The Weekly Watch

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 11:09am

Minimalist Edition

It's been a busy week helping my 87 year old mom move to smaller easier apartment in Birmingham. So my news is a little scant. The MSM continues with the blaring Trump-it...Sabers rattling in N. Korea (and a no war game peace deal still unreported). And they all fiddle around as the planet burns. Perhaps extinction is best.

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What's new in environmental science?
Methane release is still underestimated by the models because the permafrost that will melt and soon release methane have not been added to warming models. (video and text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&I...

Proof positive...Pipelines leak!
Leading anti-pipeline campaigner Diana Best discusses hearings in Nebraska that may mark Keystone XL's last stand and a new Greenpeace warning that four proposed Tar Sands oil pipelines threaten water resources (video and text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19736:U.S.-Pipelines-Spill-9%2C000-Gallo...

Of course if you don't understand science, and refuse to accept experimental data...we're all sunk. Climate scientist Michael Mann emphasizes the importance of science in our time
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:18949:Trump-Defunding-Science-a-Threat-t...
Documentaries on Netflix...
If you have access to Netflix, it is well worth your time to watch at least the last 15 min of "Chasing Ice" featuring years of time lapse disappearance of glaciers.
Another piece you might find illuminating is "Chasing Coral". Are you aware that 30% of the Great Barrier Reef died last year?
There is also a nice piece about Standing Rock - Awake.
https://www.netflix.com/title/80184376
(While I'm recommending netflix pieces consider watching Jeremy Scahill's "Dirty Wars" and the prison pipeline film "13th", both are thought provoking)

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A new Korean War?

As Defense Secretary James Mattis warns North Korea of "the end of its regime and destruction of its people," Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, the former chief of staff to Colin Powell, says the Trump administration is playing a reckless game (video and transcript)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19740:Wilkerson%3A-Trump-and-Kim-Jong-un...

As the US pushes through new sanctions on North Korea, direct negotiations are the only way to defuse the nuclear standoff, says Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson (video and text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19718:Wilkerson%3A-Trump-is-Clueless-on-...

One more older interview with Wilkerson. (video and transcript)
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&I...

Views from journalist Tim Shorrock, who recently returned from South Korea. (vid and text)
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/8/10/why_is_us_threatening_war_with

But No. We want war games...the one key to peace in the region
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&I...

Jimmy Dore talks about the path to peace in N. Korea using Noam's comments as proof.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRwf0qdy_S8 (8 min)

So we'll privatize our wars now? Amid ongoing White House discord, President Trump is reportedly weighing Blackwater founder Erik Prince's proposal for a private mercenary force in Afghanistan. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Colin Powell, says that would be a disaster (video and text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:19719:As-Aides-Spar%2C-Will-Trump-Hire-E...

Then there's our effort to overthrow Maduro in Venezuela
https://theintercept.com/2017/08/12/the-battle-for-venezuela-and-its-oil/

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Great interviews from the week:

First up Medea Benjamin talks with Lee Camp (about 15 min) The remainder of the show focuses on climate denial by Faux news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbdjMDNSHNo

Fascinating discussion with Peter Joseph, the founder of the Zeitgeist Movement, a grassroots, worldwide organization that advocates an alternative economic system based on sustainability, cooperation and human need, and Abby Martin (45 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwFOo5rbZA

The Intercepted podcast has become one of my favorite listens for the week. This edition focuses on privatization of war and a rare balanced conversation about Venezuela.
https://theintercept.com/2017/08/09/intercepted-podcast-atlas-golfed/ (60 min and text)

Ralph has a fascinating conversation about the billions of dollars spent on political philanthropy and what all that money is working for with David Callahan, author of The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age. (1 hr)
https://ralphnaderradiohour.com/inside-philanthropy/

Ralph talks to Democratic Congressman and constitutional law scholar Jamie Raskin about how progressives can break the Republican stranglehold on the federal government. And union organizer Jeffrey Farmer describes the pitched battle between the Teamsters and XPO Logistics, one of the largest transportation companies in the world. (1 hr)
https://ralphnaderradiohour.com/congressman-jamie-raskinteamsters-battle...

Chris Hedges speaks at the Earth at Risk conference (from a couple of years ago) 36 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvtS5To7Zek

Chris Hedges is joined by Diane Ravitch, former assistant secretary of education under President George H.W. Bush and author of “Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools”. (30 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BWVInIJ86A

Studies show that school vouchers lead to lower math and reading scores. So why has the Trump administration embraced them?
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-administration-advances...

Big oil trying to brainwash students (6 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJvzQ7BE920

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The Democraps...
If you missed Tom Franks and Jimmy Dore's discussion last week, here a couple of them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqvpePm_yiI (20 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMsk18X76JA (10 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI5DIuDZpF8 (12 min)

If you missed the Yes Man's imitation of a DNC spokesperson, this is worth your time...if only it was true!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBgaZSAEKng (17 min)

Ray McGovern confirms the DNC was a leak not a hack (17 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jHxqRlzKGU
Jimmy dispelled the DNC hack too (18 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYPmHJ3WeU

The DNC charter is fairly explicit. Article V, Section 4 says: “In the conduct and management of the affairs and procedures of the Democratic National Committee, particularly as they apply to the preparation and conduct of the Presidential nomination process, the Chairperson shall exercise impartiality and evenhandedness as between the Presidential candidates and campaigns." DNC emails that reached the public a year ago show direct and purposeful violations of those DNC rules.
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/dnc-fraud-lawsuit-exposes-anti-democra...

And yet we sanction Russia on the basis of lies and deception.

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The Economy

Capitalism is dying...Richard Wolff explains (14 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HA1pvz6MQo

Don't let 'em tell you corporate taxes are too high. They pay a lower percentage than you!
http://www.epi.org/publication/corporations-pay-between-13-and-19-percen...

As the administration continues to deregulate every protection possible, a panel discusses they outcomes of massive deregulation (hour video, text, or podcast)
https://www.c-span.org/video/?432355-1/federal-deregulation&utm_source

Chris Hedges is joined in Washington D.C. by Russell Mokhiber, editor of Corporate Crime Reporter. They explore how corporations have used their money to take over the nonprofit organizations and regulatory agencies that once protected the citizen from predatory corporate practices. (30 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJURmeW2M04

Here are a few big deal political maneuvers that haven’t received the reporting—or an outcry from a distracted public—that they need and deserve.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/08/09/dont-let-white-houses-dysf...

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I apologize for my lack of world news. I guess the Trumpteers are too loud to hear the quiet whisperings of the world. Here on the edge of the mountain all is caught up in rapid growth from all our rain. The tomatoes are ready for more sun and I'm happy to take what comes after the drought last year.

I continue to conclude there isn't a political answer to the many challenges our country faces and inflicts on the world... since both parties are subsidiaries of the corporate oligarchs. Jimmy Dore had one piece this week on the dems refusing to support single payer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZEqHnWDTbI (18 min)
The Humanist Report suggest Bernie is putting the democraps on the carpet to support his single payer bill (14 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieUD0J4SZoE

So here's hoping your Sunday is a good one, and you are peaceful and content in your corner of the world. Sorry I'm a little late with my publication. No internet service last night but plenty of bandwidth this AM here in the buckle of the Bible belt. I look forward to your comments

Tags: 
weekly watch
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Submitted by randtntx on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 8:56pm

for all this work. I hope to look at as many links as possible....they look really excellent. I just got a snip of that news from Charlottesville, VA where the protesters were killed. It is very disturbing.

None here are oblivious to all the bad news in this world, but I second your wishes for peace and calm for everyone.

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Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 11:38am
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@randtntx

...and I suspect the white nationalists came in from elsewhere in this largely liberal community. You have to put yourself in their racists shoes ...defending the rights of slave owners and those who fought to preserve the economic system that built amerika.

Somehow I didn't want to face up to that story this AM, so I ignored it the way MSM ignores the CIA induced wars we perpetrate.

Hope you find a piece or two of interest!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 11:44am
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Have you heard of s-town? It is a podcast in seven one hour parts focused on stories from Woodstock Alabama near the center of the state (south of Tuscaloosa)

Since I know and understand the culture I found it to be a hoot. If any of you have listened I would love to hear an outsiders take.

https://stownpodcast.org/

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by strollingone on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 5:53pm
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@Lookout I was born in Beaumont, mom's family's from Natchitoches. We left Texas when I was 8, so I stopped spending summers in a little town a ways east of Baton Rouge. First (and only) persons in my family to ever leave were my mom and dad. Caught hell for my accent so I got rid of it, but always wondered what I'd missed. This podcast reminds me some and fills me in...they say that you gotta take the good with the bad. Still and all it brings on the nostalgia.

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Submitted by Arrow on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 11:53am
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I'm wondering if you could even find any more?
Always go reads and viewing.
Say hi to Mom from the gang here. Moving can be so stressful. both of you take it easy.

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I want a Pony!

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 12:06pm
Lookout's picture

@Arrow

I've been trying to learn more about bitcoin and cryptocurrency, but will have to save that for a later date. I also had hoped to present more climate findings.

I guess I felt I didn't cover all the info I wanted and time wasn't on my side. But there's always next week!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by dkmich on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 1:07pm

a full post from you. Hope your mom is happy in her new digs. There is something to be said for small and cozy.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Submitted by WoodsDweller on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 1:43pm
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Super Heatwaves

Super-heatwaves of 55°C to emerge if global warming continues

An increase in global average temperature doesn't simply add a degree to existing weather conditions, it dramatically increases the chances of extreme weather events.
Note that this is not dry bulb temperature, it is a Heat Index, which itself seems to be somewhat different than wet bulb temperature, since 35 C wet bulb is fatal to humans.

super-heatwaves-of-55c-probability.jpg

The study analyses changes in yearly probability for a high humidity heatwaves since 1979 under different global warming scenarios. If global temperatures increase up to 2 C above pre-industrial levels the combined effect of heat and humidity (known as apparent temperature or Heat Index) will likely exceed 40°C every year in many parts of Asia, Australia, Northern Africa, South and North America. Europe will be least affected with up to 30% chance of having such strong heat wave annually.
However, if temperatures rise to 4°C a severe scenario is on the horizon. Scientists predict that a new super-heatwave will appear with apparent temperature peaking at above 55°C– a level critical for human survival. It will affect densely populated areas such as USA's East coast, coastal China, large parts of India and South America. Under this global warming scenario Europe is likely to suffer annual heatwaves with apparent temperature of above 40°C regularly while some regions of Eastern Europe may be hit by heatwaves of above 55°C.

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

Submitted by smiley7 on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 2:34pm
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Good fortune to a comforting move for Mom and many thanks for this week's edition. Love those tomatoes.

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