Lemme see here, how is that ‘summer of hell’ meme working out? I mean assuming you’re not in Iran, sneaking a read of this infidel rag while being hunted by “The Butcher” because you got ‘twitted’ into attending a demonstration/confrontation with the existing power structure there.
Please note, linguistically that in the West, the Iranian situation is described as a ‘protest’ as in “Security forces attack Iran protesters.“ On the other hand, in the JPost this morning we see the headline that “Khatami calls for harsh punishment of riot leaders“.
Seems to me if I were spinning in favor of something, I’d call Iranian participants ‘protesters’. Neutrality might warrant calling them ‘rioting’ and outright opposition might use a term like ‘revolutionaries’. See how easy it is to read this stuff? Wonder why the MSM (MainStreamMedia) doesn’t have the goanies to mention this?
—-
I see this morning where Time Magazine is reporting on “The Honduran Coup: How should the U.S. Respond?“
Let me help, if I may. I can squeeze a three-minute strategic consultation in this morning, if anyone at State is interested…
First, a check of the CIA World Fact Book, the indispensible source for responsible capitalists like me:
Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, has an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and high unemployment. The economy relies heavily on a narrow range of exports, notably bananas and coffee, making it vulnerable to natural disasters and shifts in commodity prices; however, investments in the maquila and non-traditional export sectors are slowly diversifying the economy. Economic growth remains dependent on the US economy its largest trading partner, and will decline in 2009 as a result of reduction in export demand and tightening global credit markets. Remittances represent over a quarter of GDP or nearly three-quarters of exports. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) came into force in 2006 and has helped foster investment. Despite improvements in tax collections, the government’s fiscal deficit is growing due to increases in current expenditures and financial losses from the state energy and telephone companies.
Next we summarize: poor country based on bananas and coffee plus “maquila” (sweat shops for Nortes would be closer, but not PC to the democons).
Nope, nothing there worth invading over, so pocket the purple finger plans and stick to jaw-boning and let’s keep our focus on countries which are either key pipeline routes with drugs galore r massive oil deposits. The banksters will end up with Honduras in time, and we’ll set off an engineered bio bomb down the road a bit to thin down the herd there. If you live in Honduras, might want to keep your distance from hogs and hens the rest of the year, just to be safe.
Think I’m kidding?
—
Some ‘riot-lite’ activity in India this morning over power and water woes.
—
Riots is Israel over the Sabbath opening of a parking lot.
—
Prison riot injures 7 at Pelican Bay State Prison in northern California.
—
—
Markets likely to open higher, end lower this week – that according to my blindfolded dart throw of the week. Data coming could be a bumming. Not only that but it’s….
California to the Wall Week
Lots more to discuss in today’s “Coping” section (below) but here’s a perfect example of how the Federal government is participating in the screwing of California.
Headline: “Air Force tests fires missile from Calif coast.”
Perfect example of how fast federal money is leaving the state – which wouldn’t have a budget crisis if 100-cents of federal tax money came back to jobs and services within the Golden State. But no, only 94-cents on the dollar. Compared with many more republicorp suck-em-up states getting more than their tribute to Uncle back… Seems like a violation of equal protection to me, but who asked?
Howdy Flu-dee
With some reports out this week that the ‘swine’/hybrid flu may have already infected over a million, two developments. First, the US case count is at 27,717 building toward some magical number when the flu makers…I mean vaccine makers…will twist the arms of folks in power to demand mandatory vaccinations, which in turn will have negative consequences (linguistically late fall maybe into winter), but it will be important because it will give a reason to clamp down on the population for ‘our own good’. Yeah, sure, you bet’cha.
–
Yes, I read about the “Journalist Files Charges against WHO and UN for Bioterrorism and Intent to Commit Mass Murder“
—
I just happen to be allergic to flu vaccines and have a letter from my MD….got yours? May – or may not – be honored, but an ounce of prevention (I like self quarantine and quinine, thanks) is worth two shots of cure.
Good Countries for Investment?
Curious article in the “World Time News Report”. What they’ve done is put together a map of the world with countries suffering deepest consequences of the global slowdown show in darker and darker blues (Get it? Slow down, get the blues? LOL) and countries where the depression won’t bite – as hard.
To my simple-minded way of thinking, the countries less bitten should make better investment speculations…I mean, wouldn’t you think? Or, is it too early in the day for that?
Telling Headline?
Washington times headlines “EXCLUSIVE: Cheney fears Iraq withdrawal will ‘waste’ U.S. sacrifices.”
—-
Translation: oil deals aren’t secure yet.
The New Electrics
Feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and sharp on math, this morning, are we? Well, if you’re interested, a German scientist has posted a complete “Free Energy Documentation” online at Scribd (link here). m Once you sort through “Conversion of the Vacuum-energy of electromagnet zero point oscillations into Classical Mechanical Energy” ya’ll just build up the whole thing on a levitating platform and come on by to take us for a spin…we’ll go up north and show it off to the time monks, while we’re at it.
Liars Poke Here
Some intelligent musings on the 60-Minutes piece about a new kind of lie detector that seems to evolve from marrying an MRI of brain activity with questions. A sort of super-collider of lie detectors. Not going to be on the shelf any time soon, since MRI machines aren’t down to pocket-sized yet. Besides, where we really need this technology is Washington, and you know it’d be banned there.
