Open mike 09/01/2023

43 comments on “Open mike 09/01/2023”

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    1. 1.1

      The possibility of an unalienated life appears only when we are too old to achieve it. It is one of the biggest cruelties of our times.

  1. 2

    Déjà vu all over again:

    Supporters of Brazil's former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro have invaded the Supreme Court, the Congress building and surrounded the presidential palace in Brasilia, according to television images.

    In an echo of the January 6, 2021 invasion of the US Capitol by supporters of former US President Donald Trump, several thousand protesters broke into the buildings and were seen on television smashing furniture inside the Supreme Court and the Congress.

    Local media estimated about 3,000 people were involved.

    Many of the protestors dispute the result of the Oct. 30 election in which leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva beat Bolsonaro.

    The former president repeatedly questioned, without evidence, the credibility of the country's electronic voting system, and many of his hardcore supporters believe him.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/world/bolsonaro-supporters-storm-brazil%E2%80%99s-congress-supreme-court

          1. 2.1.1.1.1

            Whereas Bolsanaro is still in the USA, reportedly arranging travel to a place further beyond extradition back to Brazil. The difference between his self-serving cowardice and Lula's determination in the face of this domestic terrorism is quite plain.

            Facing various investigations from his time in office, Mr. Bolsonaro flew to Florida in late December with plans to stay for at least a month. He has been in Orlando, living in a rented house owned by a professional mixed-martial-arts fighter a few miles from Disney World…

            On Sunday, the former president offered no immediate comment on the storming of the presidential offices.

            https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/08/world/americas/bolsonaro-florida-brazil-protests.html

            https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1612211900326215681?s=20

            I read the other day that Bolsanaro was attempting to arrange travel to Italy (where he has family history, and honorary citizenship), though can't find the link just now. This article has much the same information, though not the most reliable source:

            According to Istoe Magazine, he wants to retire in Italy and has asked the Italian embassy in Brazil to speed up citizenship procedures for him and his family.

            Why is he so anxious to speed up the process? It's only a matter of time until Judge Alexandre de Moraes issues an arrest warrant for all the damage he has caused, mainly for spreading fake information about AIDS' link to the Covid-19 vaccine, which he was charged with by the Federal Police…

            his only option is arriving to Italy on time and obtain citizenship because Italy does not have an extradition treaty.

            https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/bolsonaro-to-italy-before-brazil-judge-issues-arrest

            https://www.dw.com/en/brazils-bolsonaro-attends-honors-ceremony-in-italy-amid-protests/a-59686581

            Though the recent acts of domestic terrorism by his remaining supporters in Brazil may be putting this bolt-hole beyond his reach. Meloni may be personally sympathetic to another far right politician, but has found it necessary join her voice to the world-wide condemnation of the Brazilian irruption:

            https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/meloni-lirruzione-in-brasile-e-incompatibile-con-il-dissenso-democratico/

            https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/global-leaders-condemn-bolsonaro-supporters-assault-brazil-govt-buildings-2023-01-08/

  2. 3

    That's a real worry (the Brazil situation, I mean).

    And don't go thinking it could never happen in good old NZ. There are people out there who will readily resort to violence if they don't get their way.

  3. 5

    Is it just me or does $5 week at paknsave feel like they are announcing the new inflated prices these days?

    1. 6.1

      If we are going to continue with infinite, compounding (exponential) economic growth, we'll need to de-couple it from any significant planetary impacts. The production and sale of 'spectacle' or 'experiences' can be quite useful in that respect – the spectacle or experience is destroyed quickly in in a single act of consumption. A new one can then be created and sold. But travelling somewhere to have the experience makes tourism very problematic indeed in terms of planetary impacts. It'll probably have to stop – one would like to think voluntarily and progressively over time with proper care taken of the people whose livelihoods vanish – but there's almost no chance of that.

      1. 6.1.1

        Virtual reality will make alternative reality tourist destinations. I can see the marketing now:

        No fossil fuels, no airports, no scary weather.

        Visit the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone and we'll throw in Mt Rushmore for free.

    1. 8.1

      Your missing the favourite pass time in North land these days – riding a motorbike with out a helmet at 50km.

      But I love this information from Roadwise UK

      "

      If you hit a pedestrian they have a much greater chance of surviving if your speed is lower.

      If you hit a pedestrian:

      • at 40 mph there is a 90 percent chance they will be killed.
      • at 35 mph there is a 50 percent chance they will be killed.
      • at 30 mph there is a 20 percent chance they will be killed.
      • at 20 mph there is a 2.5 percent chance they will be killed."

      So I'd like to see the speed drop to 30km an hour throughout town.

      1. 8.1.1

        30 kms without a helmet on a dirt bike or motorbike and you might be dead.

        We have a lot of these squids hooning around in in roto vegas, generally around 12 – 15 – all very young faces, over the parks and the sports field, three in row down the roads, fast as fuck, no helmet and no gear. And none of the bikes are in any way road worthy or legal.

        When they go of their bikes you might need a shuffle to get them in a box.

        But i guess nothing can be done about that.

    1. 10.1

      The two state solution is truly dead. The Israelis are out to destroy the Palestinian identity with the help of Western Corbyn haters.

    1. 11.2

      That story is something else, isn't it? The travel industry were amongst the biggest moaners at COVID restrictions, they rail constantly at any regulation of travel, they demand an unfterred hand on an array of issues from fuel to visas to PT to the airport.

      Yet people doing a discretionary activity of travelling in a private capacity on basically private carriers to an aiport trhat is only notionally publically owned and completely privately managed who lose their luggage need government intervention?

      Brooke Sabin is yet another example of complete industry capture of a journalist. The guy knows his gravy train of free holidays depends on nevere blaming the hand that feeds him, ever.

  4. 12

    Putin's cruelty to his own people. Page after page.

    https://t.me/wind_sower/4595

    Another mass death of the Russian military, similar to the one in Makeevka, happened in Shakhtersk on New Year's Eve. On December 31, 2022, there was an attack on the village of Davydovka. The exact number of dead is not known, but there are probably several dozen. Obituaries of the dead are already being published online. This incident was covered up by the Russian Ministry of Defense. No "retribution strikes" were delivered in response. And the Russian military correspondents, who were very worried about what happened in Makeyevka, simply ignored Shakhtersk. No one wrote that they used mobile phones in Shakhtyorsk, and similar nonsense. No one mentioned those dead. It was as if they didn't exist.

    google translate

    https://t.me/wind_sower/4575

    Mobilized from Samara, who survived the attack on Makiivka on January 1, spoke about how the shelling took place. He stated that such a large number of dead was due to the fact that on New Year's Eve the soldiers were gathered in the assembly hall (!) to listen to Putin's congratulations. The order was given by Colonel Roman Enikeev. The mobilized allegedly asked not to do this and not to gather them together, but they could not disobey the officers. Apparently the real goal of a special military operation is to achieve some unprecedented depths of shame and humiliation. Because there is no other way to explain the madness that is happening is simply impossible.

    google translate

    https://t.me/wind_sower/4483

    A video that needs to be shown on Russian channels, instead of Solovyov and Skabeeva. Russian soldier Alexander Goltsev, wounded 2 months ago, is slowly dying in a hospital in Makeevka, no one needs him, without proper help. He is not taken to Russia, there are no conditions for treatment in Makeevka. A few months ago it was a healthy man. Now – a weak, fading cripple. The soldiers do not receive any promised millions and help. Waste material. The video is a must-see for potential Russian mobiles and conscripts. Putin's criminal war is not romance, but such a nightmare. If you remain a cripple, you will suffer for the rest of your life, and no one will help you.

    google translate

  5. 13

    I've been reading quite a few of the comments u.s.n.a.t.o sending weapons to ukraine.

    Nato and the United States didn't have to get involved in this conflict at all.

    The fact is as of feb 24 2022..ukraine was not in nato.

    When USA invaded Iraq, did China Russa and Iran get involved?

    Thus World War three happens in April 2003 because opponents FIGHT.

    When people talk about a solution…often American apologists come up

    with What aboutism arguments…such as:

    What about the territory stolen by Russia..or What about Putin ordering shelling?

    Can people on here not see the blatant hypocrisy of the US?

    Bush invaded two soveirgen nations in his first term.

    another LOL effort is Putin mindreading.

    I guess then we really need to stop Bush..otherwise he would have taken dubai, kuwait etc…

    The POINT is …ESCALATION will lead to ww3…and Biden has chosen this.

    As for the "supress the oppressor" argument…this has been debunked with the Cuban Missile Crises.

    Based on this …WW3 would have happen Oct62 because none backed down.

    Survivors can self congratulate on not being pacifist.

    The fact is…since july45 …world war has become a zero-sum game.

    If ww3 is your enemy..and escalation causes ww3..then DEescalation is your ally.

    The reality is MAD…two superpowers with many nukes..KEPT the world safe.

    Russia is still the worlds superpower..with more nukes than anyone…1991 didnt change that….how would USA react to Mexico initiating a process of defense with Putin…ala Bucharest 2008.

    Why should my taxes go towards Escalation?

    It doesn't matter if i am wrong or right…what matters is you question the lack of questioning.

  6. 14

    Ever been to France? Its truely the national sport ,theres a protest about something every single day and that picture only shows a small one.

  7. 16

    Consider the proposition that the West is not supporting Ukraine, but rather Ukraine is supporting the West.

    It's been suggested that Ukrainian resistance comes at a cost to Americans [and by extension, the Western world].

    Historian Timothy Snyder's position is that Ukrainian resistance instead provides "extraordinary security benefits".

    The Russian invasion has pulled the curtain back on the Russian military and exposed its true large scale capabilities. It has changed the global balance in a way that makes peace more likely in decades to come.

    By fighting in self-defense, Ukrainians have thus reduced the risk of a major war and of a nuclear war. This extraordinary achievement is due to the courage and skill of Ukrainians. They do not get much credit for it. They should get more credit, and more support.

    More at
    https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1589260108537610240.html

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