Sorry, Byrne is a few years behind. Though

Sorry, Byrne is a few years behind. Though …

Comment posted Outta sight by Biker-X.

Sorry, Byrne is a few years behind. Though some newer NORTHCOM military developments may have recently taken place, NORTHCOM is nothing new: it was created in 2002 following the 9-11 inside job pulled off by Cheney and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. NORTHCOM was added to the pre-existing regional warmaking (“security”) divisions in Europe (EUCOM), the Middle East and neighboring oil-rich regions (CENTCOM), South America (SOUTHCOM), and the Pacific (USPACOM). NORTHCOM has already been operating spy blimps over several US cities. These 5 regional warmaking divisions are led by “combatant commanders” previously known as CINCs (Commander-in-Chief), but Pwesident Chimpy has now reserved that title all to himself. These regional combatant commanders have a very high level of autonomy to wage war on their own, and respond to attacks. I believe the President has delegated power to them to retaliate with nuclear weapons under certain circumstances without direct presidential authority, increasing the liklihood of an accidental or escalating nuclear confrontation. Though I don’t have documentation for the following, I believe the combatant commander response protocol for use of nuclear weapons is permissible in the following situtations: an attack on US forces or its allies by any type of WMD (nuclear, chemical, or biological), or the loss of one or more US aircraft carriers. There are an additional 5 combatant commanders not assigned to these 5 geographical divisions but special operations instead.

CC, perhaps your historical expertise can confirm or elaborate on this observation. History has one lesson of hope for the future: empires which discard human rights, civil rights, the rule of domestic and international law, embrace torture and authoritarianism to maintain power, do this in their last stages of decline and collapse. Of course, that’s of little comfort to the millions of victims of the USA’s spoiled, insatiable belligerence.

On another note, here’s an interesting photo revealing the increasing militarization of our daily lives:

http://cryptogon.com/?p=97

The photographer even tried to bury the photo and paint smiley-faces on it.

Biker-X also commented

End of Empire – History repeats

http://cryptogon.com/?p=109

Recent comments by Biker-X

Evolving Politics?
“It’s the fun that will attract people, not the anger.”

Gee, and I thought it was the endless hours of consensus making prior to taking any action at all, to get the most watered-down, tame, politically correct slogan to rally behind that will offend and motivate no one…

Road seizures and attacks on military convoys have proven extremely effective in slowing US death squads in Iraq…

Don’t bother with fiber-optic cables: the next fake terror attack will most likely target financial infrastructure to provide cover for the collapse of the dollar and US economy, the looting of the working class’ savings by the elite, and a hopelessly bankrupt and corrupt federal government. The propaganda mill has already been primed for that scenario, with the useful idiots in the CIA-directed al Qaeda already the guilty party:

http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/54519.html

The same story appeared on CNN and the rest of the USA’s timid, self-censored, unquestioning corporate media.

The decades of marching up and down the streets have provided some good, healthy exercise if nothing else. And they’re nice venues for poseurs polishing their self-image. Then, when it’s all over, we all go home and make the “best” consumer choices we can, unaware that we’re feeding the same corporate monsters we’re writing letters to. Here’s one example:

http://certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/corporate-ownership.html

But haven’t we all earned the convenience of a Big Mac after a hard day of marching around?

As for myself, that’s why I moved to the country to start a seed sanctuary for non-GMO organic seeds, rather than expecting a million letters to Monsanto to have any impact at all. But that takes a lot more time and resolve than attending a feelgood protest every now and then.
Mushrooms
Very nice bolete. Boletes are fairly easy to identify correctly, but readers should be warned that not all boletes are edible: when in doubt, best just leave it be.
A few mushrooming tips:

-Mushrooms reproduce by spores, which cannot spread around if you collect them in plastic or paper bags. Use a mesh bag to collect your ‘shrooms, and you will spread spores for future seasons as you go.

-Storage in plastic bags or glass bowls makes mushrooms spoil quickly. They store longest kept cold and dry in a paper bag.

-Don’t wash your mushrooms until they’re ready to be cooked. A small brush is useful for cleaning off dirt and debris.

-They can be dried, pickled, canned, or try sauteeing or roasting them, then freezing them to preserve.
Valuing San Francisco
News Flash: Democrat Wing of Capitalist Party Gains Influence
Ooooh! Democrats seize the House. Start the countdown to…inaction.

Switching the country from Republicapitalist to Democapitalist every few years is like trying to cure liver problems by switching from vodka to rum.

Prediction for 2007: the word “impeachment” will be forgotten by Dems.

Pelosi is new speaker of the house: great, another female to join Hillary and Feinstein proving (righ, white) women can legislate just as poorly as rich, white men.

Quick, let’s get a soundbyte from Kerry, the guy who couldn’t mention torture or Abu Ghraib in not one but 3 pwesidential debates.

Go back to sleep America. Keep deluding yourselves that somehow this will change anything–like pretending Clinton and Gore protected the environment, or that Democrats don’t also wage wars based on lies.
October Pleasures
More repression in Oaxaca:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6112142.stm
October Pleasures
Here are a few collections of protest (massacre?) photos from Oaxaca:
http://cryptome.org/oaxaca-01/oaxaca-01.htm

http://cryptome.org/oaxaca-02/oaxaca-02.htm

http://cryptome.org/oaxaca-02/oaxaca-03.htm

http://cryptome.org/oaxaca-02/oaxaca-04.htm

http://cryptome.org/oaxaca-02/oaxaca-05.htm

http://cryptome.org/oaxaca-02/oaxaca-06.htm

http://cryptome.org/oaxaca-02/oaxaca-07.htm