caucus99percent

free-range politics, organic community

The 500th Edition

Almost a decade of weekly watches reviewing the news of the week, and this week is jam full of news. We had the world's largest funeral on record in Iran, and next door in Turkey there was the NATO clown show. The MoU is officially over and the hot war with Iran resumes. The Strait is closed and economic consequences will ensue. Oil, it seems, is the lubricant driving war. Having none pass through Hormuz (along with the other Gulf products- Helium, Natural Gas, fertilizers, and so on) will have global effects. Trump signed an agreement he never intended to honor. It was a stalling tactic to see if he could open the strait...another Minsk style agreement. As Lavrov stated, "The US is agreement incapable". Ukraine and Russia continue the drone wars, and with NATO openly stating they intend to go to war with Russia, giving Russia no choice but to prepare for a war with NATO. These stories and more below the fold.

Afternoon folks!

This week we've got some cool '50's blues compilation albums from guitarist Pee Wee Crayton and piano player Floyd Dixon. Following that is another blues artist from the fifties, Lowell Fulson, but still recording in the 80's and 90's, this album is from 1988. After that, we've got an Allman Brothers Band (live) show from 1971 and then we ease on into prog rock with a sort of Zappa-esque album from Godley & Creme (formerly of 10cc).

Enjoy the tunes and have a great weekend!

World Wrestling Federation War I

There has been a steady drumbeat of palaver from The Trump Regime about how Trump has stomped the shit out of Iran, past tense; and, alternately, how much more ferocious the next wave of shit stomping will be. As always, Trump contradicts himself over and over again as he alternately threatens effective genocide and bold predictions of a deal that Iran is begging for.

Good morning, good people! Hope this OT finds you all in fine fettle!

Another week of finishing up my active cases, and am still pegging August to be my last month of full, multi-area legal practice.

Staying home, preparing the occasional will or deed is beginning to have enormous appeal.

I have said this is a very poor county, and yesterday, while grocery shopping, I overheard a young couple discussing a purchase. The man told his woman companion that the bottle she was holding cost $5.26, and to put it back on the shelf. They would come get it when he got his next paycheck. The economy is expected to tank, due to this Iran totally (un)necessary war, and we might all be thinking about the next paycheck or the next SS check sooner, rather than later. And those shelves might be empty.

Happy Friday everyone. Welcome to Friday Night Photos your once a week escape from the day to day insanity of the world we live in. Post any photos, memes, music or whatever else you find of interest that helps tune out the madness.

In part 2 of the county fair series we'll explore the art of woodworking, something I was never any good at. When it comes to woodworking my only skill was taking a perfectly good piece of wood and turning it into a pile of sawdust.

Best in show for the woodworking contest.

It's been a good while since I've let loose the dogs of a good rant, so allow me to expand the parenthesis of my mind into what is hopefully a cogent stream of whatever.

Both political parties aren't worth the time or effort to flush them down the toilet.

They do not represent We the People.

We just celebrated the 250th anniversary of this country that fought a war because of a repressive governance and a lack of representation, and here we are 250 years later, facing the same unflushable situation.

We have no voice, we aren't being heard above the din of propaganda. And, oh man, is that propaganda thick. Like Custer at Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn) we are surrounded by it. And it's all leading in one direction, total sheepish acquiescence to the iron fist.

Something Funny!
Chris Hedges had an interesting July 4th. He spent the day with, as he says, 'some of the few sane people left in the United States: drag queens'. When I read that sub-title I went, 'Huh???' but that, and the cartoon by Mr. Fish, made me eagerly read on. It was a completely different take on maga politics, Trump, and history (fascism...). I never thought of these things before, but there are aspects of the article which really struck me, and some parts made me laugh out loud and read them to my hubby, who also laughed out loud. So, here's the article: Independence Day Drag.

And the awesome cartoon by Mr. Fish, called 'Diva Don':

And more about the article below the break!