ericbj

I fully agree.

To clarify the matter, you are not commenting on the article because you have not read it. Instead you are commenting on a web-site which re-posted it from the original source.

THe U.S. has two lousy candidates for President. Neither of them are giving significant attention to the greatest problem facing the nation: the run-away debt coupled with progressive loss of the international reserve status of the dollar. Trump sent the U.S. debt through the roof, similar to what many governments did that had the misfortune to be in power at the time of the plandemic. But he also boosted such things as military spending. And kicked off, in a big way, currency warfare. The Biden-Harris team has, by one decision after another, undermined the dollar's international reserve status - established in 1944, and which has persisted well beyond 1971 thanks to the introduction of the petro-dollar. The dollar and U.S. Treasury bills are what have enabled the U.S. consumer to live well beyond his productive means. But owing to the huge and ever-growing national debt, foreign creditors are becoming increasingly reluctant to buy Treasury bills. The theoretical answer is to raise interest rates, to attract foreign buyers. But the problem to this is the size of the debt: interest payments due on the debt then start to rise exponentially, and the lure of the higher interest rates are offset by the possibility of a dollar default. Circumstances change and systems fail eventually. But the actions of the Biden-Harris team seem to illustrate a desire to collapse the dollar's reserve status as rapidly as possible. Due to wilfulness? Or to blindness? Blindness perhaps on the part of Biden and Harris. But unlikely in the case of their manipulators. There is no simple answer to this problem of voters having such an appalling choice of candidates. But two things stand out. 1. The selection process must be changed; and 2. Information sources readily available to the mass of the citizenry must no longer be owned by a handful of financial conglomerates. People must be informed, so as to form their own opinions. Rather than indoctrinated with an agenda that sidesteps vital issues.

I have read the article to which I refer. Anyone else who wishes can do the same. The rest of what you write displays a hyper-emotional attitude rather than a critique of the opinions put forward.

Not at all clear to me that I spout Russian propaganda. But then one is not always objective in judging oneself. However quite a few contributors to this discussion seem to have closed minds that deal in often meaningless clichés, such as this comment: "Garbage pro autocracy axis propaganda source" to dismiss the well-researched article I linked to here https://thegrayzone.com/2021/01/28/alexei-navalny-myth-wests-russian-opposition-figure/ Off the immediate subject but relevant to the discussion:

On the question of Navalny, some sources of information diverge from what is commonly encountered in western MSM. E.g. https://thegrayzone.com/2021/01/28/alexei-navalny-myth-wests-russian-opposition-figure/

This news item evokes a potential dénouement of the seemingly insoluble problems arising from the West's proxy war with Russia on the soil of the Ukraine : https://youtu.be/iFLSsectyNs Will doubtlessly be strongly denounced by many. Including, most likely, NATO governments. But negotiations, and a search for peace, are surely long overdue.

No harm in treaties of mutual defence. But NATO has ceased to meet that definition. NATO (essentially the U.S.) now feels the need to 'defend' itself throughout the world. Even in the Far East. To understand this one must realise that 'defence' has come to mean protecting the revenue-streams of the hyper-wealthy at the expense of the ordinary citizenry; and at the expense of the inhabitants of far away countries, who then seek to escape their destroyed economies where mere survival has become a challenge. From the point-of-view of a potential new member, NATO provides savings on expensive matériel. There are cost benefits in joining an organisation that collectively accounts for over 60 percent of the world’s total 'defense' spending. Overall spending by a new member may increase, as in the case of Sweden, or decrease, as in the case of Finland. But whatever, they get more for their buck. Paradoxically, the drain on the U.S. exchequer is something that Trump wishes to eliminate, despite the profligate spending on 'defence' during his term in office. [Was the increased 'defence' budget an unsuccessful attempt to seduce Deep State actors? Seems to have been one of his ploys.] U.S. taxpayer spending on 'defence' fits in well with the Deep State's agenda of transferring wealth from the average U.S. citizen to those heavily invested in the 'defence' sector. Thanks to a requirement for standardisation of matériel. Ethnic Russians lived in the Ukraine centuries before the Soviet famine. In fact since the expulsion of the Ottomans. Check out western media bias by searching for Prince Potemkin and discover how the Russians "Stole His Bones" from Kherson. NATO drools over the prospect of taking control over the Ukraine not only as a major leap forward in their insane desire to break up the Russian Federation (on an even more fragmented basis than planned for Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc.) but also because of the Ukraine's mineral and agricultural value, notably in the eastern part. [Check out: Blackrock and Zelensky. You may need to read between the lines of the results] "Putin is kidnapping Ukrainian children". Do your homework and see that this is nonsense spewed out by western black-propagandist media. But if you prefer to believe it, just carry on believing. Illusions lead to dead-ends. "The Russian annexation of Crimea and invasion of the Donbas are both illegal." And U.S./NATO invasions of diverse countries are not? Where is the so-called "Rules Based Order" invoked so often by U.S. government spokesmen? [Oh! I forgot. It does not apply to the "exceptional people"]

Making pronouncements upon Russia's right of incursion into the Ukraine is incompatible with self-declared ignorance of the massacres in Odessa, Mariupol and elsewhere, and the eight years targeting of civilians in the Donetsk and the Lugansk by snipers, artillery, and missiles. Often spewing cluster munitions and sowing swarms of butterfly mines in town centres where there was no military presence. The legality or illegality of the Russian incursion into the Ukraine needs to viewed in the context of US/NATO incursions into sovereign nations in the Middle East, North Africa, and South-East Europe. "R2P" was often the bogus justification claimed then. The Russians can claim the same, but on more solid grounds. Putin is not Stalin, although it is understandable that many Ukrainians should still feel strongly about the Holomodor. But the starvation of the 1930s affected all grain-producing areas of the USSR, "including Kazakhstan, Northern Caucasus, Kuban Region, Volga Region, the South Urals, and West Siberia." "The Kazakh famine of 1930–1933, also known as the Asharshylyk, was a famine during which approximately 1.5 million people died in the Kazakh Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic, then part of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic in the Soviet Union, of whom 1.3 million were ethnic Kazakhs. An estimated 38 to 42 percent of all Kazakhs died, the highest percentage of any ethnic group killed by the Soviet famine of 1930–1933. Other research estimates that as many as 2.3 million died. … The famine began in the winter of 1930, a full year before the famine in Ukraine." Not all Ukrainians had clean hands. The liquidation of the Jewish population is well known. But perhaps less well known is this: "The massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia were carried out in German-occupied Poland by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army with the support of parts of the local Ukrainian population against the Polish minority in Volhynia, Eastern Galicia, parts of Polesia and the Lublin region from 1943 to 1945." Incidentally, I am not some pro-Russian stooge. I am wholeheartedly opposed to Russian support for Min Aung Hlaing's regime. And was pleased to see that they had to buy back some of the AFVs they sold him; because they needed them for spare parts.

"How many of those warheads are actually functional? The corruption in the Russian military has exposed huge deficits in maintenance." The ultimate, anonymous source of this 'exposure' is perhaps the same as that which told us in 2022 that Russia was about to run out of artillery shells, that the Russian military was demoralised and about to disintegrate, and similar disingenuous 'intel'. "It is estimated one-third of the Russian defence budget went into Shoigu's pocket alone." Who estimated it? And how did they arrive at this figure? "Russia's only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, was launched in 1985. Thirty years on, it is still not operational. It is in drydock in Murmansk, for yet another round of repairs." Aircraft carriers are no longer the queens of naval combat. They make beautifully expensive targets for modern precision missiles, whether airborne or aquatic; and require a dense screen of smaller vessels to protect them. They are of use only to powerful nations that seek to project their military power far from their homeland, far across the oceans. [Study the case of US Navy versus Houthis] A land-based aerodrome can be better protected; can be put out of action for a while, until repaired; but it cannot be sunk. "The success of Russia's attempted modernization of its military is illustrated by a recent test firing, when the rocket blew up in its silo." Please explain why the U.S. government, until recent sanctions kicked in, was purchasing Russian-made rocket-motors for its missiles. https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2022/8/5/us-kicking-russian-rocket-engines-to-the-curb "IMO the sums spent on Ukraine are a good investment." An excellent investment for the mega-rentier-capitalists heavily invested in the armaments industry. As an example, their capital gains amounted to nearly 1,000% over the course of the Afghan War. They needed another war to replace it. But for the average American? Was this really so? "It would cost a lot more to have US boots on the ground, defending NATO countries." There was no need to defend NATO countries. The boot was on the NATO foot. That is, until Putin, increasingly regarded as a weakling by many of his countrymen for failure to take effective action against the ongoing massacre of ethnic Russians, did what NATO had been hoping he would do. But the outcome, to be achieved by sanctions, has not been what NATO expected. Circumstances have changed since the Soviet economy was destroyed by crushing the oil price.

Many taxpayers - which includes those paying with the 'hidden tax', inflation - are becoming thoroughly pissed off with the huge financial burden. Especially considering lack of productivity on the investment. Just for starters, consider the 5 billion USD spent on the Maidan Coup. You, and fellow-thinkers, need to consider coughing up substantial sums to further your war-aims. -------------------------- I am neither pro-Trump nor pro-Biden. But a negotiated peace seems better than an eternal war. And could have had a much more favourable outcome for the Ukraine if carried through two and more years ago. The real cost of this skilfully engineered conflict has been borne by the peoples of the Ukraine. Perhaps the widows, orphans, and cripples should have some say in this matter. It is true that Biden and others have been intimidated by Putin's threats. Empty threats? The Russian Federation possesses some 3,000 nuclear warheads and hypersonic missiles to deliver them. And recently, as you should know, they modified the circumstances which can lead to their being used.

I do not know if this will work against the West Nile virus, but in view of its broad-spectrum anti-viral properties, a web-search along this line: ClO2 anti-viral might suggest a potential cure.

Not sure what influence the Russians (taking a leaf out of a CIA guidebook) may have had in influencing the Brexit vote. But these articles may be of interest: https://www.essex.ac.uk/research/showcase/why-britain-really-voted-to-leave-the-european-union https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-referendum-donations-ten-wealthy-political-donors-make-up-half-vote-leave-remain-nigel-farage-arron-banks-leave-eu-vote-leave-political-parties-bankrolled-by-rich-financiers-superrich-billionaires-a7348321.html

Incomprehensible why, at an important international event, she should be expected to blather whatever thoughts may enter her head on the spur of the moment. Notes of a prepared speech, whether anything from brief mnemonics to full text, are essential in such instances for those without an infallible, encyclopaedic memory. English still tends to be regarded as THE international medium of communication. Not yet displaced by Mandarin.

This may be relevant to the question: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/18793665231212233

There are multiple sources available online that support what Jacques Baud says. Although some can no longer be found by standard web-searches (changed algorithms). Or have been forcibly removed. For being contrary to official narratives. Some, like Baud himself, provide first-hand evidence, and cannot be lightly dismissed as 'conspiracy theory' (a term popularised by the CIA to discredit evidence that countered the official theory that JFK was assassinated by a lone gunman). They need to be countered on a factual basis. Jacques Baud is a former intelligence officer whose articles are published in specialised intelligence reviews. The profession deals in collecting and analysing facts. Not political goals. Although latter-day statements by MI6 might seem to indicate the contrary. While still useful on many subjects, there is now considerable doubt about the reliability of Wikipedia on battleground subjects such as international relations: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/wikipedia-founder-larry-sanger-democrats-b1885138.html https://nypost.com/2021/07/16/wikipedia-co-founder-says-site-is-now-propaganda-for-left-leaning-establishment/ [I feel that the modern use of the word 'left' in a political context is misplaced]

Have not had implants done by them but have been using them since 2006: The Grace Dental Clinic. http://www.gracedentalclinic.com/ They were recommended to me first by an American couple who came to Thailand three months in each year, partly for medical and dental treatments. Then in 2006 they were recommended by the Pakua Clinic at Tao Garden (near Doi Sakhet), who suggested I go there for removal of my older amalgam fillings (since several years before I had insisted that all new fillings be non-amalgam).

NOT a French Colonel. So that deals with your objection to seeing what he says. Not that your objection would have been in the least bit valid if he was French. Allowing for rabid nationalistic wilful blindness, perhaps I should have suggested Col. Douglas Mac Gregor: https://www.youtube.com/user/douglasmacgregorTV

For a detailed account of how and why Russia finally decided to make an incursion into the Ukraine Colonel Jacques Baud is a well-informed source. If you do not find the full details in this interview - https://www.thepostil.com/our-interview-with-jacques-baud/ - you will find them in the English translations of his published articles in Le Postil. See also here, in the original French: https://cf2r.org/documentation/le-point-sur-la-situation-militaire-en-ukraine-au-2-juin-2022/

"The initial charges against Mr Saman include reckless driving endangering life or property, negligent driving resulting in death, negligent driving causing bodily harm, and failing to assist or report the incident leading to fatalities." On existing published evidence the charges look to be on fairly shakey ground. Except perhaps the 4th charge, but that depends upon the interpretation: Was it his failure to assist or report the incident that caused the fatalities? Further evidence may either be more incriminating, or further charges will be preferred. He was perhaps suffering from trauma, somewhat akin to shell-shock, which can lead even normally courageous men to act in a 'cowardly' way. I hope he is not being set up as a scapegoat in place of the managers of the transport company. Who will have a bit of money to throw around in order to appear above reproach.

It seems that burning gas must have been able to enter freely the cab of the bus. Which from the photos does not appear to be badly crumpled by its impact with the barrier. I am guessing that reducing the potential for similar accidents in the future requires giving attention to this problem: ensuring there is as little chance as possible that gas escaping from a severed pipe can enter the cab.

Antibiotics have clearly saved millions of lives. But less obviously, because of long-term effects, have probably destroyed millions. The human body is composed of roughly equal numbers of human cells and bacteria. The latter are an integral part of us. Some bacteria are known to carry out useful functions, while the roles of others remain unknown. The gut microbiome of a healthy individual is said to comprise in the region of 1,300 different species; in the case of an unhealthy individual considerably less. Present are so-called 'pathogenic' bacteria, which do no harm as long as their numbers remain limited by the presence of non-pathogenic species. When I worked as a volunteer in an alternative cancer centre in the 1980s, the Argentinian doctor in charge said that in her experience all those with the disease suffered from an overgrowth of candida albicans. In a healthy gut candida is present as a yeast which assists with the digestion of proteins. But when the balance of the gut flora is disrupted it transforms into a filarial fungal form, attaches itself to the one-cell thick lining of the gut, and perforates it, allowing macro-molecules of semi-digested or undigested food to enter the bloodstream. Fine filtering by 'tight-junctions' of the gut lining is now by-passed. This leakage of foreign substances can over-tax the immune system, causing intolerances to foodstuffs that were formerly well-tolerated. Ultimately the candida itself can enter the blood and migrate to other parts of the body. The balance of the intestinal flora can be upset by such things as antibiotics and preservatives in processed foods. Glyphosate, present particularly in 'conventionally-grown' cereals and beans is an antibiotic, and was originally patented as such. Needless to say, it sterilizes the soil, turning it into a lifeless medium. The flesh of factory-farmed animals is a common source of antibiotics. Which may also be present in municipal water-supplies. This is not to suggest that medically-prescribed antibiotics should never be taken. But after being taken, a useful precaution is to consume plenty of fermented, raw foodstuffs, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, live yoghurts, etc.

Weight of the bar was unspecified. For a medium-sized bar, of 1 kg, buying prices are listed here: https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/bars/kilo-silver-bars You are correct that holding physical bullion does not offer liquidity, because the buyer must first assure himself that the item is genuine. I.e. not only the specified weight but also solid silver of at least 99.9% purity. For ease and rapidity of both purchase and sale, it is best to use a well-established on-line bullion dealer and have them store and insure it for you IN YOUR OWN NAME with a registered bullion storage company where regular independent audits are carried out. Buy and sell from anywhere you have an Internet connection. Proceeds of a sale can only be credited to the bank account you have linked to your bullion-dealer account. [An obvious security precaution] May be worth looking here: https://www.bullionvault.com/ https://swpcayman.com/ https://www.goldcore.com/ Never accept to have your bullion stored by the dealer. This latter point was discovered too late by some Thais who lost their gold at the time of the Asian Economic Crisis. It is recommended not to have bullion stored in your country of fiscal residence, but rather one that is readily accessible. Singapore is an obvious choice for Thailand. Governments are especially rapacious in difficult times. The U.S. government forcibly confiscated private holdings of gold in 1933. Gold is a store of value, which is not the case for fiat currency. E.g. the dollar today is said to have the purchasing power of 3 cents of its 1913 value. Silver is a speculative value. A highly volatile one. But thought by many to be a particularly promising buy at present. Regarding gold ETFs, this may be of interest: https://www.bullionvault.com/gold-guide/gold-etf

Possibly will have little effect in the medium term. You only have to see what 'western' politicians are doing to their economies to have doubts about the outcome. Of course there has always been corruption in high places; with characters the likes of Horatio Bottomley. But I would suggest that many of those who in past times went into politics later in life after making their mark in some other sphere, did so with a relative disinterest in the paltry remuneration it then offered. Nowadays, politics is often seen as a life-long, well-paid career opportunity by young people graduating from university where they studied the subject. The motivations are likely to be somewhat different.

Am not sure I want this one. From Karen Kingston of The Kingston Report : "Give You and Your Loved Ones the Flu... with FluMist "September 24, 2024: FluMist is a nasal flu vaccine that is FDA approved for adults and children as young as 2 years of age. "On Friday, September 20, 2024, the FDA approved FluMist for self-administration by adults, meaning you can ‘vaccinate’ yourself and your loved ones at home without the supervision of a medical professional. "Per the FDA submitted data, FluMist causes flu symptoms, significantly increases hospitalization rates (over 6000% in babies), and vaccinated individuals can infect others through shedding."