A poem's something no one needs
Such efforts ain't considered deeds
Yet reading clever turns of phrase
Can alter life in basic ways.
Please don't imagine this like that
My leisure play that wraps up flat.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Poem du jour
A poem's something no one needs
Such efforts ain't considered deeds
Yet reading clever turns of phrase
Can alter life in basic ways.
Please don't imagine this like that
My leisure play that wraps up flat.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Criminal Pass the Buck
Retailers and apologists are claiming that the horse-for-beef scandal is not really a health problem, simply mislabeling. I wholly disagree. Food Fraud is Dangerous to Health
First, this is criminal adulteration of food to gain unjust profit. Substitution of horse for beef is potentially just the the tip of the iceberg. Those companies such as TESCO, ICA, Findus, etc., that have put their brand and label on counterfeit food should be severely penalized. Corporate officers should be arrested and imprisoned. The companies should be fined severely. They must be held responsible for quality assurance.
Findus claims their quality control uncovered a problem, they acted quickly & properly, and they're now being penalized unjustly. But the scale of this problem suggests management was complacent or indifferent in important areas, and lax with due diligence. As with sanitation, it is insufficient to be clean "sometimes" or to say "we washed six months ago" - constant effort & vigilance must be built into operations. Findus perhaps did not properly invest in those dimensions, and instead pocketed that money. What have they done with such past windfall profits? I don't feel much sympathy. Corporate profit-seeking can easily kill. Thousands of children in the USA were killed by "swill milk" before purity became more rigidly enforced; and China's 2008 melamine milk scandal reportedly harmed 300,000 people. Profiteers care nothing for our health; they kill for money.
for more see: Lutter, Randall (2009) "Addressing challenges of economically-motivated adulteration." US Food and Drug Administration. (ppt file)
First, this is criminal adulteration of food to gain unjust profit. Substitution of horse for beef is potentially just the the tip of the iceberg. Those companies such as TESCO, ICA, Findus, etc., that have put their brand and label on counterfeit food should be severely penalized. Corporate officers should be arrested and imprisoned. The companies should be fined severely. They must be held responsible for quality assurance.
Findus claims their quality control uncovered a problem, they acted quickly & properly, and they're now being penalized unjustly. But the scale of this problem suggests management was complacent or indifferent in important areas, and lax with due diligence. As with sanitation, it is insufficient to be clean "sometimes" or to say "we washed six months ago" - constant effort & vigilance must be built into operations. Findus perhaps did not properly invest in those dimensions, and instead pocketed that money. What have they done with such past windfall profits? I don't feel much sympathy. Corporate profit-seeking can easily kill. Thousands of children in the USA were killed by "swill milk" before purity became more rigidly enforced; and China's 2008 melamine milk scandal reportedly harmed 300,000 people. Profiteers care nothing for our health; they kill for money.
for more see: Lutter, Randall (2009) "Addressing challenges of economically-motivated adulteration." US Food and Drug Administration. (ppt file)
Degraded Valor
Lame-duck US Defense Secretary (and former CIA boss) Leon Panetta instituted a new military award for support services that ranks above the Bronze Star awarded for heroism and valor.
"The Distinguished Warfare Medal" can be given to anyone in the military contributing to operations with accomplishments regarded as exceptional. Examples cited by the Defense Department include someone detecting a computer virus, or those stationed thousands of miles from any conflict who operate remote-controlled machinery.
Sly way to dismantle military precedence & honor. For those careful of their own safety it's a boon, allowing them to step over soldiers decorated for valor in battle. Another example of the political game behind American society.
"The Distinguished Warfare Medal" can be given to anyone in the military contributing to operations with accomplishments regarded as exceptional. Examples cited by the Defense Department include someone detecting a computer virus, or those stationed thousands of miles from any conflict who operate remote-controlled machinery.
Sly way to dismantle military precedence & honor. For those careful of their own safety it's a boon, allowing them to step over soldiers decorated for valor in battle. Another example of the political game behind American society.
750 tons of Horse
We're told by the French government (link) the horsemeat scandal originated in France, involving 750 tons of horsemeat. That's maybe 1500 horses? A sizable herd... a huge amount of meat, and quite different from beef. Key people claim total surprise. Bullshit.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Aussie Outlaws
Australia has two black eyes in the past two years as regards outreach and citizen support services.
The country appears to have done little or nothing to protect Julian Assange, editor of WikiLeaks, from intimidation & harassment.
Sweden has filed charges xxx
Sweden has issued a European Arrest Warrant that Julian Assange be detained. Supposedly, the detention and extradition is for further questioning by the Swedish Prosecution Authority over allegations of sexual misconduct. But WikiLeaks reporting has so embarrassed top officials worldwide that it's been suggested Assange is in danger of sudden rendition to the USA, or assassination.
Whatever the case, Assange is a citizen of Australia -- and his government seems to have done squat to help anyone.
The second Australian case is Ben Zygier, imprisoned by Israel, held incommunicado, and a suspected suicide in December 2010. Zygier had apparently changed his name to Ben Allen for espionage purposes; he was also known as Ben Alon, Benjamin Burrows & Benji (link). More recently he's been referred to as "Prisoner X" because of assorted mysteries regarding his identity, crime(s), and mode of death in custody two years ago. Until this week the Australian Government was quiet about the uncommon incarceration and death. But The Guardian (UK) reports Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade has now "launched a review into how its diplomats handled the case." To prevent reporting about the case, the Israeli government had imposed a gag order until today that began in March 2010, nine months before Zygier's still-unexplained death. Treatment of the Australian, held in secret without charge, has brought Israel's secret prison system back into the spotlight (link). And Australians now ask if their government did enough for the detainee before he died (link) ...
The country appears to have done little or nothing to protect Julian Assange, editor of WikiLeaks, from intimidation & harassment.
Sweden has issued a European Arrest Warrant that Julian Assange be detained. Supposedly, the detention and extradition is for further questioning by the Swedish Prosecution Authority over allegations of sexual misconduct. But WikiLeaks reporting has so embarrassed top officials worldwide that it's been suggested Assange is in danger of sudden rendition to the USA, or assassination.
Whatever the case, Assange is a citizen of Australia -- and his government seems to have done squat to help anyone.
The second Australian case is Ben Zygier, imprisoned by Israel, held incommunicado, and a suspected suicide in December 2010. Zygier had apparently changed his name to Ben Allen for espionage purposes; he was also known as Ben Alon, Benjamin Burrows & Benji (link). More recently he's been referred to as "Prisoner X" because of assorted mysteries regarding his identity, crime(s), and mode of death in custody two years ago. Until this week the Australian Government was quiet about the uncommon incarceration and death. But The Guardian (UK) reports Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade has now "launched a review into how its diplomats handled the case." To prevent reporting about the case, the Israeli government had imposed a gag order until today that began in March 2010, nine months before Zygier's still-unexplained death. Treatment of the Australian, held in secret without charge, has brought Israel's secret prison system back into the spotlight (link). And Australians now ask if their government did enough for the detainee before he died (link) ...
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Food Industry Scams
Consumers are often tricked & scammed. Safety agencies and industry watchdogs offer some protection with purity rules and labeling standards, but regulatory efforts are bypassed by "delay, defang & defraud" efforts by profit-hungry producers.
California consumers were recently led to believe that to label foods containing GMOs (genetically-manipulated organisms) would be prohibitively expensive, resulting in thousands of job losses & an epidemic of lawsuits. Over six million voters wanted labels on food detailing genetic-engineering, but 51.4% of the electorate last November voted against "Proposition 37". The concealment group included Monsanto, the California Republican Party, and Pepsico. This "no" group used illegal tactics, and spent $46 million to defeat the measure, more than five times more than Prop 37 supporters.
 |
| Future battles with anti-corporate activists will be tougher. |
 |
| Nearly Every Daily Newspaper in California is Owned by a Huge Corporation... |
The present spotlight on minced meat is scary. We're introduced to "value" products (processed meat products using cheap mince). These products contain mechanically recovered meat (MRM, nicknamed "pink slime") and the disinewed meat (DSM) of assorted creepy creatures. We've not yet been informed during this scandal of mortuaries supplying cheap meat, or any flow of meats from stray pets or animal hospitals into the human food supply. But worst practices of course are kept hidden. We must demand clearer labeling and reward whistle blowers for details of fraud.
Saturday, February 09, 2013
Eat Shit
A Luxembourg-based scandal over mislabeled horsemeat lasagna is growing at a gallop.
As the story gets fleshed-out, we're told the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) demanded companies test their meat products for adulteration. But according to the FSA website (link): "Tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horse meat." Note the key weasel-words "significant levels"... And what of significance testing for other creatures & critters? They should also inform the meat-eating public about levels of phenylbutazone ("bute"), an anti-inflammatory drug no longer approved for human use, but still prescribed for horses & dogs.
We're also told of today's (Sat. 9 Feb) "urgent" emergency DEFRA Summit (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) discussing adulteration of the food chain and rising public concerns. The BBC reports those attending included:
In past food scandals, the UK government has reassured consumers about safety when in fact government officials did not know shit. Because this stance supports producer interest, it's important we ask which consumer groups were at today's DEFRA summit? Remember well the broken trust when the UK Agriculture Minister (John Gummer, now the ennobled Baron Deben of Winston) tried to reassure a public scared about vCJD BSE. He sought to feed a beefburger to his four-year old daughter Cordelia in front of the press, asserting we had "no need to be worried" though in fact there was danger.
If supplies do threaten safety - will we ever hear about it?
What if meat products contain something worse than horse ?
Animal shelters and mortuaries can also supply cheap meat.
As the story gets fleshed-out, we're told the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) demanded companies test their meat products for adulteration. But according to the FSA website (link): "Tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horse meat." Note the key weasel-words "significant levels"... And what of significance testing for other creatures & critters? They should also inform the meat-eating public about levels of phenylbutazone ("bute"), an anti-inflammatory drug no longer approved for human use, but still prescribed for horses & dogs.
We're also told of today's (Sat. 9 Feb) "urgent" emergency DEFRA Summit (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) discussing adulteration of the food chain and rising public concerns. The BBC reports those attending included:
- Environment Secretary Owen Patterson
- Food and Drink Federation (Findus is a member)
- Federation of Wholesale Distributors
- British Retail Consortium
- Tesco
- Sainsbury's
- Asda
- Institute of Grocery Directors
- British Meat Processors Association
- Co-operative Food
In past food scandals, the UK government has reassured consumers about safety when in fact government officials did not know shit. Because this stance supports producer interest, it's important we ask which consumer groups were at today's DEFRA summit? Remember well the broken trust when the UK Agriculture Minister (John Gummer, now the ennobled Baron Deben of Winston) tried to reassure a public scared about vCJD BSE. He sought to feed a beefburger to his four-year old daughter Cordelia in front of the press, asserting we had "no need to be worried" though in fact there was danger.
If supplies do threaten safety - will we ever hear about it?
What if meat products contain something worse than horse ?
Animal shelters and mortuaries can also supply cheap meat.
Friday, February 08, 2013
A Mare Trifle?
The Swedish firm Findus recalled it's "Beef Lasagne" (link) after the product was found to contain mislabeled horsemeat instead of beef. The corporation notified Livsmedelsverket (Sweden's National Food Agency) and sought to assure consumers there was no health danger if eating the bogus product.
The news threatens to saddle the firm with serious problems. The BBC reports the Findus supplier Comigel of France supplied the bad meat. Comigel made the meals in Luxembourg with meat sourced in Romania by the French company Spanghero. The UK Food Standards Agency ordered testing for the dangerous veterinary drug phenylbutazone as it became clear Findus had lost control over product ingredients. Many people suddenly are enraged about adulteration and illegal mislabeling of food supplies.
More firms & foods are being questioned, drawing attention to complex supply chains of variously labeled products. Axfood has recalled their Eldorado Lasagna Bolognese, Willys Lasagna Bolognese & Hemköp Lasagna Bolognese. McAdam Foods, Silvercrest & Rangeland Foods of Ireland, and UK-based Freeza Meats have also been tainted by the scandal. Supermarket chains Tesco and Aldi in the UK, and ICA & Coop in Sweden are also involved. Retailers who stock mislabeled goods mistakenly are unfortunate, but those selling trash under their own-label should be severely prosecuted. By putting their brand name on a product, they assure us of its quality. It's now not enough to claim surprise after profiting from our gullibility; these corporate outlaws must be reined in.
Earlier this year in Sweden it was found that over 95.5 tons of bogus imported pork had been dyed, mislabeled, and sold as beef. An estimated 320,000 "beef tenderloin steaks" (200g) were trustingly eaten by consumers throughout the country before the scandal came to light.
These are prime examples of how corporations need oversight and hefty fines from government. Right-wing corporate interests encourage us to dismantle "too expensive" government -- but we need stricter checks & balances on overgrown, gluttonous corporations. Profit maximization makes businesses prone to cut corners at everyone's expense.
The news threatens to saddle the firm with serious problems. The BBC reports the Findus supplier Comigel of France supplied the bad meat. Comigel made the meals in Luxembourg with meat sourced in Romania by the French company Spanghero. The UK Food Standards Agency ordered testing for the dangerous veterinary drug phenylbutazone as it became clear Findus had lost control over product ingredients. Many people suddenly are enraged about adulteration and illegal mislabeling of food supplies.
More firms & foods are being questioned, drawing attention to complex supply chains of variously labeled products. Axfood has recalled their Eldorado Lasagna Bolognese, Willys Lasagna Bolognese & Hemköp Lasagna Bolognese. McAdam Foods, Silvercrest & Rangeland Foods of Ireland, and UK-based Freeza Meats have also been tainted by the scandal. Supermarket chains Tesco and Aldi in the UK, and ICA & Coop in Sweden are also involved. Retailers who stock mislabeled goods mistakenly are unfortunate, but those selling trash under their own-label should be severely prosecuted. By putting their brand name on a product, they assure us of its quality. It's now not enough to claim surprise after profiting from our gullibility; these corporate outlaws must be reined in.
Earlier this year in Sweden it was found that over 95.5 tons of bogus imported pork had been dyed, mislabeled, and sold as beef. An estimated 320,000 "beef tenderloin steaks" (200g) were trustingly eaten by consumers throughout the country before the scandal came to light.
These are prime examples of how corporations need oversight and hefty fines from government. Right-wing corporate interests encourage us to dismantle "too expensive" government -- but we need stricter checks & balances on overgrown, gluttonous corporations. Profit maximization makes businesses prone to cut corners at everyone's expense.
Thursday, February 07, 2013
Assassinating Children
.
People in the US government are allowed to kill indiscriminately.
They give themselves a now semi-official "targeted killing" power.
Most authorization details are secret.
But any "senior operational leader of al-Qa’ida" may be killed.
Enemies marked to die include US citizens.
Two assassination events under Obama are known to have killed Americans.
One killed an American boy born in Denver. A separate attack killed his US-born father and an American journalist.
Anonymous clerks now decide who'll die, with no independent review.
Nobody is required to assert the 16-year old was a "senior operational leader" of a banned group. In fact, we've a history of butchering family members of enemies (link), starting with squaws & whelps of redskin savages. This kid's assassination, outside Constitutionally-guaranteed due process, is inelegantly classed as "tough shit"
People in the US government are allowed to kill indiscriminately.
They give themselves a now semi-official "targeted killing" power.
Most authorization details are secret.
But any "senior operational leader of al-Qa’ida" may be killed.
Enemies marked to die include US citizens.
Two assassination events under Obama are known to have killed Americans.
One killed an American boy born in Denver. A separate attack killed his US-born father and an American journalist.
Anonymous clerks now decide who'll die, with no independent review.
Nobody is required to assert the 16-year old was a "senior operational leader" of a banned group. In fact, we've a history of butchering family members of enemies (link), starting with squaws & whelps of redskin savages. This kid's assassination, outside Constitutionally-guaranteed due process, is inelegantly classed as "tough shit"
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
Poem de Tear
In memory of Johan Ludvig Runeberg
Quick Vigorous the baby's Leap
Refocuses Attention
We share so much, the bright & trite
Live goals exceeding mention.
Quick Vigorous the baby's Leap
Refocuses Attention
We share so much, the bright & trite
Live goals exceeding mention.
Friends vs Clients
Who are the client states of the USA?
Many so-called "banana Republics" now enjoy unparalleled freedoms. In my opinion, such possibilities are the chief positive legacies to presidents George W. Bush & Barack Obama: US-led adventurism from the Middle East to Afghanistan and into Pakistan is so costly it's required a focus of energies, allowing freedom to others. But this may not continue... The Philippines, Turkey, South & Central America, Somalia, etc. should strengthen their anti-imperialist defenses before the bully resurrects & returns... think of The Evil Dead.
Puppet regimes of US client states murder their people, rob the national economy, and cripple the community for decades. Their crimes are only possible with coordinated help from predator banks & corrupt media. Let's be clear: it's not a docile media, it's a cheerleading media aimed at us -- creating imperialist opportunity.
Tinpot dictators are never really "friends" of the USA. Ruthless thugs-for-hire such as Mubarak, Suharto, Somoza, Diệm (Vietnam), Trujillo, Marcos, the House of Pahlavi (Iran), Pinochet, etc. are made wealthy but ridiculed, and ultimately deeply threatened. When tyrants fall, their resources & secrets can damage US interests. Big capital is as likely to sell their client's safety - death is always near.
Many so-called "banana Republics" now enjoy unparalleled freedoms. In my opinion, such possibilities are the chief positive legacies to presidents George W. Bush & Barack Obama: US-led adventurism from the Middle East to Afghanistan and into Pakistan is so costly it's required a focus of energies, allowing freedom to others. But this may not continue... The Philippines, Turkey, South & Central America, Somalia, etc. should strengthen their anti-imperialist defenses before the bully resurrects & returns... think of The Evil Dead.
Puppet regimes of US client states murder their people, rob the national economy, and cripple the community for decades. Their crimes are only possible with coordinated help from predator banks & corrupt media. Let's be clear: it's not a docile media, it's a cheerleading media aimed at us -- creating imperialist opportunity.
Tinpot dictators are never really "friends" of the USA. Ruthless thugs-for-hire such as Mubarak, Suharto, Somoza, Diệm (Vietnam), Trujillo, Marcos, the House of Pahlavi (Iran), Pinochet, etc. are made wealthy but ridiculed, and ultimately deeply threatened. When tyrants fall, their resources & secrets can damage US interests. Big capital is as likely to sell their client's safety - death is always near.
Monday, February 04, 2013
Super Bowl
Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the just-concluded Super Bowl XLVII was actually Baltimore Ravens defensive cornerback Jimmy Smith. At a critical junction in the final moments, he seemed to impede receiver Michael Crabtree, thwarted a go-ahead touchdown, likely saving the game for his winning team.
Should the officials have called a penalty for holding? Anyway, they did not.
Some football fans will be distraught at the outcome. Surely that key play defined the result. Some will feel pass interference & cheating determined the game, overshadowing everything else. Others will overlook the incident. "The Winner Takes It All" -- though a few feel shame amidst celebrations -- the shadow of cheating to win.
"Ravens hold on to Win"
"Baltimore held off a San Francisco comeback"
"Ravens are Champions after holding off SF"
(actual headlines)
Let's consider this along with Lance Armstrong's doping. Armstrong - an example of America to the world - amassed a fortune through cheating.
The wider impressions of America's world sporting activities differ from the impact inside the country. Domestically (within the USA), sport throws out many impressions per day. But in the wider world, US sport provides very few impressions each decade:
-- Lance Armstrong: stripped of all titles for 14 years, banned for life; admitting to doping & lying
-- Tiger Woods & his women
-- Marion Jones cheating in track (surrendering five Olympic medals & two World Champion medals in athletics)
-- Super Bowl scandal ??... more of the same sleaze.
Sunday, February 03, 2013
Forget Asia
Narcissistic chauvinism in the USA is never in short supply, but it's artificially boosted as Zionists hijack the American political process (link) -- we're told "It's All About Israel".
Witness the still-ongoing confirmation of former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as US Secretary of Defense (properly Secretary of the Military, truly a Secretary of War). Last week's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing overwhelmingly focused on whether Hagel was politically correct and properly pro-Israel.
Evidence that pro-Israeli forces dominate discussions is detailed by Jim Lobe's analysis of the Senate confirmation dialog: Israel was brought up 178 times. China was mentioned 5 times. Suicide problems among US troops? ... noted twice; Japan and South Korea rated one mention each. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, any of the Nordic nations, India ... - not worth a mention at all.
Witness the still-ongoing confirmation of former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as US Secretary of Defense (properly Secretary of the Military, truly a Secretary of War). Last week's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing overwhelmingly focused on whether Hagel was politically correct and properly pro-Israel.
Evidence that pro-Israeli forces dominate discussions is detailed by Jim Lobe's analysis of the Senate confirmation dialog: Israel was brought up 178 times. China was mentioned 5 times. Suicide problems among US troops? ... noted twice; Japan and South Korea rated one mention each. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, any of the Nordic nations, India ... - not worth a mention at all.
Friday, February 01, 2013
Voting Out Corruption
This month could have been much worse. Fortunately, the American people shut down Mitt Romney and his bankrupt party from the Presidency & US Senate. Sadly, far too many elitist corrupted scum still flourish like killer-bacteria in American public life. They are the 1%. Vote 'em out.
These weasels own big media. They use their power to confuse & corrupt. They are not simple opponents - they are a dangerous enemy, an enslaving influence. Too many people around the world suffer under the heel of these chauffeured-limousine assholes and their hired thugs.
The Republican leadership & Senator John McCain cripple the American people.
The tragedy of American deaths at the Benghazi consulate has become a symbol of cheap political opportunism orchestrated by well-manicured white Republicans & Rupert Murdoch. Let's be clear, this was Benghazi, Libya - a highly dangerous place emerging from civil war and the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi. It's a place of rogue militias, sectarian violence & anarchy. Oil companies push frantically for billions in wealth beneath the sand. Foreign intelligence operatives from around the world (including our own) are doing who knows what, seeking strategic resource-rich opportunities. Libya has not been safe for many years, and won't be "safe" for the foreseeable future. Americans in Libya work under no illusions - they serve (served) in dangerous circumstances. Republican political-opportunists John McCain, Rand Paul, Mitt Romney, Lindsay Graham, Kelly Ayotte and Ron Johnson should be deeply ashamed of themselves. Hopefully the ghosts of the dead can somehow reach their bony fingers around the necks of these bastards, infiltrate their airways, haunt their dreams & worse.
These weasels own big media. They use their power to confuse & corrupt. They are not simple opponents - they are a dangerous enemy, an enslaving influence. Too many people around the world suffer under the heel of these chauffeured-limousine assholes and their hired thugs.
The Republican leadership & Senator John McCain cripple the American people.
The tragedy of American deaths at the Benghazi consulate has become a symbol of cheap political opportunism orchestrated by well-manicured white Republicans & Rupert Murdoch. Let's be clear, this was Benghazi, Libya - a highly dangerous place emerging from civil war and the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi. It's a place of rogue militias, sectarian violence & anarchy. Oil companies push frantically for billions in wealth beneath the sand. Foreign intelligence operatives from around the world (including our own) are doing who knows what, seeking strategic resource-rich opportunities. Libya has not been safe for many years, and won't be "safe" for the foreseeable future. Americans in Libya work under no illusions - they serve (served) in dangerous circumstances. Republican political-opportunists John McCain, Rand Paul, Mitt Romney, Lindsay Graham, Kelly Ayotte and Ron Johnson should be deeply ashamed of themselves. Hopefully the ghosts of the dead can somehow reach their bony fingers around the necks of these bastards, infiltrate their airways, haunt their dreams & worse.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Hooligan Builds Gun in School
Joseph "Baby Face" Cardosa was officially reprimanded and reportedly faces suspension (link) for building a pistol & using it to threaten other students during an after-school program in Hyannis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (USA).
Some weeks ago, a school official witnessed Cardosa brandishing his pointed finger as a gun. That threatening incident elicited a verbal reprimand.
Barnstable schools Superintendent Mary Czajkowski noted in an interview with the Cape Cod Times that Cardosa (age 5) was given "at least five verbal reminders" and that such inappropriate behavior demands a prompt & proper response. "You need to educate students, and you need to educate parents."
Joseph was punished for using his
imagination, said George MacKoul, Cardosa's attorney.
Joseph Cardosa has no known relationship to the late Joseph Barboza, also of Massachusetts (right), a reputed contract killer for the Patriarca crime family.
While the original gun crafted by Cardosa was apparently destroyed, the Cape Cod Times published a photo of Cardosa brandishing another homemade replica, and posing familiarly with "Ma" Cruz.
At what age does gunplay stop being cute? Is it reasonable Joseph's family & their lawyer made this affair public, parading the mini-miscreant in front of TV, radio & newspaper reporters? By adding even more excitement & attention to guns, have those around Joseph done him harm? Will we be hearing more of Joseph "Baby Face" Cardosa as an antisocial element? Perhaps this is the start of a long & costly criminal career (Massachusetts is one of the 17 US states without capital punishment).
Thanks to photographer Christine Hochkeppel let's contemplate the brazen face of delinquency:
Some weeks ago, a school official witnessed Cardosa brandishing his pointed finger as a gun. That threatening incident elicited a verbal reprimand.
Barnstable schools Superintendent Mary Czajkowski noted in an interview with the Cape Cod Times that Cardosa (age 5) was given "at least five verbal reminders" and that such inappropriate behavior demands a prompt & proper response. "You need to educate students, and you need to educate parents."
Joseph was punished for using his
imagination, said George MacKoul, Cardosa's attorney. Joseph Cardosa has no known relationship to the late Joseph Barboza, also of Massachusetts (right), a reputed contract killer for the Patriarca crime family.
While the original gun crafted by Cardosa was apparently destroyed, the Cape Cod Times published a photo of Cardosa brandishing another homemade replica, and posing familiarly with "Ma" Cruz.
At what age does gunplay stop being cute? Is it reasonable Joseph's family & their lawyer made this affair public, parading the mini-miscreant in front of TV, radio & newspaper reporters? By adding even more excitement & attention to guns, have those around Joseph done him harm? Will we be hearing more of Joseph "Baby Face" Cardosa as an antisocial element? Perhaps this is the start of a long & costly criminal career (Massachusetts is one of the 17 US states without capital punishment).
Thanks to photographer Christine Hochkeppel let's contemplate the brazen face of delinquency:
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Congratulations CELAC
CELAC hasn't generated much reporting by the Anglo-US corporate press. Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, CELAC (link) is a joint effort by Latin America & the Caribbean states to build new synergies. The European Union is a key model. The CELAC group seeks to build a more independent regionalism & end imperial interference, working to strengthen peace, security and economic opportunity for the nearly 600 million people of the region.
Good Luck CELAC !
Good Luck CELAC !
Why We Fight
Why is America at War?
I remember during the Vietnam war, we were told Communism threatened America via Vietnam, and without our support & sacrifice that Southeast Asian nations would fall to the red scourge like dominoes. More than 100,000 American parents suffered their child killed in Vietnam. How many doubt their sacrifice was essential?
Many who waged war feel misguided. Many who lost loved ones in war feel abused.
We fight because we choose to.
Our military is cheered onward by global defense contractors. Our deployment is directed by businessmen positioned to exploit vanquished lands & new markets. We've setup corrupt scum overseas as "leaders" while raping their populations. We need to withdraw our troops, stop the carnage, and spend our resources at home. Bankrupt leaders won't voluntarily change direction - they've killed too many and wasted too much.
I remember during the Vietnam war, we were told Communism threatened America via Vietnam, and without our support & sacrifice that Southeast Asian nations would fall to the red scourge like dominoes. More than 100,000 American parents suffered their child killed in Vietnam. How many doubt their sacrifice was essential?
Many who waged war feel misguided. Many who lost loved ones in war feel abused.
We fight because we choose to.
Our military is cheered onward by global defense contractors. Our deployment is directed by businessmen positioned to exploit vanquished lands & new markets. We've setup corrupt scum overseas as "leaders" while raping their populations. We need to withdraw our troops, stop the carnage, and spend our resources at home. Bankrupt leaders won't voluntarily change direction - they've killed too many and wasted too much.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Execution Without Trial
Execution Without Trial
John Kipling remembered, d. 1915
Our mechanized assassin
Brought down the Paki hive
We murdered teenage Izabel
No fiend was left alive.
Who made our drone of terror?
Who steered it from our base?
Who calmly watched our weapon burst?
And rip-off half her face...
We cheaply kill without a trial
With orders from on high
Till Fatima retaliates...
Then who'll be next to die?
Friday, January 25, 2013
Fear Government
Governed by Fear ?
-- raw power breeds distrust
-- corrupt politicians are undisguised
-- so we exchange political masters for corporate enslavement
-- Happy 2013 !
-- raw power breeds distrust
-- corrupt politicians are undisguised
-- so we exchange political masters for corporate enslavement
-- Happy 2013 !
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Spotlight on Assassin States
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is conducting an inquiry into state-sponsored assassination programs. The focus is on drone attacks.
Ben Emmerson QC, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism (link) leads the investigation.
Drone assassinations are increasing around the world. The attacks are typically covert; death & destruction inflicted from far away; nobody admitting responsibility. Over 50 nations reportedly have the technology for drone attacks (link), but presently the most active assassin-state is the USA.
Many hundreds of people have been targeted & terminated by these operations, often outside war zones. Perhaps the UN-led investigation will officially declare some numbers of innocent bystanders have been unjustly murdered, but it's unlikely those responsible will be held accountable.
The assassin teams continue killing with impunity. But assassination activities are unsustainable, promising eventual withering blowback with lethal consequences. State-sponsored extra-judicial assassination must stop !!
Ben Emmerson QC, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism (link) leads the investigation.
Drone assassinations are increasing around the world. The attacks are typically covert; death & destruction inflicted from far away; nobody admitting responsibility. Over 50 nations reportedly have the technology for drone attacks (link), but presently the most active assassin-state is the USA.
Many hundreds of people have been targeted & terminated by these operations, often outside war zones. Perhaps the UN-led investigation will officially declare some numbers of innocent bystanders have been unjustly murdered, but it's unlikely those responsible will be held accountable.
The assassin teams continue killing with impunity. But assassination activities are unsustainable, promising eventual withering blowback with lethal consequences. State-sponsored extra-judicial assassination must stop !!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Avoid Qatar Airways
I recently made the bad decision to fly with Qatar Airways, attracted to their promise of "5 Star" Service -- but service on Qatar Airways is 5 on a scale of 15. Frankly, they sucked.
There were assorted shortcomings, but a key problem stemmed from a breakdown in their electrical system; I had to sit in the dark for my eight hour forty minute flight (8hr 40min). This was a business trip, and I'd planned to read & work, which was impossible. Worse, the flight crew could not assist, seemed unconcerned, and subsequent email to corporate complaints were shunted or belittled. (I was told they'd try to make sure the equipment worked on my return).
But what causes such an electrical fault? (My bank of seats and that in front of me were inoperable). Perhaps a rat inside the plane is gnawing at the equipment - next to go will be hydraulics and key avionics... Is this a major safety issue? The staff & service personnel of Qatar Airways seem not to care.
Add to this Doha Airport is one of the world's ugliest. The long bus ride from aircraft to terminal drives along a fortified perimeter fence. Welcome to Doha prison camp! We're finally released to a boxy crowded transit terminal with no character other than being noisy, disordered and unfriendly.
There were assorted shortcomings, but a key problem stemmed from a breakdown in their electrical system; I had to sit in the dark for my eight hour forty minute flight (8hr 40min). This was a business trip, and I'd planned to read & work, which was impossible. Worse, the flight crew could not assist, seemed unconcerned, and subsequent email to corporate complaints were shunted or belittled. (I was told they'd try to make sure the equipment worked on my return).
But what causes such an electrical fault? (My bank of seats and that in front of me were inoperable). Perhaps a rat inside the plane is gnawing at the equipment - next to go will be hydraulics and key avionics... Is this a major safety issue? The staff & service personnel of Qatar Airways seem not to care.
Add to this Doha Airport is one of the world's ugliest. The long bus ride from aircraft to terminal drives along a fortified perimeter fence. Welcome to Doha prison camp! We're finally released to a boxy crowded transit terminal with no character other than being noisy, disordered and unfriendly.
Qatar Airways offers 2 Star Service, 3 Star Marketing
Avoid !
Friday, January 11, 2013
Idle Threat?
Idle No More is a grass-roots effort by indigenous people to assert their sovereignty. The movement was begun in Canada in response to provocation by corporate & foreign efforts to destabilize indigenous communities. Robber interests continue generations of abuse, neglect & outsider-directed exploitation, colonization & genocide.
It's difficult to ascertain how far the effort will carry, but indigenous people worldwide are inspired and moved to action.
And of course these efforts will systematically be demonized by corporate media...
It's difficult to ascertain how far the effort will carry, but indigenous people worldwide are inspired and moved to action.
And of course these efforts will systematically be demonized by corporate media...
Friday, January 04, 2013
Broken Time Warner Cable
The recent sale of Current TV shows American corporate media weakness. Time Warner Cable decided to censor the new owners immediately, and dropped the channel from those offered subscribers.
It seems Time Warner Cable carries only mainstream programming. Dumb customers are billed forever by the huge corporation. The corporate businessmen impose a "great firewall" and media censorship. Do you need their force-fed bullshit?
Time Warner Cable is broken. Their many commercials depict friendly community-oriented diversity, while programming is corporate & fascist. Time Warner Cable is not a provider but a censor. If you can switch providers, do it now.
It seems Time Warner Cable carries only mainstream programming. Dumb customers are billed forever by the huge corporation. The corporate businessmen impose a "great firewall" and media censorship. Do you need their force-fed bullshit?
Time Warner Cable is broken. Their many commercials depict friendly community-oriented diversity, while programming is corporate & fascist. Time Warner Cable is not a provider but a censor. If you can switch providers, do it now.
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Happy 2013
Another year finished, a new one begun.
Perhaps this year we can enjoy development of more progressive communities. It may be too much to expect the huge nations to suddenly improve, but hopefully we can generate more dynamic networks & neighborhoods, even if small...
Happy New Year!
Perhaps this year we can enjoy development of more progressive communities. It may be too much to expect the huge nations to suddenly improve, but hopefully we can generate more dynamic networks & neighborhoods, even if small...
Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Tyrant John Kerry
John Kerry and a sinister gang of American politicians have trashed the US Constitution they swore to defend. The FISA Amendments Act allows almost unlimited government spying with no oversight or accountability. The US government and a handful of subordinate regimes are detaining people indefinitely without charge or trial. Torture & summary execution threaten everyone anywhere at any time. These acts are wrong.
John Kerry survived the horrors of the illegal war waged in Vietnam & surrounding nations. His antiwar activism helped end the killing. But he's now befriended the tyrant class. Judas John Kerry enjoys a fancy payoff...
John Kerry survived the horrors of the illegal war waged in Vietnam & surrounding nations. His antiwar activism helped end the killing. But he's now befriended the tyrant class. Judas John Kerry enjoys a fancy payoff...
Votes for & against America
The FISA Amendments Act allows almost unlimited government spying with
no oversight or accountability. The government also continues to detain
people without charge or trial. These acts are wrong.
Many chances to better balance FISA were all defeated in the US Senate. The YEAs vote for totalitarian powers -- Fascist USA.
-----------------------------------------
H.R. 5949 - FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012
A bill to extend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 for five years.
Many chances to better balance FISA were all defeated in the US Senate. The YEAs vote for totalitarian powers -- Fascist USA.
-----------------------------------------
H.R. 5949 - FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012
A bill to extend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 for five years.
| YEAs ---73 | ||
| Alexander (R-TN) Ayotte (R-NH) Barrasso (R-WY) Bennet (D-CO) Blumenthal (D-CT) Blunt (R-MO) Boozman (R-AR) Brown (R-MA) Burr (R-NC) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Chambliss (R-GA) Coats (R-IN) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID) Enzi (R-WY) Feinstein (D-CA) Gillibrand (D-NY) Graham (R-SC) | Grassley (R-IA) Hagan (D-NC) Hatch (R-UT) Heller (R-NV) Hoeven (R-ND) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Johnson (D-SD) Johnson (R-WI) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Kyl (R-AZ) Landrieu (D-LA) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lugar (R-IN) Manchin (D-WV) McCain (R-AZ) McCaskill (D-MO) McConnell (R-KY) Mikulski (D-MD) Moran (R-KS) | Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Portman (R-OH) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Rockefeller (D-WV) Rubio (R-FL) Schumer (D-NY) Sessions (R-AL) Shaheen (D-NH) Shelby (R-AL) Snowe (R-ME) Stabenow (D-MI) Thune (R-SD) Toomey (R-PA) Vitter (R-LA) Warner (D-VA) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wicker (R-MS) |
| NAYs ---23 | ||
| Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Begich (D-AK) Bingaman (D-NM) Brown (D-OH) Cantwell (D-WA) Coons (D-DE) Durbin (D-IL) | Franken (D-MN) Harkin (D-IA) Leahy (D-VT) Lee (R-UT) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) | Paul (R-KY) Sanders (I-VT) Schatz (D-HI) Tester (D-MT) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Wyden (D-OR) |
| Not Voting - 4 | ||
| Boxer (D-CA) DeMint (R-SC) | Kirk (R-IL) Lautenberg (D-NJ) | |
Senior Power
As President Obama and the Republican Party conspire to cut Social Security payments, America's senior citizens should pledge never to vote a Democrat or Republican into national office.
Those who aspire to retired life might make a similar vow.
Professional politicians have ruined countless lives, swindled their constituencies, sold-out the nation. These lying scheming scum should be held accountable.
Those who aspire to retired life might make a similar vow.
Professional politicians have ruined countless lives, swindled their constituencies, sold-out the nation. These lying scheming scum should be held accountable.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
TEPCO Trouble
The Japanese people are being held to ransom by TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company -- the mismanagers responsible for the Fukushima nuclear meltdown.
The firm paid dividends until the accident, and refused to clawback previous dividend outlays when it was clear TEPCO could not pay disaster costs. Typical of the worst scummy big business, they've forced the public to pay.
In addition their operations have poisoned land & sea. Both the natural world and human lives are damaged, in some cases beyond repair. Jerks. Others elsewhere must learn from Japan's disaster and hold developers responsible for their operations.
The firm paid dividends until the accident, and refused to clawback previous dividend outlays when it was clear TEPCO could not pay disaster costs. Typical of the worst scummy big business, they've forced the public to pay.
In addition their operations have poisoned land & sea. Both the natural world and human lives are damaged, in some cases beyond repair. Jerks. Others elsewhere must learn from Japan's disaster and hold developers responsible for their operations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
