Stupid World

**Hugo Nougo** · 1st August 2019, 14:21

jesus people!, its not that cold out there, go for a fucking ride. The worlds leaders will still be talking shit when you get back.

**oldrider** · 2nd August 2019, 16:14

Surprise, surprise? Americans think of media as even more destructive than banks & corporations -

- https://www.rt.com/usa/465461-us-med...ust-americans/ -

**Viking01** · 3rd August 2019, 13:44

I have enjoyed the National Geographic magazine ever since
I was old enough to read it. Nearly 60 years ago. I enjoyed
both the variety of articles, and (as I got older) its still
neutral tone.

But about 5 years ago, I noticed a sudden change in content
with a sudden perceivable political focus and bias (western
dominated).

Not just the occasional article, but right throughout the
whole magazine.

To the point that within a year, I chose to cancel my annual
subscription. Incidentally around 2015, as it happens.

So it was with interest that I noticed this article today:

https://www.unz.com/article/what-mak...-goldberg-run/

And I have to admit the jury (me, in the case) is undecided
whether to retain subscriptions to Scientific American and
New Scientist.

Not only due to "dumbing down" of some articles, but because
of some articles of dubious scientific content on various
contentious subjects (e.g. GMO's).

It almost appears that they are becoming willing to sacrifice
some quality of scientific content in the interest of pushing
US political and economic barrows.

Thank heavens for Bike Rider.

**oldrider** · 4th August 2019, 13:30

Stupid fucking world all right! -

- https://twitter.com/HenryMakow/statu...rymakow.com%2F -

**Viking01** · 5th August 2019, 09:36

It took a reading of the full article before we finally come to
the real reasons in the last two paragraphs:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...ng-ex-n1038951

Couldn't they just have used "US election meddling" ? I mean, at
least that was a mildly credible political "hook on which to hang
this coat."

But Skripal ?

https://www.checkpointasia.net/more-...g-their-wives/

Or can we expect another "false flag" in the coming days ?

**oldrider** · 5th August 2019, 10:49

1000 dogs poisoned a week in South Africa! -

Further unsavoury (?) South African news?.- https://christiansfortruth.com/jewis...red-by-blacks/

**Viking01** · 7th August 2019, 12:35

Jens, if I'd known that you were visiting NZ, I'd have baked a cake.

https://www.rt.com/newsline/465913-n...l-stoltenberg/

But, aren't you a little lost ? NZ is in the southern hemisphere, and
NATO is in the northern hemisphere. Russians meddling with your GPS?

And NZ is not a NATO member. Well, not yet, anyway. But I suppose
that could change.

So, what did you want to come talk to us about ?

Did you want to come borrow some of our troops for another one of
those ill-fated NATO "peace keeping" missions (in the Middle East) ?

Or one of our ships to come do tanker protection duty in the Persian
Gulf ?

Or was it simply to make sure that we continue to "vote the right way"
at the UNGA ?

I'd be ever so interested to know.

**pritch** · 7th August 2019, 12:58

Originally Posted by Viking01

Or one of our ships to come do tanker protection duty in the Persian
Gulf ?

They are currently trying to put together an international fleet for this apparently. Somewhat surprisingly China has offered a ship or ships.

**Viking01** · 7th August 2019, 13:05

Originally Posted by pritch

They are currently trying to put together an international fleet for this apparently. Somewhat surprisingly China has offered a ship or ships.

Surprising ? Well, .... maybe not.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...pite-trade-war

[Edit]

https://www.checkpointasia.net/china...ure-by-the-us/

**Viking01** · 8th August 2019, 10:36

Don, I think some of the population don't believe your pontifications
on renewable energy, and are just going ahead with "green" solutions
anyway.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/08...offshore-wind/

While I'm still unsure whether the solar panels earlier installed at the
White House are still present (the Democrats seem to install them,
and the Republicans seem to remove them):

https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of...panels-3322255

I think there is certainly some opportunity for operating a small wind
turbine (or two) on the front lawn, judging by the amount of "bluster
and hot air" currently being generated and expelled from the residence.

I particularly liked the last paragraph of the first article above, where
you advised that fracking is "good for you":

https://www.commondreams.org/news/20...eat-health-and

Just as well you and Obama between you have dealt with that annoying
EPA organisation. You know, the one responsible for human health and
the environment in the US :

https://19january2017snapshot.epa.go...at-we-do_.html

https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/04...ed-the-agency/

[Edit]

https://www.rt.com/usa/466001-us-reg...-corporations/

https://www.commondreams.org/news/20...llion-consumer

**oldrider** · 8th August 2019, 13:45

All wars benefit bankers and corporates - the real enemies who are hidden and or pretending to be our friends.

- Interesting? -

**Viking01** · 9th August 2019, 13:10

Originally Posted by pritch

They are currently trying to put together an international fleet for this apparently.
Somewhat surprisingly China has offered a ship or ships.

Just pursuing your earlier comment a little further.

Its interesting how sometimes "seemingly unconnected events" turn
out to have a connection or an impact after all.

China was proposing to provide vessels to escort oil tankers through
the Persian Gulf (possibly independent of any US initiative to do so).

US trade war on China and sanctions on Iran --> China continues to
purchase Iranian oil --> depress global oil price --> impact upon US
shale fracking

https://www.checkpointasia.net/us-sh...oil-purchases/

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...r-what-they-do

**oldrider** · 12th August 2019, 18:18

HAIR-TRIGGER NUCLEAR ALERT OVER KASHMIR? -

- https://ericmargolis.com/2019/08/hai...-over-kashmir/ -

**Viking01** · 13th August 2019, 12:46

A few words from economist Joseph Stiglitz earlier this year might help to set
the scene:

"It’s old news that large segments of society have become deeply unhappy with
what they see as the Establishment, especially the political class.

The Yellow Vest protests in France, triggered by President Macron’s move to hike
fuel taxes in the name of combating climate change, were but the latest example
of the scale of this alienation.

There are good reasons for today’s disgruntlement: four decades of promises made
by political leaders of both the center left and center right, espousing the neoliberal
faith that globalization, financialization, deregulation, privatization, and a host of
related reforms would bring unprecedented prosperity, have gone unfulfilled.

While a tiny elite seems to have done very well, large swaths of the population
have fallen out of the middle class and plunged into a new world of vulnerability
and insecurity. Even leaders in countries with low but increasing inequality have
felt their public’s wrath."

Perhaps that also helps explain what's been happening in Britain, with all that
Brexit business?

While on the environmental front, despite the latest IPCC reports, there seems to
be little political appetite for change (despite warning flags being waved):

https://grist.org/article/a-hot-plan...zed-ipcc-says/

With that in mind, thought that it might be interesting to go back and read up on the
Green New Deal that was being proposed in the US earlier this year.

A number of Green New Deal articles were duly posted, purporting to outline what was
been proposed:

https://www.vox.com/energy-and-envir...-cortez-markey

Though not everyone was happy (and certainly not within the wider Democrat team):

https://www.vox.com/energy-and-envir...-ocasio-cortez

A few "doubters" turned up to say that it was not even a "plan", but just "a plan to
make a plan". Even worse, that "it wasn't even new":

https://www.mintpressnews.com/corpor...w-deal/253076/

Others were quick to leap in and state that "whatever it was", it still would not work.
I'm not quite sure I understand the logic.

But with "feedback from both sides of the fence", at least there could be no claims of
partisanship. Obviously, they both hate it.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/02...san-operation/

There were obviously some calling for "compromise":

https://www.thenation.com/article/th...ew-compromise/

But now I'm starting to feel, well, "slightly disillusioned" with aspects of the whole
concept:

https://www.strategic-culture.org/ne...reen-new-deal/

Maybe I have just been sliding down the slope and have become "trapped in the
trough":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hype_cycle

Roll on the "slope of enlightenment".