Thursday, December 31, 2009

Change to a Community Bank - UPDATE

MOVE THAT STASH O CASH

Looks like there's a link through MoveYourMoney.Info's site to search for a community bank by zip code. There is also a link on their webpage (at the bottom of the webpage) to look for credit unions.

My strategy is to keep a little in the big bank for ATM access (locations) and move the long term deposits to my credit union.

[LINK] Search for community banks and credit unions by zipcode

Robert Newman: Standup Comedy on The History of Oil

HISTORY IS: WAR FOR NATURAL RESOURCES

Only time changes. Motivations do not. History keep repeating itself in forms of newer and newer empires.

Robert Newman points out that WWI started because of Iraqi oil. In the early 2th century, a switch was being made fom coal to oil. Germany was building a railroad to Iraq to access the oil since Germany's colonies did not have oil. Furthermore, Germany was more technologically advanced than Britian. Britian had to put a stop to this.

Great stand up comedy by Robert Newman! It was performed in 2006 in a UK theatre.

[Google Video] Robert Newman on The History of Oil

Change to a Community Bank

RESIST DERIVATIVES AND CDOs

This video has been going around. Let's get back to integrity and decency. It's all around you but you have to seek it and engage it. That goes with any investments, not just consumption.

Remember to be careful about who you want to make rich. Money in the wrong hands is bad news. Give money only to those that think about others. Let's get away from the lowest price model and go to a lowest cost to society model.

One more thing, buy from local farmers at farmers markets. Locations are available at www.localharvest.org.

[Youtube] Let's get back to cummunity banking

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Obama's War: Afghanistan No End in Sight

VIETNAM QUAGMIRE

Secure those Central Asian Oil Fields! The CIA and central Afghanistan government needs those funds from the poppies. Those that believe go fight the war. Once there, they must rationalize, because to see it from the enemy's perspective would dissolve through the whole matrix. We are all in the matrix. Some dare take the red pill.

War cannot bring peace.

[Video] Afghanistan: No End in Sight

Monday, December 28, 2009

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - A Christmas Peace Sermon 1967

PEACE

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is as relavant as he was back in 1967. Only the dates change. The wars continue on. Dividing peoples across the world. Terrible means such as torture, war, economic bubbles, mainstream propaganda, bailouts, slave labor, legislation to enhance corporate profits are invoked to justify an end which is endless consumerism. How can violent means lead to a peaceful end?

Terrorize profits of a few and become an enemy of the state.

[MP3] Dr. Martin Luther King Jr - Peace this Christmas

Friday, December 25, 2009

Back from Vegas!

A week of almost no internet access! I feel refreshed. Here's the rundown:

Food
First morning out we hit the Original Pancake House. I THINK the prices are cheaper at the Decatur location vs. the Green Valley Ranch casino location. I've been to both and that's my impression. I could be wrong however. The only good thing about the Green Valley Ranch casino location is it's open until 8pm vs. 3pm and it's a fancier place, although you pay a bit more for that luxury. Anyways, we share a veggie omelette with crusted cheese, french bread which for some reason wasn't that great since they used a sliced baguette roll instead of sliced bread, and thin Swedish pancakes which I greatly liked, and regular round pancakes. The juices are fresh and real. Everybody had large orange juice while I had the tomato juice which tasted like an unsalted, uncommercialized V8. On my previous trips, I;ve had I've had the eggs benedict (you get two) which are quite good. I've tried the apple pancake, which I think of a big round apple cinnamon cake, and the dutch pancake, which I think of as a sugared lemon pie with a thin lemon jelly layer inside on top of a thin crust.

So anyways, most days, I was dragging my American Casino Guide chock full of coupons around. I felt cheesy cheap walking around with a coupon book, at least in front of staff and visitors that recognize that book. That dang thing is nearly useless if you are by yourself and looking for lunch. The prime rib / ribeye $7.99 deals are not served until 4pm. The steakhouse at El Cortez (I had a 50% off coupon) doesn't open til 4pm. I found out the hard way that day by visiting downtown at 1pm Tuesday.

AND WHEN YOU GET OUT OF THE 7/8/9PM SHOWS, THE BUFFETS CLOSE AT 9PM AND EL CORTEZ STEAKHOUSE CLOSE AT 10PM!! I tell you, you can either eat or watch shows but not both on the same day! And when I did show up to The Orleans at 6pm for a quick dinner (my show was at 8pm), there was a huge line Tuesday! Half off senior day Tuesday! So I got back in the car and headed for the show. That night I hit the Grand Lux cafe in the Venetian. Since it was after midnight, they didn't serve the salad with the nuts and pears. Grrr!! Plus they were out of chicken for the night so I asked them to check if the Palazzo had chicken and the full menu. The did so I walked over there only to find out they didn't serve the full menu. Oh well. I had the salad with corn, half of which I ate the next evening. The salad had good bbq type dressing and crunch tortilla strips which made the salad entertaining. It still couldn't beat Trader Joe's though.

Next day, which was Wednesday, I figured I didn't want to starve again, plus I was sick of eating breakfast type food, plus I wanted something of good quality, so I hop out of bed early and try to hit the $18.95 Wynn breakfast before 11am. I make it there at 10:15am to find out the sons of bitches jacked up the buffet to $38 for a brunch for the whole two weeks around the holidays. Grrrr! So I call Bellagio and confirm their breakfast is still $14.95 and haul it down there. The angels are singing all along as I make it around 10:30am to Bellagio. THEN I SEE THE BUFFET LINE AND IT'S HUGE!! Those dang casinos are frequented even during weekdays! So I hang around in the buffet line thinking I can make it before 11am before they change it to lunch pricing. Then the guy behind me starts talking about which is the best buffet and how Bellagio and Wynn have the best buffets and he's eaten at Bellagio numerous times and it's 1 hour to get in from that point in line because the guy in front of me asks him these questions. Grrrr! I get out of there and make my way to Orleans, pissed. It's $7 for breakfast and I have a 50% off coupon. The line is not that big and I'm in for $4! The food aestetics is quite good. I hit all the cheese items like enchiladas, pizza, eggplant parmesan along with some salad type stuff on the first go around. Then I pick up an egg roll and I don't quite remember on the second go. Lastly, I hit the dessert area and pick up a little mousse cup, a slice of chocolate type cake, and some varieties of small pieces of cake. Lastly, I get a few scoops of ice cream which I can't finish. I leave a dollar tip and leave. The food had really good presentation. The food, however, had a bit of additives like shortening. It wasn't as bad as other buffets though. It just wasn't clean food. That night I ate the leftover salad from Grand Cafe Lux.

Next day, Thursday, it was time to head home. I used the 2 for 1 coupon to get 2 grilled veggie panini sandwiches with bell pepper, onion, and slices of bread from San Gennaro Grill which were quite good. Thy came with a big side of french fries. We then headed over to Whole Food where the 215 and 15 meet. That offramp is horrible! It took at least minutes and 5 light changes to make it through the intersection. NO SAMOSAS AT THE WHOLE FOODS HOT BAR! They changed to a christmas menu. No problem, I picked up some spiced and awesome kheer, some potato with sauce type items, some turkey with gravy, some green beans and some delicious bread pudding. Of course things get slightly mixed up in the cardboard container I used. Later, around 3 pm, I ate the food inside the container at Primm Valley, and I must say, THAT WAS THE BEST FOOD I HAD ON THE TRIP!!!

Shows
Here's the rundown of the shows I watched. Once again I got all the tickets from TIX4TONITE:
Amazed - $25 - It was a subpar show at Planet Hollywood. They had 3 performers. One was a juggler. He was funny but the jugging was aobe average but not superb. The second guy was supposed to be a magician but the acts were kiddyish. Not entertaining at all. The last guy was a musician with a guitar that played music in funny ways like singing popluar songs in country, etc.

The Fercos Brothers Untamed Illusions - $53 - What a great show for %$53 at Planet Hollywood! I saw it on opening day and it was great because all the performers put out all their best! There were some hiccups but it came out great! The magic was (almost..) as good as Lance Burton or David Copperfied. The magic included lions, tigers, and panthers. There was a lot of dancing by the 10 or so gal dancers. They had 3 breakdancers. One of the brothers showed us trick juggling. There was a demonstration of the ricochet of 9 bow and arrows. There were a few short films on the brothers and the animals. They perform in the same theatre as America's Got Talent Live. I highly recommend it as it had more variety than a pure magic show!!

Louie Anderson: Larger than Life - $32 - Hilarious and up close! He was funny and he seems like a great down to earth guy. He's easily heckalable, and I think he might actually invite it to break his monotonous performances day in and out. He seemed to encourage audience participation.

Nate Burton - 27 - I had watched him before when he was at Planet Hollywood. He's a much faster paced magician than others and that's what I like. I did notice he didn't turn around the boxes and show the audience like David Copperfield. David Copperfield knows what your suspicions are and cuts you off at the pass by showing you that there's no escape hatches, no hidden chambers, no strings, etc. Anyways, it seemed like Nate did only disappearing/appearing in a box magic tricks, unlike Lance Burton and David Copperfield who also do card tricks, levitation, sleight of hand, etc. Compared to his previous performance, this time around, he cut out a lot of the presentation like arm waving, banging the boxes so they show solid, running around and moving the boxes, etc. It was one act of out hundreds during the year and the repetition will kill the performer eventually. He had a really funny comedian and juggler in between, just like Lance Burton. Overall it's a good show if you want an inexpensive magician with magic.

[Youtube] Louie Anderson (Same exact bits live)


[Youtube] Fercos Brothers


Woah! It took me a whole hour to create this blog entry. I've got to make room for time to work on other things so I won't be blogging for the next few weeks. Take a look at the previous entries in the meanwhile.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Anupam Mishra: Water collecting tecnnology from centuries ago

OLD WAYS MIGHT BE BETTER

The old way of doing things cannot be outdone by grandious, quick fix, ideas of today. Neither can the incompetence or corruption of the distant federal government can truimph over the locals.

Here, Anupam Mishra goes into the technology, construction, and methodology used by the generation of the 1850s to collect, store, and retrieve water in the dry, inhospitable, Rajasthan desert in India.

The central government tried to provide water through a more elaborate, more complicated, more variable way by constructing a aqueduct to deliver water from the faraway Himalayas. It worked great until the desert sands clogged up the waterway.

Small, simple, uncomplicated, and local. Something worth pursuing with electricty. Solar panels and a water heater on the roof on all new homes. Make it a requirement!

[TED] Anupam Mishra: Ancient Wisdom in water management

The Grinch steals Nutty Award from Goldstar.com office

!!!! AN EARLY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY !!!!

THIS YEAR's GRINCH: THAT WALL STREET BANKER

Be on the lookout for The Grinch who stole the Nutty Award (awarded to the best Nutcracker performance in the country) from Goldstar.com's office. You're a mean one Mr. Wall Street Banker ..err.. Mr. Grinch.

[Youtube] The Grinch robs Goldstar blind


And now for that cheesy plug..

You can use Goldstar.com to buy tickets AT HALF PRICE to many local events (in big metro cities) such as plays, shows, sports events, night clubs, attractions, and events. I primarily use them to buy Las Vegas show tickets. It's convenient, easy, and it saves a lot of money! Anyways, sign up to check out what's available in your area! Heck it's free.

If you can sign up with my referal code, I believe I get $1 a ticket credit:
https://www.goldstar.com/join?p=F18175RP

I probably won't be blogging this week. So once again, AN EARLY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY (from a nonpracticing Hindu :p) and may those LED lights burn bright!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

John Perkins: Hookwinked Tour plus Q&A 11-18-2009

MUTINY and DOING ALL THOSE LITTLE THINGS and VIRTUALIZATION

John Perkins is on his Hookwinked book tour. In this interview, he's at the Commonwealth Book Club. There's also a really good Q&A with some really good questions and insight.

I liked the concept of mutiny vs. revolution. Mutiny just sounds easier to accomplish. Maybe we should have a mutiny in DC? Futhermore, there were a lot of questions on what people can do and the answer that was most hinted at (at least from the questioning audience) was changing the politicians or changing the executives at corporations, which are quick solutions. I wish John Perkins had answered changing one's buying habits to all the questions. The smalltime footwork that leads to incremental change is what is needed, not that quick fix. The quick fix will never happen. Change needs to be forced from the bottom with a force of numbers. Let use our passion and talents but all useless if misdirected. We need to do all those little things, the dirty leg work, and do it bottom up.

One more thing, it's amazing how everything's become virtualized. Those concepts and schemes and bits of knowledge that you didn't learn in college seem all virtual. They're hard to see and recognize right away, unless you connect the dots with other things. To really study what's going on you have to see the forest before you see the trees. The bailout is a good example. Once you connect the dots from all the politicians, bankers, the bribe/campaign money, thr revolving door, the bonuses, and all the premeditated subprime planning (years in the making!), you get a clear picture of the players and the master plan.

CLICK THE LINK FOR FULL VIDEO

[Fora TV]John Perkins: Hookwinked Book Tour 11-18-2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Generosity Gets Out of Control at a Philly Diner

WHAT'S THE POINT?

This is incredible.. Just as I finish the other two blog entries, I run into this! So I have to come back and blog about it since it is so fitting with today's theme.

What's the point of saving that $10-$20? Experiment. Do something unique and crazy with it. That economics book will tell you its foolish to lose $10-$20 and gain nothing.

So someone anonymous decides to pay another party's bill at a diner. Generosity ensues for the next few hours. I bet it was one of the more exciting and fulfilling days for the guests and workers there. Can't work and play be like this everyday?

[Video + Article] Generosity Chain Reaction

Afghanistan: A contrast of cultures

WHAT'S THE POINT?

You know, most of the world isn't CIA like. People around the world have no desire to come up with Tom Clancy like plots. Most people just want to live and enjoy their lives. They ask, what's the point of working and not enjoying what rest of life has to offer? Aren't there enjoyable experiences to be had? Watch carefully, as this video clearly contrasts people enjoying what they can get out of life vs. those that are miserable, frustrated, and exhausted.

The notion of one upping the other guy is dangerous. It creates enemies. It creates envy. What did Shakespeare say about vices?

I say cooperation is more beneficial than competition. Seek cooperation whenever you can. It comes in forms of friendship, sharing, and caring.

[Youtube] Contrast in Afghanistan
Sorry no embedding is allowed for this video

Leech Jobs

WHAT'S THE POINT?

I had a sense that some jobs like sales, marketing, finance, brokers were comprised of leeching off the hard work of others. What benefit does a Shamwow sale have on society? Next to zero. It actually takes away capital from society, as the product is overpriced and does not perform as advertised. How much does a used car salesman contribute to society when he sells a car for $7,000 instead of $5,000? He's actually taken away $2,000 of money that's hard earned. Real estate agents baffle me, especially for the amount of work they have to do. Did society optimally benefit from the quick bucks from a sale of a house where the buyer wasn't informed of all the hidden problems in the house?

Let's respect those that contribute a lot more to society. Today, we have misplaced our respect. We've grown up believing and valuing what the corporate infrastructure has taught us. We've ignored the rest. Time is the most important commodity, not money. Money comes and goes, time just goes, and you never get it back.

What's the point of accumulating money? You can't take it with you when you die. What's the point of breaking your back on buying something fancy? Is it really worth losing all that time and energy to something that has just as much value as something that costs way less? Did those fancy clothes or toys make you feel better or was there something else you could've worked on to feel even better that would've cost you zero? Did you really spend money during your most memorable moments? And if you had spent a lot of money, would yur memories have been that much better?

You know, 40 years ago, salaries were around $10,000 a year, which is a whole lot less than they are now. Somehow people could afford a house, a car, and some extras in life. There was better food, more trust in strangers, an intact family, a better social fabric, and somehow.. enjoyment.

People didn't have as nice a cars as they do now. Way back when, people walked to work. Or they rode a horse. And I bet the commute was actually less than it is now! You tell me what's really horseshit!

If buying and consuming is everything, then why do donations, volunteering, and goodwill exist? Why do smiles exist if they are not required to make a purchase?

[Article] Careers of Moochers in Society

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Honduras: Validating a Coup thru an Election

THE OKIE DOKIE - SNEAKING IN A PRESIDENTE


Resist now or it'll be much harder to resist later! 90% of the people of Honduras live in poverty and 63% live in abject poverty. 33% of the people show up for the election. That's about right.. About a third of the population leeches off the rest of society through top down (trickle down) economics.

You can thank the School of the Americas. Why go all the way to the Middle East to look for terrorists?

[Youtube] Honduras: Coup de Election

Peter Collett: Body Talk and Power

THE GAME OF POWER AND CONTROL THROUGH SUBTLETIES

Peter Collett analyzes those subtle movements for meaning. Many times they are unconscious but sometimes they're deliberate. Those politicians on a power trip are exposed playing their perverse little games. This is no way to go about and conduct world affairs. Might I say friends don't treat each other like this.

[Youtube] Peter Collett: Body Talk and Power


[Youtube] Peter Collett: Obama's Body Talk

Howard Zinn interview with Bill Moyers 12-11-2009

HOPE CHANGE and DEMOCRACY FROM THE BOTTOM

Howard Zinn shows us examples from times past of real change of the system, real courage standing up against power, and real democracy from people at the bottom. Alas, there is a way out of the present quagmire we find ourselves in!

It seems to me, a terrorist is to be defined throughout history as anybody that threatens the interests of power. What can be more terrorizing to the status quo than the thought that their control and injustice is no more? Hence, s war against terror is really a war against ourselves.


[Video] Howard Zinn interview with PBS's Bill Moyers 12-11-2009

Greg Palast on WTO and CDOs

FREE TRADE CDOs OR BUST!

The bankers have it made. They have the WTO do their dirty work to supercede national laws and make governments impotent. Yes that includes the USA. If Congress decides to reinstate Glass–Steagall, we have have to pay penalties to the WTO!

And those CDOs. Countries are not so dumb to allow them into their borders. Their governments have their hands tied thanks to mastermind Tim Geithner and his gang. If the goverments do not sllow CDOs to flourish, severe trade penalties get erected against them. So much for free trade? Free trade is about dissolving any semblence of civilization (ie. regulation) so that the people at the top are free to loot.

Truth Excavator on the Disquiet Reservations Blog has the Greg Palast videos!

[LINK] Greg Palast on WTO's sham free trade and CDOs (courtesy Disquiet Reservations Blog)

Friday, December 11, 2009

Cindy Sheehan on Obama's Peace Prize

A SLAP IN THE FACE OF PEACE ACTIVISTS

Cindy Sheehan makes some real good points.

"I don't have one enemy in this crowd, or in Iraq, or in Pakistan,or in Afghanistan. Our enemies are the violent extremists in the ruling class" -- Cindy Sheehan


[Youtube] Cindy Sheehan to Obama: How dare you accept the Nobel Peace Prize?

PIC OF THE DAY: Obama's Nobel Peace Prize 12-11-2009

WAR REALLY IS PEACE
... and I have the prize to prove it!

This is off of ronpaulforum.com's Best Pic EVARR thread so I can't take credit for it, but it is worth sharing.

War is Peace

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Charlie and Danny: Lovely Bones Premiere

For those of you that do not follow the cveitch channel on youtube, here's a hilarious appearance by Charlie and Danny at the Lovely Bones Premiere at Leicester Square. Making their way on the red carpet are fim stars, celebrities, and Prince Charles with wife Camilla.

[Youtube] Charlie & Danny being funny at the Lovely Bones Premiere - Part1


[Youtube] Charlie & Danny being funny at the Lovely Bones Premiere - Part2

Max Keiser with Steve Keen 12-09-2009

For those of you not following Max Keiser's blog, Here's one of the funniest episodes he's ever done. He interviews Steve Keen, the Australian economist who called the downturn spot on, on his Keiser Report show. Steve Keen describes the US economy as being run by carpetbaggers.

[Youtube] Max Keiser interviews Steve Keen 12-09-2009

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Dr John Rengen Virapen - pharmaceutical executive & insider speaks up

BAD MEDICINE

Dr. John Rengen Virapen, a former pharmaceutical executive at Eli Lilly and industry insider with over 30 years of experience, speaks out about the misdeeds of the pharmaceutical companies. The speech is conducted at AZK in Germany, the the early part of 2009.

Corruption, data manipulation, salesmen doctors, FDA as a lapdog, mass marketing, and targeting children are some of the topics covered.

He's got a few books out. I believe he's going to release a new one next year. His website is http://www.johnvirapen.com. Another blog has more info and videos: A Phil-for-an-ill Blog

[Youtube] Dr John Rengen Virapen - pharmaceutical executive whistleblower Part 1/4


[Youtube] Dr John Rengen Virapen - pharmaceutical executive whistleblower Part 2/4


[Youtube] Dr John Rengen Virapen - pharmaceutical executive whistleblower Part 3/4


[Youtube] Dr John Rengen Virapen - pharmaceutical executive whistleblower Part 4/4

John Perkins interview with Laura Flanders 11-12-2009

Very good interview from John Perkins on GRITtv with Laura Flanders. One of the best interviews from John Perkins as ideas are laid out clearly and coherently.

[Youtube] John Perkins interview with Laura Flanders (GRITtv) 11-12-2009

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Sibel Edmonds interviews Mizgin Yilmaz 12-04-2009

Sibel Edmonds on her The Boiling Frogs radio show interviews Mizgin Yilmaz.
PODCAST #14

Topics include Turkey, the drug trade, Turkish lobby, Armenian genocide, bad guys moving freely cross borders.

"Mizgin Yilmaz is an analyst and activist who’s been covering the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, including events of concern to the the Human Rights Association (İnsan Hakları Derneği–İHD) in Turkey, the pro-Kurdish DTP (Democratic Society Party/Demokratik Toplum Partisi), and the PKK (Partiya Karkên Kurdistan/Kurdistan Worker’s Party). She is fluent in Turkish, has a BA in history, and since 2005 has maintained a blog focusing on Kurdish issues, the Turkish Deep State, Turkey’s lobby in the US, and related developments and activities in Central Asia."

"Mizgin Yilmaz provides us with an overview and background on the Kurdish Issue in Turkey, the origin of the conflict involving the Kurdish minority and Turkey’s central government, and the status and latest developments on the ‘Kurdish Initiative.’ She describes the depth and reach of the influential Turkish lobby in the United States, which is now ranked as the number one foreign group in spending on lobby activities here. She talks about the Turkish Deep State, Gladio, Grey Wolves and the assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II, Turkey’s status as the top heroin trafficking nation worldwide, Fethullah Gulen’s Islamic movement and its headquarters here in the United States, and more!"

[MP3] Sibel Edmonds interviews Mizgin Yilmaz 12-04-2009

Friday, December 04, 2009

Children of Men - An analysis by Slavoj Zizek

And I thought it was just a boring movie..

It's amazing when a book or movie is analyzed for subplots, hidden meaning, and symbolism. I remember by honors english teacher in 9th grade go over Steinbeck's books explaining all the hidden material. It only manifests itself if someone shows it to you. Even then, it is still lost as I cannot find or relate to the symbols nor the hidden meaning. Furthermore, even what you thought was the jist of the chapter or book wasn't to be. The actual meaning was something else.

[Youtube] Children of Men analyzed by Slavoj Zizek

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Catherine Austin Fitts - Podcast #5 #6 - 12-01-2009 plus Robert Feol

Some really good audio from Catherine Austin Fitts summarizing topics of drug money in the local economy, seeking truth, family banking, fiat assets vs real assets, knowing your local farmers, the popsicle index's influence of real estate values, etc

[MP3] Catherine Austin Fitts - Podcast #5 - 12-01-2009
[MP3] Catherine Austin Fitts - Podcast #6 - 12-01-2009
[MP3[ Catherine Austin Fitts with Robert Feol 10-14-2009

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Obama: Take that to Goldman Sachs

Obama emphatically promises to "take the troops out" during his Presidential Campaign. But he did give great hope!

Obama gets caught with his pants down. The abused wife (the sheeple) is nowhere to beat him with a golf club.

[Youtube] Obama caught with his pants on fire

Monday, November 30, 2009

Land of The Free Movie

Interesting short independant movie about the first day of the second American Revolution, this time against the US federal government. Heck, I've been predicting a Civil War.

[Youtube] Land of The Free Part1


[Youtube] Land of The Free Part2

Catherine Austin Fitt's tapeworm economy

Here's an article outlining Cstherine Austin Fitt's tapeworm economy and how to conspire against it. It's a bit dated (2005) but the concepts haven't changed.

[Article] Catherine Austin Fitt's tapeworm outlined

Rare meteor footage over South Africa 11-21-2009

CCTV video of a spectacular "crap in pants" meteor blowout over Gauteng, South Africa 11-21-2009.

[Youtube] Meteor blowup over South Africa

Selling off a Farm due to low prices

How is it that a farm handed down generations stops being profitable? I keep saying buying something at the lowest price does not mean you got the best deal since you are not comparing oranges to oranges. How can milk produced in a mechanized farm factory be the same as the milk produced on a free roaming family farm? It can't compare in quality and it certainly can't compare on price. How something is produced matters whether it's a milk farm or a plastic toy factory. The consequences catch up with time.

You have been cheated. You've been told that a crop grown on one farm is exactly the same as one grown on a completely different farm. Not only that, but the methods of production and distribution are inconsequential. Based on this logic, all wine should be commoditized and packaged with a private store brand label and sold based on price. So why does wine have farm names and vintage years on them but not fruits and vegetables? Is it because if you commoditize a product it is easier to to securitize and profit off of?

Ideally, the end consumer needs to be tied to the end producer. I envision a system that tracks what farm the product came from based on a barcode or serial number. A person can go to the internet to look up more information on a particular farm. Perhaps one farm produces better quality than another, and in time, demands a higher premium. Just like fair trade, there is a bottom line price that's agreeable to the producer. There is no way an anonymous brand name can produce with a small scale farm. No way. Alas, we will continue to have mass produced junk as long as people are looking at lowest cost methods rather than high quality AND low cost.

At a certain point in time we will reach a point of no return when the small farms will no longer exist to produce. Take it as a security risk. Pay now or pay later.

[Article] Selling the Borland Farm

Saturday, November 28, 2009

A.R. Rahman: Bombay Theme - Played Live in Concert

I will say that the award winning music by A.R. Rahman in the movie Slumlord Millionare wasn't his best. Neither was the plot or acting by the stars in the movie as good as some of their work in some of the Indian Hindi films. Because Slumlord Millionare was produced by Universal and shown widely in U.S. theatres, the people involved were the beneficiary of exposure, and ultimately Oscars and other industry awards.

Anyways, here's A.R. Rahman's Bombay Theme LIVE in Los Angeles and in a hindi movie and in the movie Lord of War:

[Youtube] A.R. Rahman: Bombay Theme LIVE


Here's his music playing the background of the hindi movie Bombay (1995). The scene consists of a riot between Muslims and Hindus.
[Youtube] A.R. Rahman: In 1995 hindi movie Bombay (background music)


[Youtube] Bombay Theme in the wonderful movie Lord of War

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Cindy Sheehan: An interview with Malalai Joya 11-13-2009

A look inside Afghanistan by Malalai Joya

A sad look inside Afghanistan from the lady that stood up in front of a throng of corrupt warlords, politicians, and businessmen who carve out Afghanistan for their own purposes. They are all propped by the US Administration. The casulties are the everyday working people of Afghanistan, for whom, life has become worse than before the invasion.

{Video] Malalai Joya on Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox

Michael Flatley - Lord of the Dance - Victory Feet of Flames in 2006

Great entertaining performance from everyone in Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance. This particular song is Victory Feet of Flames. The year is 2006.

[Youtube] Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance: Victory Feet of Flames

Anuradha Mittal: Global Agriculture 02-26-2004

More from Anuradha Mittal - Global Agriculture 02-26-2004

Going back in time, Anuradha Mittal was the interim Executive Director of Food First. She speaks about "Food Sovereignty and the new Face of Global Agriculture" at Macalester College, St Paul, MN.

Even though this speech is a bit old the statistics are presented are very good. A lot of the speech material has already been covered by other videos on this blog, but this speech puts together everything into one understandable picture.

[Youtube] Anuradha Mittal on Global Agriculture 02-26-2004

Dumpster Diving by Freegans

Here's a clever way to save money on food AND keep food from going to the landfill. And if your food comes from the back of Whole Foods or Trader Joe's you know you're still eating much better than someone who bought unexpired food from Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Food4Less, Smiths, Walmart, etc. I hear TJs and Whole Foods leave their dumpsters open for the very purpose of salvage by these guys.

They're Freegans and they have local groups you can join online to find information on all the local hot spots and what to expect in terms of booty. Dumpster diving will only increase as the recession/depression intensifies.

[Youtube] Dumpster diving by them Freegans

VeggieTrader.com - Buy produce from local homegrowers

I ran across this website today. It's a site that lists local homegrown fruits and vegetables that aew available for purchase or trade. Just make sure your register first because it won't let you search or do anything else unless you do.

It's a great way to circulate currency in the local economy, decentralize, avoid GM crops, and get high quality produce. Who knows, maybe your neighbor has some extras he/she needs to get rid of.

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[Website] VeggieTrader.com

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Lindsey Williams: You have 2 more years 11/2009

Two More Years

You can't say you weren't warned. In two years, America will not be recognizable in two years. You will not be able to afford much of anything. Most everyone will be employed by the government one way or another. A World War with Iran will be in the cards.

These predictions are brought to you by a man who told everyone oil was going to $50 a barrel when it was near $150. His name is Pastor Lindsey Williams.

[Youtube] Lindsey Williams says you have two more years America DVD1


[Youtube] Lindsey Williams says you have two more years America DVD2


[Youtube] Lindsey Williams says you have two more years America DVD3

More from Dennis Kyne and Darrell Anderson

More from Dennis Kyne and his IVAW buddy Darrell Anderson on Iraq and the bad military propaganda and orders coming down from the higher ranks.

[Youtube] More from Dennis Kyne and Darrell Anderson

Anuradha Mittal: The impact of free trade on 3rd world farmers

World Bank and IMF imposing upon a nation rules that favor multinational corporations. Deregulation of necessary laws. Superceding trade rules of a nation. US Subsidies to undermine farmers of poor nations. Biofuels. GM crops. Source of hunger and poverty.

These are some of the topics covered by Anuradha Mittal, Founder of the Oakland Institute, OaklandInstitute.org, on "The Global Justice Movement and the Meltdown of Neoliberalism". The speech is given on October 16, 2009 at the National Lawyers Guild Law for the People 2009 Convention in Seattle.

Anuradha Mittal goes a good job putting all the topics together in one neat package. It's clear to see the problem of hunger isn't supply, but the lack of money to buy that food. It's also easy to see that throwing people off their land destroys more jobs and livelihoods than it creates. But maybe it's all planned that way for control?

[Youtube] Anuradha Mittal on in the impact of managed "free" trade

Mattel CEO apologizes to Chinese Premier for lead paint design defect

Hilarious. Ironic. Never in a million years would I have thought that Mattel would apologize to China for the lead paint fiasco. The lead paint incorporated into the toys was due to a design defect!

If you remember, one of the subcontractors used leaded paint to paint Mattel toys in order to save on costs and increase profits. It turns out it was a subcontractor of a subcontractor.

Mattel got in hot water after it was discovered that the toys had lead. I'm sure Mattel knew about this as they have strict testing procedures such as to test batches of toys to insure their products are up to their rigorous quality standards *sarcasm*.

Implicated for the lead paint fiasco, Lee Der's owner, Cheung Shu-hung, hung himself (or maybe it was homicide?) on the factory floor, even though it was one of his subcontractor's subcontractor that provided the lead colorant. Furthermore, a user comments that a Hong Kong businessman responsible for supplying the leaded colorant to the subcontractor was murdered.

[Youtube] Mattel's CEO apologizes to China for design defect



Let's revisit the fiasco and shed some light with some details:

On Lee Der's owner, Cheung Shu-hung
The story is filled with compelling background, such as this bit about the toymaker's total dedication to his business.

He would normally come to the factory every day with weekends often no exception, said a mid-level manager at Lee Der to Caijing. “He put his whole life into the toy factory. Pretty much all the money he earned over the years he invested back into the factory,” he said.

Cheung had no family. For many years he lived in the Nanhai district of Foshan, practically making the factory his home.


The Rise of a Subcontractor
... the process by which the poisonous paint was sourced (over the internet) and how it slipped by five levels of quality checkpoints.

The story begins back in the 1990s. After getting a certificate of merit by Mattel in 1997, Lee Der's expansion brought on new facilities and increased need for suppliers to deal with the growth in orders:

Lee Der experienced a rapid expansion in the years between 1998 and 1999. In July 2000, Foshan Hengjing Toy Company Ltd., was created as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Lee Der Industrial. Some years later this company leased workshops at the former Foshan Shuaimeng Toy Factory as a production site, meaning that Lee Der Industrial was now running three manufacturing operations in Foshan. Their total number of employees was now over 2,500 and production last year was worth around 200 million. The output volume was by now the second largest of any toy-maker in Foshan, behind only Sino-American Toys.

But at the same time as orders, and the corresponding need for more suppliers, were growing:

The tainted paint had come from Lee Der’s supplier Dongxing, who bought the paint from Dongguan Zhongzin Colorants, a company they had found on the internet.

Dongxing’s boss had been good friends with Cheung for many years, and the small family-run business had supplied colored packaging and cardboard cartons to Lee Der.

Dongxing, founded in 2001, added paint manufacturing to its business ventures in 2002 and began supplying paint to Foshan Lee Der. It had provided Lee Der with five tons of paints and coating that first year.

Many Foshan Lee Der staff said that the growth of Dongxing’s business was thanks to the orders from Foshan Lee Der.


The source of the lead
A representative for one of Mattel’s approved paint suppliers told Caijing that there were only eight companies in China approved by Mattel to supply their toys, and Dongxing was not one of them. Yet Mattel had apparently not noticed the business relationship between Foshan Lee Der and Dongxing, although it had existed for a good four years.

...in early April Dongxing was short of yellow colorant and decided to buy some from a supplier in Guangdong province that they found via the Internet. This supplier, Dongguan Zhongxin Colorants, located in Dongguan city, sent fake paperwork to Dongxing claiming that their yellow colorant was lead-free, a problem Dongxing failed to notice. On April 10, Dongxing bought 500 kilos of colorant from Dongguan Zhongzin.

Lee Der’s management told the media that they decided not to test the colorant they received from Dongxing because they feared the process would hold up production at Lee Der.

Normally, Dongxing would send the colorant to testing agencies in Guangdong, which would take five to 10 days, said the management. Dongxing skipped the testing and around 200 kilos of the tainted colorant was used between April 19 and mid-June.
The change in paint products was noticed by alert employees on the ground (which is a whole lesson in itself):

A former Lee Der paint sprayer said he had observed in April that the paint they were using smelled differently from usual.


The discovery and factory shutdown
In mid-June 2006, testing by Mattel’s labs in China found the problem, and lobbying by the Sierra Club began to put pressure on the toy maker to remove the poisoned toys from store shelves.

As the pressure ratcheted up, Mattel made the recall notice (Aug. 2) for close to a million toys from Foshan Lee Der.

Even despite the massive recall, Mattel was willing to stick it out with Cheung. The article says:

Lee Der had already begun to put its house in order after the recall notice by using a paint supplier approved by Mattel.

And the article goes on to say:
Even on the very day the recall announcement was made, Lee Der had taken a new order from Mattel.

I truly think this is the most frightening thing about the entire story -- Mattel was still placing orders with a company that had just cost it millions of dollars in recall costs, not to mention PR points beyond count.

Ironically, it was the Chinese government (both local and national), and not Mattel, who shut the factory down.

China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced a temporary ban on exports of the company’s products on August 9.
In the days after the scandal broke, the company submitted products for safety inspection on a number of occasions, but the local agency refused to inspect or approve them for distribution.


[Article] How Mattel's subcontractor's subcontractor introduced lead paint

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Dennis Kyne: Depleted Uranium plus a look at war behind the scenes

Dennis Kyne served in the 1991 Persian Gulf war and talks about the lies on why we went to war. He gives first hand accounts of time spent in the Iraqi desert, the effects on physical and mental health during and after war, and the effects of radiation from depleted uranium. He is a member of Veterans Against War.

[Youtube] Dennis Kyne on the 1991 Iraqi War and depleted uranium

Howard Zinn analyzes America's past wars

History as it was never taught!

The Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War II. Three wars that are off limits to any criticism. Howard Zinn analyzes these wars and discovers a not so rosy picture.

For example, there was a conscription (draft) during the Revolutionary War because nobody wanted to fight. The top brass were well paid and ate well while the foot soldiers were starving at times and weren't paid as promised. When they expected and received land for all their troubles they were heavily taxed. Foreclosures followed. Resistance took form in the shape of Shay's Rebellion where groups of people would block the courthouse in order to not allow foreclosure proceedings to occur. The rebellion was put down by a private army hired by the upper crust.

Next year, fearful and wanting to have full control over uprisings and demands produced by the commoners, those in charge met to draft and pass the Constitution, which gave the federal government enough power to suppress the commoners.

Alas, the mythology surrounding the founding fathers is shattered. Those tea parties might not represent what really happened in actuality.

I had a suspicion that the economic, social, and political model we see today, arose from a carefully crafted plan during those early years. It gave rise to a protected power elite which we are dealing with today.

[Youtube] Howard Zinn on America's past wars

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Thomas Friedman eats humble pie

Thomas Friedman - The World Is Flat no wait.. The Brain is Flat

Unlike your friend Greenspan, Thomas Friedman still doesn't think his model has a flaw in it. Besides we've got to go to Iraq because it's for his kids and grandkids and their future.

Anyways, I say Tom should have some humble pie..

Thomas Friedman eats humble pie

Greenspan's flaw

Oldie but a goldie. You can't help but laugh.

Greenspan at last found the flaw in his economic model. He can't say he wasn't warned all these years. He closed his ears off to any criticism and cost the nation only multi-trillions of dollars. And might I ask if any part of the flaw has been fixed so far?

Greenspan's flaw discovered!

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik on Mythology

sI always knew there was more to mythological stories that were told, but didn't quite sense the relevance. I was often irritated and bored by listening to them, especially when going to the temple. This was all due to the storyteller leaving out the hidden meaning and essence of the stories. Instead they were told in a linear, simplistic, manner with disregard towards exposing the significance, intent, and meaning of the tall tales.

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik explains this phenomona and then uncovers some of the lost and hidden relevance to the present.

[Youtube] Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik on the relevance of stories to modern times


[Youtube] TED: Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik: "East or West is India the best" results in conflict

Afghanistan: Malalai Joya is discourteous with the truth

When first casualty is truth.

The US and European backed warlords, politicians, and army are mafia in a distant, harsh, cruel land. Rising out of the dry sands is the dollar army. It involved foreign meddling over decades. What does it look like when the police, army, warlord, the politicians takeover totalitarian power under the veil of democracy.

What happens when someone stands up to speak the truth? Malalai Joya did. She is immediately accused of crossing the "common courtesy line" and is promptly kicked out of the "Assembly". How ironic. What's more offensive? Presence of warlords or the truth critical of those present in the room?

[Youtube] Malalai Joya confronts Afghani warlords with truth

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Entertaining Ice Skating and Ballet

I usually don't care much for ice skating and ballet or gymnastics. I'm not a fan of Cirque du Soleil type shows at all. Five minutes of watching and I'm bored. It's the same thing over and over. Somebody shoot me in the middle of the show! It's like the Grand Canyon.. Five minutes on top scanning the horizon and you are back in the car :). However, these videos caught my attention.

Someone sent me the link to the ice skating performance in my email. It's quite entertaining and unique. It's ice skating and traditional Indian dance combined.

The next video shows amazing balance and strength as the ballerina / gymnast stands on top of her partner's head. She spins and contorts herself in a fantastic display of strength and balance. I bet the guy gelled his hair real good! They are the Great Chinese State Circus performing their unique version of Swank Lake.

I'm starting a new category under the tag Entertainment.

[Youtube] When you combine Ice Skating and Indian Dance


[Youtube] Amazing Ballet and Gymnastics on top of head

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Honduras: 100 Days after the coup by Avi Lewis 11/2009

Coup de tat that ousted Manuel Zelaya a 100 days later.

Resistence is steady and fierce in Honduras. Fault Line's Avi Lewis reports at street level where protestors gather to demand a constitution whilst the police break up the congregations in order that the status quo be maintained.

[Youtube: Honduras 100 days after the coup 11/2009 Part1


[Youtube] Honduras 100 days after the coup 11/2009 Part2

500 Years of Globalisation created the 3rd world

FILM: Challenging 500 Years of Globalisation by French Filmmaker Philippe Diaz

Neocolonialism, using debt to keep the 3rd world impoverished, keeps coveted
natural resources cheap. Unfair trade rules foisted upon these weak nations prop up monopolies and the keep poverty cycle turning.

I stand that these nations were not poor before the arrival of colonies. Poverty is not a natural state of being. Something must constantly upkeep and maintain it.

"To end poverty, you have to know how it began - with globalisation. No, not the 20th century variety engendered by multinationals and their friends at the IMF, World Bank and WTO. They just codified practices that kept developing countries poor.

French Filmmaker Philippe Diaz, in an illuminating documentary opening in New York Friday, traces globalisation back 500 years to the Spanish and Portuguese conquests of the Americas. Diaz shows how the colonial North used the South's resources to build its industrial base and how its continued control over resources, global trade and debt rules prevents developing countries from ending poverty.

For example, Diaz is incredulous that Sachs's book ascribes Bolivia's economic failure to high altitude. He points out that 30 years ago, Sachs advised the Bolivian government to privatise everything, and today the country is essentially owned by foreign corporations.

Abel Mamani, Bolivia's water minister, says in the film, "In the case of railroads, they have practically disappeared since they were privatised. In the east we don't have trains anymore. They have been entirely dismantled."

The filmmaker says that the year "1500 is when everything started, the time where Europe expands outside its borders and takes everything it can from Latin America, Africa, Asia - the land and all the other resources. The moment you take the land away, the only way people can survive is to sell their work for food. You take resources away, you create slavery, poverty."

The film shows how European industrial development was not, as widely asserted, based on the Protestant ethic but on riches accumulated via colonialism.

"How do you think countries [like] Belgium, small countries with no resources, built empires? Existing industries were destroyed, even those of better quality, and colonies were forced to buy manufactured goods and equipment from colonial masters," Diaz told IPS.

Eric Toussaint, head of the Committee for Cancellation of Third World Debt in Belgium, describes in the film how "The Dutch destroyed the Indonesian textile industry and built a textile industry in Holland. Same for ceramics. The textiles and ceramics that we are told are Dutch are in fact made with techniques they took from Indonesia and specifically from Java, brought them back to Holland and built a wealthy industry."

He adds, "In the 18th century the Indian textiles were of a much better quality than those of the British. The British destroyed the Indian textile industry and prevented merchants within the British Empire from importing fabrics and other manufactured products from the colonies."

"Sixty to 80 million still live in slave-like conditions all over the world on plantations and in mines," he explains. "It was the same system, we just changed the tools. We don't have the guns to keep slavery; we have the programmes of the IMF and World Bank, the unfair trade system."

He says ex-colonial powers assured the new countries would be weak and forced to heed the North's demands by saddling them with debt. When countries won independence, debts of colonial powers used to exploit stolen resources were transferred to new governments - though they had never incurred or benefitted from them. This was enforced by the North via the IMF and World Bank.

Toussaint says that the World Bank, in the guise of helping, increased the debt: "Take more loans to build big infrastructure to export your riches." Weakened, countries couldn't escape the colonial trading system.

Take Kenyan coffee. Diaz points out, "The minister of agriculture, Kipruto Arap Kirwa, says in the film that Kenya doesn't have the right to roast its coffee. They are forced to sell their coffee to the North which refines and packages it. It's in the trade agreement with the former colonial power. Today, Germany is the biggest coffee exporter, and it doesn't have a single bush of coffee."

Diaz says, "People never got their land and resources back. We interviewed a general of the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya that threw the British out. He said, 'We were naïve. We thought we would get our land back. The British were better organised, they transferred the land from a white minority to a black minority.'" Liberation leader Jomo Kenyatta became the biggest landowner in Kenya.

Kenyan villagers tell how the Dominion Group of Companies in the U.S., which exports vegetables to the United States, destroyed their livelihoods and health. The company built a dam that overflowed and flooded homes and farms."


[Article] How 500 Years of Globalisation created the 3rd world

Sunday, November 15, 2009

How to get a full body workout from a treadmill

Owned by the treadmill TWICE? The dancer ends up making a treadmill look more intelligent than him, and in the process, earns 15 minutes of fame on Youtube.

[Youtube] Infomercial for a full body workout treadmill

Friday, November 13, 2009

Vincent Bugliosi's The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder

Another good find from the Disquiet Reservations blog. Here's the trailer for Vincent Bugliosi's THE PROSECUTION OF GEORGE W. BUSH FOR MURDER - A FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY PRESENTED BY NAFTC STUDIOS. The film is based on the book, a New York Times hardcover bestseller.

I think Vincent Bugliosi might be a little naive here. The rabbit hole goes deep.

[Link] Trailer of The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder

Richard Belzer's My Wall Street Journal

Here's a hilarious parody of the Wall Street Journal. It's concocted by Richard Belzer. It's $3.95 per issue through Amazon.com.



[Link] Richard Belzer's My Wall Street Journal

[Youtube] Murdoch Freaks Out - www.wsjparody.com

Nomi Prins: Motivations on Wall Street 10-24-2009

Nomi Prins lectures at Saint Francis College, October 24, 2009

Nomi Prins gives us a clearer picture of everyday motivations on Wall Street. Also covered is the fact that the majority of the bank's fluff "assets" are resting on the back of people's promise to pay their loans.

It's scary that corporates have greater power than the Obama and the government. How did it get like this? It's time to resist.

Nomi Prins Wall Street lecture 10-24-2009

Getting to know Larry Summers

Who is Larry Summers? What does he wish for when he blows out the birthday candles? What kind of world does he envision for you, the other inhabitants of this world, and himself? The following is a leaked memo from 1991 when he was the chief economist for the World Bank.

The Memo

DATE: December 12, 1991
TO: Distribution
FR: Lawrence H. Summers
Subject: GEP

'Dirty' Industries: Just between you and me, shouldn't the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]? I can think of three reasons:

1) The measurements of the costs of health impairing pollution depends on the foregone earnings from increased morbidity and mortality. From this point of view a given amount of health impairing pollution should be done in the country with the lowest cost, which will be the country with the lowest wages. I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that.

2) The costs of pollution are likely to be non-linear as the initial increments of pollution probably have very low cost. I've always though that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly UNDER-polluted, their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low compared to Los Angeles or Mexico City. Only the lamentable facts that so much pollution is generated by non-tradable industries (transport, electrical generation) and that the unit transport costs of solid waste are so high prevent world welfare enhancing trade in air pollution and waste.

3) The demand for a clean environment for aesthetic and health reasons is likely to have very high income elasticity. The concern over an agent that causes a one in a million change in the odds of prostrate cancer is obviously going to be much higher in a country where people survive to get prostrate cancer than in a country where under 5 mortality is is 200 per thousand. Also, much of the concern over industrial atmosphere discharge is about visibility impairing particulates. These discharges may have very little direct health impact. Clearly trade in goods that embody aesthetic pollution concerns could be welfare enhancing. While production is mobile the consumption of pretty air is a non-tradable.

The problem with the arguments against all of these proposals for more pollution in LDCs (intrinsic rights to certain goods, moral reasons, social concerns, lack of adequate markets, etc.) could be turned around and used more or less effectively against every Bank proposal for liberalization.

Postscript

After the memo became public in February 1992, Brazil's then-Secretary of the Environment Jose Lutzenburger wrote back to Summers: "Your reasoning is perfectly logical but totally insane... Your thoughts [provide] a concrete example of the unbelievable alienation, reductionist thinking, social ruthlessness and the arrogant ignorance of many conventional 'economists' concerning the nature of the world we live in... If the World Bank keeps you as vice president it will lose all credibility. To me it would confirm what I often said... the best thing that could happen would be for the Bank to disappear." Sadly, Mr. Lutzenburger was fired shortly after writing this letter.

Mr. Summers, on the other hand, was appointed the U.S. Treasury Secretary on July 2nd, 1999, and served through the remainder of the Clinton Admistration. Afterwards, he was named president of Harvard University.


[Article] Larry Summers' dream pockets memo

Richard Belzer on the Howard Stern Show - Hilarious! 10-13-2009

Here's a really funny interview on the Howard Stern Show. It is none other than comedian Richard Belzer. He's been on the show a few times before but this is his funniest appearance.

[Youtube Playlist] Richard Belzer interview with Howard Stern 10-13-2009

Derivatives Math

Ever wonder what complex math Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan use to create and value derivatives? Take a look.

[Youtube] Fuzzy Bailout Math

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Palestinians topple part of the Separation Wall on 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall 11-06-2009

ISRAEL, TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!

Viva la Résistance!

20 years to the date of the fall of the Berlin wall, Palestinian demonstrators toppled part of the 8 meters tall concrete wall in Nilin, Palestine.

"The 300 demonstrators managed to topple a part of the eight meters tall concrete wall that cuts through the village's land. The concrete wall in Ni'ilin - five to eight meters (15 to 25 feet) in high has only recently been laid on the path of the wall cutting through Ni'ilin's lands, in addition to the already existing electronic barrier and razor-wire.

Since the Wall was built to allow more land to annexed to the nearby settlements rather than in a militarily strategic manner, demonstrators have been able to repeatedly dismantle parts of the electronic fence and razor-wire surrounding it. The section of the Wall in Nilin is the only place along the route of the barrier where a concrete wall has been erected in an attempt to deal with the civic, unarmed campaign waged by the village in protest of the massive land theft that will enable the expansion of the illegal settlements of Modi'in Il'it and Hasmonaim.

Since Israel began its construction in the year 2002, This is the first time demonstrators succeed in toppling a part of Israel's barrier which is a concrete wall. One of the demonstrators, Moheeb Khawaja, said during the protest: "Twenty years ago no one had thought the monster that divided Berlin into two could be brought down, but in only two days in November, it did. Today we have proven that this can also be done here and now. It is our land beyond this wall, and we will not give up on it. We will win for a simple reason - justice is on our side."


[Youtube] Palestinians topple part of the Separation wall in Nilin Palestine

Catherine Austin Fitts: The latest on the Tapeworm Economy with Gold Seek's Chris Waltzek 11-10-2009

Lost your bearings? Catherine Austin Fitts will guide you through the rough waters. Look to invest in long term trends. Resist the tapeworm and the 500 year old Economic Warfare Model. Decentralize! All this and more in the interview.

[MP3] Catherine Austin Fitts interview with Gold Seek's Chris Waltzek 11-10-2009

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Comedian Lewis Black: An interview with Bob Schieffer 07-02-2009

I've been posting a lot of comedy lately? That's because all the news just seems like it's in a loop being regurgitated. It's either that or my predictions based on what I know and believe are taming any new news that's being presented to me.

Here's a hilarious interview by Lewis Black, hosted by Bob Schieffer at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

CLICK FULL PROGRAM BUTTON OR VIDEO LINK BELOW TO WATCH THE FULL HOUR

[Fora TV] Lewis Black with Bob Schieffer

Friday, November 06, 2009

Nomi Prins: Another wall street insider

Nomi Prins is another career wall street insider with some hanging guilt. She airs some dirty laundry on GRITtv with Laura Flanders. She has out the book It Takes a Pillage.

Nomi Prins talks about the motivations inside of an investment bank - Part 1


Nomi Prins talks about the motivations inside of an investment bank - Part 2

CFR devises Swine Flu vaccine shortage

Check out the first part of this video. Create shortage so people line up like in front of a restaurant to take the flu shot. Make it so desireable! Man, that lady's evil. This reminds me of the Popeye's chicken sale.

[Youtube] Good ol' CFR plans H1N1 vaccine shortage

Painful OUCH of the week

I haven't been posting lately. I've been busy with other stuff. Anyways, here's the painful OUCH of the week.

[Youtube] Slalom OUUUUCCCH!!

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Lawrence Wilkerson: The End of Empire

Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Colin Powell and holder of many other government positions tells the student audience that the end of Empire is near along with a decline in resources such as oil. With decline the nation call go in one of two directions: 1) with a cooperative blueprint or 2) bloody and ruthless scavenge for natural resources. Shell oil thinks it will go the way of #2. Lawrence Wilkerson also lectures on the empire starting after WWII and that we were forwarned numerous times about what is now the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex.

Instead of me reposting the videos, I will provide a link to the Disquiet Reservations blog whre I saw them originally.

[Link to Videos] Lawrence Wilkerson: Empire End

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Idiotic War on Drugs exposed

Well well well... It turns out Marijuana supplies 60%+ of the profits to those evil drug cartels, making it the most sought after drug to grow and sell. Simple legalization of THIS fairly harmless plant would solve many of our societal and criminal problems!

[Article] The Pathetic War on Marijuana exposed

The History behind Halloween

TRICK OR TREAT!

The history is 2000 years old. The Celtic New Year marked the end of harvest season come October 31 and this was celebrated. The church adopted it and changed it here and there. Then the Irish brought the celebration over in the 1840s during the wave of potato famines. It first started as harmless tricks but it turned to blackmail and extortion in the 1930s. Give them candy or lose your house! I guess to put it in modern context, the homeowner might get threatened with torture?

[Youtube] Halloween in a Historical Context

Ring my Bell: Things are not as they appear

Here's a great example of how things may not be what they appear to be on first glance and that closer inspection and inquiry is necessary.

WARNING: Video APPEARS to contain graphic content. Viewert discretion is advised. Are you over 17 years old? IF not the company a parent or guardian is required. :p

[Youtube] Innocence lost to illusion