landsker

Red Russian Army Choir & Leningrad Cowboys-

2010-06-26T02:06:00.000-07:00

To understand other cultures, music and art, play a good part.

Returning soldiers.

2010-06-06T02:17:00.000-07:00

They`re coming back, they`re coming back,
Leaving one million dead in Iraq.
They`re coming back to cry,
To live in subways, untill they die.

All the screams of Afghan children,
Behind them now, the tortured limbs,
Of women they never even kissed,
Before they killed them.

Never no more, willl they salute,
A bloodstained worthless rag,
The symbol of oppression and hate,
That has become the American flag.

June 2010. By Dave Colbourne.

Spy vs Spy, spooks, crooks and free-fall collapse.

2010-04-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

Another reminder, from America itself, that some people still won`t believe the official story of the twin tower attacks....another fairly well-known name, Firedoglake, and once again, thy name has been spoken, Israel.

It`s still just talk and opinion, however we look at it, the matter has not been investigated to any proper extent.

@ beautiful sound.

2010-04-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

A tribe has many faces.

The impossible Hamster (and economic growth)

2010-03-18T02:52:00.001-07:00

Aye aye.....Been a few months since writing here, busy with work, and sorting out a few odds and sods.
I often wonder if the current state of macro-economics can continue, I`m getting towards retirement, and naturally find myself *downsizing*....
In the race to build everything bigger and better, faster and more efficient, ....is there going to be a winner?....Or will we just consume all of this planet in a futile show of competitive destruction.

.

Tools of peace.

2009-12-20T03:55:00.000-08:00

The clip from youtube features three brave and spirited ladies, who are taking an ambulance to the residents of Gaza, donated by the people of Swansea in South Wales, bless`em.
Making peace takes an effort, and now there`s a multi-national convoy heading towards Gaza, of ambulances and medical supplies.
No guns, no ammunition, no security guards, none of that silly nonsense, Gazans have seen enough of war and absolutely need medical assistance, and from the UK, a convoy of around 80 vehicles set off earlier this month.

All driven by volunteers, and loaded with gifts, now in Turkey, being hailed and cheered, the Turks have also donated further vehicles and ambulances.
Most welcome too, is the news that almost 50 more supporters with vehicles have joined in from the USA no less!... including even some decidedly kosher gentlemen who feel that Palestine needs to be *Free*. (Click for link to Turkey.)

That`s over 200 vehicles due to arrive in Gaza on the 27th of December.

No drones, no smart bombs, no missiles, no soldiers, no weapons at all.

Just men and women, with more guts than any warmongering fool.

Hypocrites assemble.

2009-12-15T01:25:00.000-08:00

In the city of Copenhagen, the illustrious and powerful are gathering to pronounce their opinions on "global warming"...or "climate change", and it appears that the ever-increasing consumption of fossil fuels is giving rise to a larger "carbon footprint".
The solution, according to some will be a "carbon-permit trading scheme."

A tax on consumption, the revenue that will be collected and administered by the same clever people who brought in "credit default swaps"(link...)
Good story here, from a young lady in New York.

Whilst telling us to be frugal and mindfull of our consumption, the stewards of our society are themselves living way beyond "our means". Some might call it a blatant plot to transfer yet more hard-earned capital from the pockets of the workers to the bank accounts of the elites and their sleazy servants.
Politicians do not create wealth, they only tax it!

In London, no less a news outlet than the Daily Telegraph picks up on the numbers involved that enabled this conference.

Caviar, limousines, private jets, luxury hotels, and prostitutes.....these hypocrites are not fooling anyone.

Nobody begrudges taxes, when they are used wisely, for roads, schools, hospitals, the disabled, our fire and police services etc, etc.
Indeed, "from each according to ability and to each according to need", a Marxism, but in the case of taxation, a sound ethic.
So why do these charlatans need to be "ensconced in luxury"?

Their carbon footprint comes from the shoe of conspicuous consumption!

Ridiculous, Sublime, Ongoing.

2009-11-25T03:36:00.000-08:00

Capitalism seemingly creates millionaires and poverty in the same breath, it gives the oportunity to undertake an enterprise using borrowed money on the promise of future reward.
So when academics discovered some hitherto allegedly "unknown" properties of a common weed, they got themslves to the stock market with a bagfull of medicinal oils and wedge of scientific research.
"They done well", and after several years of documented research and hard work, "their plan is paying good".

A simple process to make plant-based tincture that can alleviate the pain caused by cancer.....wow... amazing.

Here`s how the "Pharma times" plays the news....

Shares in UK group GW Pharmaceuticals were on the rise yesterday following the publication of promising results from a trial of its cannabis-based drug Sativex in cancer pain in a peer reviewed journal.

The multinational, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was designed to pit the effectiveness of Sativex (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] and cannabidiol) in improving pain against THC alone and a placebo, and involved 177 patients with advanced cancer who had failed to gain adequate pain relief with strong opioids.

Click to full article.

Of course, capitalism is a cruel thing, and financially, for those who aren`t in the investment circle, this news is of no relevance whatsoever.
For those in pain from cancer or other diseases, the news is perhaps bittersweet comfort.

About two thousand years ago, there was another group of researchers and investors with a similar medicinal compound.
Some saw it as a commodity to be sold and controlled, by the elders and the inner circle of the already wealthy.

Then there were those who estimed that by making the oil available to the sick as a charitable act, and a function of their class, they would thus civilise and improve the lot of the whole community, rather than enhancing the wealth of a minority few.

Link to an older story about a magic oil.

(Unusual graphics, but relevant tale)..... It creates some interesting asides, the website is an excellent resource for further information on the uses and histories of hemp....)

It`s good to know that science can identify and evaluate the properties of such a beneficial plant, however, the question of reinforcing a market monopoly using prohibition as a bar to all competition is downright ridiculous, sublime even...

A soldiers` job.

2009-11-14T03:05:00.000-08:00

The first goal in life, our first breaths, are taken to survive..... the Cossacks certainly survived and thrived, more perhaps in their homelands than anywhere else...Fine bit of singing, if you enjoy the thoughts of galloping towards battle, with swords clashing, cannon and rifle shots etc, etc...

Clear images too, of what those men wore, their customs and outlook writ upon their frames.

Meanwhile, the US government strategy of avoiding battles by paying ransom is coming to the fore.....

A good article in the Guardian names the players and the amounts involved.
Once again, the names are familiar, sons and cousins of ministers and warlords, and the amounts run to billions, around 10% of the US money spent on war goes straight to Afghan "Security firms." (link).

So it seeems that all the talk of "new tactics", or "improved weapon systems", or even increasing troop numbers is simply adding good money to bad.

From another angle, there`s an Afghan minister, who alleges that some of the foreign troops, rather than shutting down the poppy fields, are actually profiting from the drug trade.

Nah... who`d a thunk it(link).

To say that the "war on terror" has become a sad and tangled parody of all wars is perhaps an understatement, but it has started to resemble in parts, the plot of the Joseph Heller novel, here`s a lovely clip or two from the film, with insights

....Milo Minderbinder from Catch 22, (link).....

The singing starts.

2009-11-13T05:52:00.000-08:00

It`s been a quiet few days in Afghnistan and Iraq, maybe the winds of change are blowing.

Whilst career soldiers clamour for more troops and more helicopters, wiser political minds are calling for negotiation and settlement.

From Britain, Kim Howells calls for withdrawal....

The UK and the US are still in financial doo-doo, with rising unemployment, falling currency values, and they have earned the contempt of the Asian/ Moslem world, and are not particularly welcome in Latin America, or Africa....

The independent carries a fair editorial comparing the situation to that of former presidents, who "inherit" a war.

Apart from these two leading voices for ending the war, there is also a growing sense of disbelief and scepticism amongst the taxpaying voters.
No-one really believes any more that the Taliban are planning to invade the world, or that Iraq is/was full of WMD`s.

Whilst some think wars are won on the battlefields, the tactics and weapons are far more diverse, and it`s fair to say that if nothing else the US/NATO incursions have exposed the military forces of the West as lacking the most important pre-requisite for winning a war, and that is, as according to the Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu the moral imperative..., that is to say the full support of their people, the troops and the generals.

It`s pretty obvious, given the rising amount of public protest, even the troops are beginning to doubt the purpose of these wars, and without doubt, the huge spending defecits in the UK and US are going to have to be curbed, and cuts to budgets will have to be made.

We use £50 million helicopters, which are downed by Taliban fighters with cheap Kalashnikovs,... Multi-million pound tanks, destroyed by £100 roadside bombs.

Maybe that`s what we should do in terms of defence spending... equip every town and village with a cache of roadside bombs, give every one a Kalashnikov , and then if any stupid warmongering bastards come round wanting a war, we can follow the example of the the Afghans, and the Vietnamese, the Irish, (to name but a few!) and send any invaders back whence they came.

Let`s face it, the "war" has been lost, not because of insufficient soldiers, nor because of tactics, nor for lack of helicopters or troop transporters, but simply because US and NATO forces lacked the moral imperative.

Mental disorders.

2009-11-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

For a change.....I thought it might be interesting to look at the issue of ADHD, rather than the constant focus on war and political corruption.

Call it adhd, call it autism, or even FAS... it`s a sad fact that often children are victimised for non-conformist behaviour.
The system doesn`t appreciate being called into question, and those who show signs of alternative behaviour or opinion are often isolated or sidelined.

The Learning Breakthrough Bulletin November 4, 2009...(click for link to original website)
Parent Tip:

THINK OF ADHD SYMPTOMS IN TERMS OF THE MIRROR TRAIT!
Take the negative stereotypes of ADHD on the list below and turn them into
positive, actionable ideas instead.

Negative traits on left are converted to POSITIVES on right...

Instead of ADHD being thought of as X...Consider them to be Y

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hyperactive or restless.....Energetic

Unable to stay on point....Sees connections others don’t

Forgetful.....Gets lost in what he is doing

Inconsistent.....Shows flashes of brilliance

Stubborn.....Persistent, won’t give up

Disorganized....Spontaneous

Moody.....Sensitive

Intrusive.....Eager

Some research has been done into the causes of autism, and given the debate over the effects of alcohol on the unborn child , anyone who has ties to children or adults affected by the realities of ADHD etc might like to compare and study the traits of FAS, or Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Is it just me, or are the alcohol producers suppressing any investigations into the phenomenon of children with behavioral difficulties?
There seems to be little or no research into the possible connections, and indeed the government seems to have little or no appetite to curtail the alcohol trade.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome... for more ...

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is the biggest cause of non-genetic mental handicap in the western world and the only one that is 100% preventable. (Click/Link to website)

Not much from government on this subject, one wonders if the alcohol producers lobby is suppressing the message, it wouldn`t be the first time that corporations have hidden the truth, as in tobacco causes cancer, or that fossil fuels are toxic.

Alcohol during pregnancy is the number one cause of non-genetic mental handicap in the Western world.
Jesus H. fucking Christ, that is one extremely sad statistic.

Choosing flocks.

2009-10-29T03:54:00.000-07:00

(Click on chart to enlarge.)

"What about the Catholics?"......

They don`t get a mention?....

Well I absolutely don`t know... I didn`t draw the chart....most likely the artist has made a point "by omission".

Burning money, and boiling blood.

2009-10-26T03:11:00.000-07:00

Years ago, whilst attending a safety awareness course, a lecturer made it quite clear...
"There`s no such thing as an accident", he taught..... "There`s carelessness, lack of planning or maintainance, there`s stupidity, and all accidents show a failure of anticipative prevention by the management."

At 50 million dollars, loosing one Chinook helicopter and crew is unfortunate, even careless to say the least, but loosing three in one morning is bordering on stupidity.

Fourteen Americans dead as helicopters crash in Afghan raids.

The sheer waste of taxpayer money in this arrogant war is more than stupid, it has become pointless.
The helicopters can be replaced, and as long as the servile taxpayer doesn`t mind, and no doubt the military will want more, as for replacing the crew, it`s "Next please".... until there are no more replacements, willing to die for futile glory and the whims of the rich.

Off to work now, so here`s a tune for anyone feeling a little under the weather.

Thoughts that cross the water.

2009-10-25T05:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone to the `phone, thinking I`ll call *^^&*, and suddenly as you do, the ring tones sound, and there`s the very person, with the same notion in mind.

Is it the power of thought, or just a coincidence?

Did you ever wonder how millions of migratory birds can agree to meet, twice a year at the same place and time, to fly across continents and between nations?..

Anyway.....looking at two articles on the internet, one from Britain, the other from the US, one might ask if the writers were aware of each other, or is it just a coincidence of thought and time.

From Texas the voice of Len Hart:

FACT TIME: there is only ONE justification for war under International Law and that is ''imminent threat'.
.....
I say file capital charges against George W. Bush, his guilty staff and the Pentagon brass who knowingly and willing planned the entire heist on behalf of big oil!
........

I say charge every member of the Dick Cheney 'Energy Task Force' for planning it all, literally carving up the oil fields of Iraq before the all-too-convenient Riechstag Fire called 911 gave them the broad and wide ranging pretext to begin a perpetual war in which the US would plunder the Middle East."

Full text.

More moderate, but with the same tone, in London, writing about Afghanistan in the Guardian newspaper, from the columnist Simon Jenkins....

Not calling for the politicians and generals to be charged and tried, but it seems that the same conclusion is reached;

That our armed forces are no longer defending the interests and safety of the taxpayer, but instead are serving the greed of the oil barons and defending the stagnant ineptitude of politicians.

"...We have blown $230bn of US and UK taxpayers' money and left 1,463 soldiers dead. Everything has been tried, from gender awareness courses to carpet-bombing Tora Bora......
...The West is not under any threat that remotely justifies this wreckage. Instead, weak politicians, bored by domestic ills, have seized on any passing threat to boost their standing at home by fighting small wars abroad and making them big...
..Western leaders seem unable to resist the seduction of military power. .."

Original article here.

The military wants more soldiers, more weapons, more drones, more helicopters, tanks, more more more, but perhaps, in terms of meeting the realities of less developed nations, the time has come for the West to consider sending architects, bricklayers, carpenters, engineers, electricians, plumbers, doctors, nurses, teachers.....

In return, maybe the human race will start travelling in the same direction at the same time.

Harps, chords and other notes.

2009-10-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Karl Jenkins, a modern Welsh composer, conducts his own "Palladio", with Catrin Finch playing the electric harp.

Both are said to be "at the edge". Enjoy!

The message from Hakimullah Mehsud.

2009-10-09T01:02:00.001-07:00

Hakimullah Meshud is a leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, supposedly killed by a drone, or was it a missile, or.... anyway, he`s still alive, and would like Obama to withdraw all his troops from Muslim soil.
If not, he says, "send two million, and it will still not be enough."

The military solution from the US/NATO is doing nothing except wasting the blood of young soldiers, leaving many of them as amputees and /or mentally incapacitated and billions of taxpayer funds on armaments and weapons that after eight long and wasted years have brought neither peace nor stability, nor even an honest election...but of course, without war, the generals would have no career, and the arms manufacturers would have no markets.

Hakimullah has also constantly affirmed that his only goal is to drive out all invading troops, and nothing more.
His methods, the roadside bomb, and the ambush are typical of guerilla tactics the world over... the IRA against the British, Castro and Guevara in Cuba, the Algerian resistance against the French, and of course, in some ways, the Vietcong.

The location, tactics and timing are always in his control, a first rule of warfare.

In the clip, Mehsud appears with his retinue, their demeanour has an air, a spirit that exudes self-confidence, but without the swagger of most military enclaves.

Nothing radical or new in his tactics, except that he believes fervently that he represents the views of almost 1.5 billion Muslims, many of whom are exceptionally wealthy.
Along with the news that the Chinese, French, Russians and most Arab oil producers are calling for an end the dollar dominance in oil trade, it looks like it`s time for America and Nato to consider withdrawal, before they bankrupt their citizens.

Ending war.

2009-10-05T01:26:00.001-07:00

So what happens next... the Taliban are seemingly all powerful and unrelenting, the American military and NATO are now the most expensive the world has ever seen, and want more funds, but confess they are loosing both in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The war machine wants billions...to build... more means of destruction, an oxymoronic affair indeed.

But there we are, why build and sell tractors for 10 K, when army jeeps fetch a hundred K, why produce hammers and chisels, when machine guns and rifles fetch a thousand times the price.

Why train teachers, or doctors for the good of the entire community, when soldiers and airmen will bring the power of life and death to their masters.

But sooner or later, politicians all realise that warmongering is a dangerous game, and with no real progress in Afghanistan, Obama has very little time before the cost of the American military becomes a topic of public discussion.

The price of an armoured troop carrier approaches a million or so bucks, jeeps like the hummer cost less, whilst helicopters fetch 20 milion or more.

All from the hard working taxpayer, whilst the roadside bomb costs the Talibans just 50 bucks or so, and is raised from "donations".

Britain/Westminster is spending billions too, and still has no specific mandate or objective.

"Get the terrorists"... "Stop the extremists", are hardly well thought out reasons for occupying a country that for the most part seems to support the ejection of foreign troops. After the obviously corrupt elections in Kabul, the notion of bringing democracy is another transparent falsehood.

Meanwhile, back at the bankers banquet.

Looks like most of the "change" has ended up in the pockets of the rich.

Palestine.

2009-09-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

Palestine , written and read by Khulood, a 12 year old Palestinian girl, bless her.

My name is Palestine
I wrote my name at all fields
with a unique font greater than all titles
The letters of my name, the letters of my name, live inside me, feed me, spread the soul and fire inside my body
The mountains of the river, knows me well
I spent all my power and ask my nation help
And Saladin was calling, calling inside me

And my Arabic origin is asking me for freedom and revenge
And those flags which were folded at Hatiin (battle)
And the caller of Al Aqsa Masjid (mosque) is calling for help
And thousands of prisoners are calling for help
Calling the greater nation and calling for millions
Go to Al Quds(Jerusalem),
to a war where the oppressed are, to stop the injustice of the Zionism, and raise the flag of Palestine
My words will remain the same
Palestine, Palestine, Palestine

It, (War in Iraq, Afghanistan, war on terror, etc) all seems to come back to the question of Palestine, the invasion of which was a somewhat convoluted affair.
The differences between Jews and non-jews have existed for thousands of years, but now with nuclear weapons involved, the debate has become the focus of attention for anyone who lives downwind!
The European jews who moved there from Europe claimed ownership as they had "suffered" under the Germans, and say that the land was given to them by "god".

Forgetting, conveniently, that European jews were never descended from the original Semitics, they were converts to the religion.

History and research tell us that the invasion and subsequent occupation of Palestine was engineered to suit the dreams of the Rothschilds, who saw Israel as a centre for World government and... and all that oil and gas would be an ancillary benefit, of course, the borders of Israel are a "moveable feast", always edging towards the oil fields of Iraq and Iran.
Once the "new Israelis" arrived, they set about harrassing and evicting the Palestinians, until as shown by this years invasion of Gaza, (condemned by the UN as a war crime) they have sunk to the deepest depths of murder and wilfull destruction.
It`s easy to see now, each few years, the "israelis" expand their territory, even Jerusalem is being ethnically cleansed, as the Israelis rattle their sabres on the way to war with Iran.

Will such a war embroil the whole world...?

Or, in the event of the Israelis bombing the nuclear facilities of Iran, (hypocritically with reactors and nuclear weapons of their own.) will the US simply allow the Iranians, with their Chinese and Russian missiles to "wipe the zionists from the face of the earth",
Thus the problem is solved, the USS Liberty is avenged, and America slips loose of the empires` leash.

The poem moved me to tears, something about the feeling in the voice, the trembling as she fights back the tears.....

But being moved with no response is no way to live...,

Here`s a link to a website that calls for an economic boycott of all the corporations that support Israel, or profit from the occupation.
"With us, or against us".

Culminative opinion.

2009-09-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

On the 11th of this month, a small crowd gathered outside the London headquarters of the BBC, to protest the lack of coverage concerning new evidence that has emerged concerning the infamous events of "9/11".

The BBC did not cover the protest, allthough the "Guardian" did.

After telephoning the BBC themselves, I was told that they had "No comment, not to bloggers..."

Undoubtedly, with so many British troops being killed and injured in Afghanistan, any revelations concerning 9/11 might result in a serious backlash amongst military families.

As would be the case in the US, even more so, if allegations of government collusion are proven.
>

Previously, I`ve posted videos of TV programmes in France
and Denmark.
Mainstream national TV stations have a huge power to influence people, and are normally kept in check by their governments, so to broadcast what amounts to allegations of murder and cover-up by the US government is indeed taking a bold step.

Now the Norwegians and the Russians have also broadcast refutations to the official story...

From Russia with love...

The normally staid and unimpulsive Norwegians have been watching too.

So what next?
When will mainstrean media in the US invite its` citrizens to consider that the attack on New York was not carried out by radical Muslims?

When will the american generals turn their firepower on the real perpetrators?

Of course, the foreign media might be making up stories, but somehow I doubt it.

I don`t pretend to know what happened exactly on that morning, but if so many journalists in so many countries are broadcasting their doubts, then it must be time to take the devil by the horns and present the question to Obama himself.

Hi Mr Obama.

What say you?....

One thing for sure, in any talks that American officials have with other nations, unless and until, the real truth of 9/11 is dealt with, the American military and political establishment is without credence.

One suspects that in higher circles, the game may be already over, because if "It wasn`t the Muslims..."

Taxes... purpose and benefits thereof.

2009-09-08T02:54:00.000-07:00

We all recognise the security and comfort of a well-managed society.
Schools, roads, hospitals, law, justice, utilities...all levers that shape our lives.
For which we pay taxes, and expect that those administering the public purse will exert control and diligence over our monies.

Apparently, once again the militarists are unable to conduct themselves with dignity.

Once again, the name "blackwater" crops up, and the facts are testament to the need to return every single one of these miscreants to their miserable hovels and their mindless petty existences.

Our slick-tounged politicos tell us that our military is bringing democracy to the Afghan people, and that their prescence brings dignity to the women and children of Afghanistan.

With the constant bombing of civilians, and the drunken and licentious behaviour of the US/NATO forces, one can only conclude that one or two of our politicians are bare-faced liars .

How and when will this arrogant stupidity end?

Is it time to confront our own government and tell them, that enough is enough.....
How many of us would feel outrage if an angry Afghan citizen managed to kill several hundred of these drunken idiots... would we really feel any loss.
Supporting "our troops" is one thing, supporting a bunch of drunken shitheads is not something upon which I want my taxes spent.
Mindless and violent morons...Fuck `em all.

Not wholly good nor bad.

2009-08-28T04:18:00.000-07:00

Rev Eli Jenkins' Prayer - Dylan Thomas (from Under Milk Wood)

Every morning when I wake,
Dear Lord, a little prayer I make,
O please do keep Thy lovely eye
On all poor creatures born to die

And every evening at sun-down
I ask a blessing on the town,
For whether we last the night or no
I'm sure is always touch-and-go.

We are not wholly bad or good
Who live our lives under Milk Wood,
And Thou, I know, wilt be the first
To see our best side, not our worst.

O let us see another day!
Bless us all this night, I pray,
And to the sun we all will bow
And say, good-bye - but just for now!*

Thoughts of grace for Ted Kennedy, here`s a little one from Wales, with a view of the Gower Peninsula.

Here`s a link to a petition, calling for the U.S to honour the late senator witha health care bill that he had been working upon, prior to his death.

I guess he was one of those guys who just kept going...Bless him.... and please sign for him. Thanks

Actually, (Sunday morning), after reading through the contents of the bill, maybe not.....the proposed structure really seems open to all kinds of interpretation and exploitation.
One can imagine too, that if it ever got passed, it would probably include provisions for the elites to continue abusing the underclasses.

Spanish civil war.

2009-08-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

"No great idea in its beginning can ever be within the law. How can it be within the law? The law is stationary. The law is fixed. The law is a chariot wheel which binds us all regardless of conditions or place or time."

Emma Goldman.

There was a group of American civilian-soldiers, who, in the 1930`s when the rumblings of civil war exploded across Spain, set off to fight fascism.....They called themselves the

Abraham Lincoln Brigade.

Most perished, but their name lives on, in song and in the memories of all Spanish people, war is always a somewhat senseless activity, but I guess sometimes one has to fight.

The governments of America and Europe stood idly by as Franco, Mussolini and Hitler spread their vile politics across the continent, only Russia sent assistance, but tens of thousands of leftists and trade unionists travelled to Spain to fight against the military force of the Dictator Franco.
Franco and his forces won that war, and Spain was to endure over 30 years of restrictive fascism.

Their most celebrated encounter was the battle of Jarama, about which Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger sing......

At the going down of the sun.

Health of nations.

2009-08-14T01:40:00.000-07:00

Meetings are taking place in the US, concerning the issue of privatised vs public health services...

Here`s a report from "Enigma", an activist, mother and nurse who is speaking out on behalf of those who have no medical insurance.

There are news reports coming from the US, with interviews from the right-wing opponents of the "National Health Service", and there are wild, unsubstantiated accusations of failings within the British system.
To which of course, one must point out that, "warts and all", at least we have a system that serves every single one of us according to our needs, and that the "burden" is one that we have pride in carrying.

We may not have so many missiles, but at least we got socialised medicine:). Actually, Wales hasn`t even got an air force, or a navy (apart from one or two small fisheries protection craft), we`ve a few hundred soldiers, presently under the "command" of the UK government, who in their quest to rule the planet, in the sixteenth century, after many fiery confrontations, finally took control of Wales through the "acts of union".

No debate concerning the National Health Service should omit the story of its` founding, the details of which encompass the coal mines of Britain, the writings of Marx, and the tale of a boy of 13, driven to work underground in the coal pit through poverty and a lack of schooling..

Aneurin Bevan was born in November 1897, of a typical Welsh family of the time, his father was a coal miner with 10 children to feed and educate, and Aneurin, (or "Nye", as he was called"), soon found himself underground, dust covered and hand- hewing coal for a wage that barely covered the cost of food and rent.

As the other miners talked with him, they realised he was "special", and between them, they sent him to be educated in the hope that he would lead them from their misery and squalor.

In a short time he became first a trade unionist and then a politician.

In 1925, his father lay dying of pneumoconiosis, the "miners` curse", Nye was there, holding him, sharing the last breaths and thoughts, and it is said that it was then he vowed that of all things he would do in his life,

the establishment of taxpayer-funded healthcare for every man, woman and child, would be his primary goal.

Not only a friend of the American Singer and activist Paul Robeson...

There`s more to the man from the hill...

In no small way, do I, and millions of others, owe life to this man, and I certainly couldn`t imagine Wales without our health service, "Free to all, in time of need, and at the point of delivery."

Bad luck or carelessness, but in my younger days, having had some surgery & stitching here and there, I`d be a fool not to believe in the policy of taxpayer-funded medicine.
As it happens, I`ve been fortunate for many years not to need a doctor, but don`t begrudge my taxes paying for the day when that need arises, or indeed, how could anyone fault a system that helps us all, the new-born, the sick, and the elderly without any distinctions of class or wealth.

Something interesting in the State of Denmark.

2009-08-12T04:50:00.000-07:00

National media tends to be conservative and cautious, lawsuits and court appearances being somewhat damaging to their reputations and balance sheets.

So, after no doubt, some consideration as to the legal and political ramifications of transmitting a refutation to the official version of 9/11, TV2 in Denmark went ahead and aired the above interview with Professor Niels Harrit, whose findings are giving a clearer picture of how the three towers collapsed into their own footprint.

It seems too that at last, the FBI whistleblower, Sibil Edmonds, is having her voice heard....
Here`s a link or two, firstly during the first "official inquiry". Interview with American radio station.

Secondly to Counterpunch, the online news source....January 2008....

Of course, none of these "facts" give the full picture of what is going on within the military industrial complex, the cost of which is beginning to exceed that of education, law and order, pensions, health, transport.....

It`s an old game, isn`t it? The militaries tell the politicians and the population that there are threats from a dangerous enemy, but fortunately, they have the troops and weapons to save the nation...and each year it costs just a few trillion dollars more.

Comical.

2009-07-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

In global terms, the French are never far from centre stage, like the Brits and Germans, they no longer appear in need of ruling the world, but just the same, there`s still that sense of personal ambition that gave us Napoleon, Sartre, Piaf, the french resistance, champagne and ...french fries.

A French comedian is "raising steam", with a routine that sees a dark and twisted chuckle in the events of September 11.

In French with English subtitles.

By the way, M. Bigard is a chum of M. Sarkozy, who apparently was not amused with a prod at the "official version"....... which led to an open debate on national television, and a somewhat serious illumination of that days` atrocities.....

Here`s the programme, again, French with subtitles, but entertaining!

Similar discussions, with scientists and journalists are starting to emerge on other European television stations....How long? one wonders, before an unfettered discussion reaches American soil.

Western winds.

2009-07-23T01:07:00.000-07:00

Wind here today near Pembroke...South by West, 20 knots, weather...cloudy, with occasional showers.

The politicians are taking a summer recess, and seem to have left us with swine-flu and the war on terrorism, an economy in hibernation, all overseen by experts appointed by commitees...

In recession-hit Spain, there`s an economic plan which is causing some problems.

Whilst in the Northern Europe, Denmark is leading the field in escaping the costs and consequences of non-renewable energy production, with around 20 percent of electricity coming from "windmills"...plus lesser amounts of hydro and solar... who knows, perhaps there is some sense in a maddened world.

When the wind is blowing, the lights are on.

Modern Moslem Women....Ms Nebahat Albayrak

2009-07-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

For most societies, women are still not often encountered in the realms of government and power.

Muslim women in particular, are not exactly noted for being at the forefront of world-wide political reform, but in Holland, Ms Albyrak has taken the reins of justice and is certainly ploughing a new furrow.

Unlike the US and the UK, Holland is actually seeing a fall in crime, and thus a fall in prisoner numbers, so much so that they are closing down eight prisons, and laying off 1200 guards.... Everyone happy, except the right wingers!

Some might say that crime is low, because personal drug use is not prosecuted, and others say that it is due to prosperity and the inherent good character of the folks that live, mostly below the level of the sea.Whatever the reasons, Holland arrived at a point where their crime rate is actually decreasing....

They have approximately 1 prisoner per 1,000 population, the US has almost 1 per hundred, and the UK somewhere around 1 per 150.Factor in the trend towards privatisation in the US and the UK, and the smell of "prisons for profit" cuts across any valid argument of jail being a deterrent or even a cure for crime.

So, maybe our politicians should take lessons from those who have a proven record in crime reduction, rather than sounding off about the need to persecute and prosecute the less fortunate, they should defer to those who have not only successfully reduced crime, but have built a far more cohesive society.

9/11; getting the real picture.

2009-06-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Most people around the world already know that 9/11 was not what it seemed.

Two airplanes caused three towers to collapse, then came a call to war....a murderous idiocy... continuing with the laissez-faire acceptance of the attack by the current administration... a sort of "don`t ask-don`t tell".

In Denmark, Germany and other countries, discussions have been aired on the TV and radio.
In the US (and Britain), the official line is to keep chasing the Muslim "terrorists", especially those with large oil and gas reserves., although with trillions of dollars of debt, and a rapidly shrinking GDP, the chances of an imminent meltdown in US social order are increasing.

The Yanks may be fooling some of their own, and no doubt there are many around the world who accept the official line with blithe indifference.
There are other individuals who are taking steps toward exposing the true identities of the perpetrators of the attack.....

even Wikipedia is publishing the allegations...

Right after the attacks, in line with official procedures, the US government dispatched a professional photographer, Kurt Sonnenfeld. Attached to FEMA, he soon realised that what he was seeing pointed to evidence of dirty tricks.

When he voiced suspicions to his superiors, he was sidelined and threatened, and now lives in exile in Argentina.

(Quote)"And then it was very odd to me when I learned that FEMA and several other federal agencies had already moved into position at their command center at Pier 92 on September 10th, one day before the attacks......../the collapse of Building 7 was hardly mentioned by the mainstream media and suspiciously ignored by the 911 Commission...../(unquote)

Read on.....

Meanwhile the oil-thirsty establishment... harps on about the need for "freedom" in Iran, and Iraq,..... and Afghanistan.

Bringing together, under one roof.

2009-06-18T17:26:00.001-07:00

There`s a couple of Americans, who linked up, in a combo, with some Africans, a few Europeans, one or two Latin Americans, some white guys, a lady from Israeli, some black people, some Indians, native Americans, and so many more.

It`s Friday, in brief, the video is about using harmony and music to fund projects that provide music to poor folk in Africa, and lets you into a world of global technology and constructive works.

If you feel moved, and it is a truly moving piece of music, then linking to you tube will find several more tracks, and contact information on the whole "craic."

A voice, a lady speaks.

2009-05-17T05:32:00.000-07:00

Just a few moments of reading to see another view.. somewhat sardonic, and certainly very moving.

Perhaps those who see militarism as a worthwhile vocation should slowly consider the thoughts of a lady from Iraq... Layla...

Here`s a quote from her blog, and there`s a link at the foot of the page, although the full article turns around the phrase... "As good as it gets"..., and may not be to the taste of serving soldiers...

Please come and see our combat stress.

The paralyzed old man with drill holes in his legs.
The wobbly woman unable to walk after her "visit" to Abu Ghraib.
The kids who stutter at age 14 and still piss in their pants because they saw the unspeakable.
Whole families living in one damp bedroom, with no mattresses and no blankets.
Women prostituting themselves and slashing their thighs with razor blades after their clients have gone.
Children who can't read and write because they can't afford school.
Displaced families still living in tents and rummaging in garbage to find something to eat.

(ClicK)Thousands maimed with bullets, bombs, burns because of you. Hundred of emptied homes in ruins or occupied by militias because of you.
Long queues of lost faces, holding documents, begging for a place because of you. Thousands of children, with no father and mother, living in the streets, sniffing glue, trafficked, sold, bought, beaten up, because of you.
Thousands crammed in jails, tortured, diseased because of you.
Widowed women living on pavements in Amman, Damascus, Cairo, because of you.
Young women gang raped and blinded with acid because of you...God damn it and God damn you, the list is long...

More faces. Same old face.

2009-05-17T01:39:00.000-07:00

There`s an old saying, about those who have more faces than the town clock, and that`s got at least three.
Of course, one might say that who the american people choose as president is their own affair.
However, given that Europe is now the destination and home of thousands upon thousands of refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan, fleeing from the US/NATO instigated conflicts and wars, then perhaps we in Europe have a right to speak...

How to end the war?...
Stop shooting, that would be a good start..
Stop the bombing raids...

Too easy, and of course, if the troops stop firing weapons and dropping bombs, then the munition factories would cease production, which would would save the taxpayer money, and stop the flood of refugees.

The only loosers would be the owners of the munitions factories, the workers and the troops.... think about that, eh, unemployed bomb makers, unemployed soldiers and generals... so fucking what. Fuck `em. Get an honest proper job.

Of course, that`s why the war cannot stop, there`s still enough wannabe warriors and bomb makers willing to trade the blood of innocent children for the price of their food, a home and a pick-up truck.

Getting back to the point, the new president has had a remarkable show of faces...in spite of shouting change, change, change..., since flouncing into the White House... Guantanamo is still open, the tribunals continue, as do the wars in Iraq, and Afghanistan... where in just 100 days, over 100 civilians, mostly women and children have been killed by the bombs from Uncle Sam.

The killing of a child is the killing of a child, irrespective of race or nationality... OK..got that Mister bloodsucking president.

I have to wonder about the "folk" working in the bomb factories, do they ever consider what it would be like to awake and find their own families blasted to bits, bones and blood spread around their rooms, faeces and flesh dripping from the walls of their houses.
Would I, or anyone else, feel anger if the Afghans managed to return those attacks, bombing the American or British mainland... collateral damage the apologists call it...or would we feel shame on having brought such things upon ourselves...(quiet pause..?)

Why do the voters fall for these two-faced, twisted, murderous politicians, who smirk behind the appealing shape of their canine servants...

In Iraq, in his first 100 days hundreds of civilians have died, as well as dozens of his troops.... dead and disabled...when will they ever learn.

With a few years to go, Obama might catch up with GW in the killing game, the Iraqui resistance is still in force, and averaging 3/4 kills per week, the Afghan/Taliban resistance is growing stronger, and promise to concentrate on helicopters ... expensive targets.... Never mind, it`s good business for the manufacturers, and that`s what makes America what it is....

From the taxpayer, over a trillion dollars for arms and ammunition, plus an extra 100 billion emergency funds for this years` battles.

Over a million job losses since taking office.

The show goes on, new boss, same as the old boss. Strangely now, no mention of change, and certainly no sight of sanity in the White House .

Some Americans, thankfully have realised that new boss is not so far removed from the old boss...one man in space, one million at war, two million homeless, and three million in jail.

The mantra continues, as it did with the last puppet emperor of the planet earth.
What is it with evil arseholes and posing with puppy dogs...

More troops to the Eastern front.... Print more banknotes...intensify the border patrols...more missiles to the Russian border.....more troops...more `planes... more weapons...more prisons...more, more, more...

Ah yes, Me and you, and a fucking dog named Boo, or was it named Barney, or Blondi...?

All three dogs, as we know, are/were fed by Wall st.

Cereal offenses...

2009-04-22T02:07:00.000-07:00

Not one for breakfast cereals, apart from the odd bowl of winter porridge, by and large, the morning munch is usually "continental", i.e., bread/cheese/fish, even eggs and fruit, but no toasted, sugar-soaked shite from cardboard boxes, with "added nutrition and extra taste!"

A tonne of corn at the farm gate fetches roughly $150/£100, good quality wheat is more expensive starting at about £200 per tonne.... which if my maths are true... means that the cost of corn works out to 15c/10p per kilo .

A kilo of "reconstituted" (pre-chewed & sanitised!) corn, sold in shops as breakfast food, fetches anything from a pound, up to three pounds ($5).....

So, between the garden and the table, there surely sits one well-fed and wealthy sector of the food chain.

By the way, the picture comes courtesy of another blog, ....Fengtastic...., worth a visit, images... and subtle ones at that.

The tortured soul.

2009-04-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Just added a new link, right at the top...Blacklisted news....., an american site that seems to fit with the times.

Interesting article (Click)from a guy named Tom Burghardt (February),
which pre-empts the Obama announcement concerning torture.... and also sheds light on the connections between boeing and the CIA...

Boeing... serving the agents of rendition and torture... but Obama had best watch out...putting himself into the frame by ruling out further investigation, or indeed any criminal charges of the participants, sends out a message to the entire world.....that of "my country right or wrong".

Ah well, change was short, but not sweet.

Editing (22nd April)...a few days later, and Obama now says he may indeed, one day, perhaps, consider prosecutions..."Wriggling", is that what our american friends call it.
Of course, there`s also the matter of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...which if torture is illegal, then war should be a capital crime!

Common thoughts-and common sense.

2009-04-02T03:07:00.000-07:00

Censorship is said to be the eradication of any images or thoughts of which the censor disapproves... so conversely...here is one that is "approved".

From James Petras...
Recovery from the deepening depression does not reside in running a multi-trillion dollar printing operation, which only creates conditions for hyperinflation and the debasement of the dollar. The root cause is the over-accumulation of capital resulting from over-exploitation of labor, leading to rising rates of profit and the collapse of demand. The vast disparity between capital expansion and decline of worker consumption set the stage for the financial bubble. Cl--ck for more.

G20, Circus in town.

2009-03-31T23:49:00.000-07:00

The circus has arrived in London, a one-off show, that will not be touring the provinces. Sadly, yours truly has not got the inclination nor the time to visit the show.

Then again, with the internet, one can know within moments just what amazing feats and spectacles these gargantuan performers have brought to the big top.

The Russians, who now supply much of the world with gas, oil and inexpensive yet highly efficient armaments, (Kalashnikov is not a town in Texas!),
are calling for and end to the use of the dollar as reserve currency for the world....

The Chinese even suggest that we all use the Yuan.
Obama insists that it won`t be necessary....Well, every circus has it`s clowns...

Barak, let me tell you something, there are over 1 billion chinese, mostly educated and law-abiding, but above all, industrious... contrasted with 300 million americans,,, then there`s the Russians, again well educated, industrious and fiercely nationalistic, then there`s Europe and Latin America...
Need I say more, apart from 6 million Israelis, you have virtually no allies left, so maybe time to get a new act... how about you try farming instead of warmongering, or making nice little cars instead of tanks and jeeps, or how about schools and hospitals instead of prisons and military bases.
You could even take the homeless from your streets, and take the sick into care, dismantle your weapons of mass distruction....., or the people of America will do it for you.
Wake up, and get into step with the world.

The Barak and Brown approach to the global monetary programme, is to print money, borrow it, and charge it to the taxpayer...whilst most of the other nations are electing to undergo a period of economic contraction, and then on to a less indebted future.

The French, (under strong prompts from Berlin!) are threatening to walk away unless the world agrees to tighten the rules on hedge funds and tax havens.

Now, underneath the make-up and the silly costumes lies a cunning mind, but then again, is Barak perhaps fooling himself?

Does he really think that no-one else knows he and his banking elites are out of cash? Or that his armies have little prospect of victory against what is now, an increasingly sophisticated guerilla force.

Surrounded by 300 "secret service agents", and a trillion dollar army, he might feel and look important, but should the Chinese cut off his credit, or should the "terrorists" disrupt the supply of oil, then his overly expensive act may not be required in the not-too-distant future..

Without doubt, the Russians, Chinese, and most of Europe reject the policies, and thus the actions of the US.
Which only leaves England and Gordon Brown, who one suspects has no choice, given the entanglement of US and UK financial conglomerates.

There might be a few blips, but I`d say the US dollar is failing and falling from grace as a medium of exchange, and who knows, maybe next time Obama comes to town he won`t need all those expensive bodyguards, the armoured limousine, the staff, the helicopters, the personal jets, the nuclear football...
Of course, he`ll still need the suit, the make-up, a script.

Hunting buck.

2009-03-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

In the news at the moment is AIG, the US insurance "giant". They`ve been busy everywhere, spreading their capital everywhere, including the greasy, sticky hands of Obamsteen. One of their core business involvements is within the Israeli mortgage market, through a subsidary called......

Ezer Mortgage Insurance.

(Thanks to the author at Blogocrity for that one, and reading the comments makes for some interesting moments.)

Of course, in Israel, being a "special nation", of "special people", they have slightly different values.
One being the price of property, which by any measure seems to be highly over-valued, ten times more expensive than Egypt or Palestine, and the other little benefit, as can be seen from the link, is a special clause that allows the Israelis to take periods of "grace" on their repayments.

Imagine that some of those mortgages may be of dubious certification or provenance,....far be it for me to cast aspersions or slurs upon the Jewish people, but lately, the rise of names such as Madoff, Geithner, Bernanke, are not exactly inspiring confidence in the business practices of the chosen race.

Enough, genug jetzt, don`t just take my word, check out a voice of reality and sanity, and let`s not take life too seriously.

"Flabbergasted?" (Alternative, possibly slightly unkosher comedy:)

Th outside of the ink box.

2009-03-20T06:38:00.001-07:00

Nothing to say on this one.... butt!

Cynical lines.

2009-03-03T03:02:00.000-08:00

Standing next to the printing press,
With notes-a-plenty piled to the roof,
Their fingers all stained, a veritable mess,
Disdainfull snorts, empty hollow denials of sorts,
The bankers, politicians their advisers, the courts...

Whilst all the while, with little understanding or guile,
We taxpayers and workers pay for this farce and smile,
Quantative easing and wars for oil ,
No dissent or protest allowed.
.

They`ve got battleships, bombs, submarines,snipers and tasers,
Listening devices, surveillance cameras, protection teams and lasers,
More than just an ongoing financial farce,
The whole bloody thing`s a pain in t`arse.

From within.

2009-02-27T03:30:00.001-08:00

Is there a soul? Are there those who can prove the existence of individual souls, do nations have souls?
What about animals?
Questions of anatomy, philosophy and religious dogma, to which the written answers would filll many libraries.
Where do souls come from and go to, what is "Soul music"....?
For the soul, if such a thing exists, then the tune "Chain gang" is one of the best.

La Mer. Charles Trénet

2009-02-27T03:28:00.001-08:00

Music from a gentle source. Pictures of a gentle sea.

Lest we forget.

2009-02-19T00:08:00.000-08:00

Most people have seen this picture..., the followers of zionism push and squirm like a beligerent mendicant , into the land of Palestine, squeeezing out the Palestinians and swelling, growing in size and expanding until...
Until when? Until what?

Every event and process has its` end, no-one in the world could want this militarised expansion to continue, it is no more than an armed invasion, with an unrelenting principle of eradicating all and any resistance.
Not unlike the Anglo-american invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, whose aims and atrocities are no longer quite so obscure.
Control of the planets` oil reserves and minerals, control of the labour and manufacturing, control of the currencies, maintaining the position of the elites, with their castles and concubines, their servants and offshore accounts, and for the majority, thereby ensuring the continuance of poverty and strife.
I`d say that based upon the current state of finances in the West, that we are out of cash..., and with not much "oil and ore", that borrowing against future earnings is futile, the main products that we manufacture are now...debt and war.

These days, the other side, the Russo/Sino/Asian/Moslem/Latino/Left/ are not buying so much of it.

One European study group postulates that within a few weeks, given the current direction of state borrowings, the dollar will begin to slide, then crash before the end of this year.

Have the Chinese and Russians conspired to defeat us? Or like so many empires before us, have we wasted our children and treasure on the mindless pursuit of absolute power?
Then there are the trappings of imagined wealth, much of it achieved by using debt and armed force.
We built homes for ourselves, we dressed in fine clothes, ate food from across the world ....( and sent armies to oversee the acquisition of "oil wells and gold mines").

The greater game continues, if the US, (or even the UK) descends into social unrest, who will assume/maintain control of the military...with all its` costly personel and systems?
Indeed, with mounting numbers of homeless and unemployed, the whole world should question not only the cost, but the "purpose" of so much military spending.

A circumstance that might encompass Britain along the trail to depression and unrest. Without doubt, Israel will loose some of its` financial and military support... will it be sufficient to reign in and defeat their miltaries???... Will this year see the last gruesome moves of a beligerent beast?

Nothing new, nothing to see.

2009-02-04T03:24:00.000-08:00

Seems like the war machine is the biggest, single, most important, vital issue in the budget of the american empire, and if truth be told, the Brits are overly militarised as well, in their vain pursuit of glories gone.
Around a trillion dollars per annum, which is going to be hard to maintain, given the rising unemployment.

Looking at the balance sheets of the American banks, one certainly wonders what those exotic fiscal expressions might come to mean.

Toxic debt.
Default swaps.
Short naked selling.

I have no idea how those little games will affect the ordinary person, but if they were on offer at a party, or any social gathering, I`d check my clothes and my wallet, and then run.

Credit Exposure to Capital ratio. Amounts in $Millions

If, as most financial commentators suggest, the finances of America are about to fail, as are those of Britain, and much of Europe, then it would surely follow that with proportionately lesser revenue stream from the wealth-generating middle-classes, the militaries must also cut back on their spending.

Or has the militarised world got a one last final big surge advance plan operation to finally overcome the evil terrorist liberal hippy drug takin` free lovin` left thinking socialised educated non-violent folk.

Obama has a plan called "Strangelove", or at least the military has one for him to save the world, first you just have to destroy it a little.

Of course, then there`s the drugs, in particular, the heroin.
Strange how much is made of how the Taliban control the trade in Afghanistan.

Strange how little progress is made in finding those who traffic between the Himilayan hillsides and the streets of America and Britain.

One hard-working lady did investigate and record the facts. (Click/Respect to the Blog "Against all enemies.")

Once again, the military are there, not destroying the drugs and arresting the traders, but assisting and protecting the trade itself, in exchange for "items of a sensitive nature.".... Like cash, weapons and self-preservation.

The plot thickens, and as we head towards international bankruptcy and social unrest, one must ask if the capitalist system itself is going to survive, or will a new world order emerge from the present battle.
Will Israel be "obliterated"?
Will Europeans continue with strikes and protest?
Will the US descend into financial chaos and social disorder?

One thing is certain, the days of conspicuous consumption and warmongering are coming to a close, either we shut down the bomb makers, or they are going to take us with them, in one great extinctive flash.

War crimes, same as always.

2009-01-17T05:09:00.000-08:00

Taken from the blog of Carlos Latuff, click on post title for link.
The evidence is there, the courts are functioning, all that is needed is a warrant and an officer, and an adequate level of global support.

Joining the dots of facism.

2009-01-17T01:23:00.000-08:00

"Joining the dots" is often a useful tool of thinking.
Crime too, is often detected by joining together various pieces of evidence and information.

So, in the interest of anyone who passes through this portal, and still believes that the Anglo-centric world is one of fairy tales and happy endings...Wake up.

Those who financed and directed the second world war were absent from the war crimes tribunals that followed, it was most certainly the "Victors` justice."

Europe lost over 30 million people, bombed and burned, starved, crippled and beset with trepidation. Cities and infrastructure lay devastated and broken.

To the East were the Russians, whilst conveniently scattered in the West were Europe`s new found allies, the Americans.
Ideology and rhetoric from both sides seemed ready to start another war, with nuclear weapons on the battlefield, we lived under a shadow of instant cremation.

So who dunnit, why, and how?

Who were the leaders who took us to the brink of self-destruction? Was it an inherent racism within our people and their politicians, or was it, as most might agree, the pressure from the arms manufacturers and their cohorts in the corporate world.

As shown, Standard oil and the Rockerfellers were very much in support of Hitler and his attempt to invade Russia.... We should never forget that there were others who gave support to the Fascists.

Henry Ford, who had no qualms about using slave workers.

General Motors, who supplied troop carriers...

General Electric, kept the power running.

ITT developed a formidable communication system. Land, sea and air, as well as producing fuses for bombs and rockets,, it also owned part of Focke-Wolfe, whose aircraft bombed the cities of Britain.

IBM, organised the railway timetables, and the listing of European Jews.

Wall St., too many names to mention., the Bush/Harriman connection is well recorded, however, even more audacious was the support of so many well known financial entities, including Rockefellers` financial arm, the Chase(Manhattan) bank.

Officially, all the guilty stood trial at Nuremburg, sadly, they were not the sole driving force of this prolonged and cruel fascist war, merely the footsoldiers.

Thanks to all those who wrote the original reports cited in the "links", the picture comes into frame.

My dad, and Adolf Hitler.

2009-01-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

When I arrived on this planet,(`52) the second world war had not long concluded.

It was however, in Europe, still the subject of debate, and the focus of many films and books, most of which sought to describe the events as being something that the dastardly Nazis had dreamed up, planned, financed and entered into completely without any other outside help..

We were led to think that all alone, from within his own fiendish brain, Adolf Hitler had come up with a plan that entailed rounding up all the Gipsies and Jews,, plus the communists,the disabled and the mentally ill, then forcing them to produce arms and munitions whilst they looted the art treasures of Europe. Which is far from the truth, as we have come to see.

My late father was just 18 years old at the outbreak of hostilities, a trainee clerk at an East London Jewish foodstuffs importer, and was called to defend "The Capital", along with thousands more unwitting "patriots" perched on top of an office block in Central London, with an "Ack Ack" gun, instructed to shoot at the aeroplanes that bombed London for months on end.

In `44, he was sent to the battle across Germany, (via Normandy), which is when he began to realise that maybe, just maybe, all was not as portrayed by the media of that era.

He never really got over it,the poor man, bless him. Depression, Arthritis, bouts of anger, weeks and weeks of silent bed-ridden suffering.

He strongly argued against any form of warfare, which was a brave thing to do back in those times, allthough he was Welsh, and Welsh -speaking, he also spoke a small amount of German, somehow perhaps, that tempered his view of the event.

Occasionally, we would talk about the war, and I came to believe that he had realised that there were "other things" that were behind the hostilities, particularly the aftermath of the war, when the Soviets took over much of Eastern Europe, their socialist empire being the counter to the capitalist advances of the West. In one word...Oil.

So when I first read the explanations given below, a multitude of "little facts" began to connect themselves.... How the Germans obtained finance and fuel, why they attacked the Russians (The main objective), and above all, why America came into the battle.

The part played by the Rockerfeller family should be examined, and if necessary brought further into public examination.

I`m most grateful to a German website that has posted the following non-Hollywood appraisal of some of the factors that drove millions of ordinary Europeans to war, and for so many, many unfortunates, untold suffering and their death.

Thanks to Gaby Weber...

The Russian Revolution installed a new global order. Until 1917, the Europeans were in command of the world. Then the US corporates wanted to get in the global business, above all, John D. Rockefeller who founded Standard Oil in 1870. In 1879 he merged the Vacuum Company and many other firms until 1911, when the Trust was desolved and broken into many smaller companies. But the Rockefeller family
maintained power in the oil business.

At that time, petroleum was produced in two places, in Texas and in Baku, in the Caucasus. The Russian oilfields were owned by the Nobel and Rothschild families who lost their assets with October Revolution. “In summer 1918, Mr. Nobel flew from the Soviets and begged the German emperor Wilhelm to help him to conquer his assets back”, says the historian Dietrich Eichholtz. But thinking about “conquer” wasn’t possible with an unarmed German Republic.

The interest of the Rockefeller family were identical with the interest of Deutsche Bank. And after WW1, their shares of the „Turkish Petroleum Company“ were transferred as „enemy property“ to France. For many years, the Deutsche Bank tried to litigate against this expropriation, but finally they realized that there wouldn’t be any chance on the legal front. There is strong evidence to suggest that approximately in 1927, Deutsche Bank and Standard Oil made a secret pact aimed at bringing Hitler to power in order to conquer the Oil of Baku. Standard Oil promised to supply the fuel.
In 1927, Standard Oil and IG Farben founded the company „Standard IG Farben“; president was the oil dealer William Farish from Texas. Standard passed to IG Farben the patents about the coal hydrogenation processes and the Germans gave them the patents how to manufacture synthetic rubber...

Read on (CLICK), for a realistic view of Europe and the "oil wars", numbers one and two.

Gaza.

2009-01-03T00:19:00.000-08:00

Link to article by Stephen Lendman.

The video may not be there for long, as war is the worst censor of all.
No matter how much spin is laid upon us by the media, the fact remains that Israel is dropping bombs on women and children,without justification. They have become the worst of human forms, that of the tyrant.

The letter.

2009-01-02T23:12:00.000-08:00

Here is an open letter, written by a former world leader, to every american perhaps, but especially directed at the incoming leader of the United States, Mr. B. Obama.
I`d certainly agree with most, if not all of it.

January 1, 2009

Dear Mr. President,

I did not vote for you in the Presidential Election because I am Malaysian.

But I consider myself one of your constituents because what you do or say will affect me and my country as well.

I welcome your promise for change. Certainly your country, the United States of America needs a lot of changes.

That is because America and Americans have become the most hated people in the world. Even Europeans dislike your arrogance. Yet you were once admired and liked because you freed a lot of countries from conquest and subjugation.

It is the custom on New Year's day for people to make resolutions. You must have listed your good resolutions already. But may I politely suggest that you also resolve to do the following in pursuit of Change.

1) Stop killing people. The United States is too fond of killing people in order to achieve its objectives. You call it war, but today's wars are not about professional soldiers fighting and killing each other. It is about killing people, ordinary innocent people by the hundreds of thousands. Whole countries will be devastated.

War is primitive, the cavemen's way of dealing with a problem. Stop your arms build up and your planning for future wars.

2) Stop indiscriminate support of Israeli killers with your money and your weapons. The planes and the bombs killing the people of Gaza are from you.

3) Stop applying sanctions against countries which cannot do the same against you.

In Iraq your sanctions killed 500,000 children through depriving them of medicine and food. Others were born deformed.

What have you achieved with this cruelty? Nothing except the hatred of the victims and right-thinking people.

4) Stop your scientists and researchers from inventing new and more diabolical weapons to kill more people more efficiently.

5) Stop your arms manufacturers from producing them. Stop your sales of arms to the world. It is blood money that you earn. It is un-Christian.

6) Stop trying to democratize all the countries of the world. Democracy may work for the United States but it does not always work for other countries.

Don't kill people because they are not democratic. Your crusade to democratize countries has killed more people than the authoritarian Governments which you overthrew. And you have not succeeded anyway.

7) Stop the casinos which you call financial institutions. Stop hedge funds, derivatives and currency trading. Stop banks from lending non-existent money by the billions.

Regulate and supervise your banks. Jail the miscreants who made profits from abusing the system.

8) Sign the Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements.

9) Show respect for the United Nations.

I have many other resolutions for change which I think you should consider and undertake.

But I think you have enough on your plate for this 2009th year of the Christian Era.

If you can do only a few of what I suggest, you will be remembered by the world as a great leader. Then the United States will again be the most admired nation. Your embassies will be able to take down the high fences and razor-wire coils that surround them.

May I wish you a Happy New Year and a great Presidency.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad

(Former Prime Minister of Malaysia)

Link to original

Games, greater and lesser.

2008-10-24T23:13:00.000-07:00

Work has kept me occupied for the past few months.
Which has been a blessing, particularly in these harder times.
An acquantance in town had a small hotel which needed decorating, so I`ve been "plying the paintbrush",it`s refreshed and rested some parts of the brain, whilst also giving me time to reflect on life.

(Private and commercial premises renovated and decorated, fishing vessels,pleasurecraft... scraped/antifouled/painted. competitive quotations.. trained staff, references available)...

After a small period of introspection, I have figured out, that given my current health, income and investments, I`m probably going to have to work almost until the last moment...
Might have time for a nap, who knows? Best not, I reckon, speculate on such matters.

With respect to pastor Martin Niemoller.

First they took the warriors, and sent them off to war.
Then they took the underclass, the beggars and the poor,
Chained, adjudged, then cast aside, far from light of day,
The bastards taxed the working class,
And built a mighty force,
Then they bombed and burned the world,
Without compassion or remorse.

I shan`t continue, but obviously, the very same corporate and political fruitcakes that brought us WW`s 1&2 are still in business.

For just one small moment, one might have thought Obama would bring change. yup, he brought change, change of socks, underwear and the nametag on the white house desk, and a newer level of indifferent subservience to corporate will....incidentally, one wonders how the people of Forth Worth, Texas are doing this week.
F16`s are their main product, at 30 million$$`s each, or free to Israel.
Then there`s Tucson Arizona, where Raytheon manufacture guided missiles, the very same ones used to kill hundreds of innocent human beings during the "holidays".

What are these people doing, is this the never ending story of Zionist Judaism vs the rest, or is this latest affront "the work of our god".

Everyone needs work, but making or using bombs and warplanes is not a particularly positive effort in the greater scheme of things.

Isn`t it time to say enough?

Non-corporate meals/ "free food."

2008-10-06T04:32:00.000-07:00

Most people have possibly not collected food from the sea, or even thought of the notion....., but there are loads of meals around the coast that require only hunger, and the will to survive.

Clicketty click, for technical points....Littorina littorea,

After collecting, from the coast, at low tide, this little snail is soaked in salt water and porridge oats overnight.
Boiled for around 5 minutes, then, after extracting the creature from the shell, with a thin-pointed knife or pin, they can be eaten at once, added to a pasta sauce, or as part of any "fruits de mer"..

Lovely, when left to soak for a few hours, in a mild french dressing, and eaten cold with fresh bread and salads.

Upending the pyramids.

2008-10-06T01:52:00.000-07:00

Superficially, school text books tell that the kings of Egypt built the pyramids, glossing over the facts of slavery, that the citizens and tax-payers were the builders, kept in chains and whipped by overeseers and soldiers, who themselves were kept in line by a curious combination of fear and priviledge.
Millions of slaves, unthinkingly consumed , mere chattels, subject to the whims of a self-indulgent overclass.

So what`s new?
Pyramid building by the ruling classes leads to the creation and the inevitable downfall of militarised nations. Happened a thousand times before. Perhaps, it may happen again.

"A real gem", is an oft-used phrase, but here is a piece of writing from the states, that hits the nail on the head, it starts with a M. Moore quote.. ( Hand to "The Hedonistic pleasure seeker".)

CLICKING>>>>The richest 400 Americans — that’s right, just four hundred people — own MORE than the bottom 150 million Americans combined. 400 rich Americans have got more stashed away than half the entire country! Their combined net worth is $1.6 trillion. During the eight years of the Bush Administration, their wealth has increased by nearly $700 billion — the same amount that they are now demanding we give to them for the “bailout.”"

Cannabis.. The right to produce### for medical use.

2008-09-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

Last week in Holland, the Dutch high court ruled that, in cases of medical use, growing one`s own cannabis is a basic right.

The significance of this decision, when held against the market monopolies in so-called legal pharmaceutical drugs is far-reaching.

Many folks are realising that cannabinoids are indeed a major tool in the pharmacological chest.

Here is an extract from Wikipedia, bet that the average person doesn`t know that the capitalists in charge of the corporate pharmacy have discovered that cannabis actually combats cancer....

...Cannabidiol, also known as "CBD", is a major constituent of medical cannabis. CBD represents up to 40% of extracts of the medical cannabis plant.[27] Cannabidiol relieves convulsion, inflammation, anxiety, nausea, and inhibits cancer cell growth.[28] Recent studies have shown cannabidiol to be as effective as atypical antipsychotics in treating schizophrenia.[29] In November 2007 it was reported that CBD reduces growth of aggressive human breast cancer cells in vitro and reduces their invasiveness. It thus represents the first non-toxic exogenous agent that can lead to down-regulation of tumor aggressiveness.[30][31] It is also a neuroprotective antioxidant.[32]...

In fact, anyone with a jot of common sense soon realises that the main reason for it being "illegal" is because the corporate pharmacists want it all for themselves.

As Wall street collapses, along with the pensions and savings of "capitalists", the power and turnover of the pharmeceutical corporations will undoubtedly also wane.

The right to produce for medical use, has a certain mantra doesn`t it.
So there ya go, chew on a few buds, and be safe.

Death of fishes.

2008-09-13T04:16:00.000-07:00

Upon occasion, as the tide recedes, old or injured fish are left stranded to flap aimlessly around until they find their place in the food chain.
One might ask, if in their minds, they know they are about to die?
They continue flexing their tails, their belly fins flap into the mud or sand, and their mouths grasp at non-existent water.
Their eyes seek out other fish, but meet the eyes of the gulls and shore crabs that sense a meal has been gifted to their table.

One might say that the U.S. is a fish that has been pulled from the water, a huge monster, a specimen that is taking the efforts of billions of fishermen to capture.
Bolivian president, Evo Morales has kicked out the chief american diplomat, as has Chavez in Venezuela...quick to voice support have been Honduras and Ecuador, Argentina too has indicated that it will not tolerate foreign intervention.
The Latin Americans have stepped up to the front line and stood alongside the Iraquis and Iranians, the Afghans and all those who prefer not to support the one world scenario of Washington.

At first, a stranded fish is frantic enough to repel the beaks and claws of predators, but remorselessly as the tide falls, the fish knows the battle to be lost, and even as the final few tremors of life exit it`s frame, the gulls begin to attack the softest parts.
First the eyes and gills, then the underbelly, beginning with the anal orifice, exposing the main course, the soft and easily digested entrails.
A vociferous and lively feeding frenzy takes place, and in a few short moments it`s all over.
Usually the main skeleton and harder flesh is left to the incoming sea, where larger crabs and lobsters, along with prawns, shrimps and all manner of eels and fish, will pick clean the corpse.

The fish called America is the biggest creature of all , a thick-skinned and deep swimming voracious feeder, that consumes everything in sight, seemingly present across all the oceans of this little planet.
Where ever the fish has surfaced, it has fed relentlessly. No quarter given, murderously ferocious and with no other single creature able to end its` tenure of the oceans.
Having consumed so much, and bloated, with an unsustainable diet, the predator has now become prey, being attacked by millions of little fish, each one becoming a sharp-toothed nemesis , tearing off small pieces, as they trammel themselves into concerted shoals, from hunted to hunter.
Surely stranded now, the fish is too unwieldly to regain the tide, it`s huge mouth gasping for non-existent waters, with fins and appendages making futile motions but no longer moving forward, exposed and weak, with gulls and crabs swarming, feeding and calling out to their fellow creatures with bigger and bigger chunks being torn from a twitching frame.

Without exception, somehow or another, all fish expire.

Rosie came home.

2008-08-31T22:53:00.000-07:00

Indeed, with Wales being such a little land, and Tenby being just a few moments from home, I managed to be there, as Rosie hobbled into the town square.
There were hundreds of folk there, and barely a dry eye amongst us.

The picture shows Rosie with her mother, and here`s a link (CLICK) to a video of her "speech" to the crowd.

I have to say, that what she says is somehow extremely poignant, and straight from her heart.

If you have children, whether boy or girl or both , invite them to watch this video, and tell them the tale, of a little girl who ran around the world, with just hope, faith, and charitable intent.

(Here`s -click- how the Times relates the events.)

A Russian viewpoint.

2008-08-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile the Russians are not going to back down. (Click here or on title for source.)

""Despite the apparent strength, the NATO naval group in the Black Sea is not battle-worthy,"
Admiral Eduard Baltin said.

"If necessary, a single missile salvo from the Moskva missile cruiser and two or three missile boats would be enough to annihilate the entire group."

"Within 20 minutes the waters would be clear," he said, stressing that despite major reductions, the Black Sea Fleet still has a formidable missile arsenal.

However, Baltin said the chances of a military confrontation between NATO and Russia in the Black Sea are negligible.

"We will not strike first, and they do not look like people with suicidal tendencies," he said.

***********************************************************************************

One thing is certain though, in the long run, the Russians have got their own oil to supply their war machine, whereas NATO does not.
Much the same as it was at the outbreak of WW1, and WW2.

Here`s a few words from New Zealand..... From Lenora Foerstel,... Just a short page or so, but a big picture.

Same old shit, only this time the Anglo-saxon "allies" might end up as loosers.
Peace.

German intelligence.

2008-08-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

Here we are, safely snuggled up in our Anglo-centric blankets. The results and rules of "fractional reserve lending" are not completely clear to all, though I`m sure the phrase will be pored over by students in the future.
The economic situation in Europe, particularly Britain is about to grow teeth and bite a few folks right where it hurts, self included, though I`ve just remembered a long-ago fondness for working in Spain.

"Buenos dias, Come es Usted... hay trabajo aqui?"

However I look at life, it seems more and more like the English-speaking world is living a lie, stuck in some crusade for an unknown cause, wherein all the bad guys have brown skins and/or speak in other languages.

Germany is certainly the "powerhouse" of Europe, their wealth and manufacturing has been at the heart of european unification, I`ve been there once or twice, but now with arthritis and worn-out bones, Spain certainly looks more inviting.
Funny thing, life.. a few decades back, Germany and Spain, indeed most of Europe was the stage of bloody and violent war, now any European can work, live and travel freely, there are still old hostilities simmering beneath the surface.

Here`s (CLICK), what a German writer thinks of the current Georgia-Russia conflagration. I have to say that I`m just amazed at the points made... Is the writer coming from "The left or the right?", or is it just teutonic wisdom.?

By the way, it`s now highly improbable that there are any Germans who are not aware of the links between the U.S. and Hitler`s rise to power, the cat is not only out of the bag on that one, it`s lean, hungry and ready to hunt.

The parent website also offered up this little gem. (CLICK here or on title for link.

This time, the Anglo-American and Saudi financial cabal behind London's Lisbon Treaty scheme for globalization, is playing for keeps. (Representative Barney Frank is not the actual source of a threat of general thermonuclear war.) Either Russia backs down, or globalization is dead. The presently onrushing general breakdown-crisis of the present world monetary-financial system, leaves no other options available to the Anglo-American-Saudi financier partners. If Russia survives as a sovereign nation, the presently onrushing general financial collapse means that "globalization" is doomed. This time, London is not gambling; it sees the crushing of Russia now as its only way of maintaining imperial hegemony over the world at large. Without Russia's capitulation, the United Kingdom becomes the little nations of England, Wales, and Scotland (which is not a bad option for the inhabitants of that Isle, if you think about that in a civilized way).

Ah well,
"A que hora sale el tren..hay asiento?"

One senses that the people of Scotland and Wales might want to press ahead, with speed, any plans for independence.

Paul Robeson, a little more.

2008-08-18T02:59:00.000-07:00

Paul Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) rose from being the son of a slave, to become an actor, an opera singer and a campaigner for the equality between all races.
He was much loved here in Wales, visited often during his life, until the American government forbade him to travel , due to the links he had begun to create with trade unionists and other political thinkers.
Unsuprisingly, his visits to Moscow, and the singing of Russian songs wasn`t going in his favour with the right-wing ideologists that controlled the american government of that time.
In the thirties, during the civil war in Spain, he went there to encourage the americans who fought on the side of the anti-Franco brigades.

Paul Robeson and his links with the coal miners of Wales.

C,click below to an article, and also an excellent blog, that socialist thinkers may find to be of interest:

Socialist Unity... The Blog.

Soviet/ USSR Anthem in English [by Paul Robeson]

2008-08-15T21:10:00.001-07:00

Interesting little video, anyone else remember Paul Robeson?

Here it comes.

2008-08-15T04:39:00.000-07:00

That`s a cartoonist view, courtesy of Carlos Latuff.

Great cartoonist, imho.

Games of chess, and political brinkmanship normally end in a win, a loss, or a draw.

Here from the "Times Online", is an unusually incisive view of the "bigger game" (Click ~~~.)

Could there be a possibility that the Times senses a need to "raise a cap to the winner."

One senses that the american pawns have fallen, the knights and castles have been surrounded or captured, bishops rendered worthless..

The game is over for the "Imperial court of usurious capitalism", and that given the ideologicgal standpoint of the Russian leadership, perhaps for once in the chequered history of the apes on this planet, food, shelter and education are about to become somewhat more important than profit, religion and warfare.

Regretfully, the team behind Bush are quite capable of destroying the board and pieces in a violent tantrum.

So they might yet spark off another conflagration, with Iran being the likely target... and probably the last move they will ever make. Putin still has most of his pieces intact, as does his second and neighbour, Mr Hu. The option and range of counter moves, are in their favour..
Peace.

New links.

2008-08-11T03:38:00.000-07:00

Just added two links, Global research, which is a fairly accurate and unbiased viewpoint on world occurences, and a good source for informative articles on the major events of commerce and politics.

Currently publishing an excellent analysis of the Georgian conflict., by Michel Chossudovsky. I`d prefer listening to Ray Charles singing "Georgia on my mind", but then you can`t always get what you want.

Secondly, "Some political pundits", is a list of British blogs whose writers are interested in the politics of this little wind-swept island in the rain.

Thought for the moment, If leftist globalism, with Russia at the helm, is defined as:

"Populist ideologocial policies backed by military force....

Then subsequently, in some perverse yet rational mixture of algebraic semantics, with a squaring of common sense... One might thus describe the opposing right wing version as:

"Military force without ideological or populist backing..."

Ah well, there we are.

Tears, with Django Reinhardt & Stephan Grapelli.

2008-08-04T16:11:00.000-07:00

No need to worry if you don`t see a picture, it`s just a tune, a haunting melody that invokes the parts, that other tunes just don`t seem to reach.

Django Reinhardt was a Belgian Gypsy, famous for his two fingered style of playing. He lost the use of the other two, the night his caravan caught fire, Click to read more

Makes you wonder, we complain about all sorts of shit. But to be a guitar player, and loose two fingers, and still go on to make the music that he did, is a humbling lesson.

Stefan Grapelli was born in France, in 1908, with his parents being Italian. Life was no fun for him, his mother died when he was four, and he grew up in an orphanage, taking his violin to busk on the streets from the age of twelve, he was soon playing professionally, and went on to meet Reinhardt and together they formed the
Quintette du hot club de France, which doesn`t exactly roll off the tongue, but there you are...

Bless `em both.

A Celt by any other name.

2008-08-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

So many people erroneously believe that the Celts are a people native to Ireland and mainland Britain.
Which is quite untrue, the Celts came from central Europe, and began to arrive in Britain in the pre-christian millenium.
The yellow portion of the map shows the extent and homeland of the Celts, 600 years "before christ", and the light green shows their expansion over the next 300 years, after which began the rise of the Romans, and the "fall of the Celts".

As can be seen, the Celts were principally Germanic, just like the Saxons, who invaded Britain after the Romans had left, which is another tale for another time.

They were certainly neither monotheistic, nor monogamous, nor particularly peaceful.

Here`s how Wikipedia relates the tale of the Celtish folk.

In battle, as warriors...

"They cut off the heads of enemies slain in battle and attach them to the necks of their horses. The blood-stained spoils they hand over to their attendants and striking up a paean and singing a song of victory; and they nail up these first fruits upon their houses, just as do those who lay low wild animals in certain kinds of hunting. They embalm in cedar oil the heads of the most distinguished enemies, and preserve them carefully in a chest, and display them with pride to strangers, saying that for this head one of their ancestors, or his father, or the man himself, refused the offer of a large sum of money. They say that some of them boast that they refused the weight of the head in gold".

Their sexual mores...

The remark is reported to have been made by the wife of Argentocoxus, a Caledonian, to Julia Augusta. When the empress was jesting with her, after the treaty, about the free intercourse of her sex with men in Britain, she replied:
"We fulfill the demands of nature in a much better way than do you Roman women; for we consort openly with the best men, whereas you let yourselves be debauched in secret by the vilest."
Such was the retort of the British woman.

Their laws, which incidentally saw women as equal to , and even as better than men.

Under Brehon Law, which was written down in early Medieval Ireland after conversion to Christianity, a woman had the right to divorce her husband and gain his property if he was unable to perform his maritial duties due to impotence, obesity, homosexual inclination or preference for other women...

Naturally, when the Romans came with their militaristic empire of patriarchal mono-theism, the Celtic lifestyle retreated to the peripheries of the mind.
However, it must be said that the "old ways" are certainly making a welcome return.
Monogamous lifestyles, and unquestioning monotheism are no longer seen as the prevailing factors in our social structure.
I suppose in olden days one would thank the Gods, today, an inward smile must suffice.

Who needs what., according to Abraham Maslow.

2008-07-17T04:37:00.000-07:00

For "M", who was asking about the triangle.

Clicking the title will link to the Wikipedia page with more about this premise, and the gentleman who authored it....(Quoted from Wikipedia.)

"......Maslow was born and raised in Brooklyn, the eldest of seven children. His parents were uneducated Jewish immigrants from Russia. He was smart but shy, and remembered his childhood as lonely and rather unhappy, because, as he said, "I was the little Jewish boy in the non-Jewish neighborhood. It was a little like being the first Negro enrolled in the all-white school. I was isolated and unhappy. I grew up in libraries and among books, without friends." In later life he was a confirmed atheist....."

A Jewish Atheist?? Wie so ist `n Dass?......

Maybe one day, more people will get to the first base in the struggle for life.

Peace.

Balance sheet.

2008-06-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

What is life `cept pleasure and pain,
Wherein all loss is anothers` gain.

As the Arabs, Chinese and Russians continue to expand their economies, the finances of the U.K./U.S. contract and stumble.

From the Times of London. (Click to link to full piece.)

The Dow Jones closed down 106.90 points last night, or nearly 1 per cent, to 11,346.50, just shy of a 20 per cent decrease from October’s stock market peak. Economists classify a bear market as one that has lost a fifth of its value from a bull market’s peak.
................
The US economy, the world’s biggest, is already believed to be in recession, with the unemployment rate at about 5.4 per cent. About 380,000 Americans are losing their jobs each week. The surging oil price, the rising cost of food, deteriorating credit conditions and a housing slump are combining to put Americans under pressure.

There will be a lot of searching this weekend, among rich and poor alike. Those who have recently lost their jobs will be looking for new employment, which may not be there.
The wealthier ones will be looking to find other places to invest their rapidly shrinking capital.
Here in Wales, the roads and towns seem quieter than usual, with fuel now having passed £5 per gallon, peoples` income has been "taxed" by the oil merchants.
The price of electricity and gas is set to rise considerably, as is the cost of corporate food.

Just a few miles from here, in Newport Pembrokeshire, is a small development, "Brithdir Mawr", which is self sustaining and eco-friendly, an alternative lifestyle that so many would love to build, but just never seem to have the time.
The project was drawn from both local Celtic influences, and from North American Indian traditions.
Click for link to site.

The non-corporate Amero-Celtic home!!?

Priceless, isn`t it, but if you were wondering, it cost £3,000 to construct.

Follow the money....

2008-06-27T04:46:00.000-07:00

Haven`t had much time to blog, however, the old saying, follow the money seems to be holding true.
Whilst we in the West are facing recession, unemployment and war, the Chinese have increased their imports of iron ore by a little over 15% in Q1 of this year, and not only that, have agreed to an 80% rise in price.
The price of scrap metal is rising fast, as is the price of oil, and food.

Not because there are shortages, but because simply put, there are greedy "traders" who produce nothing except invoices.
Between the oil fields and the vehicles, between the farms and the homes, there are those who do nothing except buy and sell.
The bankers and brokers are not involved in transportation or packaging, nor in extraction, production or cultivation, they however are making more money than anyone else in the game.

Like a game of monopoly, where one player holds all the properties and utilities, the situation becomes a predictable, boring waste of time.

Our politicians do nothing, they bow, scrape, and tug their forelocks, and hope to be remembered when soliciting campaign funds.
Or they, and their compliant media acolytes tell us to beware of the terrorists, and the immigrants, and the moslems, and the young people, bogeyman politics in the most childish of senses.

Strangely enough, or not, the Chinese (and Russians)do not seem to be in such chaos as we with our "capitalist free-market".
Both nations have large budget surpluses, and seem to be using these reserves to affect the balance of industrial power, and with Russia now the number one producer of oil, in the greater game, the "Godless ones" are certainly ahead on points.

Here`s a short piece from China, Click on title for link to original.

Jun. 27, 2008 (China Knowledge) - In the first four months this year, China's iron ore imports increased by 15.1% year-on-year to 150 million tons, as importers were concerned about the probability of a further rise in prices in the near term.

The average price rose to a record high of US$129.5 per ton, up 80%. Value of total imports reached US$19.87 billion.

In the period, imports from Australia surged 10.3% to 56.18 million tons, while imports from India increased 19% to 38.23 million tons, and imports from Brazil surged 8.6% to 33.07 million tons. Australia, India and Brazil are the three largest exporters of iron ore to China, making up 83% of China's total imports.

Imports from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were up 110%, to 4.28 million tons.
Baosteel, China's largest iron and steel maker, said Monday it has agreed to a 96.5% price increase for imports from Australian mining group RioTinto.

Anglo-Australian miner BHP Billiton is looking for price increases higher than of its rival Rio Tinto, according to reports in South China Morning Post. The Chinese government and steel industry officials are considering a boycott of iron imports from BHP Billiton, in order to containing prices from rising too much.
******************************************

Of course, if the Chinese are willing to pay, without quibble, near double in price for iron ore, then what hope for the other industrialised nations?
Ah well, interesting times!

Rosie returns.

2008-06-19T04:57:00.000-07:00

What can be said, but last night the word was out.
In the bars and shops, in the cafes, and throughout our little land, the news that Rosie landed in Scotland on Wednesday, and was met by her family and welcomed by her friends, as she just kept running.

It`s really good to have someone like Rosie.
In a world that seeks to create heroes for our future, we owe her more than mere words could ever speak.
The illustrious "Times of London" has run an article, full of interesting "facts", including a reference to the time that Rosie sailed single-handed around the world, and a good part of that was done completely naked...(Ah, meanwhile, as the waves roll infinitely toward the shore..;)

Click here for link...

The BBC have also run a good article, with several video clips, unfortunately, whilst they don`t charge to link, the videos seem not to be "embedable".

If you`d like to see and hear "Grandma Rosie", then Click `ere

Here`s the incredible woman herself, passing through the United States....

If you`d like to learn more, her website is in the links section, and she also has a "guest book"....
Here.

We won`t back down.

2008-06-17T05:22:00.000-07:00

Now,over by `ere in the lands of wild West Wales, the men have had e-fucking-nough.

The greed of a tiny minority of capitalists is forcing thousands out of work, and even out of their homes.
We all work and take a little profit, but those in the oil supply chain are not just taking a profit, they are taking the piss.

So a group of independent truckers have set up pickets at the local oil refineries.
For those of you who might not understand the difference, a blockade "blocks" all movement of traffic, goods and people. (Illegal, and brings huge police response.)

A "Picket", allows the passage of people and goods, but politely and respectfully asks that other working class people do not cross "the line". (Legal, but still attracts police, just in case...)
It`s a British tradition!!

Here`s the latest, (Click for link to original source..Daily Post.)

Up to 70 lorries and their drivers, including from Newtown, parked up outside the Chevron refinery in Pembroke Dock and the Murco refinery in Milford Haven.

Alan Greene, chairman of the Mid and West section of the Road Haulage Association in Wales, predicted picketing would spread across the UK.

He said the message behind the campaign of peaceful picketing is getting through – “fuel taxes in the UK are far too high.”

As a prominent regional spokesman for the fuel protests which brought Britain to a standstill in 2000, he claims the situation for hauliers today is worse.

“The rising cost of petrol is affecting everyone across the world but the UK is being hardest hit as usual,” said Mr Greene.

“No other country in Europe is facing the sort of crippling fuel taxes which Brown has imposed in the UK – it is making the current situation much worse.

“We are being led like lambs to the slaughter. One haulier business a week in the UK is going to the wall at the moment.

“The haulage business I spent my working life building up has been passed over to my sons and I don’t want to see it ruined.

“Every country in Europe subsidies fuel for hauliers, commercial diesel is the equivalent of just 60p a litre in Ireland. In the UK they subsidise f-all.”

He said hauliers from Llandrindod Wells, Newtown, mid Wales, and all over west Wales had answered the call to protest.

“We are convincing tanker drivers not to take to the road.

“This is going to spread to other parts of Wales and right across the UK. The type of price rises we are seeing now nobody can absorb any more.”

The truckers are in the front line, looking straight at the government, who prattle on about "supply and demand", and "free markets", the reality is that they are doing nothing.
Every month this year has seen job losses, with forecasts of hundreds of thousands of redundancies to come.
These guys are not giving in, and with these two West Wales refineries processing over 200,000 barrels per day, this picket is going to hit the UK right between the eyes.

fuel protest

2008-06-16T03:24:00.001-07:00

Staying with the theme of motorcycles and rebellion, the short clip shows what the Bikers of Britain are thinking about the fuel prices.
Last night, several hundred pickets took up position in front of a local oil refinery at Pembroke, that too remains unreported as of this morning.
Mostly truck drivers, but also farmers and regular folk.
There are protests continuing all across Europe, the media are focusing on football and golf.
Tennis too, seems popular as the banks and corporations are experiencing declines in revenue that are setting off a massive recession.
Without doubt, the Western world has enough politicians and "experts", none of whom it seems are going to curb the greed of those who are selling fuel.
The protests and pickets are gathering strength, and something has to give.

Prison break.

2008-06-16T02:37:00.000-07:00

The media have not covered much about the prison break in Afghanistan, where the Taliban stormed the prison in Kandahar, a town under Canadian control.
Control? you must be fucking joking.

32 talibs on motorcycles, and 2 suicide bombers entered the town, and blew the doors off the jail, they even had mini-buses laid on around the town to escort the 1,000 plus prisoners away to their homes and families.

The morale-boosting effect of this attack, will without doubt, elevate the spirits of the Taliban.

Freedom fighters or terrorists? Perhaps some Canadians .)need to think outside the box, and seriously find a new career.

Click here for link to story, unsuprisingly, a few Arab sites seem to be experiencing "technical difficulties", and youtube aren`t showing any videos...yet..

When the Afghans get around to telling stories to their children, this one will be the clincher of all time.
"....Listen carefully children, " says the gaunt old woman, as they gather around the family table. "I will tell you the most beautiful tale of granpapa Sidi Amin."
"Many years ago, your grandfather became the hero of all Afghanistan, when he rode his motorcycle throught the prison gates, on and on through clouds of dust, with flames and smoke all around him....with one arm firing his Kalishnikov, and with the other he scooped up his little brother, who had been held by the contemptible invaders .."
The eyes of those children will shine bright wide, with fervour and love, and yet is it not a sad indication of human stupidity, that these things are actually happening, and that we in the West are paying for it with our taxes.
A stupid and non-fucking-constructive waste of taxes.

The fishermen are not content.

2008-06-05T01:52:00.000-07:00

The strikes and protests continue across Europe. Click the title to see video and BBC report.of attacks on the parliament in Brussels.
This strike is turning ugly, broken windows, fires, water cannons, and the enthusiasm of the riot police is definitely. not a positive step towards reconciliation.

Not just the fishermen, but the farmers and truck drivers too.

Even the Germans are getting annoyed....

The oil companies are coming towards the end of their reign, as new fuels and technologies are emerging, perhaps too, the political system is being shaken a little, we will have to see what emerges over the next few months.

Capitalism has inserted itself between the consumer and the producer, whether it is fish or milk or oil, the bankers and brokers are there, with their bedfellows the politicians and capitalists, all trying to grab the biggest share.

Me personally , I`m not getting too close to the front line in this, I`ve taken a break from work, in support of my co-workers, and the principle that without labour, there will be no capital.
So I`ve tidied the flat, done the gardening, and have been eating fish for the last three days.
Crabs and lobsters that should have been sold in Paris and Brussels are now feeding the local fisherfolk.

Where will it end? The cost of fuel has to go down, but the governments are desperate for the tax revenues, which rise with the price, however, all over Europe, businesses are failing, and house prices are falling.
What hope for the next few years? Well instead of investing in shares and property, maybe a small parcel of land, some goats, sheep, vegetables, and a few recipes for kebabs and stews.

Moroccan Hash Crossing The Straith Of Gibraltar

2008-05-26T11:08:00.001-07:00

The use of drugs is an ingrained part of our lifestyles.
Has been since time began, and fortunes have been made and lost, empires and dreams built and broken.
Centuries ago, no doubt, silent through the night sailed the old salts with their hidden barrels of opium, balls of hashish, with eager customers amongst the gentle apothecaries and physicians of their times.
Nowadays, a new and noisier, faster type of transport is here.
Thanks to technology, tonnes of drugs can be brought from Africa to Europe in just minutes, and not only that, the event can be recorded on a mobile `phone.
The gentleman who captained the vessel, and filmed this rather bizarre 60 second film, is now serving time rather than pot.
I`ll stick to fishing, ...less stress.

Three Sides of an argument.

2008-05-22T02:36:00.000-07:00

There are, it is said, at least three sides to an argument. First, there is the truth, followed by several variations on that truth.
Things were almost going good, the weather has been warm and dry, and the export and home market demand for shellfish has been high, allthough I haven`t bothered much going out to sea, there has been plenty of work ashore.

Rather than stand in young mens boots, out at the sharp and wet end of the business, I seem to have gravitated to that place where old sailors go. Grading and cleaning fish for market, repairing nets and pots, just "potching about". Even been out picking cockles, a great therapy for the muscles and bones that work the spine.....musn`t grumble though, work is work!
Until Monday morning, all was plodding along, the bills were getting sorted, and each day brought a new culinary treat...crabs, cockles and prawns etcetera, and the local farmers are just harvesting the first of their potato and salad crops.

Then came the news that the French fishermen were going on strike, due to the ever rising costs of fuel. (Klik for link.)

De la France (Klik.)

They were also protesting at the amount of imported fish that comes from "other countries".
That`s me! As it happens, most of the shellfish caught in Wales gets exported to France and Spain. (So fucking what...it`s a free market, and if you want to sell me your wine and fruit, surely I can sell my fish to the good folks in France, at a cheaper price too, for better quality!), well, c`est la vie, mon petit canard.

But when the French strike, they strike hard, and with great accuracy, the fishermen and indeed other sailors, moved their boats to blockade the ports of Marseille, and Boulogne, Calais, Dieppe, Bordeaux...
In fact for the last few days, France has been shut down, but little news of this fact is being broadcast on the news outlets.

A few thousand militant fishermen have shut down the grand republic, a big fuck off to the government of France, who are offering millions of Euros in subsidies to the fishermen to return to work.

Of course, when the French farmers heard the phrase "fuel subsidy", they too wanted a part of the plot, so they are joining in the blockades, not across the ports, but on the motorways. (Klik)

Trucks and cars are backed up around the channel ports, again, little or no mention in the British press. Seems like the media hate it when working class people show power and strength to the government.

I guess, in some ways, I have to support my fellow fishermen and workers, irrespective of nationality, in this instance, concerning the price of fuel, which seems to be rising due almost entirely to commodity speculation.
A few billionaire capitalists taking a cut from the endeavours of every person on the planet, because they can, and will continue to do so, as long as they can.
As the strike continues, there are hundreds of tonnes of shellfish sitting here in tanks and keeps, and the price is falling, Lobster is down from £10 per kilo on Monday, through £9 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and could fall further, unlike fuel oil, it has a "sell-by" factor.
Any British readers want a cheap few tonnes of crab, or how about some succulent lobster?
Of course, closing the cross channel ferry ports because of an argument over fish and fuel, also means that no other goods are leaving Britain for France.

Interestingly , the price of oil, in dollars hit $134 this morning, and seems set to rise infinitely.
Unless of course, other working class people around the world are forced to stop working, and take to the streets and ports to shut down the system, which denies income to the speculators.

In respect to the French strikes, they have forced upon me a few days of leisure and given "food for thought", but in the long run, I guess I have to support them.

There is an saying that life copies art, clicking on the title takes you to a clip from the old movie "Casablanca", the scene is at Rick`s bar, the Germans, ever steadfast in their march to conquer the world are singing songs in praise of their little schemes, when Humph decides that enough is enough.
The scene is for me one of the best, from Bogart, and indeed, from the history of cinema.

The tune, "The Marseillaise" became famous not only for France, but as the signature song of socialism...

Then raise the scarlet standard high.
Within its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here.

.

Of course, any one buying oil from the Iranians, or the Russians, or the Venezuelans won`t be paying in dollars, so their contract prices remain unmoved.
France, like most of Europe still has contracts with the big american oilcos, whose prices remain firmly tied to the falling buck.
The Americans no longer export oil of course, and many of their supply contracts are filled by purchasing on the open market.
Which is supplied by surplus from the Russians and Iranians etc..
Who no doubt, are laughing all the way to the bank, as the price of oil ratchets higher, those with oil in the ground can call the tune.

Who is running the World?

2008-05-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Rosie is, the good woman is now in Iceland, and will be arriving back in Britain next month.
After Europe and Russia, she hitched across the Bering sea, ran through Alaska, and Canada, and into the United States
Rosie ran through Chicago, and New York, back again up into Canada, and onto Newfoundland, where she persuaded a chap with an aeroplane to fly her to Greenland.
After running through the ice and snow, she hitched a flight to Iceland, where she`s been running and living wild, or should that be living and running wild, "A heck of a girl", is how most might see her.

She is back next month, she`s already arranged a lift aboard a boat, over to Scotland, and then she will run through Scotland, then England, and back to Wales.

Just what does this woman use to persuade grown men to give her lifts in aeroplanes and ships? (Best not think about it for too long!)
Upon her return, we might just have a little show of flag-waving, a hint of the patriotic pride.

Of course, the Bilderbergers got excited again this past few days.
Sneaky little sods got into Greece and had another of their meetings.(Click the text to read full report.)

I`d rather think about Rosie running the World, than even contemplate what the triumvirate of of Kissinger, Rockerfeller and Rothschild might have as goals.
However, rather like Hitler in his bunker, fighting phantom battles with imaginary divisions, as the Russian machine guns and mortars crushed his soldiers into dust, these fools think that they are invincible.

This time, (Cli--ck) the Chinese and Russians have not fired a shot, but nevertheless, the fascists are once again in the bunker, with their plans in tatters.

There is an old Welsh song, that goes....

I don't ask for a luxurious life,
the world's gold or its fine pearls,
I ask for a happy heart,
an honest heart, a pure heart.

Chorus

A pure heart full of goodness,
It is more beautiful than the lovely lily,
None but a pure heart can sing,
Sing in the day, sing in the night.

(Click to listen to Cerys Matthews, singing in Welsh.)

But there you are then that`s the Welsh for you, always writing poetry and running round the bloody World, when they could be off fighting wars for the christian neighbours up in London.
Fuck the wars, I`d rather a bit of poetry and a sing song.
Peace, and thanks for calling in.

The Call.

2008-04-21T02:30:00.000-07:00

The call came a month ago. A friend needed a hand for a day, fishing locally for crustaceans. One of the crew was unavailable, and allthough I retired some years ago from fishing, I thought one day out wouldn`t be so bad, and the thought of a few crabs or a platefull of prawns was the clincher.
So we set off singing, around 3 am, sailing down the Cleddau, and out into the sea around the Western coast of Wales , the weather was cold, and whilst we were but four or fives miles from the shore, the wind was strong enough to throw the boat around a little.

The day passed without accident, and we showed ourselves a few baskets of brown crab, an odd few velvet crabs and prawns, and a handfull of lobsters.
Trouble was, fishing , as all fishermen know is a habit that is hard to relinquish.
So, a few days later, I went fishing again, and then it was back upon me, the fresh wind cutting to the bones, the salt swelling the cuts and grazes that infect the hands, and once again, fish for tea, fish for supper, and fish for market.

I`d given it all up, a few years ago, and decided to earn a crust on land, "doing up" small old houses, and any odd jobs that came along, but thanks to the profligate bankers and politicians, the price of houses is dropping fast, unlike the price of fish, which remains stable.

I have to say, it`s great to be back in touch with the sea, without exception, the tide floods, then ebbs, then floods again. The ocean currents always run in the same direction, and the migration patterns of birds and fish never falter.

Unlike politicians.

Strange too, being away from the television and internet, catching just glimpses , and small items of news.
The goon show continues, as the olympic torch passed across the globe, surrounded by uniformed "employees of state."
Goons in track suits, goons on bicycles, in helicopters, on motorcycles, in jeeps and cars, with pistols and rifles, machine guns and billy-clubs.
Showing us all that through sport, peace and harmony will prevail, with instant death for any dissenters.

More than anything the last few weeks have been like a holiday of sorts, meeting up with old acquantances, re-visiting the sea and it`s haunts, a cruel mistress she is .
But I musn`t grumble, `cos no bastard will listen.

More to come, tide falling, time ebbing.

Mario Savio: An American Hero.

2008-03-26T23:25:00.003-07:00

The Odious Machine

"There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!"

Mario Savio
Sproul Hall Steps
University of California, Berkeley
December 3, 1964
*****

Now then, here is an American who made an emotional, and historic speech, just a few decades ago.
He was and is, an inspiration.
A proper gentleman, and a real hero.
The FBI harried him, and one might believe that perhaps such stresses were instrumental in his death at the age of just 53, in a California hospital from heart disease.

(Edit/addition, Friday AM.).)

Here is another of his "short & subtle* speeches, reading it here, on a stormy friday morning, allow me to quote... (Or click to see full transcript, it is unique, humble and an inspiration.

"...Fortified by the peasant wisdom of my great-grandfather, perhaps, I never could become a thorough-going Marxist. But a Socialist of sorts, a gentle Socialist, I became, and remain..."

This a line from a speech he made at his sons` graduation in 1988.

Milestones and Millstones.

2008-03-25T02:44:00.000-07:00

Milestones and millstones,
Hanging `round your fucking neck.
You marched and murdered to save your nation,
But have cursed yourselves instead,
You die to serve your leaders whims,
Who wave your bloodstained burning flag,
Walk away, ignore the bastards,
Afore their curses devour your souls.

Cartoons from Latuff,
Poem from an opencast poet/ mine.

the maa.a.a.a-a-a-a-chi-n-uh. (An American Hero.)

2008-03-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

My Lai, and the consequences.

2008-03-17T04:05:00.000-07:00

Most people over 50 remember the massacre at My Lai, which took place 40 years ago, on the 16th of March .
American soldiers, spent the day raping and murdering around 500 Vietnamese civilians.
Lined them up, raped them, then killed them.

It was played down as an excess of war, and just one of the soldiers was punished, their leader, a lieutenant William Calley spent four and half months in a military prison, where he was allowed regular and unsupervised visits from his girlfriend.
Initially he had been sentenced to life, but the president of that time Nixon, shortened the sentence.
Without doubt, that leniency has affected the attitude of todays` troops.
But chickens do come home to roost...
More here,

What goes around comes around, why, I don`t know, but it always comes around.
So whilst today, there probably won`t be mass killings across America, it seems like almost a stroke of Karma, that after exactly four decades, the greenback is in free fall.

America has nowhere near enough natural resources to feed and productively employ the population, or at least not with their present rate of consumption, when it comes to global resources, as did the brits before them, the U.S. has relied on military might and a sheer mass of printed currency to ensure a place at the front of the queue.

Is it over? Most people think so,the question being not if, or when, but how?

How will Americans react to being told that there is no more cheap fuel? No more cheap imported food and clothes?
Some are predicting internment camps for the homeless and for those who dissent.

Will there be riots, for dwindling supplies of food? Will the government use paramilitaries such as blackwater to quell unrest, and will the civilian population use armed force to resist?

One thing is certain, the pace is quickening, and unlike the world of the 1960`s, the spread of information and the consequences thereof are moving at an unprecedented speed, no-one wants to see violence, but when it occurs, the least we can hope for is that those responsible meet a just fate.

It took six months before news of the massacre reached the USA, today, such an event would be exposed across the globe within just a few minutes.

Are there sufficient Americans who could maintain civil order without the use of firearms?
Will America fracture into distinct geographical and politico/social areas?

How will the military react, when they realise that their wages won`t even feed their families?
Will they obey orders, if asked to shoot at American citizens? I think not, but based on previous actions, I could be wrong.
Peace, and particularly to those who suffered at My Lai..

Body language.

2008-03-15T03:35:00.000-07:00

In order to have an ordered society, we need law and order. Should we want a society that is based on equality and fairness, then we need to instill within ourselves, the ethos that open-hearted kindness and good manners should always triumph over arrogance and force.
There haven`t always been the best of relations between Germany and Russia, nor indeed between Germany and America, but at least the Russians seem to be making an attempt, with a traditional gesture, to present a picture of harmonious relations.
Of course, the Russians can afford to smile, they currently produce/control around
15% of the global oil trade, and around 25% of the global gas production.

Anyway, I just thought the snaps were sort of representative of a somewhat "bigger picture".

The Bush approach..... from the rear..... unnanounced placing both hands on the ladies shoulders, grips tightly enough to instill panic, his cold, empty eyes to one side, with a facial expression best described as arse-like and puckered.

The new Russian president, Medvedev, communicates, non-threatingly from the side, presents flowers, smiles and drops open-palmed hands to hip level.

The former Russian president, Putin, having presented flowers, maintains smile, and stands to the side, and slightly behind Mrs M.

Edited/adding,
In some of the English-speaking parts of Wales, there are vernacular expressions of contentment that use the word glow, as in:

"A fine glow",
"Having a glow",
"Getting the glow-on".

"Glowing up",
"Giving out the old glow".
Doesn`t Mrs Merkel look like she gets a glow from her Russian counterparts.

One little princess.

2008-03-10T04:19:00.000-07:00

The cartoon is by Ben Heine,*****CLICK HERE***** to visit an actively creative part of the blog-sphere.

Please Click here, or on the title to move to the source.

No trial, no evidence, nothing. Just a fusilade of bullets, fired face to face in contempt and rage at an unarmed woman and child.

Not a ricochet, not mistaken idendity, not even self-defence, her killer stood right next to her in her own home, took careful aim at her head, and fired the gun. An innocent child murdered in cold blood by an arrogant bastard.

She is gone, another sweet little princess, her last moments close to her mothers` breast, who was also wounded, as jewish soldiers stormed a house in Gaza, shooting and killing an alleged Palestinian militant, and then, without pausing for breath, took away her father.

Her name is Amira Abu Asri. She is dead. Shot through the head at point-blank range. Killed by a jewish gun. She was born 20 days ago, unlike the jew who killed her, she had not yet begun to think about religion or law.

Should we label her killer as a jew, or as an israeli? Will it make a difference? Will the "good" jewish people feel better?
Oy-veh, they cry, the poor israelis are defending the land given to them by their god.
Well I say, either produce this imaginary god, with all the relevant paperwork, in a court of law, or get the fuck out of the middle east.

Bollocks with religious obedience and political correctness, these murdering jews have killed and killed, they have subjugated, tortured and maimed the Palestinians, and have had the gall to call themselves persecuted, they are beneath contempt, they squirm murderously, knowing their end is well overdue.
Maybe by calling them jewish, rather than Israeli, then other jews may be less inclined to continue financial and social support for an extremely racist and violent group of ghouls.

The Israelis need help, that is without doubt, in fact they need an incredible amount .
Instead of arms and warplanes though, how about....
Group therapy?
Behavioural adjustment programmes?
Relocation ?
Disarmament?
Atheism?

One way or another, they have, in sixty short years, shown nothing but utter contempt for all other races and creeds, has it always been thus?
Perhaps one should think back to when they first came to Britain, and how their behaviour got them kicked out, Click here for an interesting historical perspective.

Twenty days of life, and as the world announces an "An International day for Women.", an empty -headed putz, a bupkis-brained schmuck with a gun, decides to kill a little girl, an innocent angel , for the "protection" of Israel.
Did s/he go home that evening and hug friends, maybe laughed , joked, had supper, thought of his own mother, and muttered a few incantations to an imaginary god...
It is time for the jewish people to accept that in the fallacious and farcical quest for their so-called spiritual homeland, they have exceeded the bounds of moral behaviour, and unless they rein in their people, they will be collectively blamed for these displays of murderous arrogance.

History cannot be changed, it must however, serve as an education.

Click to see a "hidden history, Hiding history is an affront, whilst we should be cautious in the interpretation thereof, and even more cautious in our actions towards religion, it should be time for the jewish people to realise that their beliefs and conduct has for a long time, been met with somewhat less than a wholehearted welcome.

Amira Abu Asri, February 2008, - March 2008. Shot and killed on "International Womens Day". May She Rest in Peace.

End of Empire. September 2008..

2008-03-05T03:42:00.000-08:00

It is said that the right-wing ideologists and pro-israeli interests control much of the message in the mainstream media. For them, news is on the sports field, or in the private lives of celebrities. News is always about muslim terrorists, and immgrants who want to steal from the working class.

Labouring away in Europe, behind the scenes, is a lesser-known news organ. Known as GEAB, the Global European Anticipation Bulletin issues regular newsletters and predictions on matters economical and political.

There is no mention of this report in the mainstreasm media, but it would be easy to understand that the national press would not carry these reports, for fear of instilling panic in the masses.
Personally, I won`t be buying any stocks and shares in the near future.

A few basic facts about the portal.

There is much speculation and angst about the future of the United States. Some are predicting and calling for a hundred years of war. Others anticipate mass civil unrest and the forced detention of citizens.
One thing is certain, the "American" empire, for a number of reasons, is done, finito, gekocht.

The picture is of the old Roman empire, interesting how modern political geography has re-forged the old Roman state into the new "Union of Europe".
Perhaps the same will happen to the U.S. and the rest of the Americas, after the collapse of the empire, they too will eradicate borders and nationalities to become just one people, let`s hope so.
As for Israel, who knows, but being the most heavily armed nation on earth must be a hell of a burden, I reckon it would be best for them they lay it down .. and all that silly nonsense about hearing voices and burning bushes, and that never-ending obsession with slaughtering the goyim and ruling the whole world. F*$king fruitcakes..

The Iranians and Turks circle Iraq like lions stalking a tired beast, knowing that eventually with patience they will eat.
Colombia, and the right-wing government of Uribe, the last remaining friend of the U.S. in Latin America, is floundering, gasping for breath as Ecuador and Venezuela increase their anti-american rhetoric.
The Russians and Chinese have healthy budget surpluses, and are both now trading oil in currencies other than the US dollar, as are the Iranians.

Anyway, here are a few paragraphs that predict a fall of the American state around September 2008.

In the United States, this new tipping point will translate into a collapse of the real economy, final socio-economic stage of the serial bursting of the housing and financial bubbles (1) and of the pursuance of the US dollar fall. The collapse of US real economy means the virtual freeze of the American economic machinery: private and public bankruptcies in large numbers, companies and public services closing down massively (2),...

Concerning stock markets, our team has anticipated since October 2007 that international stocks would plummet by 20 to 60 percent according to the region in the course of the year 2008. Today, we must re-evaluate our anticipations as we estimate that losses will be even greater than that. Indeed, on the one hand, stock markets have already lost between 10 and 20 percent since the beginning of the year (10), and, on the other hand, the collapse of the real economy in the US by the end of Summer 2008 will drag down all stock markets. According to LEAP/E2020, international stock markets will probably drop by 50 percent in average compared to 2007 (including in the emerging countries) (11).

In this 22nd issue of the Global Europe Anticipation Bulletin, with the alert we sound about a collapse of US real economy from September 2008 onward, we are trying again to warn those concerned that this major event will generate many very severe socio-political troubles in the United States (13) whose economy is truly on a tumbling course (14), a situation extremely likely to entail very heavy consequences for the financial and monetary markets, and for the world's economy. We have not yet reached the heart of the crisis. According to LEAP/E2020, we will be there in the second semester of 2008.

The language is a bit "civil servant", it seems to have been written by a committee, which it actually was, but it resonates with facts.

The full report can be read here:
GEAB No 22.

The details will no doubt be less than pleasant for some, particularly those who live solely from the benefits of dollar investments, on the upside, it seems like the rest of the world is going to have a few years of quiet peace.
I have no doubts that in a few years, it will all be over, and a new world order will be in place. Not what Israel and Washington had in mind a few years back, when the PNAC began "Marching as to war", but I see an American continent moulding itself as one, with free trade and open borders, one currency even.

Before that happens, there will no doubt be a few minor, yet fiery adjustments to the American dream and the nightmare of Israel.

TALES OF IRAQ WAR by LATUFF: Gaza: Spread the word, share this art!

2008-03-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

TALES OF IRAQ WAR by LATUFF: Gaza: Spread the word, share this art!

Gaza,

2008-03-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

It isn`t right, is it? Killing women and children, stealing land from those who are poorer and less able .
The Israelis claim self-defence, but so did Bush when he invaded Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Carlos Latuff is the artist who penned the cartoon. He asks that if you could show it around your community, friends, your workplace even.
Thankyou. His blog, "Tales of Iraq war", (dritte links:) is always worth a moment of time, you may not always like his style, but his eye for truth is unwavering.

Prisons.

2008-02-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

So, you think prison is where the good guys put the bad guys? Sometimes, maybe there are those who need to be off the block for a while, but by and large, history shows that prisons are often used by the rich and powerful to ;
Dispose of foes.

Most people probably think that prisons are run by the government. Well, they used to be, but there is a new phase in the evolution of incarceration.
This is where the "stock market" gets involved, and the corporateers move in to that gap between the taxpayer, and the infrastructure of their state.

Bridgend, here in Wales is a town that feeds the balance sheet of a company known as group 4 securicor.
They have an institution known as PARC PRISON.

Now most folks would sooner not know the ins and outs of prison life, understandable, there are some rather nasty characters therein.
But it turns out that the management at Bridgend prison have strong links with another group, Wackenhut, whose most nefarious project perhaps, is the jail at Guantanamo bay.
Oh, and some of the prisons in Iraq are under the control of this group...

Here is a quote from a report, which catalogues some of the excesses carried out by these privatised prisons....

"..There is a particularly disturbing theme in their custodial institutions; brutality including sexual abuse. At the New Mexico prison, a 17 year old youth was beaten so badly his intestines leaked into his colostomy bag. While in another Wackenhut establishment, the State of Texas indicted twenty guards for sexually abusing prisoners..."

More here.

In prisons, as many as 90% of the prisoners are suffering from mental disorder. Which often means that the crime they have committed may well be a manifestation of their illness.
Drunken behaviour, use of drugs, teenage high jinx.

Report here.

Today, Parc prison houses around 1,000 young prisoners., who if the statistics hold true, will mostly be suffering from mental disorders and are generating profits for a less than socially constructive corporation.

The local politician, himself a former criminal lawyer, (aren`t they all?)
has a website, and speaks highly of this enterprise, ...

"....Prisons are noisy, claustrophobic institutions where personal privacy counts for nothing. That’s not a criticism but a statement of fact. They are not after all meant to be cushy. Our prison service is professional, and has within it many people who have the welfare and rehabilitation of prisoners at heart while maintaining a necessarily strict regime within the walls.

To me, that’s the way prison has to be..."

Mr Jones`s Jail.

He seems not to see a thousand young people, mostly with mental illnesses, serving sentences for menial crimes, but most of all .. "doing time, making money for the rich."
Either Mr Jones is unaware of the actualities of mental health within the prison, or he does know, and chooses to ignore the issue, whichever the reason, the lives of those inside the jail should not be wasted in the name of corporate profit and political point-scoring.

Taking the train from here in West Wales to Cardiff, always involves a few moments waiting at Bridgend. If you`d like to see the railway station, on a depressingly drunken and violent afternoon then click the title, "Prisons".
Sometimes I wondered if any of those who alighted and boarded had been at the jail, all those young prisoners would have families, from all parts of Wales.
Most would be unaware that the incarceration of their loved ones was considered an asset on a balance sheet.
Indeed, even Deutsche bank reaps a part of the profits, 11%, to be exact.
CORPWATCH

Bridgend, as many here in Wales are painfully aware, has its` fair share of troubles, could the prison, and the personal stories of heartache and suffering possibly be a part of the problem, rather than the solution?

Changing of face.

2008-02-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

Obama, or Obie , as his friends might call him has certainly got some interesting faces.
At least two, according to Bill Van Auken, a writer with Global Research.

He has picked up on the statement from Obie, that if elected, he will increase military spending, recruit over 60,000 new soldiers, plus 27,000 more marines and a promise to increase "the war on terror.."
Seems like war, war, more more war.

How wonderfull. A pox upon him and his intentions.
No intention of "change", just more of the same?

The picture is from Leftpost.,

The website, with the original article is Global Research.

My appreciation to them both.

Obama is shouting "change", but just what does he mean? Is he begging for coins? Or perhaps he wants to keep his campaign simple and uncluttered , and no words above two syllables.

So is Obama interested in changing America, or does he just fancy a change of adress, and a new job for himself?

Economics of comics.

2008-02-13T01:21:00.000-08:00

Saw this earlier, as the sun was rising, and I was " surfing".

Click the title for a link to the blog/biography of the cartoonist, Jen Sorensen.

The cartoon really cuts away at illusions the of captalism, mainstream media and religion, all in one little strip.
As an aside, and as I "publish" her work; When bloggers and others publish, is the item copyrighted, or is the world at a stage when copyrights and patents are "not what they used to be".
So, for now, I`ll just be thanking Ms Sorensen for her work , and trust that she won`t be sending lawyers over to examine my wallet.
"Thankyou."

Axis of trade.

2008-02-07T04:34:00.000-08:00

From the New York Times.....

........ In these days of overburdened, frustrating transportation systems and drop-of-a-hat delays, it’s a headline to stun and gladden the heart: On the maiden voyage of a new cross-continental direct rail service between China and Germany, the first trainful of freight containers made it to their destination in Hamburg five days ahead of schedule.

Click to rest of the article here.

So what might this occasion mean to the rest of the world. The Chinese and the Germans have made a pact, to henceforth trade in peace.

Isn`t that nice now, that in this age of terror, at least the Chinese and the Germans are not interested in waging war.

The peoples of Marx and Mao, finally united by a band of steel, with the land of Lenin enabling the union.

It doesn`t take long to realise that if the Germans manage to operate this railway with their typical teutonic efficiency, then the journey of 10,000 kilometers will soon be done in a lot less than 15 days.
It will also mean upheavals in the current migration and trading patterns around the globe. China, and indeed most of Asia, will be just a train journey from Europe, and vice versa.

Upon whose orders?

2008-02-03T03:52:00.000-08:00

During wars, orders are given, and contrary to the thoughts of most people, they are not to be obeyed without question.
In fact, service personel are by law required to examine and quantify every single order.

A terrible story is emerging from Iraq, about british soldiers said to have been involved in the torture and killing of prisoners in their care , most of whom may have been just ordinary civilians. Not so frequently as the americans perhaps, but for the families of those they killed, there can be no rest, until these men, and their commanding officers are tried in court.

Click on the title, for a link to the guardian.

So who gave the order that Iraqui prisoners should be strangled to death , or have their eyes gouged from their heads.
Who was it who ordered that young Iraquis should be beaten about the testicles and killed, or was it just another day in the story of Blair, Bush and the barrels of crude.

No doubt all senior officers will claim that they knew nothing, in which case they too should be tried for negligence and professional incompetence.

It was a terrible day, when Blair sent the british army into Iraq. He assured the nation that he had sound reasons to go into war, and the soldiers who went, for the most part, may have believed him.

After this debacle it is surely time for the british people to consider an inquiry into the size and purpose of the british armed forces.
Are they serving to defend us , or to impose contractual control upon the mineral deposits of other nations.

We have now reason for shame, are we going to find and punish the guilty ones? Or once again will the pressure of war be given as an excuse?

"War is a profession by which a man cannot live honorably; an employment by which the soldier, if he would reap any profit, is obliged to be false, rapacious, and cruel." — Niccolo Machiavelli.

Is there really any need for an army? Is it time to emulate the Swiss, and to give every home a rifle and ammunition? Is the military no more than a bunch of psychos who without a war to fight would have no reason to live?

Would we, the "british" tolerate soldiers from another nation, coming here, detaining protesters, and then torturing them to death? No, of course not.
Even less then, should we allow British soldiers to behave in such a foul and murderous manner.

The soldiers concerned are said by the Guardian to have come from a regiment known as "The princess of Wales".
If these are Welsh soldiers, then I am more than ashamed to say that I too am from Wales.

The restrictions on reporting the case have been lifted. One has to ask, how much more shame will be heaped upon us by the time the Iraquis are left to manage their own affairs.

It turns out that the regiment involved is known as "The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment".
Except that she resigned, and the regiment now is commanded by the queeen of Denmark. (Seriously, I`m not making this up!)
The regiment has little to do with Wales, and recruits mainly in the Southern counties of England.

"WIKIPEDIA " Click >

Of no comfort to the Iraquis involved, nor to myself or anyone else.

SHARK

2008-02-03T02:07:00.001-08:00

A few posts back, I posted a poem by Dylan Thomas, about how death renders us all to the same point.
The monotheist would disagree, arguing for the existence of an ordered afterlife, with a ruler and a set of rules.
The atheist existentialist might tend to agree with Thomas, that indeed;

"Dead men naked they shall be one",

or was the point perhaps, as made by religionists as well as poets, of an eternal spirit, with his lines:
"Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion."

Well that was then, and now is now.

The above video is taken from the deck of an ocean liner.
Not a passenger liner, but a long-liner, where miles of baited hooks are laid into the ocean, and a few hours later are hauled in, and the catch is killed, gutted and placed on ice.
Here the fishermen capture a shark, there is a poetry to the video.
It mirrors closely, I believe, a scene from "The perfect storm", except that these guys are not actors, and unless they capture and kill the sharks, they will earn no money at all.
The way the shark moves from master of its environment, to helplessly squirming upon the deck, then to be dispatched by a sharp blow to the skull.

I couldn`t help thinking about Bush and Blair.
Are they the sharks that took the bait, have now been hooked, and are now gasping for breath, sensing that soon, they will be nothing more than a corpse on ice?

I have begun to wonder if the internet will somehow diminish the activities and profits of mainstream entertainment.

By the way, the background music to the film is hauntingly beautiful.
Both the video and the music were made by fishermen from the Basque fishing village of Ondourra, for which I thank them. It will take a few seconds to load, but I assure you, that it is
much better than Clooney and Hollywood, and far less expensive.

As my old granpappy used to opine,

"En cuando huele mal el pescado, hay que tirarlo a la basura."
"Si huele bien, tomatelo , y comemos."

'Blair Government police investigation for war crimes' PT1

2008-01-29T03:21:00.001-08:00

Press Conference,
Room C, 1 Parliament Street
Tuesday 15th January 2008 3pm

John McDonnell MP, Chris Coverdale: International War Law Expert and Annie Machon of the Campaign to Make War History brief MPs and the media on allegations of war crimes committed against the people of Iraq by Britain's former Prime Minister and former Attorney General.

Officers from Scotland Yard have commenced a criminal investigation into the deaths of Iraqi citizens killed during the armed invasion and occupation of Iraq. The Metropolitan Police are acting in response to crimes reported by peace activists from We Are Change UK and The Campaign to Make War History. In an unprecedented step, the case was handed to the War Crimes division of the Counter Terrorism branch who are now investigating allegations of 14 criminal offences committed by Tony Blair, Lord Goldsmith and others. The offences are under the International Criminal Court Act 2001, which came into effect under English common law, just two days before 9/11.

• genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and conduct ancillary to these crimes under Sections 51 and 52 of The International Criminal Court Act 2001.
• a crime against peace and complicity in a crime against peace under Articles 6 and 7 of The Nuremburg Principles.
• murder, incitement to murder and conspiracy to murder under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
• conspiracy to commit genocide, a crime against humanity and war crimes under the Criminal Law Act 1977.

For more information, please contact:

press@wearechange.org.uk

(Reprinted from youtube.)

Ah, nice one.

The wheels of justice turn slow...

2008-01-29T02:54:00.000-08:00

...But they do fucking turn.

The British establishment is also slow moving , and moves in mysterious fashions.
Normally, I`m a bit of an sceptic when it comes to faith in the judiciary, remembering a quote from my long-ago errant past, "The more cash you got, the more justice you get".

A few days ago, John McDonnell MP, (Labour _ Hayes and Harlington,)
held a press conference, that has gone without comment from the MSM.
Like many left-wing British politicians , he has a blog, and fair play to the man, he really does talk and listen with his electorate. (The link takes you there.)

It is now confirmed that the British police are currently looking into the case for the arrest and trial of Anthony Blair, and another slippery warmonger pal, Baron Peter Goldsmith, the former attorney general who gave the invasion of Iraq his full and qualified support.

Neither Blair nor Goldsmith appear to have a blog, but I`m sure they have been making many many `phone calls in the last few days.

There is a video of the press conference, a part of which I have also posted above, it is well worth watching, I was moved by the tone of the announcement, which refers to the number of children killed by the American and British forces, as being a war crime.
The video is a ten minute one, but it is really really worth watching, if only to capture the tone of the announcement.

It seems perhaps, that with America on the back foot, both financially and militarilly, and with the British army "half-way up the hill", the police are not going to be deterred or hampered in their quest to find evidence of the crime.
Tens of thousands of dead children, hundreds of thousands of injured , now homeless and crying their fucking eyes out , bombed, shot at and mutilated, exploited , raped and robbed.
Evidence enough of serious war crimes I trust, and wish the officers concerned all success in their investigation.

What I do find to be "strange", is that not one newspaper or MSM has picked up on this story, just You-tube and a few bloggers thus far, and the american politician , Ron Paul.

You heard it by here, Scotland Yard is on the trail of Tony Blair.

Peace.

No more movies.

2008-01-23T01:35:00.001-08:00

Seen the perfect storm? How much was the ticket?
Were the actors good? Was it realistic? Did it taste of salt and blood and did the cold wind bite into the bones?

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan't crack;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Though they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.

The poem is of course by Dylan Thomas, the film clip was taken by a fisherman, on board one of the trawlers, who spend up to three months in the North Atlantic, over a thousand miles from home.

Makes me think, about the price of fish.

Nothing new under the sun.

2008-01-06T02:13:00.000-08:00

A month without posting, and here we are, the days are getting longer, in the more sheltered parts, there are a few early daffodils nodding towards the solitary, stationary solar panel.

Over in the States, a new hero, Obama... promises to track down his evil nemesis...Osama, and Hilary, like Obama and George and slick Willie before her, promises change and uh, freedom.

The middle east is still in "The hands of the Americans", though it could be that their grip is loosening.
Or as the tabloids might put it..
"Oil fields turf wars in murderous turmoil."
Add in a few Kurds and Turks, Sunnis, shi-ites, dog fights and late nights, and it`s easy to see why newsreaders rehearse their lines.

The price of oil just hit $100, and the price of everything seems to be rising. Fuel, electricity, gas, foodstuffs, where ever the corporate cog is turning, it seems that the rich are ratcheting up their share of the take.

Over here, the British army remains abroad/surrounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gordon Brown, the Prime minister of Britain, says he is proud of them, as does his fellow Scot, Des Browne, the defense minister.
Known colloquially as "Too Broons, an` na guid banch o` wee khaki clad bairns."

The momentum is increasing to restrict the recruitment practices of the militaries, who now target teenagers whilst still at school. The schemers have been making films that show soldiers, not bandaged and broken, but skateboarding and parachute jumping.

Conveniently ommiting the numerous suicides, the limbless, the homeless, the dead and the patently mad, the films and posters target low income families whose children are financially deprived and socially immobile.

Thankfully, there are voices of reason, from the Guardian

Further afield, the item has been picked up.. Counterpunch

Are we seeing an end to the insiduous practice of war?
Are the militaries and their manipulative conjuring tricks going to be consigned to the pages of some history book, as a facet of society that was explored, then discarded as being totally destructive and useless, except to the tiny minority who garner the proceeds.

It would seem that the British appetite for aggressive warfare is being tempered by reason and civilised exposure of the true nature of recruitment and training.

Or is it that the British were a little slow in the 21st century race for oil and gas. There is an almost incessant global market demand for oil and gas, the Italians have cut to the chase, and without military invasions , they "Went straight to the organ-grinder."

The Germans too are using money and sense instead of munitions. They have teamed with the Russians, and have secured sufficient supplies to keep their nation warm, for quite a reasonable amount.

Perhaps I should be less critical of Britain, as one group of energy suppliers has gone to the next stage, whereby fosill fuels are old hat , the solar panel manufacturers are getting to think big time. Banks of panels situated in the Sahara, linked to a pan-european system.
Saharan sense.

A future without oil...

From dry tinder and flint, to constant light.

Peace.

Infections, and infestations.

2007-12-05T01:35:00.000-08:00

Old wounds sometimes open up, during times of stress, just as a cancer can sit benign for years, then suddenly, for the remotest of reasons, erupt and kill the host.
The attack on the WTC buildings in New York was indeed such a wound, and now it is opening, and as a complication, there appears to be a cancerous growth within.

With severe cancers, sometimes it is necessary to operate, even to remove entire limbs and organs.
When it comes to a cancer of the brain, or the lungs, little can be done, the vital organs are notoriously fine-tuned, and do not always survive surgery. Recovery is long and post-op function is often limited, but preferable to no function at all.

What then, if the attack really was a false flag operation, carried out with the aforeheld knowledge, compliance and direction of those at the very heart of American government.

Is there now a split between the generals, are they not all singing from the same score?
Were there military figures involved in the attack on the towers?

If those allegations are correct, then it would at least explain why some of the Admirals and Generals no longer seem to be in the command of the white house. There is dissent over the issue of attacking Iran, which seems to be delayed for some reason.

The Times of London reports on "The revolt of the Americans.".

But why would the Admirals and Generals not follow orders? Well the first and most obvious answer is that they would get their arses roasted and toasted.
The Iranians saw them coming, with their fleet of 40 knot battleships and carriers. Instead of building their own carriers and ancilliaries, they took advice from their neighbours, the Russians, and built up an arsenal of anti-ship rockets, including the Russian designed "Sunburn/Sunburst,", which travels at Mach 2-2.5, or just under 2,000 mph.
The US carrier fleet, compared to the weapons of Iran, has not much chance, and the senior officers know that if they start shooting, that the the sharks of the Arabian sea will be feasting on crisp and well-fried american sailors, not only the lower ranks, but also the braided ones.

The Iranians have missile capacity to eradicate completely the "Green Zone",( Details) which explains why the generals are reluctant to engage with Iran.

In fact, whilst America has spent billions on carriers and aircraft, Iran has spent millions on missiles to destry such weapons, one step ahead, at a fraction of the cost.
Asymetrical warfare, rather like the Iraquis. When the Americans arrived with million dollar tanks, they were promptly destroyed by hundred dollar roadside bombs.
Not just the weapons, but the actual cost...

In fact, the Iranians have been investing in missiles for many years, and have a "Missile for every moment and enemy movement."

Returning to the theme of 9/11, the division within the United States military is now coming into the light of day, with even more former ministers and officers calling for a further investigation.
"I find the facts against the official story of the [WTC] buildings' collapse more compelling than the case that has been made in behalf of the official story. I would like to see the issue debated by independent scientists and engineers,"
---Paul Craig Roberts, who was a Reagan Treasury man.

Then there is an experienced investigator of airplane accidents, a former Air Force colonel, George Nelson, who openly writes The Bush administration has provided no public evidence to support its claim that the terror attacks were the work of Muslim extremists or even that the aircraft that struck their respective targets on September 11 were as advertised. As I will show below, it would be a simple matter to confirm that they were - if they were. Until such proof is forthcoming, the opposite claim must be kept in mind as a precaution against rushing to judgment: the 911 hijackings were part of a black operation carried out with the cooperation of elements in our government.

In this day and age of Cellphones and e-mails, I would hope that there is a growing cabal of military plotters who are preparing the regime change that is so desperately needed in the United States.
Who knows, all those new detention centres built by Bush and Cheney might yet be filled, but with neocons and their fellow conspirators.

Bush and Cheney, and their fellow lunatics want war, maybe they hope that with perpetual war, their own crimes will go unpunished.
Maybe that is what they think. But the tide seems to be ebbing, and the shipwreck that was 9/11 is beginning to show itself.

Meanwhile, they continue to wage war, with weapons that are obsolete and with warriors, who once they find out just who really did bring down the Twin Towers, will surely follow the example of their superior officers, and tell the White House to simply go f^^k themselves.

Peace.

(Oh, yes, I finally got it, technically challenged I surely am, but it seems to be ......."The Links"..... so, to celebrate, I can now show just how the Russian soldiers cope with the downturn in the arms race. They have hobbies, one of which is choral singing, which can be infectious.

Gipsy Kings - Volare

2007-11-19T12:07:00.001-08:00

A fine version.

Much maligned, but still here.

2007-11-19T01:32:00.001-08:00

Well here we are, monday morning.
There is a movement out there to highlight the uses of cannabis, so I thought I would add my tuppence worth.
Cannabis was made illegal in the 1930`s, with pressure from the Anglo/american oil and pharmaceutical industries.

Why indeed? When cannabis was at that time providing the main ingredient for over 50% of the worlds` medicines.

Of course, hemp/cannabis needs to be grown and tended, crude oil was freely available to those who controlled the deposits.

Close examination shows that the carbon signature of hemp oil and that of crude oil are similar, except that crude oil is not quite so "fresh and friendly". Most people have no idea that crude oil is used to manufacture "medicines".

I have even spoken with people who were unaware that polyester, nylon and rayon were made from crude oil. Which makes those clothes about 3 billion years old... ugh... disgusting.

Cannabis was used as an anaesthetic and pain relief, as an appetite stimulant, for muscle spasms, headaches, insomnia, and at the turn of the century, scientists began to realise that they could make plastics and fuel, as well as fibre and cloth.
But then all those things could be made from crude oil too!
So along came tales of reefer madness and stories of hate and horror, whilst the pharmaceuticals began to peddle their questionable wares, and of course, the internal combustion engine began to consume billions of tonnes of oil.

Rudolph Diesel,(1858-1913) the German inventor had perfected an engine that would run on vegetable oil, after showing his plans to the British and Americans, some limited production began, but after his mysterious "death/suicide/murder", the use of vegetable oil was discontinued in favour of mineral oil.
However, the German auto industry now produces diesel engines that will run on either vegoil or mineral oil.
In june this year, tired of chasing motorists who use tax-free vegoil in their cars, the British government decided to allow we brits to use up to 2,500 litres of vegoil per annum, without paying fuel tax.

(See press release: Customs and excise brief 43/07.)

I can vouch for the efficiency of using vegoil, having used it in my aging VW golf without problems for the last 6,000 miles. (no conversion kit, just 50/50 mix of veg and mineral oil.)
Hemp oil is sadly too expensive, so I tend to use sunflower oil, wonderful acceleration, and clean, oh so clean! (60 miles per gallon of cooking oil!)

WARNING, only use vegoil in your motor car after seriously checking the viability, best are German/Japanese diesel engines, on no account use in a petrol engine.

Burning fossil fuels has been a disaster, in terms of pollution, illness and wars.
The medicinal properties of cannabis are slowly emerging into the mainstream, in fact there is a prize awarded annually, the Ralph Mechoulam prize.
Last year over 400 papers were submitted, all from graduate-level writers, many of whom work for the pharmaceuticals, many of whom have research facilities in Israel.

Did you ever wonder, what was in that bottle that the Jesus fellow used as his magic annointing oil that would cure the sick?
Try a google search on "Kaneh bosom"!!!

It seems that one of the main arguments between Christ and the then mainstream Jewish establishment was that he, as an Essenian Rabbi, wanted to give the poor people free medicines and treatment, whereas the more conservative Rabbis wanted to maintain their lucrative practice of charging the sick for health care, not unlike the world today is it?
Jesus was also against the practice of money-lending with interest, but that is another topic.

For a full insight into the history of cannabis, there is a book by an American activist, Jack Herer, "The emperor has no clothes."
Available free online, it may well change forever any assumptions about cannabis being "bad".

To read today, or to save for later, click the title "Much maligned..." and that will give you a copy of his wonderful book.

The song, with its` composite artwork is the creation of an Israeli group, Boom Pam, who also do weddings and bar mitzvahs. Israel, suprisingly perhaps, is very tolerant, even supportive of the use of cannabis.

"Anything crude can do, hemp can do better... Hemp can do anything better than crude... yes it can... "

Peace.

The voice of the people. Preguntas sobre Dios

2007-11-04T04:06:00.001-08:00

When in my teens, life took me to Spain, where I perhaps first became aware of the similarities between all peoples.
I remember learning a song, sung by the miners and trade unionists of Asturias, in Northern Spain.
The song had come to them, from the miners and activists of South America, and is one that has stayed with me throughout my life.

This song waswritten by Atahualpa Yupanqui, (Argentina 1908-1992). Atahualpa was a poet, and a communist, who also took to arms against the government.
The song is sung by Victor Jara, (Chile, 1932-1973), also a campaigner and activist, who was tortured, (they broke every bone in his hands, then mockingly suggested he play the guitar.) and then brutally machine-gunned by pro-american forces during the coup de etat that toppled the socialist Allende.

An aproximate translation by Michael Friedman.

One day I asked:
grandfather, where is God?
My grandfather became sad
and didn't answer me.

My grandfather died in the fields,
without prayer or confession.
And the Indians buried him,
accompanied by bamboo flute and drums

In time, I asked,
father, what do you know of God?
My father became serious,
and never answered my question.

My father died in the mines,
with neither doctor, nor protection.
The color of miners' blood,
is upon the gold of the rich!

My brother lives in the woods,
yet has never seen a flower!
Sweat, malaria, serpents,
that's the life of a wood-cutter!

And don't bother to ask him
if he knows where God is.
By his house, has never passed
such an important man!

I sing my songs on the byways,
and when I'm in prison,
I hear the voices of the people,
who sing far better than I.

There is a theme on this earth
more important than God.
And it is that no-one should cough up blood
so another may live better.

Does God watch over the poor?
Maybe yes, and maybe no.
But he surely lunches,
at the table of the rich.

The images in the video seem to show exactly the sentiment sought by both the writer and the singer.
That religion and its proponents are no more than sychophantic parasites.

It is a song that has been with me for over thirty years, and I trust you will keep both the song and the sentiment alive, the spirit of the singer calls out to us all.
The words speak for the millions of poor who have died for the sake of the rich.

Corporate war.

2007-11-03T04:24:00.001-07:00

China 1945-46

Korea 1950-53

China 1950-53

Guatemala 1954

Indonesia 1958

Cuba 1959-60

Guatemala 1960

Belgian Congo 1964

Guatemala 1964

Dominican Republic 1965-66

Peru 1965

Laos 1964-73

Vietnam 1961-73

Cambodia 1969-70

Guatemala 1967-69

Lebanon 1982-84

Grenada 1983-84

Libya 1986

El Salvador 1981-92

Nicaragua 1981-90

Libya 1986

Iran 1987-88

Libya 1989

Panama 1989-90

Iraq 1991-2002

Kuwait 1991

Somalia 1992-94

Croatia 1994 (of Serbs at Krajina)

Bosnia 1995

Iran 1998 (airliner)

Sudan 1998

Afghanistan 1998

Yugoslavia 1999

Afghanistan 2001-02

And of course Iraq, 2002-?

Estimated killed in these incursions and invasions: around 10 million.

Estimated Injured, crippled and broken-hearted, homeless and desolate, several hundred million more.

There is a definite pattern here, the Corporation only bombs the weak and defenseless, and only brown and black people, or muslims.

Will the dead see justice?

Will there be a reversal?

Will the world ever forgive?

Y Ddraig Goch

2007-11-01T05:41:00.001-07:00

The Red Dragon. Enjoy the musical flight.

The Empire is striking back.

2007-10-25T01:59:00.001-07:00

Desiree Anita Ali-Fairooz, the person on the left, is standing up for those who have been killed in the name of oil, she is a woman of courage, intellect and well mannered restraint.

The female on the right seems to be under the influence of drugs, accused of being involved in the premeditated murder of thousands of Iraqui people, and the attempted theft of billions of barrels of crude oil, and without shame or conscience, of having lied to obtain taxpayer money to facilitate such endeavour.

She stares ahead, without emotion, knowing that as of yet, there are still obedient police officers who will remove, what must be for her, at this moment in time, no more than a temporary embarrasment.

Within her stare, is there any fear of being arrested? Is there any sign of guilt or remorse for the millions of Iraquis who are now refugees, wandering homeless and hungry through a nightmare of disease and lies.

Or indeed, does the light of humanity even flicker within her frame, or is she truly an empty soul, a ghoul, the embodiement of walking death that feeds on the pain and misery of innocent life.

Next.

2007-10-24T01:12:00.000-07:00

Rosie got to New York, again. Back in 1983, the iconic adventuress took a small boat of plywood construction, and sailed from Britain to New York.

A 17` boat, (just over 5 metres), which is most certainly, a very small boat.

Alone she sailed, all the way to Ellis Island. That was more than 20 years ago.On this occasion, she has run, across Europe and Russia, over the Bering sea to Alaska, through Canada, to Chicago, (where she competed in the marathon.) and then across mainland USA, all the way to the East coast.

Rosie runs around 25 miles a day, every day, and has thus far run more than 22,000 miles in just over 4 years, and expects to be home in Wales next June, when whithout doubt there will be some serious celebration.

As she ran through the city of New york, so impressed were the local police officers, that they escorted our Rosie towards a camping site, to sleep within sight of the statue of liberty,:

Which she lovingly describes in her diary:

"They then escorted me royally across a busy intersection after the bridge, then gave me directions to Liberty Park Campsite - close to the Statue of Liberty itself, where I could camp. I curled up in my sleeping bag, leaving the back flap of Charlie's little Tent open - and gazed and gazed and gazed at the Statue of Liberty - till I eventually dozed off. Thinking of the past, and thinking most of all about the countless thousand courageous people who left their homes - and lined up at Ellis Island - for a new life, for the sake of Freedom. "

Another excerpt from her journal reads:

"..But it was a quiet world run I thought that I would do.- Self supporting, no PR, no film crew.. No jeep following me or making arrangements - I slept in the forests with the bears and the foxes.. I sometimes felt I was like the wildlife - in a kind of private, hidden, secret world. I met people along the way, especially in Siberia - who were afraid of others .afraid of life..
Or frightening.. I met murderers, missionaries ... Nuns... Children by the ten thousand... Once or twice I had the blade of a knife pointed at me or a gun. Not often enough to count compared to all the thousands of sweet people I met. GRADUALLY THE SOLITUDE WAS ITSELF THE PATH TO MORE PRECIOUS HUMAN CONTACT THAN I could ever have dreamed Because I just happened to be there.

However, Rosie tells her story, better than I, and her latest news and views, can be seen by clicking on the link at the bottom of the post, or in the list of "links".

An inspiration to us all.

May her life be blessed with contentment.

http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/