Round Up

Round Up Had a protected period without sleep yesterday and got to the point where I found EVERYTHING funny. Got to thinking along the lines of: if nobody’s really who they say they are (I’m talking in politics, in media representation and in terms of on-line identities, who are all the players *really*. Finding out that Carl Bildt was involved in Gazprom and some other Russian company really threw a bucket of cold water on my recent Russia hero worship. The severed head blunder's also put me off war and politics to a degree. I’ve seen photos and video of the horrific civilian deaths through exposure on-line. But because I don’t go out of my way to find gruesome photos and videos, I’ve probably been buffered from the rest of the horrors -- and certainly when it comes to defender casualties. Saw a video of an independence supporter burying what was left of his commander.  Looked like a rocket fire direct hit.  All that was left was a charred thigh bone. Right now I'm in major downer mode.  Same old crap.  It's like Groundhog Day in this house.  It's like I've died and gone to hell. Found the "John McCain's Angry Song" on YouTube.  Amused me briefly.  One of the strong Novoroissya supporters on-line just messaged that the source of the severed heads image is difficult to ascertain, so maybe my challenge about the source wasn't so crazy and out of line.  Philip Hammond was quoted as saying the British executioner is 'nominally British' but 'sharing none of our values'.  Struck me as a rather undiplomatic remark, simply because I perceive the British population as inhomogeneous.  Many would be 'nominally British' but it's debateable how 'British' or 'shared' the values may be.  Jumped in with a remark along those lines, only to find myself stepping on an 'undiplomatic' kind of banana peel.  Waiting for followers to jump ship or for trolls to abuse me for seeing things that way. The severed head debate continues (third parties, I'm staying out of it):  better safe than sorry was the verdict.  Fair enough, if the source cannot be established without doubt.  One of the more interesting things that cropped up: G/Trans: "Bildt is corrupt, says Georgi Chaindrava, ex-minister of 'Saakasjvili regeringen'" [ Wikipedia - ie. Saakashvili's government - Mikheil Saakashvili, 2008-2013 Pres. Georgia, UNP - centre right> Bloodless Rose Revolution] [Related to Bildt's role as then President of KREAB, Swedish communication consultancy. Sounds like a PR or lobbying organisation(?) - large] G/Trans: "the regime's "story would be told in the media in a way that was good" [would perhaps indicate a PR firm] G/Trans: "Bildt has also extensively supported Mikhail Saakashvili. After the Swedish ambassador Hans-Gunnar Adén reported suspected vote-rigging in 2008, he was sent home. Bildt blogged "The result of the election can not be put in question." Later reported international election observers in consensus with Aden, that irregularities occurred during the election." Source: http://goo.gl/efM7cc - Aftobladet article - #carlbildt #Georgia I think the article's in Swedish and it's been Google translated.  To read it in full, follow the link and copy into Google Translate field. Article goes on to allege political corruption and bribery that I couldn't quite follow.  An interesting little morsel nonetheless. France: #France - PM Manuel Valls's govt - resignation: Thomas Thévenoud minister foreign trade/tourism >> http://goo.gl/Yy5RCv  >Matthias Fekl [new appointment] Matthias Fekl - French-German ancestry. Lawyer. Wikipedia trans - http://goo.gl/0Oy6F9  - CBC, Citiz. Socialst Group Pursuing my politics interest under a bit of pressure right now, so I'm not fully focused. Got an 'every time you touch that computer, I hate your guts".  Not exactly conductive to focusing and thinking clearly.  LOL. Been hours now and the same drunken crap continues sporadically.  Stomach hurts.  Now it's evolved to an attack on my wrinkles.  Followed by an attack on foreign countries, my 'hypocrisy' -- and assertions I should move to where they have no freedoms. Finally, I get a:  "I'm going to switch the internet off."  Good.  Move out while you're at it.  Offer declined. Strung out.  Not likely to get much news watching covered.

A Post About Nothing

A post about nothing Starting to zone out staring at a stream of mesmerising updates on the 'puter.  So I'm probably part-sleeping as I read.  It's oddly soothing to be between wakefulness and sleep, staring at this inanimate thing as it turns over information.  A ticking, prolific information-clock that is both time and clock -- sometimes throwing up the most surprising (or shocking) and random things. Moving on ... Politics -- even if confined in one region -- is tricky to watch well. For example, when looking at the Novorossiya conflict, I'd completely forgotten about the national big business interests in the region that also have a stake in what's going on. It's unclear to me who all the local business players are and what parts they play, or what connections (national & foreign) they may have. Right now, I'm like a juggler that's focused on this ball, or that ball, as the reason for whatever conclusion I happen to draw at the time of meeting some piece of information, rather than drawing conclusions that take into account the many elements simultaneously in operation. Perspective needs adjustment.  I'm near-sighted.  Putin & Poroshenko have already discussed steps towards negotiating a ceasefire between the independence supporters and Kiev.  The talks were to continue and presumably they're still on the agenda, but there's been no further word. What's happened in the meantime is that the fake ceasefire the Ukrainians sought (and broke) has given them an opportunity to regroup, resupply and so on.  Furthermore, the Novorossiya side released 1,000 captured personnel.  So that's 1,000 released men Novorossiya will have to overcome again, when these men join their own ranks to resume fighting. The NATO forces are doing the Black Sea thing.  Russia's hooking up with China and others for a summit, which is seen by some as a counter-balance to NATO. Talk of Russia intending to negotiate trading grain for oil from Iran.  Doesn't mean much to me.  It's just a snippet of information that came to mind. The French have been pressured into blocking the Mistral delivery due to Russia at the end of this year, and they're making out like they're deferring decision-making until October, I think it was.  So they're just stringing it out.  The guess is they're not delivering.  Hope Russians sue the culottes off them in due course, and I hope their arms trade drops because they're clearly dishonourable and unreliable if they do bow to pressure and dishonour the agreement.  French arms trade has been doing well this past year.  Particulars are:  sales up 43 % 2013 @$8.84 billion.  Economy's not doing so well.  Hollande is also reportedly in danger of losing office, in due course.  Popularity score is something like 13% and right wingers are gaining ground.   It stands to reason Hollande's government would be unpopular, when he's slashing and selling, and cutting back services, while giving companies tax breaks.   By the time I'm over sifting through information that catches my attention during the course of my online travels, I'm 'over' information and couldn't be bothered regurgitating.  So this won't grow into a riveting political blog.  Turning into more of a boring, personal comment about nothing -- the Seinfeld of political blogging (minus the laughs).

Latest

The Latest Looks like Novorossiya's been won. Ceasefire at the moment. But it could be some dirty trick, judging by Ukraine government past lies and underhand manoeuvres. All those people killed when they could have just accepted the south going its own way. The conflict coming to a close should curb my Twitter mania somewhat.   Keeping up with all the other news I'd like to keep tabs on is impossible for one person. To do the US justice, you'd have to keep tabs on what's going on in 50 states -- or figure out if there's key states to watch. And then there's the various European players, India, China, the Middle East, Japan and so on. It's a massive amount of information to cover and there's no way of closely following things as a whole, but it's politics on a global scale that interests me. Maybe you just have to be satisfied with snippets from here and there until you build a picture to work from. Been overdoing it, I think.  Really stuffed. If you want to lose weight get an internet mania happening.  The weight loss is good, but keeping weird vampire hours is likely to become a problem. Nothing really stands out as a big news item.   Netherlands, Germany and Italy do a lot of trade with Indonesia -- or it seems a lot to me. Obama's deferring dealing with the immigration until after the election, so the Democrats don't upset pro-immigration voters. Can't think. I can hardly keep my eyes open.  Need to crash.

Summary

A FEW TWEETS ... of what caught my attention #EU #OSCE concern re 'aggressive nationalism' in EU - Ukr + Western Eu ('intolerance').. resolution Ukr a priority >> http://goo.gl/lwGs0i ie. Nationalism deemed an issue in Ukraine and in Western Europe.  Preaching tolerance agenda. #UKRAINE - dissolution parliament decree signed by #POROSHENKO > new elections - 26th October 2014  - I'm guessing this is strategic move to stall for time or something. "Russia relies LESS on imports from the countries it is feuding with than they rely on exports to #Russia" [QZ] >>> Whose idea: sanctions? #EU combined economy near 8x bigger than #Russia econ. B/c EU act as bloc, hard to pick individual countries 4 targeted embargo ..EU bullies #USA does not export much to #Russia ... so farmers, economy  etc in Europe take the hit for USA >  #EU in op. for US interests ... LMAO! #NORWAY - "Russia food ban blocked 3/4 Norway exports comprising almost entirely of FISH" - oops.  That's cost of being  #EU + #US puppet "#Canada—meat and fish are the second- and fourth-largest Canadian exports to Russia" - oops.  Russian bans = price of being US province. #Russia - reliant import> fur-skin clothing; wallpaper & tea.  Doesn't look too critical for Russia on the import side of things. Ppl analysing trade in corn & wheat [Thu. release of export bookings 4 indicator of demand] > then gamble $$ weird> http://goo.gl/RAlfjv #Iraq - US interest in Iraqi Kurds looks like interest in crude oil - Kurds working to quadruple capacity export >> http://www.futuresmag.com/2014/08/25/bulls-run-from-crude … -        Libya & Iraq output flooding crude market >> crude oil prices lowered >> refineries in US schedule Sept/Oct - good timing -        Is it cynical to believe that all of this is about crude oil & MONEY and that the timing of the galvanising events is sus? -    Libya & Iraq > EIA forecasts US production > 9.28 million barrels a day 2015, the highest annual average since 1972. *SICK* #tonyabbot #auspol - $13mil to Islamic youth education/jobs > extremism deterrents >> http://goo.gl/IE8yUe  - $630 million set c/terrorism -        Libya & Iraq > EIA forecasts US production > 9.28 million barrels a day 2015, the highest annual average since 1972. #USA S&P 500 Index highest in 6yrs - significance psychological - gains largely benefited wealthier Americans> http://goo.gl/qDTfvG Ø     US services sector and the housing market below forecasts > but on growth path - ECB optimism “crumbling” > growth deceleration>IMF want German role in EU growth recovery by  increasing wages> (How help?) - ECB optimism “crumbling” > growth deceleration>IMF want German role in EU growth recovery by increasing wages> (How help?) #Germany > looks to remain tight-fisted > Germany + Spain for AUSTERITY, despite French spitting dummy > http://goo.gl/VMiKS2 #ITALY also whining against AUSTERITY > Germany not stimulating EU economy leaves the strugglers in EU in the lurch. That S&P Index high in #USA is on speculation of ECB in #EU going into QE (stimulus buy-ups) >> http://goo.gl/bFLDrt #EU - the French fallout is part of WIDER EU debate re soundness AUSTERITY policy @ time Eurozone is flat-lining >> http://goo.gl/GMC7IE #UKRAINE - #Poroshenko consults w/ #Merkel re Rada dissolution + Minsk. Ummm, why? http://goo.gl/V4U228  > Is Germany running Ukr? - A stall manoeuvre w/ eye to beat E.Ukr? And/or shape choice of forum for settlement etc? Bet dissolution is #USA propelled. "1991 President Bush and Gorbachev declared a US-Russian strategic partnership" >> in 2014 OBAMA DECLARED STRATEGIC #NATO OCCUPATION EU #France - Hollande strife? Trying to silence his lefties might backfire...http://goo.gl/j65qRq  on him (his public support tenuous). #SPAIN -- Mayor of El Coronil (near Seville) >> receives death threats over jihadi Twitter remark >>> http://goo.gl/rXML59 #SPAIN - Olive prices on the rise due to drought / crop 40% down >> Sp. supplies 50% world's o/oil >> http://goo.gl/yJJxtc  > Noooo!!! #CFR Council on Foreign Relations >> "Why is Ukraine in Crisis?" ... Surely, they jest! #UKRAINE #OBAMA #NATO >Internat. Sec. Assist Force >> Grl John F. Campbell TAKES OVER #Afghanistan Command (f: Grl Joseph F. Dunford (now US MARINES corps)) ....................................................................................... Iraq, in my opinion, is about crude oil first and foremost.  Correction.  *Only* about crude oil.  I firmly believe that.  When the penny dropped I felt as if I'd discovered oil.  It was visceral.  Things might hot up in Iraq, as there's a new appointment and he's had Iraq and other operations experience and a long career.  Didn't check his predecessor's experience, so not sure. Really ought to expand on that and on the 'counter-terrorism' expenditure highlighted, but I'm just too wiped out to focus any more.   Will just say, that I connect the counter-terrorism expenditure in this way:  big business is interfering and manipulating o/seas for big bucks -- it's changing the course of countries' histories etc & people's lives.  It's doing so for nothing but corporate enrichment.  So the government, as I see it, serves corporations instead of people. There's no ideals here.  It's not about ideals. It's not about aid.  It's not about justice.  It's none of the crap that we're fed in the papers, in other media or at the movies.  It's MONEY pure and simple.  While budgets are being cut and everyday people are missing out in Australia, the government is shelling out over $600m on counter-terrorism that CORPORATIONS (and the governments that serve them) are responsible for CREATING, in the first place.  As it is a a consequence of intervention in foreign countries (for profit), why aren't the corporations paying for that directly instead of allowing the average man to take the hit (ie.  less resources available for the citizens).  Average guy (and not the oil profiteer) will also take a hit if it comes down to troops on the ground. Why don't governments just come out and SAY:  we're going in here (or there) because we want resources and money.  Why lie about it?  Why make out it's something it's not? Speaking of money, where is it?  Fortunes have been made (and empires have won over and over again) by imperialists of one kind or another.  Imperialists of yesteryear and corporate imperialists of today).   But where's the money?  I think people are entitled to ask.  People die for these imperialist wars. But Average Joe doesn't get a cut of the action ... and, at the end of the day, Average Joe is the one who'll take up a gun and fight the dirty oil wars. Didn't cover as much ground as I would have liked to today.  But I figure if I learn one or two new things a day, every little bit helps to gradually build the big picture.  What for?  No idea.  Just a challenge, I guess. *excuse typos.  *tired.  #on last legs. PS Don't you just hate it when ppl drop out of following on Twitter and you're left wondering "Did I say something offensive?"  Of course, it could be a drop-out for any reason:  like boring feed or not getting an expected follow-back (I'm not going crazy on the follow-back).