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– : The insidious nature of imperialist propaganda -- the case of Darfur : –![[Geo]Political Analysis ala my brother](images/topics/smfeets.jpg)
My political education -- based on the years I spent in various educational institutions, on personal experiences I had utilizing my 1st Amendment rights to express my own point-of-view and on the fact that I have an voracious or insatiable appetite for information concerning both history and current events in America and the rest of the world -- has been profoundly advanced by a certain few seemingly simple and unremarkable (yet ultimately critical) things that I have been told during my adult life. one of these things, while raised in the context of a discussion about purely political matters, can be broadly applied and can also be considered as one of the critical bases or "planks" of the general approach which bright, inquisitive and broadly "progressive" individuals should utilize as a means of better comprehending the multifaceted and -- at least at first glance -- bewilderingly complex world in which we all live. In short, I recall being told (or perhaps reading in passing in a few of the tens of thousands of articles concerning diverse historical themes and socio-political controversies which I have "devoured" during my adult life) that, ultimately, insofar as you "involve" yourself in politics, it is not your subjective intentions but the objective consequences of your actions which matter. In short, it is possible to believe that one is acting to promote "good" (in the perspective of a socialist, the interests of the international working class and the suffering masses) while, in reality, the actions that you are taking can actually have the opposite and negative effect (in this case, supporting one or another ruling class intent on keeping its own undeserved privileges by stepping all over the oppressed many.) It is in regards to the Darfur matter that I now bring up this truism concerning the possibility that your subjective intentions and the objective consequences of the actions that you take might well be in conflict with one another. For those that don't know, a civil war marked by brutality and atrocities -- for which the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militias effectively allied to it are primarily, though not exclusively responsible, -- has been going on for around 4 years in an enormous region located in Eastern Sudan known as the Darfur. Rapes and rather barbaric forms of slaughtering civilians have, it seems, been among the tactics that the Janjaweed militias have -- generally with the tacit support of the Khartoum regime -- resorted to in the course of their campaign against the various rebel groups located in the Darfur. And, what is both even more tragic and predictable, various graphic images taken from the conflict zone have been utilized by the Bush administration, various of the reactionary organizations allied to it, as well as sundry bourgeois-"liberal" groupings and personalities that are ostensibly opposed to it, in order to get certain relatively influential elements of the American population to grant backing to Washington as it seeks to advance its always concealed and always sordid objectives in the African region in question. Those "liberal" personalities and organizations that back a US or UN-led military or so-called "peacekeeping" operation in Darfur (and which thus either support or advocate a still-more aggresive variant on the existing Bush administration policy in relation to that region) must be exposed for what they really are: either mendacious and consciously pro-imperialist scoundrels or, alternately, "useful idiots" that, probably without trying to do so, are propping up the US's criminal and increasingly unpopular government. Read full article: 'The insidious nature of imperialist propaganda -- the case of Darfur ' (15493 bytes more) Comments?
 Posted by: permrev on Jun 11, 2007 - 12:29 AM
– : On the Results of Romania's May 19 Presidential Referendum : –
Results of Romania's May 19 Referendum Reveal Huge Distance Between Populace and Political Elite by Ari Weinstein On May 19, the 18.2 million Romanian citizens of voting age – including both those who still reside in their home country, as well as those who live and work elsewhere in the world – were called to participate in a referendum concerning whether or not Traian Basescu should be allowed to resume his duties as President of the country. One month prior to the holding of the referendum, a large majority of the country's parliamentarians had decided to suspend Basescu from his function, invoking claims that he had violated the Constitution by exceeding his legally-defined authorities as President. A few weeks prior to Basescu's suspension, the government had been "remanned," with all the ministries that had been headed by members of his party (The Democratic Party – PD,) being distributed to members of a then-new ad-hoc governing coalition formed from the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Union of the Hungarians in Romania (UDMR.) This new government, whose most recognizable figure was Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, was sustained (unofficially through critically) by the votes of the parliamentarians belonging to the Social Democratic Party (PSD.) The results of the referendum were as follows: some 74.4% of those who voted voted against the suspension of Basescu, while 24,8% of those who went to the polls voted in favor of his suspension from office. Thus, on May 20, just one day after the holding of the referendum, he was reinstalled as President. The just-mentioned vote proportions seem to show that Basescu enjoys massive support from the Romanian people; indeed, just about all the articles in the "mainstream," English-language press that concerned the country's current political crisis have claimed Basescu is "far and away Romania's most popular politician," due to his supposedly determined efforts to tackle corruption. However, just a little bit of probing into the details of the results of the referendum reveal that none of the country's prominent political figures – not the bourgeois politicians aligned against Basescu and not him, either – enjoy anything close to the support of the majority of the population. Read full article: 'On the Results of Romania's May 19 Presidential Referendum' (12781 bytes more) Comments?
Posted by: permrev on May 28, 2007 - 07:38 PM
– : 100 Days After the 2006 US Elections -- Drawing up the Balance Sheet : –
As was indicated by the title of this blog, I'm interested here in looking at how, following the unfolding of the November 2006 American elections, political life in both the US and throughout the world has evolved. Clearly, the first step in such an inquiry is to determine what indeed did transpire in America during the elections in question. Read full article: '100 Days After the 2006 US Elections -- Drawing up the Balance Sheet' (13267 bytes more) Comments?
Posted by: permrev on Mar 03, 2007 - 03:45 AM
– : Divert me to the Moon : –
Remember back when you could pick up a newspaper (or in my case, hit news.google.com) and not read that an airplane had been diverted due to mass hysteria?Posted by: e-d0uble on Aug 28, 2006 - 07:31 PM
– : So long, Syd. : –
My old pal Mr. Barrett died on the seventh. And as I've said before, it should have been David Crosby.Posted by: e-d0uble on Jul 12, 2006 - 07:00 AM
– : Should you choose to accept this mission... : –
Mr. Bush, we have HAD IT with you, we have absolutely HAD IT. You allowed 9/11 to happen (be it due to incompetence on your part, or itself part of your own agenda), invaded a nation to pillage its resources based on outright lies, bungled a national disaster because its victims were predominantly Black, wiretapped private citizens without warrants based on a horseshit excuse ("national security"), stole (at least) the 2000 presidential election, locked people in foreign prisons - sidestepping all of their rights, and now you're using the NSA to tabulate our phonecalls?? At long last, sir, HAVE YOU NO SHAME? This man and his administration are CRIMINALS. They are war criminals, thieves, LIARS, swine. Big Brother is here dear readers and he is gaining ground fast. These criminals need to be opposed, and DEPOSED. These bastards need to be prosecuted, jailed, punished, REMOVED, before it is too late. Posted by: e-d0uble on May 12, 2006 - 03:55 AM
– : Please allow me to introduce myself. : –
Hello boys and girls, welcome to the Internet. Now get the fuck out of here and never return; I'll even PAY you. I've decided that ninety percent of the people that use the internet have no right to use it. That's right, I said it: step away from the Dell and UNPLUG it; don't even bother closing kazaa. I've become an IP Nazi, so step off. Let's face it, people: IM is vile and should be outlawed. Any person using acronyms such as "LOL" or "OMG" should be SHOT in the CROTCH REPEATEDLY. And ya know what? "myspace" is for pedophiles and people who HAVE NO FRIENDS. If I ever find out I'm terminally ill, after I assassinate a certain chief executive, I'm finding myspace's datacenter and FIREBOMBING IT. Ta-ta for now. Posted by: e-d0uble on Apr 28, 2006 - 06:21 AM
– : Bush Waterlogged : –
My heart (small as it may be) is with everyone whose lives have been ruined by hurricane Katrina. My clenched fist, however is up in the air due to the complete mishandling of this crisis by Bush and company. Posted by: e-d0uble on Sep 03, 2005 - 03:41 AM
– : End the INVASION NOW : –
The anti-war movement is finally gaining steam, thanks to Cindy Sheehan. Although I often find myself mocking today's protestors (ok, you're right... I just mock everyone). I find myself very pleased by the situation in Crawford.
Posted by: e-d0uble on Aug 25, 2005 - 03:44 AM
– : Unintelligent as HELL : –
If the imbecile that's been installed as our "President" can look any stupider any time soon it'll be a new world record. Yesterday, he commented that "Intelligent Design" (not sure if something as invalid as that warrants capitalization) should be taught "with evolution" in public schools. I'm tellin' ya people, we are treading on extremely frightening ground when el Presidente starts spewing this crap in public. Our days as a Democracy are growing short when a theory that holds as much water as the twinkie defense is being suggested as curriculum for our public schools by the President of the United States. I'd even venture to say that most of the Republican party winced when he made this comment. Posted by: e-d0uble on Aug 03, 2005 - 05:56 PM
– : D.T. is out of the Garage : –
Well, W. Mark Felt was (is) Deep Throat. Woodward and Bernstein have confirmed it as well.Posted by: e-d0uble on Jun 01, 2005 - 07:47 PM
– : Quick Shoddy Reading : –
While picking up a couple of four packs of the black stuff at a local market, I became (as per usual) transfixed by the tabloids in the checkout aisle. I think it was Michael J. Fox's character in the movie adaptation of Bright Lights, Big City that said something along the lines of "Among your worst addictions is tabloid journalism". I can't say I'm addicted to purchasing and reading tabloids, but I'm definately obsessed with scanning the headlines.Posted by: e-d0uble on May 10, 2005 - 12:40 AM
– : In quaaludes and Red Wine.. : –
Man, it's been a while since I've written. Let's get in to the thick of it right off the bat, shall we?
Posted by: e-d0uble on Apr 24, 2005 - 03:15 AM
– : Time to move to Canada : –
Well, the moron and his criminal administration won the election. God help us. I think I'll move (or shall I say defect?) to Canada!Posted by: e-d0uble on Nov 04, 2004 - 12:30 AM
– : Stinkfoot Rides Again : –
In case you noticed (or didn't..(more than likely)) stinkfoot.org has been moved to yet another server.
Posted by: e-d0uble on Jun 11, 2004 - 05:36 AM
– : Beware of... : –
Just an aside here..
Did you know that a security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running windows and gain complete control over it? Holy SHIT!!!
(I know, I know.. this probably belongs in the shout-box or the Phorum.. I just couldn't help myself)
Someone should count the number of times that that statement (or something very similar) has appeared on "windows update". My guess is, it's appeared over fifty times in the past two years. Someone care to correct me?
Posted by: e-d0uble on Jun 04, 2004 - 02:23 AM
– : Oooohhh Quentin.. WHY??? : –
I know I'm going to have to dodge some flames here, but the time has come for me to finally admit it. Quentin Tarrantino has done nothing but let me down since his one masterpiece: Reservoir Dogs, and yes, R.D. is a masterpiece (True Romance is as well, despite Slater.. but Tarantino didn't direct that one, Tony Scott did).Posted by: e-d0uble on Jun 04, 2004 - 02:18 AM
– : Spammers Getting It In The End... : –
U.S. charges four under new law against 'spam' e-mails
Posted by: GetBent on May 08, 2004 - 04:34 PM
– : Spammers get just dessert!! : –
Virginia indicts two on spam felony chargesFrom Brad Wright CNN Posted by: e-d0uble on Dec 15, 2003 - 10:27 PM
– : 40 Years Later : –
Today is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. My brother suggested I reprint this article from wsws.org.WSWS : History : US History Reflections on the 40th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination By David North and Bill Vann 22 November 2003 Posted by: e-d0uble on Nov 22, 2003 - 05:10 PM
– : Raineer Wolfcastle, politician : –
Ok, hold on a minute here.. Let me get my head screwed on properly. I just read some crap on propaganda central (cnn.com) that really lit a fire under my ass.. and I'm wondering if I just imagined it.. Ok, that's better. Now.. IS ARNOLD SCHMEGMA-BURGER really running for governor of California?? Does it look like he might get the Republican endorsement as well?? Good god. This is a bad dream, right folks?? Someone pour some water on me. I mean.. COME ON.. Is this country of ours sinking even further into the toilet?? Arnond for governor?? My God. What's frigging next? Pokey-mon for senator?? You have to be kidding me!! AAAHHH!!! My thoughts of leaving this country grow ever more frequent with every passing day. Posted by: e-d0uble on Sep 26, 2003 - 02:00 PM
– : RIAA Amnesty Form : –
So, you been STEALING those MP3'S again, have you? Robbing Brittney of her precious plastic surgery ? Preventing Metallica from getting that thousandth teenage prostitute? Making sure Madonna really can't learn to play an instrument? Well, no fear! You can get amnetsy from prosecution, according to the RIAA! Just fill out this little form, and send it in. (thanks userfriendly.org!) Posted by: e-d0uble on Sep 09, 2003 - 02:32 AM
– : Things that piss me off : –
Ok, not that I'm in a bad mood or anything.. But let's get to some things that GET MY GOAT. I mean things that piss me the friggin _HELL_ off.FIrstly, the next girl I meet that has a tatoo above her butt is getting my foot buried in her ass immediately. Give me the old days when only sailors and bikers had tatoos.. All these tough whiteboys with wife-beaters and armfulls of ink must GO AWAY.. NOW. How much did that shit cost?? ANd you're trying to impress.. WHO.. ? Secondly, this piercing shit has gotten so out of control.. It's like wearing a mowhawk in 2001 and thinking it's punk rock. Stop it already!! That ring in your eyebrow, lip, wherever.. IT LOOKS STUPID. NO? Get the friggin ring out of the belly-button, clean up the infection.. You're a FOOL. And it does not look cute, not on ANYONE. LOSE IT. You're not original, you're not fashionable, you're a follower. ..to be continued.. HEH! Posted by: e-d0uble on Sep 02, 2003 - 05:25 AM
– : Beware the UPS person - It may be a terrorist! : –
And now, in the name of Homeland Security, we will be monitoring everything bought and sold on EBay... "There has been a huge purchase, $32,000 worth, of United Parcel Service (UPS) uniforms on eBay over the last 30 days. This could represent a serious threat as bogus drivers can drop off anything to anyone with deadly consequences! If you have ANY questions when a UPS driver appears at your door, they should be able to furnish VALID I.D.. Additionally, if someone in a UPS uniform comes to make a drop off or pick up, make absolutely sure they are driving a UPS truck. UPS doesn't make deliveries or pickups in anything except a company vehicle. If you have a problem, IMMEDIATELY call your local law enforcement agency right away! TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY! Tell everyone in your office, family, friends, etc. Make people aware so that we can prepare and/or avoid terrorist attacks on our people! Thank you for your time in reviewing this and PLEASE send to EVERYONE on your list, even if they are friend or foe. We should all be aware!" Kimberly Bush-Carr Management Program Specialist U.S. Department of Homeland Security Bureau Customs and Border Protection Washington, DC 20229 Posted by: GetBent on Aug 06, 2003 - 06:35 AM
– : Weapons of mass distraction : –
Isn't is interesting that now that Iraq is our fifty-first state, everyone seems to have forgotten about the supposed "WMD" (the media will use any excuse in the world to abbreviate things) ? Here's an interesting article (that I won't quote or copy) on the possible fallout.-E Posted by: e-d0uble on Jul 02, 2003 - 11:00 PM
– : Yet Another Reason to Hate George Bush Jr. : –
Bush fans turn up heat on Disney With Ashley Pearson MSNBC May 13 — Get ready for the Bushies vs. Mickey Mouse. Some stalwart supporters of the president are organizing a boycott of Disney after it was revealed that a subsidiary of the company is helping finance Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which is expected to come out in time for the 2004 election and reportedly will show links between the Bush dynasty and Osama bin Laden. ON FRIDAY, Variety reported that Disney’s Miramax Films would provide interim funding for the flick after Mel Gibson’s Icon Productions dropped the project. “Financing Michael Moore’s 2004 ‘Attack Film’ on Bush is UNACCEPTABLE,” notes the conservative Web site Free Republic, which gives contact numbers for people to complain to both Miramax and Disney. The site also urges boycotts of all Disney products, including DisneyWorld and even ABC. A source close to Miramax says the company is undaunted. “We’ve weathered storms before.” When asked about the planned boycott by Free Republic, the insider said, “Whoever they are, they’re entitled to their opinion.” Posted by: GetBent on May 13, 2003 - 03:33 PM
– : --Political Corner-- An article on Iraq : –
This article was badly formatted, and I didn't have time to edit it and make it look pretty for the front page. I'm instead presenting it in its raw text hereThis article was written by my brother, who is known to us as "permrev". He is currently living in Romania, and apologizes for any spelling or grammatical errors. I think this piece is worth a read. -E Posted by: e-d0uble on May 08, 2003 - 05:03 AM
– : How to build a stinkfoot : –
Well, it was a long and difficult project.. But here we are on the new stinkfoot.org... For those of you who are wondering (I'm sure you number in the thousands..), the new system is a MDD (mirrored-drive-door) Dual G4 Mac @1.25Ghz(x2), 1.2G of RAM, and 3 Ultra160 drives @15000RPM. The bus speed is 166(7??)Mhz, and the RAM is PC2700 (nice box, eh?). The OS is (of course) my hand-rolled Linux. Some stats may be viewed here and here.
I do not use Linux distros. period. I have to have it my way. I don't like folks' filesystem layouts, patches, or package management. It's all me... from init 3 to init 5 (or from aclocal to zsoelim, if you prefer it that way).. I build everything from source and install where I want. That way, when everything crashes, or we get rooted, I can only blame ME! The only items I steal are the init scripts, which are derived from the only distro I would use (if I used them).. Slackware. I just don't care for SYSV init scripts.. I like 'em BSD style.
This stinkfoot incarnation is based upon: glibc-2.3.2 and (yikes!) gcc-3.2.2 (yes, I have gcc-2.95.3 in case of issues, and for the kernel). All packages that would allow it were tested with DEJAGNU... and we're looking GOOD!
Credit goes out to "pure" LFS a fantastic guide, The Linux From Scratch Project which the first stinkfoot was based upon (and partially this one), Russell and the guys over at slackintosh, the NetBSD Project, and Gentoo Linux for patches and good PPC forums. Also very noteworthy is penguinppc, and the man himself, Ben Herrenschmidt.
Dig it:
Posted by: e-d0uble on May 06, 2003 - 04:03 AM
– : Can you smell it ?? : –
A new foot is on it's way kiddies. Thanks to my nasty Ebay habit, I've procured a new box to house the all-powerful foot!In e-d0uble-like style, I'll be rebuilding _everything_ we run, once again.. but most of you won't ever notice the difference. The machine is (of course) another dual-G4 powerpc, I'll get to the specs at a later date. As usual... details to follow! -E Posted by: e-d0uble on Apr 14, 2003 - 03:28 AM
– : Once again, Phife... : –
So we're back running Apache version two here. The bugs in 2.0.44+PHP seem to have vanished since 2.0.45 arrived. This is good news, as I recently recalled why I disliked 1.3.26(7): there seemed to be a nasty bug somewhere in KeepAlive that allowed certain connections to tie-up severs for huge amounts of time. It seemed that the server ignored the KeepAliveTimeout directive. This problem has disappeared since I put version two back. The slow speed with Apache2+PHP seems to have disappeared as well.. but only time will tell if this is true.. So far the server is handling these chunky requests quite nicely.-E Posted by: e-d0uble on Apr 04, 2003 - 07:23 AM
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