Working Out Bugs,
The Mediterranean Gas Great Game.
Thanks Eleni. There is lots to gain from cooperation, and it's easy to thwart the profit of any adversary. Can Israel cooperate? How about Turkey?
" In the past, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) justified its militarization of large swaths of Eastern Europe by pointing to the omnipresent threat of terrorism, or some 'rogue' foreign state, inherently understood to be Iran. Today the mask has slipped and it is no longer denied that NATO's primary target is Russia."
East Ghouta, the suburb of Damascus, which is occupied by various rebel factions, supported by the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia, against the Syrian government, may be the last battle (What about the oilfields?) of the Syrian proxy-war. The western press dutifully presents the official government propaganda.
"The reality is that since the Jihadi fighters in east Ghouta are practically by definition members of “undertakings and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL”, who are excluded from the ceasefire, there is no one in east Ghouta to negotiate a ceasefire with. In the run up to the voting on the Resolution on Saturday the Russians made the point that the draft of the Resolution with which they were presented – officially sponsored by Kuwait and Sweden, but in reality drawn up by the Western powers – failed to identify who the Syrian government is supposed to negotiate the ceasefire with. "
State Department Troll Farm gets Huge Cash Infusion. (Be a Troll! Operators are Standing-By!)
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi says "I can't talk about that", when asked if Broward country deputies in parking lot were ordered to crouch outside by their patrol cars with guns holstered, instead of taking some risks inside the school with students. There will be an investigation... Thanks Tom.
There's lots to investigate: Over the weekend Israel fought back on calls for his resignation saying the actions of his deputies were “[not] his responsibility” when they failed to enter the high school that was under siege by Nikolas Cruz, 19. Police responded to calls regarding Cruz over 45 times over a seven-year period, although Israel disputes the report, stating his office only received 23 calls during that time frame. The FBI also received a detailed call on Jan. 5, warning that Cruz had posted disturbing images of slaughtered animals and comments on his Instagram saying he wanted to kill people, according to reports. The FBI stated on Feb. 16, that the tip was not forwarded to the FBI Miami Field Office.
Kiliing a Parasite, Cancelling Student Debt, Part 1, Yves Smith: (Parasitic Capitalism vs productive Capitalism explained. Let's get those leeches off, ok?)
What is "buying power"? It's not what you make. It's what you have left after the bills you must pay. How does that figure into micro and macro economics, for you, and for me?
"The Real Game Trump is Playing on NAFTA" (Keeping everybody guessing is working very well right now, and it's the plan, for as long as it can be sustained. 6 more months? More?)
China has taken on a massive project of farmland rejuvenation. It will be costly. Who will fund it? China has sustained agriculture for thousands of years, but has blown that on the "green revolution" lately. I wish them well in this attempt at recovery.
The Good Life, Permaculture micro-farm in Tasmania. Dry journalism first, then link to informative blog. (What's your current favorite seasonal insect snack from the garden?)
Eating to Live