well, thats pretty clear

happy May Day!

“We’re doomed. The outcome is death, and it’s the end of most life on the planet because we’re so dependent on the burning of fossil fuels. There are no means of reversing the process which is melting the polar ice caps. And very few appear to be prepared to say so....I’m not going to write anymore because there’s nothing more that can be said.”
    -- Mayer Hillman, senior fellow emeritus of the Policy Studies Institute

Our society’s failure to comprehend the true cost of cars has informed Hillman’s view on the difficulty of combating climate change. But he insists that I must not present his thinking on climate change as “an opinion”. The data is clear; the climate is warming exponentially.

    -- Patrick Barkham

mayer-hillman-on-the-climate-reality

all our Moscows

I’ve got news for you. [Russia's] got a bigger Moscow. The USA has more Moscows than Russia– at last count something like twenty-three to their one. We blow them out of the water in the year-end number-of-Moscows round robin. I doubt if they even compete any more. But, you guessed it, Russia’s Moscow is bigger than all the USA Moscows put together. And now a tornado as hit the old covered bridge in Moscow, Indiana, taking it out of the equation– that and its zero population put it out of business. You can bet your booty Langley is poking into the possibility of cyber-hanky-panky in that suspicious little number. But Moscow, Indiana is off the table for now under extremely suspicious circumstances
    -- Michael Doliner

big-news-about-russia

zippy

Yeah the world's been evolving
At a pretty fair clip
Since oh 1968
Used to be slow and groovy and hip
Now it's proceeding at a faster rate
Accelerating
And I'd like to set you straight
My friend and fellow hippie
Here's hoping that you'll hear
And that you'll heed
I think you're gonna find that
Life gets pretty damn zippy
When you quit doing weed

seventeen guns

You’ve brought seventeen monsters into the world. You know it; it’s why you keep them in a dark place under lock and key. You monitor them; you’re a careful and conscientious keeper, bringing them out only under safe conditions. Will it always be so? You know they will outlive you; they’ll be here when you’re not. Have you made arrangements? Who will provide for their care; will it be someone as concerned and conscientious as you? Eventually they’ll pass from one hand to the next: likely someday into hands not so much responsible as your own. Whether remembered or not, it will still be your legacy. When they’re finally set loose and find flesh, the guns will have more meaning than all else you’ve left behind. Each explosion will be part of the legacy: part of the seventeen gun salute.
    -- Vern Loomis

the-17-gun-salute

jack is the solution

us morons are pullin' for ya'

imperialist media twits

....economist Jeffrey Sachs stated emphatically on national American TV this week (“Good Morning Joe”, MSNBC) that the US and President Barack Obama started the war in Syria via the CIA. I have a feeling that they would never have allowed him on the show if they had known he was going to say that. TABOO BROKEN … imperialist media twits sit stunned with egg on faces, military man stutters incoherent bullshit in response.

    -- Gregory Barrett



the-moral-mask

Head Choppers Update!

According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia has carried out almost 600 executions, in which the condemned are beheaded using a sword, since 2014. Over 200 of these were for drug offenses. The rest were for crimes such as murder, terrorism, rape, incest and sorcery.

the weather is messin' with you

THE WEATHER:
ah, Spring.....bwahahahaha!

YOU:
"Dear, what's the weather look like today? What? 37 degrees? What the hell...its April 26th."

THE WEATHER:
Awe, so sorry; this is Western New York, fool.

YOU:
"I can't fucking believe this."

THE WEATHER:
Believe it, fool! You and your idiotic musings about Spring! Last week I teased you with sunny skies and 70 degrees just so I could dash your pathetic hopes with wind, rain, and plunging temperatures.

YOU:
[more profanity and sniffling sounds]

THE WEATHER:
I think you need some Snow! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

bad drone

If you stop to think about it, selling drones to any yahoo with $400 is a recipe for chaos. Launched from the roof of a Manhattan apartment building, a pervert’s drone can peep through windows. A terrorist, or merely a doofus, can fly one into the blades of a low-flying helicopter or into the engine or windshield of a plane approaching the airport. And they will. It’s only a matter of time.

    -- Ted Rall

ban-drones

boomers still rule

weird

Modern civilization does not only lead to obedience, submission, and structural violence, but also to a certain form of captivity.

Captivity in action: consider the recent missile alert in Hawai’i. Was this not an example of a captive audience, doomed by elites to worry and scatter over a phantom nuke over the horizon? None of us asked for this. Most of humanity simply wants to be left alone from the vagaries of government and corporate rule to live stable, happy lives. Yet the sad truth of the matter is the elites are not going to leave us alone. Their appetite is insatiable, and they will in fact drag down the entire biosphere, because in their current state of mind, they hate life, and want to transcend this world, either to heaven (the Christian fundamentalists) or have their consciousness uploaded or bodies cryogenically frozen for future immortality (the Kurzweillian techno-futurists).

    -- William Hawes

global-weirding

David S. Buckel

"To burn oneself by fire is to prove that what one is saying is of the utmost importance"
     -- Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk

“These are the times for real choices and not false ones....we are at the moment when our lives must be placed on the line if our nation is to survive its own folly. Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest.”
    -- Martin Luther King, Jr

David-buckel-and-setting-ourselves-on-fire

deep time

“Wait a second. How do you know we’re the only time there’s been a civilization on our own planet?”

-- Gavin Schmidt, director of nasa’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies

....could researchers find clear evidence that an ancient species built a relatively short-lived industrial civilization long before our own? Perhaps, for example, some early mammal rose briefly to civilization building during the Paleocene epoch about 60 million years ago. There are fossils, of course. But the fraction of life that gets fossilized is always minuscule and varies a lot depending on time and habitat. It would be easy, therefore, to miss an industrial civilization that only lasted 100,000 years—which would be 500 times longer than our industrial civilization has made it so far.

    -- Adam Frank, professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester

the-silurian-hypothesis

ethical spectacle

in Douma

So the story of Douma is thus not just a story of gas – or no gas, as the case may be. It’s about thousands of people who did not opt for evacuation from Douma on buses that left last week, alongside the gunmen with whom they had to live like troglodytes for months in order to survive. I walked across this town quite freely yesterday without soldier, policeman or minder to haunt my footsteps, just two Syrian friends, a camera and a notebook. 
    -- Robert Fisk
douma-robert-fisk

whippersnapper

interlude:

back here at Geezer Central, it has occurred to us that spontaneity, for what its worth, is nearly unobtainable; [PAUSE]

with that in mind, GeezerNation presents the Credo: [SPONTANEOUS APPLAUSE]

Geezer one: You alrite mate, pub yeh

Geezer two: What you think you lunatic.

Geezer one: Wait i just got to put some clean pants on, i have had these on for the past week.

A Geezer is a strong, able, decent member of the species (Homo sapiens sapiens, in fact), a man capable of destroying anybody, someone you should not fight, and who can drink as many craft beers as he wants. The geezer gets smarter and wiser the older he gets; this is a scientific fact. The geezer has practical job skills involving a trade like brick layer, carpenter, painter, even a decorator. The geezer may have advanced academic degrees which he will flaunt.. The geezer rarely drives (he has somebody to do that) or uses public transportation (there isn’t any), preferring to walk instead.  The geezer typically wears jeans and a shirt of some kind, but can “dress up” for any occasion. The geezer often discovers cuts and bruises but doesn’t know where they came from (see first sentence above). The geezer would never cry unless truly happy. The Geezer disdains WhipperSnappers ‘cause they don’t know shit.

for those keeping score at home

Since World War II, during what some U.S. academics think of as a golden age of peace, the U.S. military has killed or helped kill some 20 million people, overthrown at least 36 governments, interfered in at least 84 foreign elections, attempted to assassinate over 50 foreign leaders, and dropped bombs on people in over 30 countries.
    -- David Swanson

cold turkey

it’s nearly impossible for social media users to escape data collection. After all that’s how social media companies make their money. Well over a hundred billion dollars per year. Your online activity inside their walled internet gardens as well as your dopamine addiction to “tweets” and “likes” are their income stream.

What? You thought these online services were free? A miracle of the new economy?

    -- Bill Blunden

turn-on-tune-in-drop-out

looking out a window at the street at night, 2018

nature happens

Southern California's burned mosaic of chaparral plant communities is recovering. Fire is not necessary to its survival, but it is fire adapted. When fire happens it finds ways to continue in the ruins of its mature growth. In Donna Haraway's words (and the title of her new book) it is Staying with the Trouble. Living in the wreckage of a planet ravaged by an exploitative economic system, there may be some comfort in understanding the forms of revival undertaken by these plant communities as possible models for human and nonhuman survival in the sprawling devastation of Modernity.
    -- John Davis

in-the-ruins

with god on our side

In the last century, we looked straight into the darkest places of the human soul. We saw the anguish that can be unleashed and the evil that can take hold. By the end of the World War I, more than one million people had been killed or injured by chemical weapons. We never want to see that ghastly specter return.

So today, the nations of Britain, France, and the United States of America have marshaled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality.

Tonight, I ask all Americans to say a prayer for our noble warriors and our allies as they carry out their missions. We pray that God will bring comfort to those suffering in Syria. We pray that God will guide the whole region toward a future of dignity and of peace.

-- Donald Trump, April 13, 2018

friday the 13th - shoot first

From Bundy>
quote
Scientific research center in Barzeh (not)!Jumrya is hit
Along with Mazzeh AB.

First wave fired from the east is now over.. More are expected. The ships in the med have not taken part in this.
.
The 2nd wave of attack began now.

Wave after wave of cruise missiles hitting Syria; it is not stopping. Over 40 minutes of cruise missiles.

They are avoiding all Russian areas but bombing civilian areas as well.
.

Most of the missile attack has been foiled as of 8 minutes ago. Civilian research center and Red Crescent Housing Center in heavily-populated Barzeh was hit.

US struck one of Damascus’ most densely populated suburbs. Jaramana reporting strikes.

Civilian casualties are being reported in Damascus as at least 2 residential areas have been struck by the US-led force’s missiles. At least 4 dead in one of the strikes.
endquote

Posted by: Plod | Apr 13, 2018 9:56:09 PM | 91

comment from the southern hemisphere

Open letter to the dipshits who are planning to nuke each other....

Just get on with it, please. Im sick of waiting for the inevitable. Every day, doom porn. Im over it. Just stop talking shit, and nuke each other already. Or else shut up and go home. For fucks sake, this shit is gonna give me an ulcer, its like Im stuck in traffic that has slowed down because they think theres gonna be an accident, and don't wanna miss the potential carnage, and all I wanna do is get home. If the US and EU are such suicidal idiots, they deserve it. Whoever sets this off, it doesn't matter, you all die, leaving me to my rural southern hemisphere subtropical peace. Its Darwinism 101. As much as I like you all, you've had it coming for a while. Slaughtering each other like fucking animals for centuries, blaming everybody else, and pissing on the rest of us while trying to convince us its rain. Keep your pipelines, your WMDs and your ridiculous elections. Keep your Houses of "Lords", your apeshit crazy senates, and your "democracies". Im ready to kick back and watch them all get vaporized by your fear and insatiable greed, to watch your "smart" bombs land on your own fucking heads. All I ask is just please, for goodness sake, leave us poor third world fuckers out of it.

We've seen enough...

Thanks

Posted by: dan | Apr 11, 2018 3:49:57 PM |

Dennis

“There is a shift in consciousness. There’s an awareness that exists among people everywhere that the conditions that we are living in are not acceptable. They’re not acceptable for our health, for our safety, for our future. … Most people know I’m the only one who’s going to disrupt the status quo. I’m running to upend the party. To upend it and transform it.”
    -- Dennis Kucinich

the-vindication-of-dennis-kucinich

Gainesville, FL

comments

If Trump nukes a sufficient number of US cities, Russia is bound to sue for peace.

Posted by: Fec | Apr 9, 2018 4:06:26 PM | 12

The FBI just raided Drumpf's lawyer. Drumpf really needs a wag-a-dog moment. War is imminent. 

Posted by: cycloben | Apr 9, 2018 4:29:31 PM | 19

Glenn Greenwald on DemocracyNow! today comes out clearly as a "useful idiot" for the AZ Empire.

“I think the evidence is quite overwhelming that the perpetrators of this chemical weapons attack, as well as previous ones is the Assad government.”

Posted by: Daniel | Apr 9, 2018 4:19:14 PM | 17

A SARMAT strike on DC would solve a lot of problems.

Posted by: Fec | Apr 9, 2018 4:56:25 PM | 30

Just see this Call White House NOW! Tel:202-456-1414 #NoWW3 #HandsOffSyria #BringTroopsHome #CWFalseFlag #FireBolton #CondemnIsraelAttacks

Posted by: mali | Apr 9, 2018 5:14:01 PM | 37

Never seen Russia this angry at the UN before. The US envoy is suggesting that a response will come regardless of the outcome of the security council meeting today. Things looking very bad.

It's sad because the current set of politicians have no idea of fear as they did not live through the cold war proper. They seem to think a world war is like something in a Hollywood movie. They don't appreciate Peace and security. What a shame. 

God help us all.

Posted by: Hayder | Apr 9, 2018 4:33:50 PM | 20

its a gas

President Donald Trump vowed a “big price” would be paid by Syria for an alleged weapons attack Saturday. The attack, supposedly against the city of Douma, has yet to be proven, but US officials are already looking ahead toward using it as a pretext for war.

The claims about the new attack originate with the White Helmets group, and was immediately reported as absolute fact by myriad Western outlets, despite the lack of evidence.

The White Helmets also call themselves Syria Civil Defense, are heavily funded by Western governments, historically getting large sums from the British Foreign Office. Though formally a search and rescue group, their media presence is almost entirely focused on advancing narratives favorable to Western government intervention in Syria, and claiming war crimes for which little to no proof exists.

    -- Jason Ditz, Antiwar.com

trump-syria-to-pay-big-price

slow death of any semblance of rational thought

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/election/article207845019.html#storylink=cpy

"Yes, I believe that the law should treat abortion like any other homicide...I have hanging more in mind."

    -- Kevin Williamson, (@KevinNR) September 28, 2014

Jeffrey Goldberg knows that he hired a troll. But he thinks readers should give him a second chance.

The Atlantic editor in chief issued a memo to the magazine’s staff this week, explaining his decision to hire conservative writer Kevin Williamson as a columnist for the magazine’s new ideas section. In addition to making the thought leader’s now-familiar case for ideological diversity, Goldberg wrote that he likes to “give people second chances and the opportunity to change.” This is an odd justification for a terrible and high-profile hire at one of the country’s most venerable political magazines.

bad-reasons

the Rev

goin' to Jackson

We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,

We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.

I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around,

Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson,

Look out Jackson town.

-- Johnny Cash

The experiment in Jackson, Mississippi, is the intellectual product of many years of experience by seasoned activists and a mobilized community drawing lessons from centuries of enduring racism and state terror, and the communal traditions used to survive the slavery, feudalism and apartheid of the United States South, while at the same time integrating concepts from progressive thinkers across several continents. Cooperation Jackson faces long odds, not least because of the extreme hostility of Mississippi’s conservative state government and the forces of gentrification that are taking aim at their impoverished city, in particular the organization’s neighborhood base.
    -- Pete Dolack

cooperation-jackson-builds-future

the soybean

China has announced that in retaliation for the 25% tariffs imposed on Chinese steel, aluminum and other exports to the U.S. it will impose 25% tariffs on, among other things, U.S. soybean imports.

Let us think about soybeans.

Sit back on your sofa with a bowl of steaming miso, a comfort food comparable to your mom’s chicken soup, and watch global capitalism war upon itself, as it has to do by nature. Inherent contradictions and all.

let-us-think-about-soybeans

deception

There can be no liberty for a community which lacks the means by which to detect lies.

    -- Walter Lippmann

The countries of the West are effectively heading for war with Russia but relatively few among the public seem to know or even care. Many are oblivious to the slaughter that has already been inflicted on populations with the help of their taxes and governments in far-away lands. With the reckless neoconservative warmonger John Bolton now part of the Trump administration, it seems we could be hurtling towards major war much faster than previously thought.

mass-deception-and-the-prelude-to-world-war

party on!

I ain't a no Rooskie troll, dammit the hell

One thing which betrays genuine Russian troll-factory accounts is the language. Look for an inability to use "the" and "a" (Russian is one of the languages which doesn't have them).

"Burn in flames of a shame."

(H/t @NBCNews for their archive of confirmed troll tweets.) pic.twitter.com/Fa9wbH1Bt7— Ben Nimmo (@benimmo) March 30, 2018

if Mr. Nimmo's "logic" about "confirmed troll tweets" is correct, then millions of patriotic Americans- who can't spell or write worth a damn- are Russian trolls. 


trolls!

to Walden Pond

At any rate, at the time King was slain, I was out in the early evening, under darkening skies that threatened rain, making my way by thumb along secondary roads in Massachusetts trying to get to Concord and to my destination, Walden Pond. I didn’t know that the main subject of my paper, yet to be written, had already been shot and was being rushed to the hospital to be pronounced dead as I walked the last mile or so to the little park that contains the pond.

thiscantbehappening

the revolutionary

The killing of Martin Luther King Jr was the ultimate result of the fusion of ugly white supremacist elites in the US government and citizenry and cowardly liberal careerists who feared King’s radical moves against empire, capitalism and white supremacy. If King were alive today, his words and witness against drone strikes, invasions, occupations, police murders, caste in Asia, Roma oppression in Europe, as well as capitalist wealth inequality and poverty, would threaten most of those who now sing his praises. As he rightly predicted: “I am nevertheless greatly saddened … that the inquirers have not really known me, my commitment or my calling.”
    -- Cornel West

I have this old record of Martin Luther King giving CBC's Massey Lectures in 1967, and he talks about a number of things that actually break the mould in terms of our perception of who Martin Luther King, Jr. was. This isn't "I Have a Dream"; this is Martin Luther King talking about the war in Vietnam, and he's talking about the war that should be waged on poverty, and he's talking about human peace and understanding. This was the revolutionary Martin Luther King struggling for dramatic change in the United States — a complete change in our consciousness, a complete change of what it means to be a human being and what humanity means. If there was ever a historical moment when that was needed, I think we're in that moment right now. That for me is the Martin Luther King that I want to remember and I want my kids to know because he's kind of been reduced to this soundbyte of "I Have a Dream."
    -- David Austin, Montreal, CBC News-Jan 16, 2017

And we used to dream together
Now I drink alone

property

Here’s the irony of property. It is just about the only thing one can use to defend oneself against property – that is, against the oppressions by big property. People buy houses because they know that paying rent every month is simply a treadmill, an unending drain on income and living standard. To own a home is to escape landlord rent gouging. It provides stability, and security against having ones life totally disrupted, such as often happens to renters when their building gets sold.
    -- Steve Martinot

the-properties-of-property