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2010 November 29 — Why Now?
On-line Opinion Magazine…OK, it's a blog
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What A Maroon!

Peter King wants to have a new Alien and Sedition Law: Key GOP Pol: WikiLeaks a Terrorist Group

The incoming chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee says WikiLeaks should be officially designated as a terrorist organization.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the panel’s next head, asked the Obama administration today to “determine whether WikiLeaks could be designated a foreign terrorist organization,” putting the group in the same company as Al Qaeda and Aum Shinrikyo, the Japanese cult that released deadly sarin gas on the Tokyo subway.

“WikiLeaks appears to meet the legal criteria” of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, King wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reviewed by CNET. He added: “WikiLeaks presents a clear and present danger to the national security of the United States.”

WikiLeaks released memos that demonstrate that the US Department of State is staffed with people quite capable of recognizing reality, no matter what the official propaganda line du jour is.

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November 29, 2010   15 Comments

More On Ireland

Susie Madrak found more coverage at Counterpunch:

And don’t believe the hype about European unity or saving Ireland. My ass. This is about bailing out the banks. The bondholders get a free ride while workers get kicked to the curb. Here’s a clip from the Financial Times that spells it out in black and white:

“According to data compiled by the Bank of International Settlements, the three largest creditors to the Irish economy at the end of June…were Germany to the tune of €109bn, the UK at €100bn and France at €40bn. These sums amount to 2 per cent of France’s gross domestic product, 4.5 per cent of Germany’s GDP, and 7 per cent of British GDP.”

See? Another bank bailout. Ireland is being asked to cut to social services, slash wages, renegotiate contracts, and dismantle the welfare state so that undercapitalized banks in France and Germany can get their pound of flesh. But, why? They’re the ones who bought the bonds. No one put a gun to their head. They knew they could lose money if Irish banks went south. That’s the risk they took. “You pays your money, and you takes your chances.” Right? That’s how capitalism works.

France and Germany have pushed this bailout and structured it so their banks will get their money, even if people in Ireland have to starve. They are the big push behind the high interest rate being charged. They don’t mention that their banks were part of the problem.

This isn’t about Ireland, this is about over-extended banks in other countries. Most of the money is going to be shipped to foreign banks, and will do nothing to help Ireland.

November 29, 2010   4 Comments

Traditional Christmas Pudding

Note: another recipe from Kryten in comments.

This very old fashioned recipe uses suet and has no sugar, so is diabetic friendly. 🙂
September to November is the perfect time to make this Christmas pudding.

Ingredients:

  • 250 grams sultanas
  • 250 grams raisins
  • 250 grams currants (or substitute figs)
  • 250 grams mixed peel (or substitute prunes)
  • 3/4 cup of nice port (or substitute Irish stout)
  • 3 eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 250 grams chilled suet
  • 125 grams plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 250 grams fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) of each: mace, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.

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November 29, 2010   10 Comments