US Culture of Secrecy & Security Overreach

Interview with Daniel Ellsberg, re-published on ZNet, by AlJazeera, February 26, 2014.

In 1971, US military analyst Daniel Ellsberg leaked thousands of pages of a top-secret study on the Vietnam War to the American press. The Pentagon Papers, as the leak would come to be called, revealed previously shrouded layers of deception on the part of the US executive branch regarding decades of military involvement in Indochina … // Continuer la lecture de « US Culture of Secrecy & Security Overreach »

Playing Real-Life Monopoly

Published on Counterpunch, by Alfredo Lopez, Feb 25, 2014.

It might seem like a game of Monopoly played by real monopolies and, with a tired groan, one might be tempted to dismiss it as part of an ugly but irreversible trend. But the merger of cable-television mammoth Comcast with its runner-up competitor Time-Warner Cable is a huge piece of news whose outcome, if it goes forward, will be crippling to communications in this country … //

… The courts can stop this merger. Most analysts doubt they will.   Continuer la lecture de « Playing Real-Life Monopoly »

The Murky Politics of the $15 Minimum Wage

Published on Worker’s Action, by Shamus Coke, Feb 24, 2014.

… And although Sawant has been assured by the Seattle mayor that $15 is a done deal, she’s warning the Seattle public otherwise. Sawant recently spoke at a conference organized by the coalition “$15 Now,” and blasted the intrigue of the mayor’s committee set up to implement the new wage. Sawant knows the inner workings of the committee because she’s on it.

Sawant’s speech warned Seattle that the Seattle 1% are plotting a counter-offensive, aimed at undermining $15 by adding a variety of exceptions, loopholes, and extending the implementation time. In response Sawant demanded “$15 now, no exceptions.” The “$15 Now” coalition is staying on the offensive, going into the neighborhoods to ensure that $15 is implemented — they’ve given the Mayor’s committee a deadline and are preparing to organize a ballot initiative if necessary.  Continuer la lecture de « The Murky Politics of the $15 Minimum Wage »

CELAC States: a shining example for the whole world

33 Latin America and Caribbean States  proclaim their region a Zone of Peace – Interview with Prof Dr iur et phil Alfred M. de Zayas, Geneva School of Diplomacy, published on Current Concerns, Feb 20, 2014.

In December 2011, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States / CELAC Communidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños was established. This community comprises 33 American states with the exception of the USA and Canada … //

excerpt: …  Current Concerns: Professor de Zayas, how do you assess the Conference of Celac States 14 days ago in Havana? What results have been worked out by the countries of the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean States?   Continuer la lecture de « CELAC States: a shining example for the whole world »

Banks Are Obsolete: The Entire Parasitic Sector Can Be Eliminated

What else can we do with the $1.25 trillion we’ll save by eliminating these obsolete financial middleman parasites? A lot – Published on Washington’s Blog, by Charles Hush Smith, Feb 21, 2014.

… This entire parasitic middleman sector could be replaced with automated digital clearing houses and crowdfunded or non-bank loans. Why do we need banks to pay bills online? We don’t; any clearing house could charge a small fee for the transaction.

Why do we need banks when loans can be crowdfunded? If we can invest money in start-ups via Kickstarter, Indiegogo, RocketHub, AngelList, etc., why can’t we own a piece of someone’s auto loan or home mortgage?   Continuer la lecture de « Banks Are Obsolete: The Entire Parasitic Sector Can Be Eliminated »

more medieval music

uploaded by Unai Urigoiti-Irizabalbarrena:

uploaded by Caballerito de Arratia:

we in our world

The Secret History of Western Education

Videos with Charlotte T. Iserbyt – The Scientific Destruction of Minds:

Charlotte Thompson Iserbyt served as the head of policy at the Department of Education during the first administration of Ronald Reagan. While working there she discovered a long term strategic plan by the tax exempt foundations to transform America from a nation of rugged individualists and problem solvers to a country of servile, brainwashed minions who simply regurgitate whatever they’re told.  Continuer la lecture de « The Secret History of Western Education »

Alexej von Jawlensky, Gabriele Münter, Wassily Kandinsky – der Blaue Reiter

Find Alexej von Jawlensky:

when Old is leaving, the New is coming

Links:

Sealed files reveal US hunt for WikiLeaks associates, on Russia Today RT, Feb 17, 2014;   Continuer la lecture de « when Old is leaving, the New is coming »