@Lookout so many times, I am always amazed how many people are unaware or uncaring. Looking at how Christian messages through Missionaries are used to disrupt a society is easier to see in a non-christian country such as China. One can spot how the push of the prosperity gospel and Right to Life message in the US was used to reduce the power of Churches who participated in Civil Rights and poverty eradication. Working with compassionate christian groups is part of our box of tools to push back the oligarchy and global corporatism. I left the local church as the property gospel moved into the area and went to self education. Significant differences in the acctual language of the texts in various versions of the Bible. Noticeable when reading verse for verse simultaneously in multiple official versions. "It says in the Bible" depends upon which Bible one reads.

Are the chanterelles native or did they get a little help from you? I am working on preparing an microclimate that will stay moist enough to support a colony or two of gourmet mushrooms. Have several types that grow in the fields. Need to find a local mycologist expert to help identify the safe to eat varieties.

May the good harvest continue.

Noam claims it is the upper 20% that holds sway as he says (@ 1.5 min) early in this synopsis of clips explaining his concept of manufacturing consent
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTBWfkE7BXU]

I've been enjoying your China expose, and learning more about that evolving culture.

Things look good on your farm. We are wild and woolly with all the rain...another 0.5 inches yesterday. Surprisingly we've had little disease problems, but the fungus is among us - and we're harvesting chanterelles. We preserve the excess by sauteing them lightly and freezing them. So far we have 3 gallons of blueberries in the freezer in addition to eating lots of them. Summer crops are just now coming in...tomatoes, squash, and so on.

All the best to all of you.

@The Aspie Corner leads to more corruption. As the video points out Rick Scott is one of the largest fraudsters of government healthcare with no consequences. Our method of removal of children into foster care for profit has expanded to immigrants. There are multiple levels one can extract a profit. Nothing to do with the health and benefit of a nation and its citizens.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhcXb77hkk4]

@detroitmechworks populations as one side of the team. Any opposing war voices that may lead to other societal changes are suppressed domestically. In fact fact fear of an enemy has created acceptance of greater government and corporate control of our lives to create a sense of stability. Total war would disrupt our lives, more people may realize what is happening and en masse they can effect change.

Sorry I will miss the get together this weekend. The holiday highway traffic is pretty heavy and don't plan on joining the masses on the road.

Has become the Military's ONLY policy. The idea that somehow it's more moral to ignore what the people want and kill enemies anyway because you HAVE to is very Roman.

A little town called Messina comes to mind.

Course, that's all ancient history. Which Most Americans steadfastly refuse to read.

@Wink does not appear to be as stable as the ancient Romans.

The researchers’ analysis of Roman concrete sheds light on existing modern concrete blends that have been used as more environmentally friendly partial substitutes for Portland cement, such as volcanic ash or fly ash from coal-burning power plants. Monteiro and his colleagues also suggest that adopting materials and production techniques used by the ancient Romans could produce longer-lasting concrete that generates less carbon dioxide. Monteiro estimates that pozzolan, which can be found in many parts of the world, could potentially replace “40 percent of the world’s demand for Portland cement.” If this is the case, ancient Roman builders may be responsible for making a truly revolutionary impact on modern architecture–one massive concrete structure at a time.

around us.
Syracuse Bridge Collapse

[edit] Fixed Link

@gjohnsit were very clear and concise. If one was in a discussion with a 9.9%er there are examples of several places to puncture the delusions.

So what kind of characters are we, the 9.9 percent? We are mostly not like those flamboyant political manipulators from the 0.1 percent. We’re a well-behaved, flannel-suited crowd of lawyers, doctors, dentists, mid-level investment bankers, M.B.A.s with opaque job titles, and assorted other professionals—the kind of people you might invite to dinner. In fact, we’re so self-effacing, we deny our own existence. We keep insisting that we’re “middle class.”

One area not discussed is those living on pensions and the jealousy that has arisen. To receive $2,000 a month income from 1.2 million dollars, without touching principle, a 2% rate of return is required. A pensioner may look at $2,000 and say that is not enough to live on and someone with 1.2 million to invest could have the same viewpoint.

As of 2016, it took $1.2 million in net worth to make it into the 9.9 percent; $2.4 million to reach the group’s median; and $10 million to get into the top 0.9 percent.

We are still ignoring the really high pensions that are distorting the system and used as examples by commentators. Add less revenue available for local projects and schools to the mix. Result anger on every side of the issue and groups of voters to manipulate.

Once legislators and judges were added to the system any fiscally prudent change became almost impossible.

Oregon’s unusual method for calculating pensions tends to generate lavish payouts.

For decades, PERS calculated pensions two different ways, and retirees could choose whichever produced the bigger numbers.

The first way was similar to what most states do, basing pensions on each worker’s final salary and years of service. But Oregon’s lawmakers included a golden touch, redefining “salary” to include remuneration from any source.

P.S. Keep your economic lessons coming. Find them useful.

classes

High-income Americans are feeling the most upbeat in records going back to 2004.

Sentiment among those with annual household incomes of more than $100,000 jumped to 84.3 in the week ended July 1, the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index showed Thursday.

Tax cuts, rising household wealth and a solid job market are among reasons why consumers may be more sanguine, though the brighter mood doesn’t extend to those with the least pay. The comfort index for those with incomes below $15,000 fell to a three-month low of 29.4 out of a possible 100 points.

@Wink Learned a lot from him and his courage of reporting.

Ed Schultz Dead at 64