Lost Faith in Media

Some media outlets are trashy.

I cannot watch FOX News productions. Rather than countering mischaracterizations & drivel, better to imagine them in a closet shouting & screaming at each other. Turn it OFF -- let their personal issues receive silence.

I never liked or trusted America's NPR (National Public Radio). My wife likes Terry Gross & "Fresh Air" but their propaganda pains me all the more when it erupts. Here's an example:
Fresh Air Terry Gross & RJ Lifton 18Dec2001 - Gay Disinformation.mp3

In 2001 days, "GAY" was a slur - ... & the gay premise is total bullshit.

I've had respect for the BBC, but this week one report is beyond poor:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-44290824/north-koreans-dare-to-criticise-vampire-leader
A smuggler displeased with the DPRK's leadership is "interviewed"

We could write the same bullshit about England's Evil Queen, where surely some shadowy unattributed subjects are resentful & embittered, deeply frightened of covert retribution for their disloyalty. Shame on the BBC!

Here's similar extreme propaganda via Chosun Ilbo from Korea:
https://www.mindwatch.com/2018/03/facing-misinformation.html

We're deliberately directed away from pressing problems...

TRASHY

Prayer Really Works for T

Worried for the unfortunate? You're a LOSER
Leaders exemplify No Remorse

Sad!

Common Corruption, Japanese-style Disclosure

Corruption is all too common almost everywhere.

Japan has special patterns of criminal disclosure. When one or two corrupt practices are uncovered, a cascade of reports can ensue. Leaders bow & apologize en masse, hoping personal fallout is minimized when everyone's dirty together.

A good example a few years ago (early Nov. 2013, link), was when top restaurants in Ginza, Hibiya, central Tokyo and around Japan began to admit they served poor-quality and substitute ingredients rather than the excellent foods advertised. Dozens of 'great' restaurants suddenly admitted wrongdoing. Shameless? Smart? The public ate it up.

Now Finance Ministry corruption (link, Moritomo scandal) dovetails with Defense Ministry wrongdoing (link), hiding the logs of Japanese troop deployment in Iraq. Public interest is forgotten - bureaucrats deceive lawmakers charged with administrative oversight, under the direction of ... unknown individuals

So very coincidental the reports are released on the same day... ?  Not.

Truth & demonstrative sorrow are both missing...

No Fingerprints! Joel Zamel

We've now all heard of Cambridge Analytica, their parent SCL Group, and reported improper use of Facebook data. Cambridge Analytica claimed wide effectiveness and impact on elections and world affairs in their marketing, but were unprepared to be spotlighted.

Cambridge Analytica has now closed down / gone underground.

Parallel operations being investigated surround Joel Zamel.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-who-is-joel-zamel-australian-israeli-linked-to-mueller-s-trump-probe-1.6104963

Three interesting articles have looked at Mr. Zamel's work with PSY-Group, Wikistrat and WhiteKnight. The above analytic Haaretz article is best (seems behind a firewall already, but perhaps cached here)

Earlier, the New York Times painted a portrait of mystery:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/us/politics/trump-jr-saudi-uae-nader-prince-zamel.html

The Wall Street Journal worried about a "secretive private intelligence firm" deeply linked to Israel promising to "shape reality." Foreign interference in the American domestic political process, even by friendly Israel, raises huge questions & concerns.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mueller-probe-expands-to-israeli-entrepreneur-with-u-a-e-ties-1526763816

The WSJ downloaded Psygroup.com marketing materials and now host a helpful link where PSY themselves describe "covert and legal techniques and tactics" (including "honey traps"):
http://www.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/psygroup.pdf?mod=article_inline
(direct web presence has now disappeared at psygroup.com)

Maybe Mr. Joel Zamel is being treated unreasonably. Zamel is professionally represented by attorney Marc L. Mukasey, chairman of white collar defense at the law firm Greenberg Traurig. Yet even the lawyer is under the spotlight for family ties and being a close buddy to Rudy Giuliani (link).

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

Now another article in Haaretz clarifies the story, but so sinister!
https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-trump-russia-mueller-probe-the-israel-connections-1.6116639
(or cached version here)
Too deep for me. Wanna know more? You research & blog yourself...


---------------------
This leads to my headline above. I was wholly ready to move-on from shadowy Joel Zamel to the most recent Red Sox box score. But let's have a look at the guy...

A search on 21st May 2018 turned up no certain images of Joel Zamel.

I searched for יואל זמל (Joel Zamel in Hebrew; or ג'ואל זמל ?) and got article links but no photos.

PSY promises to "sway opinion and emphasize (or de-emphasize) issues of relevance to our clients." CEO Joel Zamel has a very low profile. UNNATURAL

from http://www.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/psygroup.pdf

Cleanup can be too perfect. Should we see professionalism in the fact we cannot find traces of Joel Zamel?

No fingerprints at all --- signals careful work & cleanup.

P.S. - (early October 2018) After months of quiet, Psy is Back in World News (links - first two in Hebrew)
---------------------------
P.P.S. - Joel Zamel photo, released late 22 May via sbs.com.au, notes:
"Publicity-shy" Zamel "cultivated an air of discretion" & "low profile"...

 >> Belated single selected image release is more odd than nothing at all << 

Joel Zamel     photo released on sbs.com.au

Fire Dance, Namaste

Our world seems increasingly nonsensical... or counter-intuitive. Bipartisan bailout of big finance and industries with public funds was corrupt, but we're already warped from capture of the U.S. economy by militarism. Democracy offers endless war and force-fed corporate media. "Just Say No" ain't working. Outside now I see morning sun, and hear birdsong.

😄

PS: the strongest stimulant I've had in the last 24 hours was lassi (yoghurt drink)... but I did help squelch the flames of a guy on fire (he should be OK)

Payoffs, Bribery, Hush Money are COSTLY

Lawyer-to-the-Stars, Michael Cohen, reportedly paid a lady the amount of $130,000 to say nothing about his client's unadmitted sexual encounter.

Client Donald Trump reportedly was oblivious to the transaction. Lawyer paid with his personal funds, and secured a signed contract promising future silence.

Trump denies ever schtupping Ms. Stormy Daniels.
Trump denies managing the hush-money payoff.
Trump has now belatedly admitted compensating Cohen for the payoff.

UNBELIEVABLE     ...     sleazy

Welcome to the United States of America

Now I Like Ike

To the Last American

Likud & the ultra-right lead US to war.

Haiku until lame

 
Haiku until lame
Occupied Territories
White House, Pentagon.

So Cute!

Our leaders spewed $5 trillion on Iraq: US$5,000,000,000,000. to poor result ... taken from schools, seniors, communities, and our next generation -- corroding America's health. 

Iran's cleavage promises to cost more. 

Skip the Gold Star

It's a Beautiful Day

 - except we hear martial music & drums to WAR

Why's America messing with that part of the world?

Work w/ other major powers... or we're rogue 

JUST SAY NO!