many thanks.

Posted by: M.T. | May 26 2023 2:15 utc | 30

Re @ Tom_Q_Collins | May 25 2023 22:24 utc | 19


The linked talk by D. Martin was given at the International Covid Summit III hosted by the the European Parliament in early May 2023. Links and roster below. Malone summarizes some of the proceedings at the end.

~~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFLPWWCAHfQ&t=11463s
Part 1 int cov summit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ93mW_sMPo&t=11321s
Part2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL0y_5pqJwM
Includes slides, which are not included in the above links


Part 1
0:30 C. Terhes
4:35 I.V.Sincic
6:49 S. Malthouse
(Ode to Freedom)
10:38 S. Malthouse
13:05 D. Martin
34:30 N. Hudson
52:11 C. Isidoro
1:08:35 G. Meledandri
1:29:59 A. Stramezzi
1:50:59 L. Fouche
2:08:00 (Didier Raoult-not present) P. Brouqui
2:24:25 Pierre Kory
2:43:00 J. Christoff

Part 2
C. Anderson 14:50 - 28:10
G. Frajese 58:28 - 1:15:46
K. Milhoan 1:16:47 - 1:28:00
Dr. Villalobos 1:28:41 - 1:39:15
Arne Burkhardt 1:15:27 - 2:06:16
Dr. Ryan Cole* 2:19:00 - 2:35:41
Jessica Rose 3:10:00 - 3:19:15
Maria Gutschi 3:20:26 - 3:31:42
R. Holzeisen 3:52:07 - 3:59:10
Dr. Nass & Lee 3:59:21 - 4:07:59
Dr. Robert Malone 4:08:09 - 4:28:01


Posted by: suzan | May 26 2023 2:54 utc | 31

The gardensphere has one very fundamental error, that a human being, of human limitations , has usurped the power of God.

Posted by: Giyane
https://tinyurl.com/2p8fwm37
---------------------------------------

USAss mantra
https://www.hopehillchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/In-God-We-Trust-Series-banner-2016-09-21-v2-16x9.png

Should've added,
'In Satan we follow.'
[Fixed]

--------------------------
One could sum up Christianity, the cancellation of God's omniscience and substitution of controlled fake narratives, as a massive pile of Stygian shit that the RoW will never be able to clear up. In fact much of RoW want to wallow in it.
-----------------------------------

The row are sick of garden tyranny.
Except perhaps the japs are still wallowing in their 'honorable whitemen' euphoria,

Japan Hosting G7 to Blast China

Then there's SK's Yoon Suk Yeol, the most obsequious gringo asslicker in Korean history, another gardenist
wannabe

heheheh

Posted by: denk | May 26 2023 2:56 utc | 32

Thank you, karlof1| May 25 2023 23:03 utc | 23'!

Happily I must postpone my departure in order to post an objection to Professor Hudson's description of Bishop Cyril's historical role in the death of Hypatia. I respect him as an economist; but not as a theologian. However, I am grateful nonetheless, since I've spent a 'profitable' evening, in discovering the following article, "The Beauty of Reasoning: A Re-examination of Hypatia of Alexandria" by Bryan J. Whitfield:

https://web.archive.org/web/20060902110939/
http://math.coe.uga.edu/tme/Issues/v06n1/4whitfield.pdf

My apologies - to read the article you will have to rejoin the truncated link above.
It's well worth reading, since it does justice to the lady herself, as well as to the time in which she lived and studied, a turbulent time indeed, but really not as Dr. Hudson has described it. Having studied classical Greek mathematics and astronomy myself back in the day, (and algebra was my worst subject!) the concluding paragraphs of this article fascinated me. Do read it and enjoy! And if you can't, here's a short statement of its premise:

...The usual discussions of Hypatia's death are deficient in at least three ways: they overstate the role of Cyril in Hypatia's death, they ignore the continuation of Alexandrian Neoplatonism after 415, and they misrepresent Hypatia as an opponent of Christianity.

Posted by: juliania | May 26 2023 4:26 utc | 33

@ Myrk | May 25 2023 16:36 utc | 6

China is USA's largest economic partner and USA is China's largest economic partner. Beijing as a threat is propaganda. Wanting war with Beijing is propaganda. Beijing supporting Moscow is propaganda. The war in Ukraine is Beijing and Washington splitting Russia between themselves. That's a partnership.

Biden and his MNCs do love China. Xi does love Central Asia, Russia's back garden, where just held a summit with its leaders in Xi'an - Russia not invited!.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8xxiIPBsPk

What has Xi Jinping done for Russia till date: next to nothing. Putin should trust Xi only as far as he can throw him.

Posted by: Antonym | May 26 2023 4:28 utc | 34

It was a China-Central Asia summit you stupid idiot, xi jinping had already spent 3 days in Moscow earlier this year and addressed the eurasian economic forum by video yesterday.

Posted by: Phariah | May 26 2023 4:43 utc | 35

[email protected], please, if you might elucidate on your objection. when i was very young i was fascinated with hypatia, researched her history, wrote a play...so i am curious what you find of such interest in what michael said that you have delayed your departure? when i listened (i have yet to read this book as i'm back on 'forgive them their debts' but i recall giving a moment's pause as i listened & then gave it to michael hudson---he is covering (& he does it with a magician's miraculous broom) a tremendous sweep of history & not everyone needs to stand alongside hypatia on the steps of the temple as she removes her bloody cloth & admonishes the crowd---'see this! this is what you want.' i am intrigued.

juliania, although we have never chatted, i have always enjoyed your posts & looked forward to your visits & shall miss you but completely understand. i've signed up to the site you posted & look forward to receiving the posts. blessings.

Posted by: emersonreturn | May 26 2023 4:56 utc | 36

Again, I'm sorry for posting a message of this nature here and I appreciate if I could get a response. Many thanks.

Posted by: M.T. | May 26 2023 2:15 utc | 31

I live in USA and get those from time to time, from all sorts of sites. I don't think in this case is because of where you are. I think it is an intermittent network error, and since you have posted here now, you can access the site. Your connections to this site are likely to be low quality.

That said, network admin can see if you come here, whoever you are and wherever you are. The question is going to be if anybody cares. I would not expect Iranian authorities to object to MoA, but I would not really expect to know about them, living here.

Posted by: Bemildred | May 26 2023 7:40 utc | 37

@M.T. #31

This website is hosted on TypePad blogging platform and is protected by Cloudflare. Error code 1020 is a Cloudflare error, see details here. MoA’s admin contact is here.

Posted by: S | May 26 2023 8:17 utc | 38

juliania | May 26 2023 4:26 utc | 34
Now. I saw something posted some threads back by james… I gleaned only a microgram of what he meant.
Something something…. You’re leaving @bar ….. because ? Too many posts ? / noise overwhelm?
Is that sort-of correct?
If so, can I invite/ incline you to stay?
I always appreciate your posts. Don’t always respond, because… I read threads, trawl twitter for tidbits and try to add a bit of 70-30 (80-20?) info/humour to a thread.
Apart from a few really fast readers/ / barflies with lots of time // dedicated trolls…… can I suggest very few of us can read every post in every thread?
I don’t have the troll-control plug-in plugged in, but I am increasingly more “ruthless” in scrolling past known pests, over-posters and drive-by dastards.
Of course, as a mature soul of senior years, you will do what works for you, but the bar will be sadly diminished if you leave.
Imho.
[I think there was once an understood protocol that one read a thread before posting. That’s a politeness and practice long lapsed. … probably to the @bar’s detriment, but these are fraught, and exceptional times]

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 26 2023 8:44 utc | 39

The obvious flaw in this maritime "treaty" for Papua New Guinea is the US did not sign or ratify the United Nations International Law of the Sea Treaty.

Most responsible nations, particularly Pacific nation signed. As we know the US is "not agreement capable". So in reality their signature really means nothing.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/22/papua-new-guinea-us-to-sign-security-pact-with-eye-on-china

Seafarers should be aware of traveling in PNG waters, your courtesy flag and entry permit means nothing.

The rogue, scofflaw US has now militarised PNG waters, in another feeble attempt to "contain" China.

PNG waters have been subcontracted to the crumbling and increasingly desperate Outlaw US Empire.

To PNG citizens: The next step is a war with China on your territory.

Posted by: Paul GV | May 26 2023 8:51 utc | 40

An interesting collection of odds end ends around Chinese development (and use) of laser weapons. Included very interesting claims of robust Chinese interception of Oz military surveillance aircraft by hitting them with blinding lasers and also flying very close and then firing off anti-missile flares ... not one I’ve heard of before.

China To Fires ‘Laser Weapons, Gears Up To Shoot Down enemy Drones

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7y7z1OzaBVw

Posted by: anon2020 | May 26 2023 8:53 utc | 41

Tom_Q_Collins #22:24 utc | 19

COVID-19 pathogen engineered, not by China, but by/in the US to deploy against China. Skip ahead about 11 minutes if you are in a rush.

https://twitter.com/KimDotcom/status/1661698114917646336?t=99_Zr7IjVUZkFtZIPNykaQ&s=08

Thank you and thanks to KimDotcom for standing with us.

The University of North Carolina remains in the spotlight. When will stand in the docks before a court?

Posted by: uncle tungsten | May 26 2023 10:21 utc | 42

Posted by: jinn | May 26 2023 0:24 utc | 27

" You might like this if you are not already familiar with Philip George. "

Thanks for that jinn. Yes, I was introduced to Phillip George about 6 years ago and read all his stuff by a guy on seeking alpha.

Yet again, a lot of his stuff overlays gold standard / fixed exchange rate analysis that no longer applies to fiat money.

At least he did recognise that some 'M' is held out of the flow as saving in any transaction period.

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 26 2023 11:05 utc | 43

brexit was a very good idea. But in order for it to work there had to be a plan, involving strict governmental controls over the economy, and a commitment to re-industrialisation and mych else.

Posted by: bevin | May 25 2023 17:06 utc | 10

That is just bonkers. Even if, the British government succeeded in relaunching British industry, there are no new markets outside Europe for the new British imperial industry to exploit. Europe was and is the main market to address. In that respect ease of trade within the single market (a British invention) meant logically staying in the EU. And that's just one reason to stay in the EU....

Posted by: laguerre | May 26 2023 11:33 utc | 44

Every day we'r bombarded with so called 'Chinese debt trap', 'Chinese colonisation/exploitation/abuse of Africa'

Selfdom if at all, do we get to hear the real story...
How Chinese investors, state firms have been hemorrhaging monies in oversea projects, due to FUKUSA aka AUKUS skullduggery

Daylight robbery in Africa
Exhibit A
Congo/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu9eLWkczJo

Posted by: denk | May 26 2023 11:54 utc | 45

brexit was a very good idea. But in order for it to work there had to be a plan, involving strict governmental controls over the economy, and a commitment to re-industrialisation and mych else.

Posted by: bevin | May 25 2023 17:06 utc | 10

That is just bonkers. Even if, the British government succeeded in relaunching British industry, there are no new markets outside Europe for the new British imperial industry to exploit. Europe was and is the main market to address. In that respect ease of trade within the single market (a British invention) meant logically staying in the EU. And that's just one reason to stay in the EU....

Posted by: laguerre | May 26 2023 11:33 utc | 45


Bevan is 100% correct. Laguerre believes in the export your way to growth fallacy instead of believing in balanced trade and domestic consumption.

Balanced trade and domestic consumption helps everybody instead of just a few exporters. Imports are a benefit and exports are a cost in skills and real resources terms. In the old days it was called " real terms of trade"

The 4 freedoms of the EU are nothing more than ruling class freedoms and 4 prisons for the lower class. Free movement of people are a productivity killer. How many people do you actually want waiting on you hand a foot just to serve you a Latte? Actually how many skills and real resources do you actually want to use just to serve coffee. Coffee houses should be just filled with machines. Walk up to the machine and serve yoirself. Freeing up skills and real resources to do other more productive things.

Post Brexit UK is seeing higher skilled labour entering from non-EU countries to support a range of services (public and other) – success

https://billmitchell.org/blog/?p=60860

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 26 2023 12:39 utc | 46

Introduce an immigration policy that scraps importing of cheap labour to keep the middle classes in their delusions of grandeur. Reintroducing a work visa system that is on same lines as every other civilised advanced nation outside the EU. Then only higher waged, higher skilled individuals come into the country from all over the world, but they compete with a different class of people and compete less because they are in areas with genuine skill shortage. This immediately stops the driving down of wages of the lower class.

More importantly you need to send out higher skilled individuals from this country to the rest of the world to balance those you take in. Otherwise you are stealing skills from other nations which they need to develop internally That is a ‘beggar-thy-neighbour’ attitude and morally unacceptable. Immigration should be more of an informal exchange process than a capitalist ‘free market’.

Free movement of people is imperialism The EU just love begger The neighbour attitude in their race to the bottom.

The underlying philosophy should called “A New Bill of Rights,” supplementing earlier and existing rights already accepted …

(1) the right to work usefully a creatively through the productive years;

(2) the right to fair play adequate to command the necessities and amenities of life in exchange for work, ideas, thrift, and other socially valuable service;

(3) the right to adequate food, clothing, shelter, and medical care;

(4) the right to security, with freedom from fear of old age, want, dependency, sickness, unemployment, and accident;

(5) the right to live in a system of free enterprise, free from compulsory labour, irresponsible private power, arbitrary public authority, and regulated monopolies;

(6) the right to come and go, to speak or be silent, free from the spyings of secret political police;

(7) right to equality before the law, with equal access to justice in fact;

(8) the right to education for work, for citizenship, and for personal growth and happiness; and

(9) the right to rest, recreation, adventure, the opportunity to enjoy life and take part in an advancing civilisation.

The very purpose of planning is to release human abilities, to broaden the field of opportunity, and to enlarge human liberty. We plan primarily for freedom; the ways and means and instruments are secondary to the main purpose. The right kind of planning – democratic planning – is a guarantee of liberty and the only real assurance in our times that humans can be free to make a wide range of choices. Every progressive nation should actively be engaged in plannning for the development of its natural and human resources, on the highest and best level.

Achieved by a general staff gathering and analysing facts, observing the interelation and administration of broad policies, proposing from time to time alternative lines of national procedure, based upon inquiry and mature consideration.

These insights have been known about for a long time and it is only the imposition of ideological blinkers that have led to them being discouraged in the public debate.

The neo-liberal era has also been marked by a major reduction in Departmental capacity to design and implement fiscal policy – given the obsession with monetary policy and the major outsourcing of “fiscal-type” government services to the private sector.

Many of the major government policy departments in the advanced nations are now just contract managers for outsourced service delivery.

So this diminution in the overall capacity of the government machine to implement efficiently and speedily complicated nation-wide infrastructure programs has to be addressed as a matter of urgency by progressive politicians.

As a result of what we learned during the GFC, we can no longer deny that fiscal policy is required to address serious swings in non-government spending.

Monetary policy has been proven – categorically – to be ineffective in dealing with aggregate demand failures of the sort we have witnessed in that crisis.

In that context, governments must develop forward-looking capacity to ensure that it has project implementation skills when they are required.

That was exactly what the US National Resources Planning Board concluded in 1941. The 432-page Report – Development of resources and stabilization of employment in the United States – has many beautiful pieces of analysis and reasoning.

https://ia801406.us.archive.org/16/items/developmentofres1941unitrich/developmentofres1941unitrich.pdf

A reading of that Report will leave you in no doubt as to how a national currency-issuing government can implement effective fiscal policy to meet both longer-term needs of its people but also counter-cyclical responses in a time when recession threated as non-government spending was in retreat and how it supports a bill of rights.

Tackle the issues head on and the strawmen disappear on both sides of the debate.

Immediately introduce a Job Guarantee. A transition job that allows workers to move inbetween the public and private sector. Reign in the banks removing interest rate targeting once and for all.

https://new-wayland.com/blog/running-a-modern-money-economy/

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 26 2023 13:02 utc | 47

Well I have lost control of my VK account. The magical world of Oz. I can no longer access it. I guess the biolabs stuff was not a good look for the democratic, or more to the point, demonic west.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 26 2023 13:36 utc | 48

If you spend time making a car, in return for mere electronic imprints on a computer, you have used up finite labour hours that could have been used, alternatively, to produce something for consumption domestically.

Producing for domestic consumption, and imports are what improve the standard of living for UK residents. Not pass through. Not 'export led growth'.

The needs of the country are not the needs of the exporter. That's why we left the EU, which favoured UK exporters over UK workers.

We don't need to 'earn' anything. You win in international trade by exporting as little as possible and importing as much as possible. It's the physical exchange that represents the terms of trade and the standard of living increase, not accumulating promises from other nations.

Money is what allows the UK to pay for imports. That's why we have a trade deficit. As we are sovereign unlike Eurozone countries we can create money at will.

In reality the trade is balanced. The export product you're missing is 'Sterling savings'. Otherwise the exchange rate would have moved to eliminate the physical deficit.

I'm not saying exporting isn't required, but it should not be the focus - as it is a real cost. The focus should be on smoothing the path of imports, and the exports will necessarily follow from that or foreign exporters won't be able to sell their stuff to the UK.

In other words, we can take advantage of those with 'export led growth' mindsets by switching to an 'import leads exports' mindset.

Why ?

Becomes clear when you think in real resources terms. Real resources is stuff you can run out of. Not £'s you can never run out of £'s.

The wealth of your nation is everything you produce with everybody work. Imports add to that real wealth.

Exports subtract from that wealth as you have to forgo real resources you could have used for yourselves.

Now I'm not saying exports doesn't help exporters yeah it helps those people until they run out of real resources to export that is. Exporters are a tiny proportion of the whole domestic economy. So why run export led growth that only helps that small amount and is totally dependant on world demand ?

Germany put so many skills and real resources into exports its infrastructure was falling apart. Bridges and autobahns were crumbling. Impose austerity right across the Eurozone with deficit and debt rules to stop consumers desires for imports. Exports their unemployment to the periphery of the Eurozone.

Had to open up their borders to fix their infrastructure with low skilled workers driving down wages and a productivity killer. Productivity is all about doing more with less.

This fixation with exports is a mental illness. Of course the losers of wars are always forced to export their real resources to the winners - see Rome for details.

What do they get in return ?

Billions of $'s held as treasuries at the FED that they'll never use or £'s held as gilts at the BOE.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/246420/major-foreign-holders-of-us-treasury-debt/

Which of course both Russia and China and the Brics are trying to change.


The EU can send the UK as many of their real resources as they like and we will continue to give them as little of our real resources in return. Give them gilts at the BOE instead. Continue to laugh at them while they do it.

The very last thing the UK wants is to send all of its real resources to the EU and get very little real resources in return and end up with Billions of eurobonds at the ECB that we'll never use. Why those with a brain voted for brexit.


Posted by: Derek Henry | May 26 2023 13:41 utc | 49

Excellent Brian Berletic round table with Xiangyu from Taiwan and Angelo, an expat who ha spent many years in China.

Here in Australia, as we move towards war with China, the hammer is already coming down.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 26 2023 13:41 utc | 50

Just got back into my VK account. Had to create a knew password as it was blocked due to suspicious posts.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 26 2023 13:48 utc | 51

Sterling is UK's largest export product.

Give us your real resources and we will give very little of our real resources in return. We prefer to use our own real resources on ourselves.

Here have sterling instead......

https://new-wayland.com/blog/savings-are-an-export-product/

Now please let our UK businesses know what you would like to buy with that sterling we have just given you.

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 26 2023 13:49 utc | 52

Eve Ottenberg, on demagogic hatred of the homeless...

Quite an economic system we got here. It strips millions of people of the means of survival, then blames and punishes them for their dispossession. If you call that civilization, you need to rethink your definition of the term.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/05/26/the-death-penalty-for-homelessness/

Posted by: Aleph_Null | May 26 2023 14:17 utc | 53

A canceled actor (Laurence Fox) tweeting up a video of part of Putin's speech on 'Western values'.

"Say what you like about Putin, he understands exactly what is going on in the west."

https://twitter.com/LozzaFox/status/1662002885188616194

Posted by: GT Stroller | May 26 2023 14:40 utc | 54

ROW is an abbreviation that stands for the rest of the world. International companies use it when dividing the world into regions and also in data analysis. ROW includes countries that have not been referred to in some other way.

Posted by: noname | May 26 2023 16:14 utc | 55

Thanks Antonym # 35.....Marks #6..should really see doctor for exam of his mental capacity ....

Posted by: sejmon | May 26 2023 17:45 utc | 56

@[email protected] 17

'It's odd that there's this Union State configuration with Russia and Belarus along with an Economic Union of Eurasian Nations. The main reason for that is geopolitical. But the reason for the EAEU is also geopolitical. This leads to a crucial question about the future: Will humanity at some point realize that it will be more efficient and beneficial to have a global economic union along with the multipolar political union that's forming--something that's the polar opposite of what the WEF and its Neoliberal Parasites envisioned? '

Thank you for all your enlightening and beautifully worded posts, and also to @Sushi, @ Debsisdead and some others I may have omitted for now.
Yes, I know MoA is a 'watering hole' where many converge to have a drink and talk about important things...

For myself it is like a garden when b. throws a seed into a fertile soil and then a beautiful plant springs out fast and like a fireworks, full of branches hanging heavy with flowers and fruits.
I have learned a lot from many of you, thank you.

I have been aware of Ukraine situ since 2014, and expected the present situation, many have announced it, for example Gladyev then was openly announcing the war between NATO and RF. I believed him.

I am very worried about the possibility that during the cursed upcoming Defender Nato exercise( the biggest in Nato history), some shenanigans might happen. They will be poised ideally for an attack.Can any RF AD withhold so much incoming targets on maybe Crimea, or else__ and yes, I know about Patriot thing.

I am aware about the economic/political background, motives of USA and RF, the changes which are happening for a better world.That will take some time.
I think the corrupted and rotten west, less than 17% of the planet, has now come to some very bad decisions, to save their elites for further few years of pillaging the rest of us.We plebs do not matter.

I wish fervently that I am wrong, but, as the wonderful russian philosopher Fursov would say: 'I feel it with my skin' ( something is comming very soon).

Maybe I am worrying too much, but I fret about

Posted by: stranger | May 26 2023 18:14 utc | 57

Posted by: emersonreturn | May 26 2023 4:56 utc | 37

Thanks for answering my post, emersonreturns. I agree with you that Hypatia is a fascinating figure, coming as she does at the tail end of the existence of Plato's Academy, and she being her father's daughter, which the essay I linked to explains in detail -- most of my answers to Dr. Hudson come from that essay, as I have mentioned.

For the early Church fathers, her mathematical prowess would not be in dispute - the subjects she taught are the general mathematical and scientific subjects all should study whatever their faith. As I said, her city was deeply divided and subject to rioting in all factions of it (probably because there were a series of leaders themselves differing in beliefs:see Henry VIII and his daughters in England).

We know only that a mob called 'Christian' was responsible for her savage death; the horrific deed should not be thereby imputed to the Christian leadership any more than a mob called 'Jewish' or 'Islamic' ought to have their actions blamed upon the spiritual leaders of those faiths, unless there could be proven direct involvement . There were even many warring factions among Christian groups at the time; emotions ran high and excessive behavior was par for the course.

Her teachings were not apparently in any way contrary to what Christians believe; she had Christians among her students. It's just a pity we don't know more about them, (her teachings) because the issue has been popularly distorted into an issue of faith against reason, which it never should be. Many aspects of neoPlatonism are very close to Christianity, and there is (or was) a cathedral somewhere in Europe that has statues of Plato and Aristotle flanking the entrance to the church.

I'm not much of a Christian apologist unfortunately; I would just say that it doesn't really serve valid claims about economical issues to take on spiritual ones. To my mind the two are in harmony in classical Christianity, even if we humans often, sadly, are not.

Posted by: juliania | May 26 2023 20:55 utc | 58


[I think there was once an understood protocol that one read a thread before posting. That’s a politeness and practice long lapsed. … probably to the @bar’s detriment, but these are fraught, and exceptional times]

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 26 2023 8:44 utc | 40

Thanks for your post, Melaleuca. I was, indeed, unable to follow threads the way I used to, paying attention to all and attempting fairness. The popularity of this site, to b's credit, plus other needs just made that impossible, and I know I'll miss a lot of the insightful arguments that go on here, but mostly I'll have to leave it to b to sort things through. I'll just dip in on his posts because he's the one who tells me what's what - I've mostly 'shot my wad' as they say, in any case, so check our archives; I'm there, warts and all.

;)

Posted by: juliania | May 26 2023 21:21 utc | 59

stranger | May 26 2023 18:14 utc | 58--

Thanks for your reply. In his most recent update that mentions the upcoming Defender FTX (Field Training Exercise), Simplicius posted a poll with three choices for subscribers to weigh-in on what they think might occur. Something(s) will happen, but there're many possibilities short of actual battle. For example, both sides will use their Signal Intel and EW assets to some degree. Will Russian AD "paint" NATO planes? NATO AWACS and related drones will certainly observe as much as they can. How disciplined will Russian AD operators be? How much of the Northern Fleet will sortie? Will Russia stage part or all of its Far Eastern Air Wing to the West? Will Russia conduct its own FTX? And those are just a sample.

So far, NATO nations have avoided being directly attacked for their role in the combat although they're legitimate targets. The only way that can continue is if NATO continues doing no more than it's now doing. If NATO were to launch an attack on Russia, Brussels would very likely be introduced to Mr. Kinzhal and Mr. Zircon; NATO HQ would become rubble. Other NATO assets would also be targeted. IMO, both NATO and Russia want the combat to remain within Ukraine, which means NATO will confine itself to SigIntel/EW activities.

In reading about where Defender23 is to take place and the amount of equipment and personnel, I don't think anything will be done by NATO given the proxemics/geography as a look at a map will prove. And that's key.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 26 2023 21:59 utc | 60

@ juliania | May 26 2023 21:21 utc | 60

i would like to 2nd melaleucas words to you regarding appreciating all you bring to moa...

and just so you know - i did finish reading 'demons'... the ending was a real shock to me.. would be nice to talk with you about it, but i understand if it doesn't happen... happy gardening..

Posted by: james | May 26 2023 22:17 utc | 61

usa state dept press briefing from yesterday - obviously this is on gonzala lira..

"QUESTION: Thanks. Liam Cosgrove with Epoch Times. So this was a couple weeks ago, but I haven’t seen an official statement on it. A U.S. citizen who is residing in Ukraine has been arrested and that he was a California-born man; he was in the past like a business insider contributor, and he had a YouTube channel. He was an outspoken critic of Zelenskyy’s regime. The Ukrainian SBU released a press release saying he was arrested for justifying Putin’s invasion. So ultimately, it added up to speech. And I spoke with Congressman Ted Lieu, a Democrat, and he said he urges the State Department to engage its authorities to work out some sort of negotiation to get him released. So are you guys aware of this? How do we feel about our allies detaining U.S. citizens for speech abroad?

MR MILLER: So I will say in general that we’re aware of the report. We obviously support the exercise of freedom of speech anywhere in the world, and I’ll leave it at that.

QUESTION: So you guys aren’t working to get him released?

MR MILLER: I’m going to leave my comments where I just left them."

Posted by: james | May 26 2023 22:21 utc | 62

Aleph__Null no. 54

"Population control".

Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | May 26 2023 23:59 utc | 63

Here in Australia, as we move towards war with China, the hammer is already coming down.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 26 2023 13:41 utc | 51
---------------------


The entire [five liars] are vomiting diarrhea

Secret Chinese police stations in the garden,

Chinese interference in [fiveliars] elections,

More Chinese spies apprehended in USAss,

Here's the latest...

Chinese hackers are spying on U.S. critical infrastructure, Microsoft and Western intelligence agencies say

jfc !
The USAss is a fucking cesspool masquerading as a cuntry.
You can say the same about the entire garden.

Posted by: denk | May 27 2023 1:55 utc | 64

[email protected], while i regret you are leaving moa & in no way mean to delay you, however, the little i know of hypatia, the signal & pivotal point i came to fathom in my studies...her foundation was her belief (derived from her illustrious father & many other giants (regrettably lost))---(& for this affront she faced cyril head-on)---was simple...all ideas were permitted, spurious silly notions were allowed to be studied, investigated, debated, torn apart & then, & solely then, if an idea could withstand such debate it would live like a gladiator to fight another day, very like what (pre covid) all scientific research attempted to practise. i still have no clear idea why or what it was in michael hudson's interview you questioned or thought might counter that fundamental? or perhaps it was something altogether different that unsettled you like a burr in a favourite blanket? i am curious? my question is wholly the quest for truth, rigorous or otherwise. blessings & serene thoughts to you.

Posted by: emersonreturn | May 27 2023 2:06 utc | 65

Meanwhile,
Caitlin to presstitute warmonger..

'Do your orgasm off camera FFS'

HEHEHE

Posted by: denk | May 27 2023 3:02 utc | 66

[18]

It is not so much not turning out to vote as rigged voting using postal votes. Look at Germany 2021 where 44% ballots were postal and counting fraud in favour of Greens in Berlin ……..or U.K……or US…… devote harvesting in nursing and care homes and mosques

The top-down parties are waging Class War as Net Zero . Never a squawk about private jets or luxury homes or great wealth

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 27 2023 5:36 utc | 67

Posted by: denk | May 26 2023 11:54 utc | 46
--------------

In the Congo caper, USAss robbed the Cobalt contract outta China's hand.
First they sent JOhnny Carlson, assistant secretary for African Affairs, when Carlson failed to persuade the hosts to ditch China, they sent in the heavy artillery,
hillary enforcer clinton, who haughtily brought the Congolese to heel.

That Johnny Carlson,

China is a “very aggressive and pernicious economic competitor with no morals.”

Say who ?

If you cant beat them, blow them up !

https://tinyurl.com/wy2s5xaf

Posted by: denk | May 27 2023 11:51 utc | 68

feel the urn USA . China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., a joint venture with Moody's Investors Service, lowered its rating by one notch to AA+ from AAA and placed the US on review for a further downgrade, according to a statement Thursday.

Posted by: hankster | May 27 2023 12:11 utc | 69

Two graphs from Reuters on "official recession" in Germany:

Following Wednesday's decline in the Ifo business climate, all key leading indicators in the manufacturing sector are now falling, Kraemer said.

The German Bundesbank, however, expects the economy to grow modestly in the second quarter as a rebound in industry more than offsets stagnating household consumption and a slump in construction, according to a monthly economy report published on Wednesday.
-----------
To summarize: falling leading indicators in manufacturing prompt Bundesbank to foresee "rebound in industry", so forecasts of Bundesbank are presumably lagging indicators (i.e. based on the past episodes it is fond of). More confusion may be caused by statements "consumers spent more", more accurately, consumers spent more than ever before, but they got fewer goods (clear to some, confusing to others). What GENUINELY puzzled me is that investment in equipment and machinery grew robustly, at 3.2% rate, but leading indicators went down. That suggest that this equipment and machinery were predominantly not in manufacturing, e.g. in heat pumps (I have mixed feeling about it as a former owner of an under-performing heat pump that produced heat in mild weather, resolutely breaking down when thermometer was resolutely below freezing point, underground coils were probably too shallow. but German government promotes them energetically, even forcibly).

That said, the drop in German GDP was not deep and "Germany was the worst performing country among major countries in Eurozone, suggesting that France, Italy and Spain did better. But what about lesser countries, say, Latvia and Slovakia?

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 15:39 utc | 70

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 15:39 utc | 72

Your Heat Pump may not have been underperforming, it's the nature of the beast to work until it
really gets cold.

Posted by: SwissArmyMan | May 27 2023 15:47 utc | 71

Your Heat Pump may not have been underperforming, it's the nature of the beast to work until it
really gets cold.

Posted by: SwissArmyMan | May 27 2023 15:47 utc | 73

In my case, in cold weather we would need to switch to electric heat, ca. 1 USD/h, cheap electicity. Our climate and landscape resembles Saarland. But what would happen in, say, Lower Saxony where you get snow etc., in a week of snow, everybody switching to electric heat, solar panels covered with snow, wind tepid, no nuclear, and after 2030, no coal? Hope that French and Belgian nuclear power will save them?

With nuclear power you have guaranteed baseline supply, so for a bad week, you could shut down manufacturing and survive on nuclear. But German Green plans do not offer any solution except draining the pipes (you do not want water in frozen pipes), use good sleeping bags and cook on tourist stoves + delay bathing until cold is over.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 16:27 utc | 72

and cook on tourist stoves

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 16:27 utc | 74

---

The same Green regulations that demanded heat pumps require houses to be built so air-tight that an open flame indoors brings the risk of asphyxiation.

Posted by: too scents | May 27 2023 16:43 utc | 73

THE U.S. NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COUNTER ANTISEMITISM
MAY 2023
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/U.S.-National-Strategy-to-Counter-Antisemitism.pdf

Is criticism of Israel antisemitism?
Let's see--

comment: The National Strategy To Counter Antisemitism does not define antisemitism.
p. 13
There are several definitions of antisemitism, which serve as valuable tools to raise awareness and increase understanding of antisemitism. The most prominent is the non-legally binding “working definition” of antisemitism adopted in 2016 by the 31-member states of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which the United States has embraced.
In addition, the Administration welcomes and appreciates the Nexus Document and notes other such efforts. The focus of this national strategy is on actions to counter antisemitism.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/U.S.-National-Strategy-to-Counter-Antisemitism.pdf

“working definition” of antisemitism adopted in 2016 by the 31-member states of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
The Working Definition states: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/news-archive/working-definition-antisemitism

comment: Jewish community institutions?
---------------
23 June 2020
Fact Sheet: Working Definition of Antisemitism
To guide IHRA in its work, the following examples may serve as illustrations:
Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.
https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/Fact%20Sheet%20Working%20Definition%20of%20Antisemitism_25_0.pdf

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 27 2023 16:56 utc | 74

Fact Sheet: Working Definition of Antisemitism
To guide IHRA in its work, the following examples may serve as illustrations:
Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 27 2023 16:56 utc | 76

In practice the "sin of targeting" can be established when you accuse Israel of bombing and shelling Palestinian civilians and you do not accuse any other countries of bombing and shelling Palestinian civilians.

Other examples are focusing your critique on groups that have elevated percentage of Jews, like banking executives (including investment banking like Goldman Sachs), or "neo-cons".

Classic example: championing the slogan "For many, not for the few" (Jeremy Corbyn). Since there are few Jews (at least in UK), it is anti-Semitic.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 17:37 utc | 75

and cook on tourist stoves

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 16:27 utc | 74
---
The same Green regulations that demanded heat pumps require houses to be built so air-tight that an open flame indoors brings the risk of asphyxiation.

Posted by: too scents | May 27 2023 16:43 utc | 75

But tourist stoves can be used outdoors!

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 17:39 utc | 76

@Karlof1,

'So far, NATO nations have avoided being directly attacked for their role in the combat although they're legitimate targets. The only way that can continue is if NATO continues doing no more than it's now doing. If NATO were to launch an attack on Russia, Brussels would very likely be introduced to Mr. Kinzhal and Mr. Zircon; NATO HQ would become rubble. Other NATO assets would also be targeted. IMO, both NATO and Russia want the combat to remain within Ukraine, which means NATO will confine itself to SigIntel/EW activities.

In reading about where Defender23 is to take place and the amount of equipment and personnel, I don't think anything will be done by NATO given the proxemics/geography as a look at a map will prove. And that's key.' end quote

First, thank you for your reply, I appreciate you very much.

Comes to mind that the 'western idiots' do game everything in advance.
Examples are 'Event 201' just before false plandemic, and also now we have this coming: 'Cathastrophic Contagion':https://catastrophiccontagion.centerforhealthsecurity.org/, which will appear in few years.By 2025.WHO rising like evil superpower above the local governments, already weak and contaminated and broken from their constituents.Bought out.

I take it that maybe the western fools are going to game this for the near future attack on the RF and China this summer.

The window of opportunity is short, it has to be summer, early summer... Autumn brings very unfavorable conditions, and winter, forget it...

So, if not now, when? Next year... By then, the decay in the west will be far progressed, and their strength will be sapped out of them, economically, socially, every possible way.

Thank you.

Agnaby/stranger

Posted by: stranger | May 27 2023 18:12 utc | 77

Posted by: james | May 26 2023 22:17 utc | 62

Thanks, james. Congratulations, it's a difficult read. I'll do my best to respond; have at it!

Posted by: juliania | May 27 2023 19:44 utc | 78

Question for the people much smarter than I here: If the USA manages to create a complete cold war 2.0, what are the chances that they overcome shooting themselves in the foot, leg, arm and shoulder? Seems the way other countries are taking a step back to see which way the wind is blowing could potentially kill western influence or at the very least make it a non factor as the ROW moves on. Just saw that Germany blocking more Russian media. It's another step in the journey to the west's self isolation in my opinion. I've been pretty bang on over the last 10 years on how events will unfold. Let me know what you guys and gals think. Love your posts Karlof

Posted by: Watzov | May 27 2023 20:08 utc | 79

I’m wondering if Super Typhoon Mawar laying waste to Guam might be connected to what’s happening elsewhere, like in Kosovo? Assuming that typhoon-tampering is an accepted military capability in certain countries. Canada was very involved in the siege of Sarajevo. I shared in previous comments about a map that was leaked on CBC’s program, The National, to educate Canadians on Canada’s need to participate. Maybe I’ll watch tomorrow (Sunday’s the most prominent episode) and see what is reported.

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | May 27 2023 20:26 utc | 80

@ juliania | May 27 2023 19:44 utc | 80

thanks.. i found myself referencing the section at the beginning with all the names and dual or triple names for the people! that came in handy.. i really needed to pay more attention to that first part of the book which included this, as it wasn't until i was much further in that i realized a few of these characters had a few different names for the same person!

but the ending was shocking... it is kind of a psychological thriller where one is trying to grasp the different personalities - especially the main character, and all those around him.. i was unprepared for the end, but it sounds as they at the time they didn't want to publish the book due the dark nature of the ending and story... the appendix where he visits the monk was thoroughly fascinating and where so much was revealed.. that filled in a lot of blanks, but the original book didn't have this as the publishers wouldn't allow it.. that is my understanding..

@ Watzov | May 27 2023 20:08 utc | 81

it is my impression the usa-uk leadership is shooting itself in the foot and no better example can be found then with regard to germanys response to all this here... okay - germany falls on its sword first, but it is an important player and this can't sit well with the german populace... i would say much the same for the country i live in - canada - but we are not as dependent on resources for are continued maintenance as germany is... and i am not much smarter then others here - just have a viewpoint, as i am sure you do too!

Posted by: james | May 27 2023 20:31 utc | 81

The amount of propaganda around M2. Comes from the very same people who report on Ukraine. It is bad, very bad and fooled millions of people for decades. [...]

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 25 2023 23:15 utc | 24

In spite of getting a degree in a "quantitative science", I have only a most vague idea about M2, and I doubt that the people reporting on Ukraine tend to know more, they work in narrative maintenance, a skill with small demands for any type of quantification. My guess is that an average person just trusts that Fed knows what they are doing (or simply trust God, as advised on our currency).

I recall learning that at the earliest stage of Covid 19 epidemic Fed started quantitative easing, making me quip here that regardless of other measures, we were in good hands. Presumably, seers of the Fed were able toforsee how the epidemic will impact M1, M2, and M3 (MI5 and MI6 as well? where is MI4?) and choose a proper course of action or inaction.
----
One thing that impacted M2 (I rely on Henry's explanation) is a decrease in the ranks of revolvers. Revolvers are folks who either because of poverty or inattention keep balance on their credit card accounts from month to month and pay interest on those accounts, above 20%. This is clearly a charity toward ever suffering big banks (at times, small banks too), and with Covid affecting private finances, more people were paying attention and stopped revolving. Moreover, with closure of restaurants and fast foods, people started to cook at home, perhaps this created a habit that continued, that could increase M2 too.

Perhaps because of some quantum effects, as the number of revolvers went down, the number of pistols in private hands went up. People started to pay more attention to details. OMG, why did I pay this charge last month? Just because I did not pay full statement balance? OMG, we have two pillows on our connubial bed, and only one pistol!

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 22:07 utc | 82

The amount of propaganda around M2. Comes from the very same people who report on Ukraine. It is bad, very bad and fooled millions of people for decades. [...]

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 25 2023 23:15 utc | 24

In spite of getting a degree in a "quantitative science", I have only a most vague idea about M2, and I doubt that the people reporting on Ukraine tend to know more, they work in narrative maintenance, a skill with small demands for any type of quantification. My guess is that an average person just trusts that Fed knows what they are doing (or simply trust God, as advised on our currency).

I recall learning that at the earliest stage of Covid 19 epidemic Fed started quantitative easing, making me quip here that regardless of other measures, we were in good hands. Presumably, seers of the Fed were able toforsee how the epidemic will impact M1, M2, and M3 (MI5 and MI6 as well? where is MI4?) and choose a proper course of action or inaction.
----
One thing that impacted M2 (I rely on Henry's explanation) is a decrease in the ranks of revolvers. Revolvers are folks who either because of poverty or inattention keep balance on their credit card accounts from month to month and pay interest on those accounts, above 20%. This is clearly a charity toward ever suffering big banks (at times, small banks too), and with Covid affecting private finances, more people were paying attention and stopped revolving. Moreover, with closure of restaurants and fast foods, people started to cook at home, perhaps this created a habit that continued, that could increase M2 too.

As the number of revolvers went down, the number of pistols in private hands went up. People started to pay more attention to details. OMG, why did I pay this charge last month? Just because I did not pay full statement balance? OMG, we have two pillows on our connubial bed, and only one pistol!

Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 27 2023 22:07 utc | 83

Posted by: james | May 27 2023 20:31 utc | 83

Ah, thank you, james. We may have a disagreement on who the 'main character' of the novel is, but you have the advantage of me in having investigated the ins and outs of publication. I do see why you found the ending shocking.

For me, the interesting thing about the monastery interview was to compare it with the perhaps less enigmatic scene that opens 'The Brothers K'. And I would now guess that having to be very forthcoming about who is the actual hero of that later work might have come about after Dostoievski's difficulties that you describe for parts of "The Devils".

As foolishly ineffective, (even in ignorance the cause of so much degradation) as he is throughout most of the novel, it is Stepan Trofimovitch who wins my heart. And maybe Shatov as well. Sorry you had difficulties with the elastic nature of Russian names. As with eskimos and snow, I guess, it speaks to the focal emphasis of language in different cultures.


Posted by: juliania | May 27 2023 23:34 utc | 84

@ juliania | May 27 2023 23:34 utc | 86

there are a few 'main' characters and none of them hold the stage all the time, but nikolai seems very central and ends with the unraveling of his character.. peter disappears into thin air.. nikolais mom maintains everything up til the end..

i never thought to compare the brothers k monastery connection to this book, but both speak of the relationship between a troubled personality and religion as the form of unraveling or addressing the confusion inherent in the psychologically complex - or damaged - characters.. today it would be done by a shrink, lol.. i see sigmund freud wrote a book on the confessions of his in that final chapter, that wasn't initially included in the original release of the book.. - "Stavrogin's Confession: With a psychoanalytic study of the author by Sigmund Freud" 1947...

stepan trofimovitch didn't really appeal to me.. i know a few professors who he reminds me of, although one is worse and the other is decidedly better! however, i liked shatov.. that is interesting your take on some of the characters.. i enjoyed the book, but it was confusing at times...

some of the info i share can be gleamed off wikipedia page on the book... any other book recommendations for me? these last 2 were very good.. thank you!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demons_(Dostoevsky_novel)

Posted by: james | May 28 2023 1:28 utc | 85

Another Geopolitical Economy Hour has concluded, "China builds global alternative as US-led financial order decays." In lieu of a model, China has a philosophy: Win-Win, which is based on Confucianism. How to attain that goal drives the ever-developing model. Mick Dunford's description of China was excellent. Time well spent!

Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2023 1:30 utc | 86

@ 88
"It's the economy, stupid" worked for Bill Clinton thirty years ago, and it's working for China now. The win-win that comes from building infrastructure and increasing trade is a recognized feature associated with China, whereas the US military that's all over the planet with its rules-based international order only fosters a negative reaction to being on the wrong side of win-lose.

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 28 2023 3:31 utc | 87

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 28 2023 3:31 utc | 89

Bet Americans are really proud of all that new infrastructure Clinton built..........the high speed bullet trains across the East Coast and down the West Coast ?

The fantastic public transport systems and Smart Electrical Grid...........yes those Clinton years were wonderful.........funny how the American voters did not allow succession to continue with Hillary then Chelsea..........

All that prosperity and modern infrastructure under Slick Willy.......

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 28 2023 6:21 utc | 88

Posted by: karlof1 | May 25 2023 22:55 utc | 21

...I wonder how the rat line functions? Turkey/Iraq/Jordan to Pakistan and into Afghanistan? IMO, Shoigu's revelations is yet another example of Russia's ability to obtain "illegal intelligence."

This reminds me of the Russians accusing the US of transporting militants from Syria into Afghanistan a few years back. In my opinion, it squares perfectly with a zero-sum Great Game.

The trouble, as I see it, is that these accusations are simply meaningless noise until we see some evidence.

This is a frequent cause for frustration. Russia alleges to have incriminating intelligence, but fails to produce it. Is it by lack of evidence or lack of strategic vision? Because there is no doubt in my mind that a carefully scripted release of documents would severely compromise overall US strategy.

This particular field, that of narrative management, is where the Empire truly shines. But it is also where it stands to lose the most. As an example, should the German public, and Europeans as a whole, start losing faith in their carefully managed perception of the conflict with the East, it would get much harder to dismiss the costs it generates.

Without European support, the war in Ukraine would end fairly quickly.

Posted by: robin | May 28 2023 7:23 utc | 89

Proudly presenting: the "Ursula Seal of Excellence". It's a official list of people of distinction and class.


Posted by: Passerby | May 28 2023 8:24 utc | 90

Maybe it will work here. Trying to post a Rumble link to moa also appears impossible, much less an embedded link

Posted by: Debsisdead | May 28 2023 11:16 utc | 91

should the German public, and Europeans as a whole, start losing faith in their carefully managed perception of the conflict with the East

As you know there are really no blogs as such in Germany and opinion is not permitted free expression, but there are protest "walks" most Mondays in much of the former GDR where the Greens are loathed/unelectable and SPD is on life-support.

Where you find this "German public" supportive of conflict with Russia is a mystery..........

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 28 2023 12:34 utc | 92

This is a frequent cause for frustration. Russia alleges to have incriminating intelligence, but fails to produce it. Is it by lack of evidence or lack of strategic vision? Because there is no doubt in my mind that a carefully scripted release of documents would severely compromise overall US strategy.

---

Posted by: robin | May 28 2023 7:23 utc | 92

They plan to have trials, war crimes trials, legal process, that is why they don't try the cases in public now.

As near as I can tell, the west thinks narrative management IS strategy. Some of us think it is a tactic, and not a particularly compelling one.

Posted by: Bemildred | May 28 2023 13:10 utc | 93

@ Paul Greenwood | May 28 2023 6:21 utc | 90
re: Bet Americans are really proud of all that new infrastructure Clinton built . . .
I was referring to the importance of the economy as an issue (China) as opposed to the establishment of a military-enforced order (US). What Clinton did to that issue is irrelevant to the argument. . . .But I do release that readers are free to nitpick.

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 28 2023 13:20 utc | 94

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 26 2023 12:39 utc | 47

I believe the same month Brexit was finally done was the same month covid started.
And the same month covid restrictions ended in the UK was the same month the SMO started.

There hasn't been a single month, let alone an extended period of relative normalcy, in which to really develop post-Brexit adjustments.

So the entire issue has been buried under a barrage of post-constitutional Globalist-corporatista Bullshit.

Perhaps Brexit is irrelevant because western nation states are all phony dog and pony shows for which their brainwashed populations keep dutifully clapping.

Posted by: Scorpion | May 28 2023 13:47 utc | 95

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | May 28 2023 12:34 utc | 93

...
As you know there are really no blogs as such in Germany and opinion is not permitted free expression, but there are protest "walks" most Mondays in much of the former GDR where the Greens are loathed/unelectable and SPD is on life-support.

Where you find this "German public" supportive of conflict with Russia is a mystery..........


I don't believe overt support for conflict is the goal. In fact, presenting the situation in those terms, ie war against a nuclear superpower, would be a certain turnoff and counterproductive to the belligerent projects of the US and vassals.

To me, information warfare is more about restricting the narrative and imposing perceptions by various means. Barbed wire running along a well defined trail is how I picture it. In France, politicians who used to be wary about growing belligerence against Russia and China have now completely abandoned the issue. In fact, when pressed about the topic, as they are constantly, they are prompt to start with "make no mistake, Putin blablabla".

I'm surprised by your description of German opinion. Do the Monday protesters explicitly call for an end of support for Ukraine or are they just angry about other stuff. One thing I observe is that anger can be channelled towards other conduits quite easily.

Posted by: robin | May 28 2023 14:47 utc | 96

Posted by: james | May 28 2023 1:28 utc | 86

Coming to you backwards today, james - What I see in Stepan is liberalism gone wrong, so that's mostly why I find him very interesting currently. Also, he's the Russian version of Don Quixote. There is a memorable quote given by the 'I' of the novel - "Dear was that man to me." I guess he's dear to me also.

I identify with the anguish of seeing one's ideals trashed by modernity, though in the case today there's hopefully going to be pushback eventually. It's hard being a liberal these days! And since both Stepan and Dostoevski himself pay homage to the Scriptural passage from St. Luke, I'd say he's dear to the author also. Much as the Scriptural Stephen, Stepan points to past glories his antagonists ought to remember and respect, but does so unsuccessfully. (For Stephen that is Moses, in the speech before he is stoned to death).

I'm currently reading "When We Were Orphans" by Kazuo Ishiguro. Early going, but I like the way he's keeping me guessing so far. Sort of a 'Gatsby' with a twist so far. Published in 2000. Too early for me to recommend, though.

Posted by: juliania | May 28 2023 21:24 utc | 97

james and juliania - Perhaps you have read it, but I very much enjoyed Turgenev's Fathers and Sons.

Fathers and Sons
Similar to The Demons, it was one of the first novels that explored nihilism. Someone here told me that Dostoevski and Turgenev really disliked one another. I kind of prefer Turgenev. His writing is much prettier and less dense. Sometimes those chapters of parties in some parlor on a name day just go on and on in Dostoevski's books. Or maybe I'm just stupid and have no appreciation for literature.
I do want to read his The Diary of a Writer. I really liked Notes from the Underground, too.
I hope everyone is well out there in the noosphere.

Posted by: lex talionis | May 28 2023 22:00 utc | 98

Posted by: Scorpion | May 28 2023 13:47 utc | 96

" So the entire issue has been buried under a barrage of post-constitutional Globalist-corporatista Bullshit. "


Just about nails it Scorpion and the British upper class are doing everything they can to rejoin. Offer voters a one party nation state come election time.

Anybody who wants to break free from the US rules based order but supports the EU are fucked up in the head if you ask me. It was why the EU was created in the first place and expanded Eastwards. To spread the US rules based order.

They are so delusional they think they can change the EU from within. The truth is that can't even change their own country from within.

What Is Needed Is A Progressive Vision Of National Sovereignty:


https://www.socialeurope.eu/needed-progressive-vision-national-sovereignty

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 29 2023 12:03 utc | 99

Scorpion add this to your reading list. If you are interested in this kind of thing.

Against supranationalism: in defence of national sovereignty (and Brexit)

https://plutopress.wordpress.com/2017/09/22/against-supranationalism-in-defence-of-national-sovereignty-and-brexit-by-bill-mitchell-and-thomas-fazi/

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 29 2023 12:16 utc | 100

next page »

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Working...