sent 10/22-10/23/16 As Election Day Nears, Military Hawks Circle to Promote New Wave of War: A slew of bipartisan reports are hoping to push the former secretary of state to increased military action in the Middle East, particularly Syria

1. "As Election Day Nears, Military Hawks Circle to Promote New Wave of War: A slew of bipartisan reports are hoping to push the former secretary of state to increased military action in the Middle East, particularly Syria," by Lauren McCauley, staff writer, Common Dreams, October 20, 2016

"D.C. foreign policy elite are giddy that hawkish Barack Obama will be replaced by much more hawkish Hillary Clinton."
—Zaid Jilani, The Intercept

2. Clinton double speak: "What Hillary Clinton Privately Told Goldman Sachs,"  by David Swanson, CounterPunch, October 17, 2016.  She talks about how she really feels about war being a wonderful thing.  She did not say the word wonderful, quite.  Read what she did say.  Among other things she talked about bombing Iran.  She said that even though Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons and could not be occupied we should just bomb them anyway.  Right.

3. There are too many most interesting headlines at RT to pick just one or five or six to mention.  Take a look.  It is a good layout, easy to scan.  https://www.rt.com/  No matter what country is my home, I believe them a lot more than I believe Hillary Clinton.  Hillary Clinton is not my buddy any more than Donald Trump is or any of the Russians are--not that I think the Russians are all bad.*

CORRECTION: The message I sent October 18, 2016 was missing the critical hyperlink under "An Urgently Necessary Briefing on Syria," by Gary Leupp, CounterPunch, October 14, 2016.  The full message that I sent you is at sent 10/18/16 "An Urgently Necessary Briefing on Syria".  I included in that message two quotations from the article.  Here is another that I did not include.  It is at least as big:

"We know from Gen. Wesley Clark’s often-quoted words, after talking with a Pentagon general shortly after 9/11, that there was a plan already in place to 'take out seven countries in 5 years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran.'"

For background context for General Wesley Clarke's statement about the existence of a plan shortly after 9/11 to take out seven countries check out the links in this search hit list. general wesley clarke Iraq Syria Lebanon Libya Somalia Sudan Iran - Startpage Web Search.   For more background remember the infamous September 2000 report of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) (Wikipedia link), Rebuilding America's Defenses.  Once again, 25 or so extremely wealthy people whose names you can see on that Wikipedia page organized in 1997 in the interest of doing one or more things to get the American people riled up for war so as to build their own personal and industrial economics to the max.  I have had a pdf copy of that report for years and would be happy to send you a copy for the asking.  Hearing now of General Wesley Clarke's disclosure is no big surprise.  And here we are, with Hillary Clinton coming to the helm apparently whether we like it or not.

* Please remember and never forget the readings in: A) sent 4/14/16 must see (video >15 min): "The Israel Lobby's Growing Assault on Free Speech" AND B) sent 4/16/16 George Monbiot--an important read--Neoliberalism – the ideology at the root of all our problems AND C) sent 3/31/16 updated 10/23/16 2min 51 sec [Affective] empathy is immoral Yale Professor Paul Bloom: [affective] empathy is immoral Re: (16 min) Glenn Greenwald: Cruz, Trump, Clinton "Playing into the Hands" of ISIL After Brussels Bombings and in the many others that I have sent you.  It all fits together.

love,
Larry
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 Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
Please remember my purpose with this: sent 2/22/15 my motive [link]
"Lead with your ears, follow with your tongue, let anger trail behind"--Reverend Ryan Henderson September 18, 2016

sent 10/22/16 a slight improvement: "Appeals Court Reinstates Torture Case Against Infamous Military Contractor"

"Appeals Court Reinstates Torture Case Against Infamous Military Contractor: Ruling rejects CACI's argument that its conduct was outside the court's bounds, stating, 'It is beyond the power of even the president to declare [torture] lawful,'" by Nadia Prupis, staff writer, Common Dreams, October 21, 2016.

I believe there are 11 Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals covering different geographical areas.  They are the level just below the Supreme Court of the United States.  The Fourth Circuit has said that nobody, not even the President, can protect torturers against legal prosecution.  That is a good thing.  Hopefully the torturers who work for the CIA will be next.*

"This is the fourth time in roughly eight years that Al Shimari v. Premier Technology has been in front of an appeals court."

love,
Larry
* Please remember and never forget: sent 2/27/16 Jeffrey Sterling news; book recommendations and readings therein.  Thank you.

sent 10/18/16 "Climate change could drive 122m more people into extreme poverty by 2030"

"Climate change could drive 122m more people into extreme poverty by 2030: UN report warns that without measures to halt and reverse climate change, food production could become impossible in large areas of the world," by Claire Provost, The Guardian, October 17, 2016.  One hundred twenty-two million more into extreme poverty by 2030 might not sound like that many, I suppose, since they might not be you or your immediate neighbors.  So, might you be thinking of still being around after 2030???  Or someone you know, maybe?  If so, you might want to be thinking on a plan for that, or those someones might. 

For right now, Donald Trump seems to be denying that the average temperatures are going up and that the weather is getting wilder and wilder, or at least denying that it has anything to do with human activities.  You may have heard him push "clean coal," which we guess means fracking for natural gas, since "clean coal" is imaginary.  Hillary Clinton seems to accept the reality of climate change/global warming but pushes fracking and is a lying, scheming big time killer.  That might be a tough choice.  In the meantime, you might want to avoid relying just on presidents or on the idea of other politicians getting unified suddenly and get this much at the very least:

"Until 2030, says the FAO report, climate change impacts will produce both gains and losses, with crop yields increasing in colder places, for example. After 2030, negative impacts could threaten farming and food systems in every region of the world."
--[emphasis added, LAS]

And what?  Get rich somehow?  Move to where there's likely to be a lasting local food supply or where you can grow your own for awhile even against "negative impacts"?  When?

There's more.  A lot more.  Good and bad.  There are ideas.

As background, here is an older article that is linked in the one linked above:
"A more diverse picture in small-scale farming?: Globalisation is not sweeping away informal and local economies in small-scale farming but spreading in parallel with them," by Bill Vorley, The Guardian, November 29, 2012.

We have been more or less reading this for years without quite as much specificity.  But from what I have seen lately, the estimated time to act seems to be getting shorter just about every other day.  You might want to read that bolded quotation above again a few times.

love,

Larry
P.S. By the way, here's a recent one from The Atlantic today, talking about maybe 34 years from now: A Mega-Drought Is Coming to America’s Southwest: Unless carbon emissions plummet soon, the risk of a region-altering disaster in Arizona and New Mexico will exceed 99 percent: Unless carbon emissions plummet soon, the risk of a region-altering disaster in Arizona and New Mexico will exceed 99 percent," by Robinson Meyer, October 11, 2016.  Note that these studies are not coming from the same sources.  Many people are doing studies.  They "just happen" to point in the same direction.  You are not anticipating that carbon emissions are going to "plummet" really soon, right?  LAS

sent 10/18/16 "An Urgently Necessary Briefing on Syria"

Yes it is "an urgently necessary briefing on Syria," even though you and I might know a lot of what it contains.  Please check whether you do or not, because I think facts do matter even though you may not be in a position to act on them other than to stay silent when others are cheering for evil.

For example, you already know one tiny tidbit, that Russian warplanes operate legally in Syria and that U.S. warplanes are illegal in Syria, right?

"An Urgently Necessary Briefing on Syria," by Gary Leupp, CounterPunch, October 14, 2016.  Gary Leupp is a Professor of History at Tufts University.

Please do not let the fact of CounterPunch calling itself part of the "Left" offend you too much, because facts are facts no matter who is speaking.  The facts are just not what is being presented by The Israel Lobby.  I have pointed out many times that the fact that the story being told by The Israel Lobby has the backing of most everyone these days does not make it true.

Last paragraph: "And it’s hardly even a topic of conversation in this rigged election, which seems designed to not only to inaugurate a war-monger, but to exploit crude Russophobia to the max in the process. The point is for Hillary not only to ascend to power—whatever that might require—but to prepare the people for more Afghanistans, Iraqs and Libyas in the process. The point is to lull the people into historical amnesia, blind them to Hillary’s record of Goldwater-type reckless militarism, exploit the Cold War mentality lingering among the most backward and ignorant, and insure that the electorate that, while generally deploring the result of the rigged election in November, will soon afterwards rally behind corrupt Hillary as soon as she seizes on some pretext for war.

"Very, very dangerous."
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Relevant previous messages to help you remember and to reinforce for you what you know.  Repetition does help one to remember things.  These are ordered newest first:

sent 10/7/16 1a. How the US Armed-up Syrian Jihadists Re: 1[b]. Robert Parry: "New ‘Group Think’ for War with Syria/Russia" 2. Robert C. Koehler: "The Politics of Fear"

Ray McGovern: "Russia-Baiting and Risks of Nuclear War," Consortium News, September 30, 2016 (long with fascinating details).  The propaganda war on Russia is spinning out of control with a biased investigation blaming Moscow for the MH-17 tragedy and angry exchanges over Syria, raising the risks of nuclear war, says ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern.

"Rigging the Coverage of Syria," by Gareth Porter, August 12, 2016.

"Washington’s Outrage and Excuses," by Lawrence Davidson, August 16, 2016. 

sent 3/15/16 "We" did this: "Voices from Syria: 'This camp is a paradise compared to life back home'

sent 2/27/16 Murdoch, Cheney, Rothschild and Israel all invested in the U.S. war on Syria

Why the Arabs don’t want us in Syria: They don’t hate ‘our freedoms.’ They hate that we’ve betrayed our ideals in their own countries — for oil. by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Politico.eu, February 23, 2016

I could go on, back and back and back further in the archives.  I hope that this is enough reinforcement of your accumulated knowledge to help you resist Hillary Clinton and her best friends' big paid media propaganda for now.

(added 10/16 two more points of view about the personal badness of Donald Trump) sent 10/15/16 Good men do NOT talk that way! First Lady Michelle Obama (21 min YouTube video)

Michelle Obama On Donald Trump's Comments: 'Enough Is Enough' (Full Speech) | NBC News October 13, 2016  I encourage you to listen to the first eight minutes.*

I have hesitated to talk about Donald Trump.  For one thing, there is a rule that says any news is good news if you're trying to sell something.  For another thing, I think it almost goes without saying that good men do not talk about women the way Donald Trump talks about women.  But maybe that does need saying.  First Lady Michelle Obama is right!  Good men do NOT talk the way Donald Trump talks about women.  Strong men do not need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful.  Now you know, girls and women!

I do not imagine that most men--including most Republican men I mean--want Donald Trump as a role model for their children.  This is not what I would call a political issue, really.  Is this enough reason not to vote for him?  That is up to you, if you were thinking of voting for him in the first place.  Maybe you can imagine trying to keep children away from the television when "President Donald Trump" is on to try to avoid having female children grow up learning that to the President of the United States they are mainly "pieces of ass" and should feel shamed by his existence or by their existence because most may not be able to anticipate getting on his "Miss Universe" and because he teaches that it is fine for males to proclaim their indifference to their intelligence even if in fact good men do not think that way or talk that way. 

I do sympathize though, somewhat, for his fans male and female: See sent 10/14/16 Sympathy for poor white Republicans: "Trump’s Fans Have More to Lose Than Trump Himself" and
"What Drives Trump Supporters?: Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild on Anger & Mourning of the Right" AND "What Drives Trump Supporters?: Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild on Anger & Mourning of the Right Part 2," Democracy Now, September 28, 2016.

See also, three related articles about the timing of all this in: sent 10/14/16 Vox: "Donald Trump is giving us a master class in why #WomenDontReport"; McClatchy: "Q&A: After new Trump accusations, a look at 'Why now?'" +

And see also, peripherally related because I think he might be called stupid for thinking that people might elect a candidate who talks about females the way he does: sent 10/5/16 Trump and the Dunning-Kruger effect — when stupid people don’t know they are stupid  Or perhaps it is just ignorance on his part, which is about as unacceptable, I think.

love,
Larry

* First Lady Obama goes on to talk about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton being a uniter.  My guess is we will see whether or not that is true.  I will not be "uniting" behind her completely any more than I have most any other authority figure.  It probably will not be any easier for her than it has been for many presidents.
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added 10/16/16:
These additional two articles are important, equally important I think.  You might even want to take this message viral.

As I have made a big point of saying before, I will not have it said that I am either a Democrat or a Republican.  But my country is of huge importance to me.  I do not feel smug at all.

1. "The Tweetstorm Heard 'Round the Republican Party: Women nationwide are denouncing Donald Trump. Conservative Marybeth Glenn is furious that men aren’t following suit—and she has a message for them," by Conor Friedersdorf, staff writer, The Atlantic, October 11, 2016

2. "Donald Trump's Cruel Streak: For decades, the candidate has willfully inflicted pain and humiliation," by Conor Friedersdorf, staff writer, The Atlantic.
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 Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
Please remember my purpose with this: sent 2/22/15 my motive [link]
"Lead with your ears, follow with your tongue, let anger trail behind"--Reverend Ryan Henderson September 18, 2016

sent 10/15/16 Posting New Secret Trade Docs, Wikileaks Further Exposes Corporate Plot

"Posting New Secret Trade Docs, Wikileaks Further Exposes Corporate Plot: 'Despite its importance both the US Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have thus far given no position on the TISA Agreement.'," by Jon Queally, staff writer, Common Dreams, October 14, 2016

It occurs to me to wonder whether this global deals stuff is not politicians trying to pass the buck to people farther out of reach just as politicians in the United States are passing the buck to "the deep state"--the elite interests again--for being in charge of warmongering, so that they the politicians can say, "It's out of my hands."

"The EU position ignores the potential danger of exporting aggressive privatisation policies to the developing world, which have already been shown to be the cause of social and political instability in many EU countries," said Public Services International (PSI) General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli in a statement.

Privatization of public services sure has been shown to cause social and political instability, and not just in EU countries.  There have been many horror stories in various places in the world over the past few years, including what happened with the water in Stockton, CA.

And as CEPR's James declared, "Globalization’s cheerleaders are all handwringing about the widespread opposition to trade pacts. But what they don’t acknowledge is that people around the world are not rejecting 'trade,' they are rejecting corporate control over our lives. People want to live in a democracy; they want quality, accessible public services; a well-regulated financial sector; and decent jobs for all ― the opposite agenda of the deregulation, locked-in privatization, and antidevelopment fundamentals of the secret proposed TISA, according to today’s explosive leak."

Sound familiar?  But there is still hope.  The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (aka TPP) and the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (aka TTIP) have not passed the U.S. Congress yet either.  Their proponents are waiting to pounce after the election and during the Christmas season, I think, hoping that we will all be distracted.

For review:
These are just a small reminder of some of the many messages I have sent you as action has been needed against these so-called "free trade" but really global corporate control of our lives proposed agreements as action has been needed.  Please be ready to help again when you hear that we are called upon to do so.  Thank you.

sent 4/23/15 because it matters: PLEASE HELP *NOW* OPPOSE THE TPP FAST TRACKING AND TAKE THIS VIRAL *PLEASE*

sent 6/9/2015 (please help, because it's major, it matters) Michigan looks like an exemplar of what lives of most will be like under the TPP +

sent 6/10/15 Survey: Obama's Trade Proposal a Tough Sell for Most Americans Re: (please help, because it's major, it matters) Michigan looks like an exemplar of what lives of most will be like under the TPP +

"We Threw a Wrench in the White House's TPP Fast Track Plan," (link) by Maira Sutton, December 26, 2015.

Sent 1/4/16 Act NOW and take viral please BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO MOVE YOUR BUTT AGAIN RIGHT NOW: THE TPP. PLEASE

sent 5/3/16 "Leaked TTIP documents cast doubt on EU-US trade deal"

see generally http://www.commondreams.org/news

love,
Larry
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Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
One way or another, raise yourself up I say; get over fear.  If you are not doing it you can do it.  Other people are doing it.  We can learn from them, I find.

sent 10/14/16 Sympathy for poor white Republicans: "Trump’s Fans Have More to Lose Than Trump Himself"

".....If anything, Trumpism has, in part, made the rest of the nation all the more eager to ignore the millions of white voters living on the edges of the economy. Many may now be written off without guilt, because they have shown themselves to be not just unfortunates but undesirables—irredeemable hate-mongers itching to reassert their cultural dominance......"

"Trump’s Fans Have More to Lose Than Trump Himself: If the Republican nominee loses, the millions of Americans supporting him will feel more isolated and disillusioned than ever before," by Michelle Cottle, The Atlantic, October 14, 2016.

"......vs. voters merely disgusted with the system......" she says?

You know, everybody who is being ripped off has my sympathy, every last one of us.  I include myself because, remember, the Social Security Retirement fund has been ripped off for years and cost of living increases cheated so that the money can go to the U.S. war industries.  And the U.S. war industries are making things worse for all the world for the sake of their greed. 

Anyway.  Waiting for all of the "deplorables" (oops) to get themselves an education is not going to work either.  I read that that is what some people are doing, hoping that the people who perpetuate hatred and lies will somehow manage go to a civilian college, live on campus with students from different places, and learn a few things firsthand about other people.

love,
Larry
--
Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
One way or another, raise yourself up I say; get over fear.  If you are not doing it you can do it.  Other people are doing it.  We can learn from them, I find.

sent 10/14/16 Vox: "Donald Trump is giving us a master class in why #WomenDontReport"; McClatchy: "Q&A: After new Trump accusations, a look at 'Why now?'" +

Vox: "Donald Trump is giving us a master class in why #WomenDontReport," by Liz Plank, October 13, 2016

Associated Press, McClatchy "Q&A: After new Trump accusations, a look at 'Why now?'," by Maryclaire Dale, October 13, 2016

Rewire: "All the President’s Misogynists: Why It Took So Long to Derail the Trump Train," by Jodi Jacobson, October 9, 2016

All is not on the side of males in this society by any means.  Not these days and not for quite some time.  But I have no question about wanting to protect everyone from unwanted touching and from unwanted privacy invasion.  Those things are not ok.  I hope that you feel the same way.

And while I'm at it, let me say that I want nothing to do with those who attack others with insults.  Nothing.  I work to protect myself from any need to associate with such people.  I may have said that to you a bazillion or so times before.

sent 10/13/16 great show: The Legendary Bob Dylan: Democracy Now! Airs Rare Interviews and Songs from Pacifica Radio Archives

It was just announced that Bob Dylan has won the Nobel Prize for his songs.  In honor of that, Democracy Now! is running this great historical show from the early 1960s with rare recordings of his appearances alone and with others.  This show was first broadcast on Bob Dylan's 70th birthday, May 24, 2011.

text:
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/24/the_legendary_bob_dylan_turns_70

the show: 59 min 5 sec.
www.democracynow.org/shows/2011/5/24?autostart=true
I did watch the short and pithy news part.  But if you want to miss the news from May 24, 2011 then you can click the link that is over to the right, which jumps to 12 min 30 sec.  Or you can skip forward to 12 min 10 seconds and begin there for the show about Bob Dylan.

love,
Larry

sent 10/10/16 a long list: false fact allegations from last night October 9, 2016

"Debate fact-check: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's claims reviewed," by Alan Yuhas, The Guardian, October 8, 2016.
This article has a long list with the lies in bold and the related true facts written clearly underneath.  The vast majority of the false statements were by Donald Trump.  Some few were by Hillary Clinton.  My interest is in not having you believe any of the false statements, because belief in some of the false statements would likely distort your judgment about some important things that are bigger than just Mr. Trump and former Secretary of State Clinton, such as the falsity of the idea that health insurance premiums have been going up "68%, 59%, 71%."  "On average, premiums have risen by about 5.8% a year since Barack Obama took office, compared with 13.2% in the nine years before Obama, Politifact found earlier this year."
-------------------------------------

Hopefully it goes without saying that neither of these people was that convincing on being different on to any important issue other than generating or not generating hatred between and among Americans.  "Donald Trump and the Rise of Anti-Muslim Violence: Research suggests that extreme political rhetoric can contribute to a spike in hate crimes," by Clare Foran, The Atlantic, September 22, 2016.  One of the corrections in the above-linked list of lies on October 9th addressed the problem but not as fully.

If male assault on females is a big for you then this one might add something for you.  I am not sure that it was in the list of Mr. Trump's lies: "Jill Harth speaks out about alleged groping by Donald Trump," by Lucia Graves, The Guardian, July 20/October 8, 2016.  The legal definition of "assault" is "unwanted touching."

sent 10/9/16 two small climate change victories; song for the day "Wild World"

"Dirty and Deadly Oil Train Projects Meet Defeat in California and Washington," by Nika Knight, staff writer, Common Dreams, October 7, 2016

These are actually big victories for the people in the areas potentially affected by oil spills especially.  Just think if these people might have been having to pay expensive lawyers to go to court for them in Belgium as the next step.  That would be if the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement were in effect and might enable Phillips 66 to sue those local governments in the International Court for interfering with business.  Let us keep pushing for new and different jobs in renewable energy--every chance we get. 

And let us keep pushing against the TPP and the TTIP as may be necessary.

Song for the day: "Cat Stevens - Wild World" (1970) (YouTube link)*

love,
Larry
* New discovery: You can paste YouTube links into this site YouTube In MP4 - Download YouTube videos in MP4 format to download and play YouTube videos more smoothly with your local player.

sent 10/7/16 1a. How the US Armed-up Syrian Jihadists Re: 1[b]. Robert Parry: "New ‘Group Think’ for War with Syria/Russia" 2. Robert C. Koehler: "The Politics of Fear"

This addition at the top is probably best considered a prequel to the original piece that began this message, by Robert Parry, now renumbered below as 1[b]. 
1a. "How the US Armed-up Syrian Jihadists: The West blames Russia for the bloody mess in Syria, but U.S. Special Forces saw close up how the chaotic U.S. policy of aiding Syrian jihadists enabled Al Qaeda and ISIS to rip Syria apart, explains ex-British diplomat Alastair Crooke," Consortiumnews.com, September 29, 2016.  Another open tab rediscovered. Sigh.
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1. "New ‘Group Think’ for War with Syria/Russia: Exclusive: Official Washington has a new 'group think' that is even more dangerous than the one that led to the Iraq War. This one calls for U.S. escalation of conflicts against Syria and nuclear-armed Russia," by Robert Parry, Consortiumnews.com, October 5, 2016.

I suggest reading this carefully.  As important background, there is a lot to remind you of things that we learned about what was going on years ago, including the U.S. and the Saudis splitting the costs of supporting the Islamist rebels against the pro-Soviet government of Afghanistan and its Soviet support from 1979 to 1989--sometimes known as [Congressman] Charlie Wilson's war.  That is when Osama bin Laden was working for the United States, of course, leading that rebellion alongside the covert operations of the CIA.  That has a lot to do with things that have followed, some of which are mentioned in this article leading up to the current events in Syria. 

Oh, by the way, you know that Israel first got its commitment for $38 billion in assistance from the U.S. and just now has broken a promise and has approved the building of 300 new and illegal housing units deep in the occupied Palestinian West Bank.  That is part of the picture in Syria.  A part of what is going on in Syria, a big part I think, is Israel being after oil.  Oil is not as big in Syria as in other parts of the Middle East, but it is big enough to be the biggest part of the economy, big enough to be of major interest to Israel if the Syrian state can only be destroyed.

"[Robert Parry quoting Wall Street Journal article by Rupert Murdoch:] “In a call with Mr. Kerry on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Syrian rebels ‘refused to follow the U.S.-Russian agreement…but instead merged with [Nusra Front].’”

"Misleading the American People

"So, isn’t that point relevant to understanding what is occurring in eastern Aleppo, an area essentially under the control of Al Qaeda terrorists? As horrible as war is, there is more than a whiff of hypocrisy when politicians and pundits, who cheered the U.S. Marines’ destruction of Fallujah during the Iraq occupation and who support driving the Islamic State out of the Iraqi city of Mosul, wax indignantly in outrage when the Syrian military seeks to remove Al Qaeda terrorists from one of its own cities."

2. "The Politics of Fear," by Robert C. Koehler, Common Dreams, October 6, 2016.

Larry
P.S. Bonus--new Human Rights Watch report. "Ex-CIA Detainees Describe 'Terrifying' Unreported Torture Techniques," by Nadia Prupis, staff writer, Common Dreams, October 3, 2016.  Electric chair on presumable innocents.
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Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
Please remember my purpose with this: sent 2/22/15 my motive [link]
One way or another, raise yourself up I say; get over fear.  If you are not doing it you can do it.  Other people are doing it.  We can learn from them, I find.

sent 10/5/16 Trump and the Dunning-Kruger effect — when stupid people don’t know they are stupid

"Trump and the Dunning-Kruger effect — when stupid people don’t know they are stupid: Trump is not merely ignorant. He is also supremely confident and feels superior — the most dangerous kind of idiot," by Chauncey DeVega, Salon, September 30, 2016.

I do not think that I had heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect (Wikipedia link) previously.  But it certainly makes sense.  When we are not good at something then we do not have the wherewithal to analyze how it is that we are not good at that thing. 

Now let us not go feeling too superior generally.  We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

"Hey, Clintonoids, Stop Bullying Me About My Vote" [7 Reasons I Won’t Vote for Hillary Clinton: To my many friends and readers who plan to vote for Hillary Clinton: please stop bullying me], by Ted Rall, CounterPunch, October 4, 2016

love,
Larry

sent 10/3/16 Michael Hudson: Book Review: "Celebrating the 1 Percent: Is Inequality Really Good for the Economy?" (+)

"The reality is that you don’t have to be smart to make a lot of money. All you need is greed."--Michael Hudson

"Book Review: Celebrating the 1 Percent: Is Inequality Really Good for the Economy?," by Michael Hudson, truthdig, September 30, 2016, reviewing The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality [Amazon link], by Angus Deaton (2013, 2015).

I have not read the book by Angus Deaton, but I did read the description under "read more" and some of the reviews.  There are two very different points of view presented between Michael Hudson versus Angus Deaton.  Please read at least as much as what I have read about the book to gain some understanding of the wisdom of Michael Hudson.

You may remember a number (22) of messages from me between September 2008 and November 2012 that featured the great economist Michael Hudson and books and articles by him that you can locate and research further here if you will: Wikipedia link.  His most recent book is Killing the Host: How Financial Parasites and Debt Bondage Destroy the Global Economy (2015), which has 70 worthy reviews and 4.8 stars at Amazon.  One thing I remember is that Professor Hudson found serious errors in both Volume II and Volume III of Das Kapital aka Capital by Karl Marx.  Marx's Volumes II and III were published posthumously by Friedrich Engels, the co-founder of Marxist Theory.  Is that heavy, or what?  Among Dr. Hudson's other credentials, he is a Ph.D graduate of New York University, research professor of economics at University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC) and a research associate at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College.  He is a former Wall Street analyst.

love,
Larry
P.S. Bonus article: I've had this interesting article open in a tab in my browser since June, meaning to share it.  It's about time I closed the tab.  "The Problem With Inequality, According to Adam Smith: The allure of extreme wealth can contort human sympathies, causing the public to admire the wealthy and shun the poor," by Dennis C. Rasmussen, The Atlantic, June 9, 2016.  Dennis C. Rasmussen is an associate professor of political science at Tufts University.
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Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
Please remember my purpose with this: sent 2/22/15 my motive [link]
"Lead with your ears, follow with your tongue, let anger trail behind"--Reverend Ryan Henderson September 18, 2016

sent 10/3/16 Gareth Porter: "How We Could End the Permanent War State" + song of the day

"It is an invariable rule that these bureaucracies – both military and civilian — always push for policies and programs that coincide with the interests of the bureaucratic entity and its leaders – even though they always harm the interests of the American people."
--Gareth Porter [bold added--LAS]

1. "How We Could End the Permanent War State," by Gareth Porter, WORLDBEYONDWAR.org, also at truthdig, posted September 30, 2016

2. Song of the day: "Oh Mommy," by Brewer and Shipley [Wikipedia link], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hebfE2ot2mE

love,
Larry
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Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
One way or another, raise yourself up I say; get over fear.  If you are not doing it you can do it.  Other people are doing it.  We can learn from them, I find.
Please remember my purpose with this: sent 2/22/15 my motive [link]

sent 10/1/16 Ray McGovern: "Russia-Baiting and Risks of Nuclear War" (long with fascinating details)/

Ray McGovern: "Russia-Baiting and Risks of Nuclear War," Consortium News, September 30, 2016 (long with fascinating details).  The propaganda war on Russia is spinning out of control with a biased investigation blaming Moscow for the MH-17 tragedy and angry exchanges over Syria, raising the risks of nuclear war, says ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern.

It appears that the U.S. government is pushing big lies again, without enough knowledge.

love,
Larry
P.S. This is to remind you of this recent piece, also rather major: sent 8/27/16 the unmitigated lies behind the soon to come new war with Russia and the unvarnished truth LAS

sent 9/30/16 PLEASE talk about this with everyone you can--US at the Crossroads: Start a New Nuclear Arms Race? Or Address Climate Change and Human Needs?

The science on climate change/global warming keeps on building, day after day, report after report, as more data is gathered.  "US at the Crossroads: Start a New Nuclear Arms Race? Or Address Climate Change and Human Needs?" by Kevin Martin, Common Dreams, September 30, 2016

"Point of No Return: Earth Reaches 400ppm Threshold Permanently: Scientists say it is 'almost impossible' that carbon dioxide output will drop below symbolic milestone in our lifetimes," by Nadia Prupis, staff writer, Common Dreams, September 29, 2016.  See also http://www.democracynow.org/2016/9/30/as_earth_reaches_frightening_co2_milestone
and
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/9/30/bill_mckibben_dakota_access_pipeline_resistance

"Forget Paris, Scientists Say 'Radical Change' Only Way to Stay Below 2 Degrees: Study by former IPCC chair comes amid rash of new research, all predicting the Earth will soon blow by key global warming thresholds," by Lauren McCauley, staff writer, Common Dreams, September 30, 2016

This next is about building dikes around many U.S. cities, following the example of the much smaller Netherlands. "This may be the only way to save the East Coast from drowning," by Matthew Schofield,  McClatchyDC, September 29, 2016. 

These next two do not exactly define the divide that the subject line of the first article above represents, but they are most definitely related:
1. Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild went and lived among, and spent time being friendly with, some supporters of Donald Trump in Louisiana.  What she learned from them is interesting.  One can sympathize.  "What Drives Trump Supporters?: Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild on Anger & Mourning of the Right" AND "What Drives Trump Supporters?: Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild on Anger & Mourning of the Right Part 2," Democracy Now, September 28, 2016

2. "Do you live in a Trump bubble, or a Clinton bubble?: The myths, exaggerations and lies of our fragmented media have distorted reality for both left and right. This is eroding our democracy," by Timothy Garton Ash, The Guardian, September 29, 2016

See also sent 9/22 and 9/23/16 The New, New Climate Math: 17 Years to Get Off Fossil Fuels, Or Else

Larry
P.S. Please toughen up and talk with people about this.  Change is hard--I hate it too.  For people employed in the fossil fuels industries there are new jobs in building different energy systems.  And we can eat less red meat and force a reduction in current industrial agricultural methods, a primary culprit.  There are vastly improved agricultural methods to be used now.  Thank you!  And the children thank you!  LAS

sent 9/30/16 I might actually approve of this law: "The Runaway 9/11 Bill That Congress Refused to Stop"

I might actually approve of this law and its repercussions.  What if innocent families killed by U.S. drones could sue the United States in court.  Think about it.  D'ya think that maybe that possibility might slow down our evil some?  You may have seen something about this even on television.  This article does not get quite that explicit, but I saw a another headline that did.  I think the notion behind that question is the source of the regret that is being talked about.  Of course the courts in the United States might be forbidden to entertain any such lawsuits, but the courts of other countries might just say, "Fair is fair, right?"

No I am not anti-American.  I try to be anti-evil, especially when it comes to my country.  Two wrongs do not make a right.  We are not even at war with anybody, if that matters, and maybe it should matter.

The Runaway 9/11 Bill That Congress Refused to Stop: Lawmakers overrode an Obama veto for the first time on Wednesday. A day later, they already had regrets," by Russell Berman, The Atlantic, September 30, 2016. 

Larry

sent 9/22 and 9/23/16 The New, New Climate Math: 17 Years to Get Off Fossil Fuels, Or Else

You may recall the notorious Professor Bill McKibbon of Middlebury College and 350.org and my having mentioned that he was the invited speaker at the college graduation ceremony for one of my nephews from a different college.  He was good then, and he is good now.

"Recalculating the Climate Math Re: The New, New Climate Math: 17 Years to Get Off Fossil Fuels, Or Else: The numbers on global warming are even scarier than we thought," by Bill McKibbon, The New Republic, September 22, 2016.

If there is to be hope:

1. Stop the opening of new mines, and new wells;
2. Switch energy technologies as fast as we can;
3. Work against the politicians who are not looking out for us; and
4: Put pressure on denialists, even the ones who think they need those jobs to support their families.  There is new work.

love,
Larry
---------- sent 9/22/16-------------------
1. "The New, New Climate Math: 17 Years to Get Off Fossil Fuels, Or Else 'If you're in a hole, stop digging,'" by Lauren McCauley, staff writer, Common Dreams, September 22, 2016.  That is the so-called "Print-Friendly" link, so avoid clicking on a paragraph.  If you do, the paragraph will disappear on you.  I have forgotten the reason for that.

Though it may not have seemed possible, climate catastrophe is even closer than previously thought, with new figures released Thursday finding that—when the wells already drilled, pits dug, and pipelines built, are taken under consideration—we are well on our way to going beyond 2°C of warming.

"If you're in a hole, stop digging," begins the study, put forth by the fossil fuel watchdog Oil Change International (OCI), in partnership with 14 other environmental organizations......

2. "It’s settled: 90–100% of climate experts agree on human-caused global warming: All-star team with authors of seven previous climate consensus studies collaborate to debunk the ‘no consensus’ myth once and for all," by Dana Nuccitelli, The Guardian, April 13, 2016.

You know that August 2016 tied with July 2016 for the hottest month ever recorded, world average, right?

3. "Holding Clinton’s Feet To The Fire On Climate," by Nick Cunningham, THISCHANGESEVERYTHING.org, September 20, 2016
Early signs don’t look good
I have just now discovered this site for the first time through Common Dreams. It looks like a terrific news site on the topic of climate change/global warming.  I plan to add it to my list down the right side at the archive.

You might decide that you would like to start helping hold Hillary Clinton's feet to the fire on this if you have not started already.  It might even be worth the bother, I do not know.  You know that this is not easy even if she were to be elected and were willing to try hard, that the climate change denialists and the huge fossil fuel profit-makers are still very strong.  Just forget about humanity with Donald Trump on this particular big problem of ours and for those younger and as yet unborn, of course.

Larry
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Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
Please remember my purpose with this: sent 2/22/15 my motive [link]
"Lead with your ears, follow with your tongue, let anger trail behind"--Reverend Ryan Henderson September 18, 2016

sent 9/19/16 Chris Hedges: The Courtiers and the Tyrants; Ralph Nader: Calling a Third-Party Candidate a ‘Spoiler’ Is the Same as Saying ‘Shut Up’

1. I am disturbed by the idea that the classic colleges and universities are evil.  I disagree.  Perhaps they are not what they once were, but my own college experience tells me that classical education is important and that those who can get there are best off doing so.  There are many things whose very existence I doubt that I would ever even have heard of had not not been for that.  If you never even encounter the tip of an iceberg, then you would not have the chance to investigate it.

Other than that, this is great.  Read it for the sake of raising your consciousness to a higher level.  Who knows what you might feel led to do next afterwards.  It is not primarily about current politics.  "The Courtiers and the Tyrants," by Chris Hedges, truthdig, September 18, 2016.

2. This title does not say it all, but it says a lot.  I am afraid that this one is mainly about current politics.  But it also fits in well with the one above.  "Ralph Nader: Calling a Third-Party Candidate a ‘Spoiler’ Is the Same as Saying ‘Shut Up’," truthdig, September 19, 2016.

Larry

sent 9/19/16 sick

You may know that President Obama has signed a "deal" with Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, for the United States to give Israel $38 billion over the next ten years. [New York Times article link] My understanding is that Benjamin Netanyahu took a much smaller amount than Hillary Clinton had promised that she would give him, because Hillary Clinton might not win the election and now at least he'll have something--a record, actually.

Now we have this: Facebook has just agreed to delete posts that advocate for Palestinians but will not be deleting posts by Israelis that advocate for violence against Palestinians.
"Facebook and Israeli Government Team Up to Censor Posts," by Andrea Germanos, staff writer, Common Dreams, September 12, 2016
"Facebook Is Collaborating With the Israeli Government to Determine What Should Be Censored," by Glenn Greenwald, The Intercept, September 12, 2016

Great.  Not.  Sick, actually.  I suppose this goes along with Hillary Clinton having promised to end the topic of support for the BDS movement [Wikipedia link] in the United States, the movement to boycott products made in Israel, to cut off links to it and communications about it.  I am not quite sure how she plans to do that, but she promised Prime Minister Netanyahu that she would.

I also noticed that a popular blogger in Bangladesh was assassinated by four masked men this week.  It was said that he had been advocating on behalf of Palestinians.

For significant background information see this archived message with links to previous messages on what is now famously known as The Israel Lobby.  sent 5/28/16 Please take this viral: "must see" movie: "The Occupation of the American Mind"

Oh well.  I think it's a done deal.  Adjust, I guess, unless you want to live angry.

love,
Larry
P.S. I want to correct the impression that the two article titles below give.  "Censorship" by Facebook is technically not "censorship."  Facebook is a private company.  Facebook can allow and disallow things without being subject to lawsuits.  It is only illegal for government agencies to do censorship, and I do not think that that rule applies to the government of Israel, as any rules about free speech that that government might have would probably not apply in the United States--which is convenient for them.  I would say that they have significant monetary power when it comes to influencing Facebook, and so it appears.  So Hillary Clinton might have some different approach in mind for what she promised to do to outlaw boycotting Israeli goods. Larry

sent 8/29/16 "Greenwald: Journalists Should Not Stop Scrutinizing Clinton Just Because Trump is Unfit for Office"

I agree with Glenn Greenwald: "...Journalists Should Not Stop Scrutinizing Clinton Just Because Trump is Unfit for Office," August 29, 2016

We need to know what is going on and to not have voting for the lesser evil--maybe the lesser--made easier by the hiding of some of the evil.  Why?  Because there might be something else that we can do about some of the evil actions besides just voting one way or the other in November and otherwise living in a world of illusion 100 percent of the time.

I am in no position to criticize anyone for engaging in escapism some of the time.

By the way, one thing that is new in that is the allegation that while we've been distracted by Trump and Clinton lately, President Obama has negotiated a deal with Israel to significantly increase the amount of money that Israel gets for 10 years, so no government, no future Congress can even reverse it, to give them many, many billions more than we’re already giving them.

love,

Larry
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Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
One way or another, raise yourself up I say; get over fear.  If you are not doing it you can do it.  Other people are doing it.  We can learn from them, I find.

sent 8/27/16 the unmitigated lies behind the soon to come new war with Russia and the unvarnished truth

"Crimea, Georgia and “The New Olympic Sport”: Russia Bashing. The Fantasy of Vladimir Putin as “Vlad the Terrible” Ratchets Up…," by Felicity Arbuthnot - Startpage Web Search, August 22, 2016.

You will recall the fact that the "neocons"--the extremely wealthy of the arms, oil, and banking industries--are burning for a new Cold War with Russia.  "Why Neocons Can’t Stomach Trump," by JP Sottile, Consortium News, August 7, 2016, sent to you August 8, 2016.

These are the facts about just how the neocons of the U.S., the U.K, and NATO are working together to create the illusion that there is some excuse for such a war, a cold war or an actual war.  Part of the story is the generation of the false notion that Russia "annexed" Crimea.  Again, that is totally false.

The truth is that after the newly installed (by the U.S., the U.K, and NATO) Ukraine government forbade any further speaking of the Russian language, the concentration of native Russian speakers who inhabit Crimea, voted eagerly to become part of Russia.  Crimeans think that Crimea has always belonged to Russia, never to Ukraine, and they are happy with that.  Any other story is plain thieving, lying, falsehood.  If you have been paying attention, you have known that for a long time.  This archive link goes to a page with a September 21, 2014 video and also with a series of links to news that I have posted that goes back to when the U.S. and NATO were getting rid of the elected President to take control of the Ukrainian economy going back as least as far as March 19, 2014.  Perhaps you remember that time even though more than two days have passed. :-7  Unfortunately, when television retelling takes over, many people just do not remember.

Here is the new truth telling, detailed and very much worth reading.  "Crimea, Georgia and “The New Olympic Sport”: Russia Bashing. The Fantasy of Vladimir Putin as “Vlad the Terrible” Ratchets Up…," by Felicity Arbuthnot - Startpage Web Search, August 22, 2016.

My personal bet is that we are going to have a new war with Russia under former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even without the slightest excuse for it.  There is plenty of precedent for her and her very best friends of many years being eager to do stuff like that.  Again, it is not just males.  Even some females are more evil than good and proud of it!

Larry

sent 8/26/16 My strong dislike for some Democratic Party officials is spreading "Officials Pull Water Supply as Dakota Access Protest Swells in Number and Spirit"

My strong dislike for some Democratic Party officials is spreading "Officials Pull Water Supply as Dakota Access Protest Swells in Number and Spirit"  Maybe I already disliked Greg Wilz for some reason before, but I do not remember that.  Doubtless he is taking orders from somebody in the higher administration, like that Pentagon again maybe.

love,
Larry

sent 8/25/2016

Is it better to get paid to kill some people and to use the proceeds to save some other people or to not kill anybody and also to not have the wherewithal to save as many people?

That seems to be the exact question under discussion here when it gets there, however reality-based the question is.
"Weapons, Pipelines & Wall St: Did Clinton Foundation Donations Impact Clinton State Dept. Decisions?"

I hope and trust that it has been totally obvious over the years that I have chosen the path of not thieving from people and killing in the course of our thievery.  I am relieved to have decided either to not cast a presidential ballot or to vote for Jill Stein.  I would be interested to hear what you might think about the precise question at hand, the one stated at the very top of this.

love,

Larry

Update: I have gotten no response to the big question below the line.  Of course you do not have to tell me anything, but if you do not decide this question for yourself and do not make a serious decision about taking action against the United States' indiscriminate murders in Yemen, then I guess citizen responsibility is really and truly dead for sure.  "Lawmakers, Peace Groups Team Up to Block 'Disturbing' US-Saudi Arms Deal" TIME FOR ACTION PLEASE TIME IS VERY SHORT.  Oh, and please take this viral!  Because it matters!  Larry

sent 8/23/16 New $1.15 billion sale increasing my near-total disgust with America "US Guilty of 'Basically Unconditional Support' for Saudi War Crimes in Yemen"

New $1.15 billion in sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia authorized, increasing my near-total disgust with America "US Guilty of 'Basically Unconditional Support' for Saudi War Crimes in Yemen," by Lauren McCauley, staff writer, Common Dreams, August 22, 2016.

You want me to vote for Clinton?  No way José, "girl power" or not!!!*  I might bother to go vote for Jill Stein, but really I think that as a country we are mired in evil including fear generated by those who gain from it.  I feel lucky to be in what feels like a relatively clean little spot when I turn off the news, with no one in my family working for any part of the Federal government, for the military, the private contractors, or for the arms industries.  We just struggle along with what's left, render unto Caesar, etc., and manage nonetheless to be happy most of the time, knowing that we do not have to be rich to be happy.

Larry
* A friend of mine recently used as an excuse for voting for Hillary Clinton that it would be pushing "girl power."  I say girl power is ok, but there are evil females as well as evil males.  I would almost prefer Darth Vader.  At least he looked the part.  Power to Media Benjamin!  And good luck to all of us.

sent 8/22/16 fact conflict: Article number 2 appears to establish that voting your conscience is not likely to be as harmful as you might have thought.

Subject: fact conflict: 1.Vote for the Lying Neoliberal Warmonger: It’s Important; 2.How Not To Waste Your Vote: A Mathematical Analysis

The second article appears to establish that voting your conscience, whatever that might mean for you, is not likely to be as harmful as you might have thought.

love,
Larry

sent 8/19/16 Zephyr Teachout aims to keep Bernie Sanders’ vision alive in Woodstock

Zephyr Teachout aims to keep Bernie Sanders' vision alive in Woodstock

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Brother Larry/Attorney Scott archives (Larry at Blogspot) "undisclosed recipients" email message archive, no logging in, no public comments
One way or another, raise yourself up I say; get over fear.  If you are not doing it you can do it.  Other people are doing it.  We can learn from them, I find.

sent 8/19/16 Too deep to concern us peons? (includes video series) "One World Governance, the Council on Foreign Relations.“We Shall have World Government by Conquest or Consent.”

Subject: Too deep to concern us peons? (includes video series) "One World Governance, the Council on Foreign Relations.“We Shall have World Government by Conquest or Consent.”
http://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2016/08/one-world-governance-the-council-on-foreign-relations-we-shall-have-world-government-by-conquest-or-consent-video-3175626.html

sent 8/16/16 It was the U.S. that broke the ceasefire "Rigging the Coverage of Syria"

"Rigging the Coverage of Syria," by Gareth Porter, August 12, 2016.  Rather, it was the U.S. support that broke the ceasefire.  Not Russia, not Assad.

"Playing the role of ultimate media arbiter of how the attentive public is to understand the pivotal issue of why the ceasefire failed, DeYoung has deleted from memory the essential facts. In her narrative, there was no Nusra Front plan to destroy the ceasefire, and no April Nusra offensive to seize strategic territory south of Aleppo with the full participation of U.S.-supported opposition groups."

Sad about my thuggish country.  Again.  Remember "Washington’s Outrage and Excuses," by Lawrence Davidson, August 16, 2016.  Do think about how it all fits together.

love,
Larry

sent 8/16/16 Can you dig this? "Washington’s Outrage and Excuses"

Subject: Can you dig this? "Washington’s Outrage and Excuses," by Lawrence Davidson, August 16, 2016

It's totally easy, actually, if you are outside of the authoritarian mindset or can manage to get yourself out of it.  I do not know.  Just give it a try.  This is a great article on the topic of total foreign policy hypocrisy, naming names and places that you have heard mentioned before somewhere in your travels.

love,
Larry