Bosley Crowther, chief film critic for the New York Times, didn’t quite know what to make of Dr. Strangelove at the time of its release in January 1964. Stanley Kubrick’s dark antiwar satire was “beyond any question the most shattering sick joke I’ve ever come across,” he wrote. But if the film had its hilarious moments, Crowther found its overall effect distinctly unnerving. What exactly was Kubrick’s point? “When virtually everybody turns up stupid or insane — or, what is worse, psychopathic — I want to know what this picture proves.” We may find it odd for an influential critic to expect a movie to “prove” anything. Kubrick’s aim was manifestly not to prove, but to subvert and discomfit. With feature-length hyperbole... Read more
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The current AUKUS submarine contract reflects a profoundly tragic lost opportunity. read now...Huckleberry hoist by his own petard He created this monster and now it’s trying to destroy him. I guess Lindsey is banking on the idea that Republicans are so racist that they’ll rally behind moves to go to war with China. And he may be right. But he’s on the wrong side of the argument when it comes to Russia and Ukraine. They support Vladimir Putin, an anti-gay, authoritarian, white nationalist and they don’t give a damn about Ukrainian children. They don’t give a damn about any American children who aren’t the spawn of right wing bigots. And Lindsey, they don’t really care about family values. They’re Trump voters. Think about it.
The Victorian capital of Melbourne has this week been named the World’s most livable city for Nazi’s. The news came as footage went around the World of a group of Nazi’s being chaperoned in front or Parliament house by the... Read More ›
Meanwhile, this was happening just last year Just don’t suggest that there was collusion. That would be a witch hunt: Federal prosecutors in New York involved in the criminal investigation into Donald Trump’s social media company last year started examining whether it violated money laundering statutes in connection with the acceptance of $8m with suspected Russian ties, according to sources familiar with the matter. The company – Trump Media, which owns Trump’s Truth Social platform – initially came under criminal investigation over its preparations for a potential merger with a blank check company called Digital World (DWAC) that was also the subject of an earlier investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Towards the end of last year, federal prosecutors started examining two loans totaling $8m wired to Trump Media, through the Caribbean, from two obscure entities that both appear to be controlled in part by the relation of an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, the sources said.
The Prison Policy Initiative looks at a fast-growing group in the incarceration system and the challenges they are more likely to face.
The post A Comprehensive Report on Incarceration and Women Outlines the Gender Disparities appeared first on scheerpost.com.
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – March 19, 2023
by Tony Wikrent
Global power shift
China Leads A Successful Middle East Summit
Ian Welsh, March 16, 2023
Something which has slipped past most people’s radar is that China recently acted as the intermediary for peace talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The two countries have been at each other’s throats for decades, funding and running operations and proxies against each other….
The warmongers in the Anglophone countries of Britain, the USA and Australia today cause great concern with their AUKUS treaty and the not very subtle stirring of frenzy against China. It was similar in 2003 except that Iraq was the country being demonised. In 2003 rallies against the invasion of Iraq were held around Australia. Continue reading »
20 years ago, on 20 March 2003, the US, the UK, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq in an illegal act of aggression. As with all wars, we were told this one would be quick. The pretext for the invasion was – despite authoritative doubts raised at the time – claims about the Iraqi leader Saddam Continue reading »
The relentless drive to war against China goes on. There is no longer any pretence that China is in the US sights and so Australia is prepared to spend whatever it takes to prove its fealty to Washington. No military outlay is too much, no threat to our economic future too risky for the Australian Continue reading »
Humanity has reached a tipping point. It is time for governments, international institutions and people everywhere to take stock and act with renewed urgency. RESTORE HOPE: AN APPEAL to all who care about Humanity’s and the Planet‘s future Much depends on how well we support this appeal. Professor Richard Falk, Dr Chandra Muzaffar and I Continue reading »
Under the Aukus military accord, Australia and Britain are committing serious self-harm to defend the American empire in the Indo-Pacific. The symbolism and timing could not be more striking. After Beijing brokered a deal to help Iran and Saudi Arabia resume diplomatic relations, Washington hosted the leaders of Britain and Australia at the Point Loma Continue reading »
March 19th marks the 20th anniversary of the U.S. and British invasion of Iraq. This seminal event in the short history of the 21st century not only continues to plague Iraqi society to this day, but it also looms large over the current crisis in Ukraine, making it impossible for most of the Global South to see the war Continue reading »
A speedpainting inspired by Devin Townsend's 2022 music album. I'll go to his concert tomorrow in Toulouse! Lightwork Tour. I listen to his music since 2000. I can't wait!
Update after the concert:
🤩🤩🤩 The concert was G R E A T!
He really played a lot of song from my youth around the Infinity period: Bad Devil, Truth... or from the start of 2000s, like The Fluke, Deadhead, Kingdom, it was so cool!
A total of 55 40-foot containers were loaded on the new China-Europe train. The route chosen is to exit China at the Manzhouli border crossing to enter Russia, and then go west all the way to Moscow. The goods transported are auto parts, building materials, home appliances, fabrics, clothing, home furnishing, etc. The entire route of this operation is about 9,000 kilometers, and the estimated transit time is about 18 days.Linking Moscow and Beijing is of symbolic value, but the symbolism says a lot. The big news is that Sino-Russia trade is increasing and it is not just energy that formerly went to Europe heading East. China as "the factory of the world" is now supplying Russia directly with its output, further eroding the effect of sanctions. And the trade is being settled in RIB and CYN. Time to keep an eye on the CYN/RUB rate?
Rail Freight
China and Russia capitals connected on New Silk Road for first time
Chengfan Zhao
h/t Naked Capitalism
Honduras’ leftist President Xiomara Castro announced her government will recognize China. Now only 12 UN member states have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan separatists. They have a combined population of less than 39 million, or 0.49% of the planet.
The post Taiwan Separatists Lose Key Ally, Honduras Recognizes China—Just 12 Small Countries Remain appeared first on scheerpost.com.
Again, I have to ask, if the GOP base wants someone who owns the libs, nobody does it better than Donald Trump. And if they want more moderate policies, Ron DeSantis certainly isn’t offering any. So what’s DeSantis doing by trying to out Trump Trump? Politico: Gov. Ron DeSantis is often called “Trump 2.0” for his embrace of conservative policies and his take-no-prisoners style of politics. And ahead of the 2024 presidential election — as both Florida men vie to lead the party and ultimately the nation — they have openly feuded over Covid-19 and vaccines and whether DeSantis is truly loyal to the former president, whose 2018 endorsement helped the Florida governor win election. But the men are also very similar in their approach to issues like critical race theory, China and especially their criticism of Democrats and President Joe Biden. How similar? POLITICO collected some of Trump’s and DeSantis’ quotes. See if you can tell who said it. 1.(On fellow Republicans) “Some of these Republicans, they just sit back like potted plants, and they let the media define the terms of the debate.
Ramzy Baroud sheds light on the ongoing protests in Israel and their limited impact on the country’s inherently racist institutions and ongoing military occupation and apartheid in Palestine.
The post Israel Protests Should Not Be Confused With the Palestinian Struggle for Equality appeared first on scheerpost.com.
The clip from the 2007 documentary "War Made Easy" displays the media's attempt at manufacturing consent for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The post War Made Easy: Will US Media Finally Admit Its Craven Complicity in Iraq War? appeared first on scheerpost.com.
“Party of law and order, my ass” Will MAGA stick its fingers in an electrical outlet a second time? What’s the betting line in London on violence erupting if Trump is indicted this week? Gonna drop a missive about it from Heather Cox Richardson right here: Rumors that he is about to be indicted in New York in connection with the $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels have prompted former president Donald Trump to pepper his alternative social media site with requests for money and to double down on the idea that any attack on him is an attack on the United States. The picture of America in his posts reflects the extreme version of the virtual reality the Republicans have created since the 1980s. The United States is “THIRD WORLD & DYING,” he wrote.
Every Sunday, I blog about the geek-friendly radio shows the BBC are putting out in the forthcoming week! All of the following can be either listened to live or downloaded afterwards for free on the BBC Sounds app, no matter where you are in the world. Please note: I don’t include later episodes of most […]
So it looks like "Doom's Day" awaits us all this Monday (let me check my schedule), but what exactly does it mean for Doctor Who?
Silicon Valley Bank shows how rules are instantly changed to protect the rich and powerful.