Saturday, 4 December 2010
Israeli Government Documents Show Deliberate Policy to Restrict Food to Gaza
Documents, whose existence were denied by the Israeli government for over a year, have been released after a legal battle led by Israeli human rights group, Gisha. The documents reveal a deliberate policy by the Israeli government in which the dietary needs for the population of Gaza are chillingly calculated, and the amounts of food let in by the Israeli government measured to remain just enough to keep the population alive at a near-starvation level. This documents the statement made by a number of Israeli officials that they are "putting the people of Gaza on a diet".
In 2007, when Israel began its full siege on Gaza, Dov Weisglass, adviser to then Prime-Minister Ehud Olmert, stated clearly, “The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.” The documents now released contain equations used by the Israeli government to calculate the exact amounts of food, fuel and other necessities needed to do exactly that.
The documents are even more disturbing, say human rights activists, when one considers the fact that close to half of the people of Gaza are children under the age of eighteen. This means that Israel has deliberately forced the undernourishment of hundreds of thousands of children in direct violation of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention...
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Saed Bannoura@'truth-out'.
The full text of the released documents, and the original Freedom of Information Act request filed by Gisha, can be found on Gisha's Website
Oceans of blood and profits for the mongers of war
Not the human cost – 80 lives a day in Iraq, unknown numbers in Afghanistan, one a day in Israel/"Palestine" (for now) – but the financial one. I'm still obsessed by the Saudi claim for its money back after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990. Hadn't Saudi Arabia, King Fahd reminded Saddam, financed his eight-year war against Iran to the tune of $25,734,469,885.80? For the custodian of the two holy places, Mecca and Medina, to have shelled out $25bn for Saddam to slaughter his fellow Muslims was pretty generous – although asking for that extra 80 cents was surely a bit greedy.
But then again, talking of rapacity, the Arabs spent $84bn underwriting the Anglo-American operation against Saddam in 1990-91 – three times what Fahd gave to Saddam for the Iran war – and the Saudi share alone came to $27.5bn. In all, the Arabs sustained a loss of $620bn because of the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait – almost all of which was paid over to the United States and its allies. Washington was complaining in August 1991 that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait still owed $7.5bn. Western wars in the Middle East, it seemed, could be fought for profit as well as victory. Maybe Iraq could have brought us more treasure if it hadn't ended in disaster. At least it would help to have paid for America's constant infusion of cash to Israel's disastrous wars.
According to Israeli historian Illan Pappé, since 1949, the US has passed to Israel more than $100bn in grants and $10bn in special loans – more than Washington hands out to North Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Over the past 20 years, $5.5bn has been given to Israel for military purchases. But for sheer self-abuse, it's necessary to read of the Midas-like losses in the entire Middle East since just 1991 – an estimated $12,000,000,000,000. Yup, that's a cool $12trn and, if you don't believe me, take a look at an unassuming little booklet that the "Strategic Fortnight Group" published not long ago. Its statistic caught a few headlines, but was then largely forgotten, perhaps because it was published in faraway Mumbai rather than by some preposterous American "tink-thank" (as I call them). But it was funded by, among others, the Norwegian and Swiss foreign ministries. And the Indians are pretty smart about money, as we know as we wait in fear of its new super-economy.
So since there may soon be a new Israel-Hizbollah war, let's get an idea of the astronomical costs of all those F-16s, missiles, "bunker-busters", Iranian-made rockets, smashed Lebanese factories, villages, towns, bridges, power stations, oil terminals – we will not soil ourselves with Lebanon's 1,300 pathetic dead or Israel's 130 pathetic dead in the 2006 war for these are mere mortals – not to mention the losses in tourism and trade to both sides. Total losses for Lebanon in 2006 came to an estimated $3.6bn, for Israel $1.6bn – so Israel won hands down in terms of money, even if its rabble of an army screwed everything up on the ground. But among those who paid for this were American taxpayers (funding the Israelis) and European taxpayers, Arab potentates and the crackpot of Iran (funding Lebanon). So the American taxpayer destroys what the European taxpayer rebuilds. It's the same in Gaza; Washington funds the weapons to blow up EU-funded projects and the EU rebuilds them in time for them to be destroyed again. But boy oh boy, in the Lebanese war, US arms manufacturers make a packet – and so, to a lesser extent do the Iranian and Chinese missile dealers.
Let's break down the 2006 Lebanon war figures. Bridges and roads: $450m. Utilities: $419m. Housing: $2bn. But military "institutions": a paltry $16m. Hizbollah apparently spent $300m. Overall, rebuilding came to $319m, infrastructure repairs to $454m, oil spill costs to $175m. Just for sadistic fun, you can add forest fires ($4.6m), displaced civilians ($52m) and Beirut airport ($170m). But the biggest cost of all? Tourism, at $3-4bn. Now Israel. Tourism lost $1.4 bn, "government and emergency services" $460n, businesses $1.4bn, compensation paid out $335.4m, forest fires $18m. What have the Israeli army and Hizbollah got against forests? In all, the Israeli losses amounted to 1.5 per cent of GDP, the Lebanese 8 per cent of GDP...
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Robert Fisk@'The Independent'
Rachel Maddow on How the GOP Uses Sex, Pedophiles to Kill Good Legislation
On last night's Rachel Maddow Show, the host discussed the GOP's current love affair for the horrible "poison perv pill" as a way to kill meaningful legislation in Washington:
If you want to kill a proposed policy in Washington, one of the most devious ways to do it is with a "poison pill." As a metaphor, the poison pill is relatively straightforward: you simply force something into a bill that is so politically toxic, it kills the whole thing.But if you are this year's minority party in the House -- and yes, that still means the Republicans -- then you've got a whole new take on the poison pill tactic .... This year's Republican lawmakers have come up with "poison sex pill" or the "poison perv pill" or the "world's most cynical poison pill," depending on how you think about it. They keep coming up with ways to add the word "pedophile" or "Viagra" or "rapist" to bills that have precisely nothing to do with any of those things. They add those things to bills so it looks like Democrats are voting in favor of pedophiles or Viagra or rapists, when in fact they are voting for things like better school lunches. Classy, right?
Watch the whole segment here:
David Lynch - Good Day Today
“I am very happy to be with Sunday Best with the songs ‘Good Day Today’ and ‘I Know’. This feels like a good partnership and I’m looking forward to everyone having a good day today. In all my films, I have always been very involved with all that one hears. The creation of this record was a natural extension of my love of sound and music.”
- David Lynch
via Drowned In Sound
Friday, 3 December 2010
WikiLeaks Mirrors
- wikileaks.org - Official Wikileaks Page [46.51.171.90, 184.72.37.90]
- cablegate.wikileaks.org - Secret US Embassy Cables [91.194.60.90, 91.194.60.112, 204.236.131.131]
- chat.wikileaks.org - Secure SSL Chat Page [88.80.13.160]
- sunshinepress.org - Secure Document Submission Page [88.80.2.32]
- wikileaks.com - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.net - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.biz - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.de - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.eu - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.fi - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.mobi - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.nl - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.pl - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.us - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- ljsf.org - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
Real mirrors on different IP Addresses
- wikileaks.info - Mirror hosted in Switzerland [62.2.16.94]
- wikileaks.se - Mirror hosted in Sweden [88.80.6.179]
- nyud.net - Mirror hosted in the United States [129.170.214.192]
Important Wikileaks Links
JPBarlow The first serious infowar is now engaged. The field of battle is WikiLeaks. You are the troops. #WikiLeaks JPBarlow We'll see if an army without officers can be effective against the combined Meatspace military. I bet on us. #SaveWikiLeaks
wikileaks WikiLeaks,org domain killed by US everydns.net after claimed mass attacks KEEP US STRONG https://donations.datacell.com/
WTF Indeed???
BrandDNA North and South Korea let off a few missiles at each other, yet Korea still gets more World Cup votes than Australia. WTF!?
jamesrbuk Good news - I believe Salon (thanks to @ggreenwald) is set to host (sadly non-interactive) .jpg versions of the @tableau graphics. Kudos.
WikiLeaks - The Musical
[A playground, Australia, mid-1980s. Two girls are gossiping.]
SALLY
You know who I love?
That band Men at Work.
Did you hear the scandal
With Annie and Dirk?
They were caught making out
By a school clerk
You know who I love?
That band Men at Work.
Did you hear the scandal
With Annie and Dirk?
They were caught making out
By a school clerk
LISA
Someone told me. I think it was Lou.
They were over by the football ground
They were naked; she was making a sound
Like a hot and bothered kangaroo.
Someone told me. I think it was Lou.
They were over by the football ground
They were naked; she was making a sound
Like a hot and bothered kangaroo.
SALLY
I also heard that Mr. Nantz
Was driving his car without any pants
I also heard that Mr. Nantz
Was driving his car without any pants
LISA
He's the one
With the red Impala?
He has tufts of hair
Just like a koala
He's the one
With the red Impala?
He has tufts of hair
Just like a koala
[JULIAN ASSANGE approaches.]
SALLY
Uh oh, it's Julian
He's a little bit strange
Let's lower our voices
As he comes into range
Uh oh, it's Julian
He's a little bit strange
Let's lower our voices
As he comes into range
LISA
I agree with you
This is not for his ears
We can start talking normal
When he disappears
I agree with you
This is not for his ears
We can start talking normal
When he disappears
[SALLY and LISA start to whisper.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
What are you guys
Talking about?
What are you guys
Talking about?
LISA
It's none of your business
Don't stick in your snout
It's none of your business
Don't stick in your snout
JULIAN ASSANGE
But whispering is impolite
It's cliquish, mean, and just not right.
Your secrecy is a kind of slap.
But whispering is impolite
It's cliquish, mean, and just not right.
Your secrecy is a kind of slap.
LISA
You should tell someone who gives a crap
You should tell someone who gives a crap
JULIAN ASSANGE
I don't like how this is going
My curiosity is growing
Come on, tell me. Really, tell!
To not know is a kind of hell
I don't like how this is going
My curiosity is growing
Come on, tell me. Really, tell!
To not know is a kind of hell
[SALLY and LISA whisper more and then leave, giggling.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
I'll get you!
I'll get you!
Don't believe me?
I'll bet you!
There will be retribution!
There will be tit for tat!
There will be revolution
I will see to that!
I'll get you!
I'll get you!
Don't believe me?
I'll bet you!
There will be retribution!
There will be tit for tat!
There will be revolution
I will see to that!
[Enraged and frustrated, JULIAN ASSANGE becomes a hacker. He devotes himself to the unchecked distribution of all information.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
I'll dub myself Mendax
It means "noble liar."
I'll remake myself as a
High-tech town crier
When people attempt
To hide information
I will be the one
To compel revelation
I'll dub myself Mendax
It means "noble liar."
I'll remake myself as a
High-tech town crier
When people attempt
To hide information
I will be the one
To compel revelation
[After two decades moving between the hacking subculture and academia, JULIAN ASSANGE founds WikiLeaks, a website devoted to challenging secrecy regulations by releasing documents.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
To radically shift regime behavior
We must accept a new kind of savior
How can any authority control what we see
When all information wants to be free?
To radically shift regime behavior
We must accept a new kind of savior
How can any authority control what we see
When all information wants to be free?
[At first, JULIAN ASSANGE uses WikiLeaks for good, exposing assassinations in Kenya.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
Witness how I used my network
To interfere with Kenyan wetwork.
It's hard to grasp this type of power
I liken it to Bentham's tower
He called it the panopticon
It acted as a check upon
All who thought they were being observed
This is what we have long deserved.
Witness how I used my network
To interfere with Kenyan wetwork.
It's hard to grasp this type of power
I liken it to Bentham's tower
He called it the panopticon
It acted as a check upon
All who thought they were being observed
This is what we have long deserved.
[One day JULIAN ASSANGE is contacted by BRADLEY MANNING.]
BRADLEY MANNING
Hello, I am Bradley Manning
I work in intelligence
I know you by your reputation
And frankly, sir, I have the sense
That my position in the army
Grants me special access to
Secret information that I
Think that I might leak to you.
Hello, I am Bradley Manning
I work in intelligence
I know you by your reputation
And frankly, sir, I have the sense
That my position in the army
Grants me special access to
Secret information that I
Think that I might leak to you.
JULIAN ASSANGE
What's your name, now? Manning? Bradley?
Tell me more; I'll listen, gladly...
What's your name, now? Manning? Bradley?
Tell me more; I'll listen, gladly...
Hallucinogens as Medicine
Sandy Lundahl, a 50-year-old health educator, reported to the behavioral biology research center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine one spring morning in 2004. She had volunteered to become a subject in one of the first studies of hallucinogenic drugs in the U.S. in more than three decades. She completed questionnaires, chatted with the two monitors who would be with her throughout the eight hours ahead, and settled herself in the comfortable, living-room-like space where the session would take place. She then swallowed two blue capsules and reclined on a couch. To help her relax and focus inward, she donned eyeshades and headphones, through which a program of specially selected classical music played.
The capsules contained a high dose of psilocybin, the principal constituent of “magic” mushrooms, which, like LSD and mescaline, produces changes in mood and perception yet only very rarely actual hallucinations. At the end of the session, when the psilocybin effects had dissipated, Lundahl, who had never before taken a hallucinogen, completed more questionnaires. Her responses indicated that during the time spent in the session room she had gone through a profound mystical-like experience similar to those reported by spiritual seekers in many cultures and across the ages—one characterized by a sense of interconnectedness with all people and things, accompanied by the feeling of transcending time and space, and of sacredness and joy.
DOH!
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has few places to hide
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had a reputation for being suspicious and paranoid even before everyone was out to get him.
Everyone, in this case, is the US - where government lawyers are hoping to prosecute on espionage charges - and the European Union, where he is wanted for questioning about an allegation of rape.
As of Tuesday, Mr Assange has also been liable to arrest in any of the 188 member countries of Interpol - from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe - in connection with the Swedish case.
Last seen in London, he is widely assumed to be in the UK now, though remaining continuously on the move.
If he appeared in public, British police would be obliged to arrest him under a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Swedish authorities - though it's not clear that anyone is going to go out of their way to find him.
"If there is no indication that the accused is in a particular region, you won't expect a police force to investigate," said a spokesman for the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
So, supposing Mr Assange is still in the UK, and he lies low, he may be able to avoid arrest. In spring, however, his six-month visa will run out, creating additional problems for him...
Continue reading
HA!
davidhepworth RT @rob_fitzpatrick: Perhaps echo and the bunnymen can cheer us up with one of their football songs. Spare Us The Qatar. #besticandosorry
Grateful Dead: 30 days of the Dead (Archive)
The music of The Grateful Dead is meant to be shared and enjoyed by everyone. That's why we created the 30 Days of Dead. We at Dead.net realize that it was sometimes a little tougher than it should have been for you to download the music (especially that first week - sorry!), so we thought it only right that we give everyone a second chance to get every minute of the music. It's the kind thing to do.
Until the evening of December 8, 2010, we will keep this page and all of the links to the music live so that everyone has the chance to get and enjoy all of the songs. Just click on the song title to download the song.
NB: Most of these are previously unissued SBD recordings.
| 1 | New Speedway Boogie | 09.20.1970 | Fillmore East | 23.6 MB | ||
| 2 | Dark Star | 06.05.1969 | Fillmore West | 49.7 MB | ||
| 3 | Althea | 03.14.1981 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | 20.6 MB | ||
| 4 | Playin' in the Band | 05.13.1973 | Iowa St. Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA | 68.3 MB | ||
| 5 | Easy Wind A | 01.16.1970 | Springer's Inn, Portland, OR | 23.1 MB | ||
| 6 | Sugaree | 10.13.1980 | Warfield | 24.1 MB | ||
| 7 | He's Gone A | 03.26.1987 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | 30.3 MB | ||
| 8 | Estimated Prophet | 10.07.1980 | Warfield | 28.8 MB | ||
| 9 | China Cat Rider | 02.01.1970 | The Warehouse, New Orleans, LA | 28.3 MB | ||
| 10 | Cream Puff War | 03.18.1967 | Winterland | 14.3 MB | ||
| 11 | St. Stephen | 10.15.1983 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | 18.04 MB | ||
| 12 | The Music Never Stopped | 04.24.1978 | Horton Field House, Illinois St. U. | 20.3 MB | ||
| 13 | Truckin' | 05.30.1971 | Winterland | 19.4 MB | ||
| 14 | New MinglewoodBlues | 12.26.1970 | Legion Stadium, El Monte, CA | 12.5 MB | ||
| 15 | Sailor/Saint | 10.25.1980 | Radio City Music Hall, NY, NY | 30.4 MB | ||
| 16 | New Potato Caboose | 08.04.1967 | O'Keefe Toronto, ON | 15.6MB | ||
| 17 | Cold Rain & Snow | 12.28.1970 | Legion Stadium, El Monte, CA | 15.3 MB | ||
| 18 | So Many Roads | 03.28.1993 | Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY | 16.9 MB | ||
| 19 | Sugar Magnolia | 02.24.1971 | Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY | 13.3 MB | ||
| 20 | Alligator | 08.05.1967 | O'Keefe Toronto, ON | 25.6 MB | ||
| 21 | Cassidy -> Don't Ease Me In | 08.31.1983 | Silva Hall, Eugene, OR | 22.5 MB | ||
| 22 | Tennessee Jed > Let it Grow | 10.23.1989 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC | 49.8 MB | ||
| 23 | Dupree's Diamond Blues | 01.25.1969 | Venuee: Avalon Ballroom, SF | 9.4 MB | ||
| 24 | Help->Slipknot!->Franklins | 05.05.1991 | Venu: Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA | 58.2 MB | ||
| 25 | My Brother Esau | 04.14.1984 | Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA | 13.4 MB | ||
| 26 | Shakedown Street | 04.06.1982 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA | 30.5 MB | ||
| 27 | Mason's Children | 01.10.1970 | Golden Hall, San Diego, CA | 10.9 MB | ||
| 28 | Let it Grow | 07.16.1990 | Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY | 27.3 MB | ||
| 29 | Uncle John's Band | 02.11.1970 | Fillmore East, NY | 13.0 MB | ||
| 30 | Sugar Magnolia | 6.4.1978 | UCSB Stadium, Santa Barbara | 19.2 MB |
British Foreign Office's guidance for travelling to Qatar.
It is a punishable offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public. Offenders may incur a prison sentence or deportation. Alcohol is, however, available at licensed hotel restaurants and bars, and expatriates living in Qatar can obtain alcohol on a permit system. You should not carry alcohol with you, including in your car (except to take it on the day of collection from the warehouse to your home).
You should dress modestly when in public, including whilst driving. Women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts. You should behave courteously at all times. Any intimacy in public between men and women (including between teenagers) can lead to arrest. Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar.
More good advice here
You should dress modestly when in public, including whilst driving. Women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts. You should behave courteously at all times. Any intimacy in public between men and women (including between teenagers) can lead to arrest. Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar.
More good advice here
The Votes
2018 FIFA World Cup™
Round 1: England 2(!) votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes
(as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)
Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)
2022 FIFA World Cup™
Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)
Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)
Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)
Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute mayority)
That means England spent 15 million pounds for one vote (the other coming from the FA president)
Round 1: England 2(!) votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes
(as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)
Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)
2022 FIFA World Cup™
Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)
Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)
Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)
Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute mayority)
That means England spent 15 million pounds for one vote (the other coming from the FA president)
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