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what you called the Japanese Minister********************************** I am not young enough to know everything. Oscar Wilde

You mean China?

The NATO Summit (we're sick of paying for Europe's military tab) and, if I'm not mistaken, the G-8 will be held in Chicago next year with ex chief-of-staff to Obama, Rahm Emmanuel as new head ram-rod (mayor) of Chicago. It is chilling when you think that he can resign and almost blow down the doors to the mayor's office of Chicago. Don't kid yourself, this was carefully planned. There ain't gonna be any of that black-flag nonsense like in Toronto at the G-20 last year. America knows that the city of Chicago, since the Haymarket riots and Demo. Convention of 68' knows how to handle protest -- What an unholy show that will be!

Here, here, Sir! Three Huzzahs! for your long piece. This is indeed my viewpoint, right down to not being lazy and getting a diversity of news sources, even RT, with a grain of salt. You should know that there are many, many people on this site who silently agree with a lot of what you say but are afraid to express their opinion. On the other hand, there was even a backlash among a small group of effete impudent bourgeois deadheads who said: Jerry Garcia in particular and the Grateful Dead in general were not political. As if one needs to have one's music sanitized of all political thought on the part of the musicians. That is how afraid some people have become in the USA -- if we attribute an attitude different than the status-quo to musicians we like, there may be "guilt by association". America is shitting it's paranoia all over the world and, like the e-coli outbreak in Germany, it has become contagious. I was just in a foreign capital and was amazed how it had changed to the American fascist-secuirty point of view! Not comfortable and not expecting to have every American thought to be espousing it's government's point-of-view. Of course I abhor violence of any form, but there is valid debate in a democracy about how to pursue justice short of war. Anyway Jonapi, all of this is to say thanks for expressing your thoughts, much appreciated.

at the c word. that word is offensive and nasty********************************** I am not young enough to know everything. Oscar Wilde

As for this "Radical Islam", a real need for sympathy and compassion is important. Maybe hard to stomach for some, but it is vital.People have to understand that you can't blame some of these young teenagers for becoming extreme. They are basically outcasts wherever they look. Especially in some parts of the UK. Take a place like Bradford for example; these kids are born into strict Muslim families. They are in an area that is pretty barren; derelict buildings, an urban wasteland (not unlike some parts of Chicago or Philadelphia sad to say). They don't fit in at school; they're too foreign for the British kids, not conservative enough for the Muslim community. They have a strong sense of Islamic identity, are appalled at some of the more morally degrading behaviour of their Western peers, yet are teenagers with surging hormones and are angry, confused and want to rebel against the strict confines of their parents' generation. The answer? maybe it's the radical extreme. That way they can keep their Muslim teachings yet can rebel against EVERYONE. Their parents and those around them like every good teenager should! A lot of leverage and understanding is given to youngsters (and adults) in the UK, Europe and America when it comes to certain behaviour. Say you've been brought up in an abusive family the US; where from the very moment you open your eyes, you see that violence is okay. That beating your wife is acceptable; that excessive drinking and racism is an everyday act. No money, no prospects, no self-worth, no love. What do you think is going to happen? And yet, it's perfectly okay to realise that the smallest of mistakes, that a 1 in 10 moment has lead to a vicious assault, maybe murder. These aren't bad people; they've just never been given a chance. They can't help what they've been born into. I think most people could show compassion towards them. And rightly so. Jails across the world are full to bursting point with "unlucky" human beings. In any other situation, things might've been different. A punch to the face is not necessarily harmful; the recipient losing his balance and hitting his head on a cement floor or the corner of a bar could be fatal. And then? a lengthy jail term where the fight for everyday survival, brutalising an otherwise caring person is the course his life must take. And around it goes. The circle of violence continues. But they're scum right? Undesirables. Fuck 'em. Same for these suicide bombers. Is it? I don't believe it's so. People the world over are looking for guidance. For love and acceptance. "Strangest of places if you look at right"? I'm exasperated at governments around the world. And that's me. Coming from an existence where i can get water on tap, electricity at the flick of a switch; food, a home, a job, a little bit of money. I can express myself freely; i'm not living in Iran or North Korea or China, or Burma, or Tibet. I'm livid and yet i have it all. Can anyone really imagine what it must be like for people with none of that? Obama has the sheer fucking AUDACITY to attempt justification of Nato bombing Libya, killing civilians, even killing despicable people, if anyone's in the mood to be charitable. How SHAMEFUL. Even Osama or Hitler had the balls to be upfront about their actions. A Japanese Minister recently made a statement concerning the government's slow and direct withholding of information to the Japanese people about the nuclear crisis as being because it's a very technologically complicated subject that the public wouldn't be able to understand. Then hire someone in your goddamn office to publish and broadcast it in layman's terms, simplify so YOUR citizens CAN grasp it, you arrogant little cunt. Certainly, Obama's days are numbered; lets just hope that the hairsprayed, neurotic, insecure, greedy little housewives that follow Sarah Palin (in their tens of thousands!!!!) do NOT get their wish and a presidential campaign is stopped in its tracks by a particularly irate polar bear with a rifle and an enormous appetite. If America and other Western governments REALLY cared about human rights, democracy and making a monumental positive change, lets hope we see a caring attitude for ALL human beings, regardless of what their country has to offer. I notice nothing ever happens regarding Africa (too black), Mugabe and his murderous thugs, Tibet (too remote, not Christian enough), India (too large, can't understand a word they're saying; youngsters love Bollywood, fuck Hollywood), North Korea (too scary) or China (we need those minerals for our computers and phones Goddamit!). Its come a time that a large percentage of the world has realised that it doesn't give two shits about America; doesn't need it, doesn't want it. KFC? got our own food culture thanks. Beyonce? got J-Pop, Balinese Gamelan, Ragas, Romanian Gypsy Folk, Peking Opera, much obliged. Levis? National dress, ta all the same. What price the American people? Now that WOULD be a crying shame. Blues, Jazz, Congo Square, Bill Hicks, Laurel & Hardy (well, half of them!!), Ernest Hemmingway, Captain Beefheart, The Residents, Frank Zappa, Fatty Arbuckle (YES he was screwed by Hollywood, shameful, absolutely SHAMEFUL), Les Baxter, Levon Helm, Paul Laffoley, Bob Dylan, Alex Grey, GRATEFUL DEAD. No need for a cloying, join-hands, healing circle, but lets stick together folks. I mean the following in an absolutely NONE facetious fashion; this isn't coming from some crusty Deadhead (nothing the matter with THAT), but i truly believe that psychedelics are the way forward. A Dose For All. Sure there'll be some casualties; some none too pretty. But compared to what we witness every day around the world. Its a risk i'm willing to take. And so should you. A monumental seismic shift is needed (not you Haarp). The Shamans are right.

Forgot to mention Channel 4 News here in the UK. Not too bad.Again, these recommendations are for televisual news reports, not to be compared with checking for independent blogs online or other alternative means of information. Jon Snow on C4 news in a good broadcaster/journalist. Recently heard he had a row with the newsroom about some creature called Cheryl Cole who was booted off the American X Factor; he was aghast that this should be "news" worthy of air time. Others thought differently; the story should be included. The result? He kept talking at unnecessary length during his interviews until time ran out and they were forced to shelve it. Hardly biting, cutting edge politics but a little bit of English whimsy always raises a smile. And as for Afghanistan, please watch "Four Lions" by Chris Morris, Britain's satirical genius. Nice little film highlighting the inescapable comedy of four suicide bombers. If you see the name Chris Morris, watch it; especially Brass Eye, The Day Today and Jam.

Agree with your points on there. I found the invasion of Iraq, etc. to be absurd. "We are going to force them into democracy overnight". But how can you do that to a culture that has only a vague idea of what democracy is? One that has ancient thoughts and philosophies of it's own. It is about as absurd as telling the US they must become an Islamic Theocracy by tomorrow. Or an Absolute Monarchy, or... yeah, not to mention the fact that forcibly missionizing "democracy" does not seem very democratic at all! ********************************** I am not young enough to know everything. Oscar Wilde

I had just been reading in the newspaper (semi-local German one) that China's economy is exploding at a rate that is not as healthy as it might seem, at first glance. That inflation is a major problem. I must read further!********************************** I am not young enough to know everything. Oscar Wilde

Absolutely. Hence the recommendation with caution.More useful as a guide to different stories usually missed than, necessarily, it's actual content. They have mis-translated a coupla things to spin a more favourable light on Russia itself, but as for reports concerning other countries, its certainly more informative. Worth it for Max Keiser alone. Interesting to see RT journalists get arrested and hauled off rather forcefully, live on air while reporting in the US a while back. Apparently a press badge, with a microphone, a camera and a sound crew just isn't recognisable enough in America. Still as least its a democracy. Not like the poor, downtrodden oppressed in the Middle East. Oh.............