Bailey Alexander

Eurovision Contest 2012 even had Engelbert Humperdinck

Sweden may have won but the The Guardian provided the finest in entertainment; snark style. Sorry to hear Hump came second to last. Oh, and
the Russians brought bakeries...

With over 500 million citizens the EU's more than just a bunch of zombie banks.

As promised, 2012 doomsday scenarios loom everywhere. Especially off the lips of the just about every single Anglo-American out there. It calms their own fears, placing the blame over 'there'.  And the fundamentals again, svp?  

And Europeans are more serious than the Anglo-Americans, translating in a myriad of ways into their daily life. Consumerism is less prominant, almost non-existent here in Prague. In comparison; refreshing. 

Germany will continue to be consequent, competent and carry on. Obama's Chauncey Gardiner act is wearing thin and no one listens to Cameron; Britain never contributed to the EU solidarity fund and they opted to bow out and focus on financial services; Bon Chance. 

Modern Zeitgeists; parasitic spirit of our time.

“What I say today everybody will say tomorrow, though they will not remember who put it into their heads. Indeed they will be right for I never remember who puts things into my head : it is the Zeitgeist.” –George Bernard Shaw

Modern zeitgeists come in so many forms. Spirits of our time.

Few would argue Matt Drudge is the on-line media king of the muckrakers. Arianna Huffington proved brilliantly you could aggregate everyone else's content and take sole credit. Navigating effortlessly from the right side of politics to the left; the l-r paradigm was made for types like Arianna. 

Occupy Czech Republic

Occupy Czech appears to be suffering the same malaise I saw on May Day across the pond. 

I can assure the environment was far more depressing than my lame fotos. The man in the tent spoke some English, was sweet, and no, though he looks like he was ready to flip me the finger he wasn't.

 

 

More than willing to have a chat, his broken English better than any Czech I could come up with; I've barely mastered the most basic of daily exchanges. Just grateful I can say the name of my street with ease. It took me forever to pronounce the name of our address in Amsterdam, you have to throw so much guttural energy into their language it makes German sound smooth and lyrical. 

This guy was obliging and kind. The two other people hanging outside their tents were very somber. A few tents, some signage, a few pots and pans, they'll stay until May 15th. 

I was on my way to meet a friend for lunch. She'd arrived back from Luxembourg, and yes, one can imagine the Occupy movement had less impact there, upsetting everyone as their Occupy protest collided on the same day as the disabled. Yes, telling and sad, so singularly anti-climactic.  My Russian friend had plenty of positive feedback regarding the Pirate Party, perhaps this movement could learn something from  the other, or not. 

The movement in general seems crippled by a lack of momentum, message and worst of all, perhaps little surprise, the media aren't paying any attention at all. 

Perhaps a demand or two wouldn't hurt but unless they're ready to storm the 'Bastille' its becoming harder to imagine how they can make a difference and impose a positive impact on their own lives. After I snapped the foto he just zipped up his tent and went to sleep...

In spite of it all, Ron Paul keeps winning...

In spite of the skeptics, the doubters, in spite of all those too leary of learning anything outside of what they already know, think they believe, know to be true.

May Day

Chris Hedges is not only suing Obama over NDAA but he's got some strong thoughts on OWS. He suggests its not about a date, an action but rather the beginning of a long process. He believes the movement articulates all that is inherently wrong with our system. He finds our government as corrupt, as fragile, as decayed as any, in particular he compares our 1% to the elites locked away in Versailles back in 1789.

He suggests ours government is out of touch, quite like Versailles; ripe for our own Revolution. Sounds like Alex Jones. Jones insists everything is a conspiracy, Hedge insists the system is corrupt, therefore ungovernable. Sounds like two sides of the same coin.  

Hedge's doesn't consider himself a member of the movement, of OWS, but he sees it as the beginning of being able to create paralysis through momentum and transparency. Mask or no mask, conspiracy or gross incompetence.

Let the festivities begin...

Jim Kunstler gives another elegy on America's post industrial landscapes...

JK begins:

"A few weeks ago I flew to Chicago, hopped into a rent-a-car, and navigated my way on the tangle of interstate highways to the now mostly former industrial region in the northwest corner of Indiana just off lowest Lake Michigan between the towns of Whiting and Gary. The desolation of human endeavor lay across the land like nausea made visible, but more impressive was how rapid the rise and fall of it all had been."

Germany: Pirate Party Polls @ 11%

Overnight biz trip to Salzburg and caught this headline over lunch the following day; Piratenpartei uberholt die Grunen, translation; Pirate Party overtakes Greens in the polls.

Absolutely amazing and inspiring. Polling at around 11%, because the Pirate Party continues to effectively focus on very specific issues, privacy and copyright, they should reach their goals. Learning, living and working  over here allows me to better understand European politics. German government depends upon establishing coalitions,therefore Merkel needs and relies upon the smaller parties to have a majority.

As an American this is almost impossible to fathom, es ist true. In the article, which mio marito read to me, she spoke about the importance of smaller parties, and called the Pirate Party a "force to be reckoned with".

Czech students and their expectations.

A month ago I'd bought a large easel along with several sheets of cardboard. Standing outside the store I realized it'd be impossible to carry the bulky purchase home. I tried putting it on my head, under my arm, all impossible for the 25 minute walk. 

I stared at it for several minutes as if willing the legs of the easel to walk itself home until a kind student named Kamila convinced me she and I could carry it together. I've received many such gestures since...perhaps its those Bohemian ideals. 

Currency wars; how rest of the world is creating a new monetary system, or so it appears...

As the global economic story unfolds its becoming increasingly clear how the international community will dismiss America's economic sanctions.

Some insist the Iranian threat is just another way to ensure the US dollar remain the world reserve currency. Who knows, so many economists competing for air.

One thing is clear, the USD's monopoly is inspiring countries to create an alternate set of rules, especially when threatened with economic sanctions should they continue to purchase oil from Iran.

Makes sense. My economic Post from 12/2011 feels very current, everyone's talking about the Japan/China deal now.  It's always been all about trade so they continue to create new ways to engage.

India will pay in gold, apparently China may follow.  They'll barder, they'll use Rupees; countries and people are exploring alternative routes and relationships. Bitcoin anyone? Yes, many.

It's getting easier to perceive the Wall Street/City of London derivative model, fictitious in its own inimitably fashion, completing its cycle. Could the dollar crash by 2012?  Who knows, somethins gunna give...

What we do know is the following countries will continue to acquiesce to America's demands and be granted a 6 month grace period. They won't risk sanctions by getting cut off from US central banking system, if they promise not to purchase oil from Iran. A partial list includes:

Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Poland, Spain, the UK; basically the "obedient satellites of Wall Street and the City of london" as Webster Tarpley likes to call them.   

The less than obedient satellites include the usual suspects; China, India, South Korea, Pakistan,  Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkey, Taiwan, The Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka. 

And Iran, of course. Crazy daze, indeed. 

 

The deliciously sinister world of French politics and its most pitiless of politicians; Sarko.

à bientôt I'll be traveling to Paris, albeit briefly but it does perk up the ears to recent French 'particulieurs'....

Interesting to note how Sarkozy, perhaps the most pitiless of politicians, known as the crime and security president, has proposed yet another draconian law. His latest proposal would imprison those who repeatedly visits websites that support and promote terrorism or hatred. The Times of India, legal experts are concerned that such a law could curtail freedom of speech. Reporters Without Borders accused Sarkozy of trying to create an internet surveillance system. 

Almost as if Sarko's re-living past Maghreb riots that took place in the banlieues, the poor suburbs, full of poor Algerians like the shooter, Mohamed Merah. Little surprise Sarko's racist campaign's are joined by xenophobic reactionary Marine Le Pen, a candidate doing far better than her father. She's now practically mainstream, such is her savvy political nature as well as the current emotional environs of France. 

Well why not follow the money as they say, follow the money. Where does a French kid of Algerian descent, unemployed, well known by authorities, on the US no-fly list, on his way to jail,  find an arsenal of guns, maintain a large number of safe houses and own several vehicles?

Rick Falkvinge: “Like A Cross Between Churchill, Gandhi and Mad Max”

Fantastic speech, critical issues, super nice guy this guy called Rick Falkvinge.

 

George Clooney; another Kony 2012 or selective moral outrage

Guardian article and Sudanese people wonder why these well intentioned types never work with internal sources and native tribes :

Mind bending drugs in the Military and America; they're going to pop 'em, trade em.

Prior to the Iraq war of 2003, soldiers didn't go into combat on psychiatric drugs. Now, they won't send them on another tour unless they're taking them. Doctors 'arm' these 18 and 19 yr old kids with enough for 180 days; mind bending stimulates, they say at least 20% are on drugs in the military today.   Starts at 35:00 mark.

Aggressively equal women of Kazakhstan seek help building Harems

Perhaps it goes against our western sensibilities but it sounds right and fine to me. Projecting gets so tedious and you miss enjoying the good bits, like this. Mio marito sent the following from Almaty. 

Vulgar Trump clan trumps itself

Apt metaphor for American style. 

Salon's headline:

"The Trump brothers’ grotesque hunting spree"

Goldman Sachs gets a knee in the nuts.

Daily Telegraph reports  on Goldman Sachs and its recent PR disaster. Headline reads; "A knee in the nuts that means serious trouble for Goldman Sachs.

"In the New York Times there is an absolutely devastating attack on the culture of Goldman Sachs, by one of its senior executives. He announces that he is resigning today because he has had it with the firm's alleged practices. He criticises the way in which one of the world's largest and most important investment banks now looks after the interests of its clients."

Greg Palast gets threat from Romney's billionaire backer.

My favorite muckraker Greg Palast is getting threatened by Romney's billionaire Paul Singer. Singer, in coordination with the Koch brothers is the "cash locomotive of the GOP. Not any worse than Obama's Goldman Sachs, they love Barry even more than the GOP, yet they all overlap in oh so many ways.

Palast's style is old school, "Follow The Money," kind of investigative reporting, exposing mayhem for money across the globe. His book, Vulture's Picnic exposes the vultures that reap billions by the day. The BBC is sticking behind him, good on them. His latest article is worth a read:   

"Well, not legal in most of the civilized world.  Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said about Singer and his fellow crew, "I deplore the activities of so-called Vulture Funds, [they] are nothing short of scandalous." Britain has outlawed Singer's re-po man seizures (after all, it's ultimately the aid money we give Africa). In the UK, and in much of Europe, Singer is a finance outlaw. But in the USA, he's a "job creator."

 

 

Sean Stone on Alex Jones

I luv these muckrakers; they make life interesting and I've nothing but time for their curiosity and imagination. More importantly they bring critical issues out into the air, to better breathe and be discussed. MSM is simply the gatekeeper. If you wish to subsist in static mode, fine but I find life's realities to be fluid.  

Truth is but one ideal to embrace here in Bohemian...and Sean Stone is certainly a chip off the old Block that is Oliver Stone.

 

OWS, self sabotage and StopImperialism.com.

Occupy Wall Street's latest idea is a General Strike on May 1st, makes sense. Let's hope its more effective than last year's inspirational albeit short lived movement. 

Yet I'm more impressed by results and guys like Eric Draitser. His website Stop Imperialism rings right and he did try and incorporate a very critical organ to OWS; the POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEMANDS group.

Unfortunately for Eric the General Assembly was co-opted by the facilitators from AdBusters, Obama's Campaign (no wonder he's always smiling) and various anarchists and communist groups.

Communism as collective is fine but I'm too fastidious and their consensus model feels cumbersome and I fear self-sabotage is inevitable. 

Imran Khan; When East meets West.

And it's a good thing. Imagine.

Guardian's Title:

Imran Khan: the man who would be Pakistan's next prime minister.

As he reaches 60, the Pashtun aristocrat who married into the height of British society says he is becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the legacy of colonialism. The cricketer turned politician talks in Islamabad. 

Exerpt at the end; Khan is not "dim", as the elite who he detests contemptuously say, but is not an intellectual either. He is a politician riding a wave of public disaffection, and that wave might just carry him to power. What he does afterwards is not something he worries about. He will be 60 this autumn. This would only bother him, he says, if he "had nothing to look forward to". But he is convinced that he does. From his hilltop Khan looks down and says: "This country will go through its biggest change ever. A revolution is coming.

Students were out in the thousands to protest in Prague today, like the others; economically driven..

I don't have satellite and don't speak the language but I did happen to see this on the local news while hanging out with some other Czechs. I asked for their thoughts.

Guess Alex Jones can happily move another conspiracy theory into the conspiracy fact file.

Everyone's been laughing at AJ's crusade against poisoning and medicating the public through Fluoride forever. Many came before him but through sheer force he's bringing the issues into the news. Mainstream, no, that's impossible, their complicit.

Mondays with Jim Kunstler

aren't nearly as uplifting as Tuesdays with Morrie. Kunstler puts a comedic spin on his dire outlook but they're getting harder and heavier to read each week.   

Rick Falkvinge's the rare player that's managed to legislate his passion and concerns for privacy and copyright law into Parliament, one country at a time.

On Rick Falkvinge's site you can read all about information policy and civil liberties in Europe and elsewhere in the world, if only we could channel Rick's ideas through the megaphone Alex holds across the pond, far more people would understand and appreciate those issues that directly impact their online lives. 

And like Alex, on this side of the pond, Rick is a force gathering momentum along with millions of fellow enthusiasts in search of all the latest data re SOPA, ACTA and PIPA. 

Speaking of...at first, the German government was a bit amused by Pirate Bay, now they're taking them seriously.

Greg Palast on Alex Jones; couldn't have said it better myself.

Other than Anonymous, there's too few making an impact. Too few modern day muckrakers, with their heart in the right place...alas, we have Greg Palast. 

His thoughts on Alex Jones align with my own. Alex is a force not to be denied, the most popular radio host on the internet in North America, nooooo dispute on that data...and the fact he showcased the women that run democrats against the UN agenda 21, two lesbians that are pro-choice proves he is on the side of the angels. He actually stopped talking for an hour. 

Go Greg, your book, Vulture's Picnic is doing well, as it should. Go Alex, go RON PAUL!!

Here's the link, apparently it does not want to play cut and paste. Greg Palast in Praise of Alex Jones

Rosa Koire and Kay Tokerud; Democrats against UN AGENDA 21; "This is not a conspiracy theory, it is a conspiracy fact."

Who are these extraordinary women?

"We are civil rights advocates, pro-choice, and pro-gay marriage, who until recently considered ourselves 'progressive Democrats.'  We are university educated, middle income professionals who seek to make common cause with others in the United States who share our concerns."  

Excellent.

What's their story?

What fresh hell has Israel wrought today...

Well, this month Atlanta Jewish Times writes it might be time to assassinate the President of the United States, if only to preserve Israel and head off a nuclear strike from Iran. 

A snippet:

In a Jan. 13 column, Adler, who is also the paper's publisher, outlined what he said were three possible responses by Israel to Iran's acquiring a nuclear weapon: a pre-emptive strike against Hamas and Hezbollah, terrorist groups that he said would be emboldened by a nuclear Iran; a direct strike on Iran; and "three, give the go-ahead for U.S.-based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice president to take his place, and forcefully dictate that the United States policy includes its helping the Jewish state obliterate its enemies."

He continued: "Yes, you read 'three' correctly. Order a hit on a president in order to preserve Israel's existence. Think about it. If I have thought of this Tom Clancy-type scenario, don't you think that this almost unfathomable idea has been discussed in Israel's most inner circles?"

Earlier in the month we read and watch as Orthodox Jews spit on 8 year old American girls in Israel. I know several Jewish women that are alarmed at their misogynistic behavior but this takes it to another level.

Ron Paul: Perhaps we can't handle the truth.

Don't get me wrong, I understand perfectly well why people find Libertarianism a cold and harsh philosophy. It requires a massive amount of self-reliant behavior. 

If I hadn't grown up in Seattle I might not be as receptive, the Emerald City was such an entrepreneurial state of mind. I didn't know anyone that worked or relied on the government. I suppose that's part of the reason today's climate appears so startling, to realize the number of people that rely on the government; as client, or employer, to intervene on their behalf, to take care of them.

Globalization; good for the globe, not so great for the nation state.

It seems so swift, yet suddenly you can't help but notice, an entirely new tribe touring right alongside.

It happens so quickly. For example, a few years ago, Chinese tourists everywhere, so many more than before, enjoying the gorgeous environs of Northern Italy. 

In Venice, Verona and of course, Milan, so many Asians it was almost startling, if only because I hadn't seen so many Asians before, in Northern Italy.

Certainly a strong indicator of an emerging middle class. You can literally see their economic ascent, some moving full time to Italy, industrious, moving their lives, as we had a few years before.  

Yesterday we arrived back from Austria. While at the Spa, in Tirol, unlike our

last visit, we saw several Russians, their families having a great time, enjoying the thermal baths, they'd jump out of the pools, lay in the ice surrounding the outside baths, maximizing the benefits of the body circulation concept. A father or son would lay in the snow for as long as possible, teasing one another, goading for as long as possible, then diving back into the thermal pools. Fun stuff as most of the guests are German, the odd English couple, some Portuguese, several French.  

EU and UK; an arranged truce, until now.

Der Spiegel presents a calm and rationale way of looking at the Failure of a Forced Marriage". 

It was forced, of course, but if living in Europe for the past decade has taught me anything, its the lack of cultural overlap between the EU and the UK. 

Perhaps that little 'bridge' from London allows francophiles to imbibe in the Parisian lifestyle and vice versa, who doesn't love London. And Paris.

Watching Europe in crisis...

...is like watching life in slow motion. Or this song.

Compelling and amusing in an existential sort of way. In that emphatically didactic Brechtian Kurt Wheil Threepenny Opera Mack The Knife kinda way.

And. Contrary to all the conspiracy theories, the anglo press, ecetera, ecetera, ecetera, Europeans have little issue with Germany running the money, in fact, they're all bending over backwards to follow their model.  

Learning to listen to Alex Jones.

I like podcastland. My progressive left memes are re-enforced by Amy Goodman and for my far right, evangelical listening pleasure there is but one Alex Jones. 

Amy Goodman & co are natural extensions of a political lifestyle while growing up along the west coast. Alex Jones, on the other hand, presents a bit of a challenge.

I found his voice while living aboard our sailboat in Venice back in 2010. It was a solitary existence in northern Italy, finite and nice because I knew it to be finite. Our teak salon and deck chairs created a calm environment; my time was spent differently, as if I had more than I had before. 

So, for three hours each day I'd listen to this guy called Alex Jones, from Austin, Texas of all places, his voice so uniquely passionate and very, very rare. 

An immesely entertaining guy, kinda like the Italians. When they try to be funny, they fail, when they're naturally engaged; nothing less than sublime. Little surprise Alex has many Italian fans.   

We dismiss Ron Paul at our own peril.

 

I received an email from a passionate libertarian. Many tend to be passionate and very articulate, often specific and nuanced when in political debate. 

Penn State, Banksters and Perspective

I'm sure many people might agree Penn State's child abuse scandal isn't an isolated case, we've thousands of institutions protecting their image for all the wrong reasons. 

We're simply overwhelmed by the rate they expose our scars in modern times.  We're so concerned with whatever it is we're concerned with on any given day; our reputation, our situational morality, our livelihood, our own precious lives, so much more precious than others, apparently.  

And then a point in time arrives when life sinks so low that perspective raises its philosophical head as if to insist we're each complicit in our own special way. Doing the best we can, certainly with the very best of intentions, always.     

Once upon a time Orson Welles, America's most lovable renaissance man provided Chaplin with an idea for a film. Welles, the son of a bon viveur and sedulous globetrotter, whose mother's salon introduced introduced him to Art, Stravinsky and Ravel, a kid who met Hitler at 9, a man who could declare with eyewitness authority that Beijing and Peking were the two artistic centres of the world, yes, that man, our boy Orson provided perspective for a Charlie Chaplin film.

To be a amongst renaissance men...

A paid writing gig provides ample rationale to train it down to Paris for one long, luxurious day. To begin the process of collecting details to profile the kind of guy that could be construed as a Renaissance Man, the learned kind we once called Humanist.  

We meet in the 8th arrondissement, at the France-Amerique Club, a novel experience I'd never enjoyed while living in Paris, such lovely facilities with a long and luxurious history, befitting to this meeting.   

I feel fortunate to know a few Renaissance types but me thinks this species is diminishing, as if their extinction looms on the horizon or so it seems to me.

The pedigree arrives in various forms yet traditionally a typical renaissance sort boasts not only a comprehensive education, excelling in a variety of subjects, but athletic pursuits may play a part if only to make their broad education that much more comprehensive.

Such was the kind of Renaissance Man I met in Paris at the France Amerique club. Too bad there aren't more to go around. His grasp of history and economics is vital, a 'major player' as they say on the global stage. He's the kind of guy you can't google for discretion is key.  

He works on all continents, lives on a plane. Invited to the Jockey Club in Hong Kong one week, asked to  present a lecture on Peak Oil to the House of Commons the next. These guys don't grow on trees but I wish they did.

Rick Falkvinge and those 40 year cycles

Rick's article discusses epiphanies, politics, helping Asian Bitcoin players from getting harassed, stepping down from the Pirate Party and 40 year cycles.

Many ideas an much of Rick's political philosophy emanate from 40 year cycles; for instance, 40 yrs ago it was environmentally based, now the youth are concerned with privacy and copyright policy as well.  No coincidence he's effectively legislating these ideas into European Parliament. In Sweden, Germany and next they will focus on Switzerland, a land that takes democracy very, very seriously.

His article ends with:  

Therefore, I ended by asking for a favor. “Forty years from now, those of us who are still around, I’d like to ask you for a favor“, I said. “Odds are that when our parties are flooded with career politicians forty years from now, and we are living comfortably in our retirements, a bunch of spoiled young brats will organize out of nowhere and appear to demand everything for free in ways that are both reprehensible and incomprehensible.”

“Help them.”

 

Two words and one movie explain away the London Riots.

"Allow it." As uttered in the funny new sci-fi flick "Attack The Block"

Protests, nomads, seasons and cycles...

October is a wonderful month to visually feel life's cycles. Mother nature works her magic through leaves as we witness death and decay everywhere as if to capture how change and transition feel as necessary as life itself. 

For many, death isn't just a concept, especially when seen up close. The cost of a front row seat may allow one to embrace the grief. If you don't and deny the cycle you just may miss the show. 

Who's zooming Whom in the currency wars...

Hard to know, even harder to know who's wagging what but since I was a kid I've always been curious. That's why I left The American Dream. Yes, I'd been blessed, worked my ass off, I got to experience The American Dream, but then left, I'm that curious. 

Since moving across the pond and shuffling around in some international circles, I can say with confidence, I've now got a better idea. And, more importantly, all those stereotypes regarding the Italian, English, French, Israeli and Arab, well, they've all been put to test and failed, most beautifully.  

America and Israel; warfare states that just may triumph themselves to death.

Each day brings a fresh hell for the Libyan people; 10-30,000 Libyans killed, blacks being lynched and women and children raped, per always, in a world that loves the business of war, attacking soverign states. As long as the fiction of the nation state remains. Brecht's Mother Courage is alive and well.

Libya may have fallen off the front page, it's practically impossible to cobble together any kind of sensible perspective but the business potential is viewed as nothing less than a bonanza. The English and Eurozone are lining up...it never ceases to stun, the sheer greed, they way this world works, one that loves the business of war. 

9/11 was a call to adventure.

9/11 meant different things to different people. Personally, it was a call to adventure. On the surface, after years of hard work, the rewards arrived, I was happily married, in good health, experiencing the American Dream.  I was lucky.

However, just beneath the surface, above the sub-conscious, where reality lurks and mischief begins, my country and my identity were amiss, incorrect; I heard the clarion call to adventure, answered and decided to leave. 

I felt deep shock, as did everyone, however, we didn't equally experience the paranoia and fear. 

Seattle and Amsterdam; surprisingly similar and both immensely livable.

I grew up in Seattle, in Magnolia to be exact; a lovely village attached to the city by a swooping bridge that hung low and carried the cars carefully from our neighborhood to 1st avenue in mere minutes.

I traveled in a lot of social circles locally but when I started to recruit technical personnel, first nationally, then internationally, I heard an earful of opinions; "Why does it take 7 years to meet a family member, " you're all so nice but kind of distant, where's the party, where's the social scene, what's up!". Seattle was about to go grunge and explode on the world stage but it did stay relatively provincial for a long time. We've always been, actually, since the world fair in '62; resourceful and hugely industrious, exporting up to 35% of America's exports. That's very industrious behavior.

Ripe Ingredients in UK Riot Souffle

Juan Cole; easy to skewer the obsession with Knights of Templar

Juan Cole site is a key ingredient for those wishing to read up on the Breivik madness from a distance. It's easy to skewer the obsession w/Knights of Templar, and yet the combination of this 'movement', the anti-jihadist blogs, the Geert Wilders and the rest allow us to understand why the partnership with Zionism can seem almost strategic.

Of course, one could argue the Knights have nothing on today's financial terrorism...

Germany will decide when to turn out the lights on Euro

 Germany was always the economic engine, we said this all along. Exactly when its over is kinda key. However, in this random, globalized world, nobody knows...

ht video: Max Keiser

Murdoch madness; layers upon layers of schadenfreude

Many aspects serve to highlight Tony Blair's odious toadiness to power but let's see what happens when the scandal travels across Atlantic.

Will the ex PM's mentors, the Clintons, turn on the worm that is Murdoch and channel their inner jackal?  Who knows!  Either way, let's give a cheer for the British as they've earned it in spades.

Governments govern differently.

Growing up I pledged allegiance to my flag, respected my government and gave it little thought. It wasn't until 9/11 happened and I moved away that I began to compare and contrast my government to others.

For example, in Malta, a small and compact island in the middle of the med, the people are engaged with their government. They have a deeply intimate relationship with their politicians, often you find the entire country votes each and every time an election or referendum arrives, dictating they do just that. It's small; it's a place and space of mind where democracy can breathe and live healthily out in the open. 

When we lived in Paris and had family living in the south, the culture and country in general were deeply keen on good argument about policy debate. The French are chatty, engaged and feisty and I often got the sense their government respected the will of the people, an emotional group of people. They care. 

In Italy, where life is far more complicated, it felt as if the people disregarded their central government, but did participate heavily in both regional politics and debate. It is a chaotic place when seen from outside but from within, not so much. Italians know how the game is played, they're familiar with the players are and respect them locally, not so much as a nation. The left and south are both very Italian in culture but distinctly different in production and attitude.   

Debt debate and when cultural shifts become economic.

What happened to US. Was it Clinton, Reagan or before. If you grew up in the 70's you felt the shift, away from the collective, towards the individual, when we earned the term "the me decade."  

Wouldn't necessarily recommend the cooking but the Dutch have cornered cultivation.

Holland is a small and densely populated country. Had they not intervened one could argue they'd be under water as I write away. All the more reason to celebrate their genius. It's a miracle and testament to their determination they exist at all.

As the world wonders and worries, as it should, about the deadly combination of population explosion and resource depletion, it just may be come down to the Dutch to save the world.