Tuesday, November 12, 2019

What I'm reading?

I am reading Holly George-Warren's new book JANIS about Janis Joplin.

 Nov 5
Janis Joplin in Port Arthur for her 10-year High School Reunion, 1970
1 reply77 retweets479 likes
 
 

  1.  Nov 8
    Janis Joplin's 1964 Porsche 356C Cabriolet
    14 replies296 retweets1,539 likes
     
     



 Nov 4
Janis Joplin and Grace Slick, 1967
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  1.  Nov 6
    Janis Joplin in the moment while performing at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, 1968. (Photo by Paul Fusco) 🎵
    4 replies18 retweets57 likes
     
     


Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"


Tuesday, November 12, 2019.  Protests continue in Iraq as the government continues to attack the protesters.



Protests continue in Iraq.  The attacks on the protesters -- attacks by the government and those close to the government -- continue as well.  Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) notes that, as of Sunday, the death toll had reached 319 (since the start of October) with another 15,000 injured.  Tawfeeq explains, "Following the deadly response from Iraqi security forces, demonstrators are calling for early elections and demanding that the government step down."

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) issued the following on Sunday:
Over the past weeks, demonstrations erupted in Baghdad and other governorates in Iraq. Protester demands cover a wide spectrum of issues, including economic growth and employment, reliable public services, prudent and impartial governance, an end to corruption, credible elections as well as broader reform of the political system - including amendments to the constitution.


An accumulation of frustrations about the lack of progress in the last 16 years is clearly perceptible, and with rising numbers of deaths and injured (both protesters and members of the Iraqi Security Forces) a climate of anger and fear has set in. The Iraqi people cannot afford to be held back by the past nor by partisan interests. Rising hope asks for a leap forward, including the understanding that - in today’s digital age - daily life has moved online. Meanwhile, the risk of ‘spoilers’ hijacking peaceful demonstrations is increasing and potentially derailing any attempt at genuine change. Time is therefore of the essence, as are tangible results.
To start with, and following consultations with a wide range of Iraqi parties, actors and authorities (including the three Presidencies, the Supreme Judicial Council, protesters and union representatives), the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) proposes the following principles and measures:
PRINCIPLES
The following principles apply to all parties at all times:
1. Protect the right to life above all.
2. Guarantee the right to peaceful assembly, demonstration and freedom of expression,
as granted in the constitution.
3. Practice maximum restraint in the handling of the protests, including no use of live ammunition, ban the improper use of non-lethal devices (such as tear gas canisters).
4. Deliver full accountability for perpetrators and redress for victims.
5. Act in keeping with the law, including in regard to public and private properties.
MEASURES
Immediate measures (less than a week) include:
1. Release all peaceful demonstrators detained since 1 October, in accordance with the law.
2. No peaceful demonstrators shall be targeted.
3. Initiate full investigation of cases of abduction (including by making available CCTV footage), and reveal the identity of those responsible.
4. Accelerate the identification and prosecution of those responsible for targeting demonstrators.
5. Prosecute and punish those responsible for the excessive use of force and/or other violent acts, in accordance with the law.
6. Publicly call on all regional and international parties not to interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs, respecting its sovereignty.
Short term measures (within one week to two weeks) include:
1. Electoral reform: With the technical support of the UN, a single legal framework shall be finalized. Soon after, the framework shall be submitted to the Council of Representatives (CoR). The parliamentary procedure shall be completed as soon as possible.
2. Security Sector Reform: Executive Order 237 shall be fully implemented without delay. Any weapons outside state control shall be prohibited. Any outlaw armed entity or rogue element shall be considered illegal and it is the state’s responsibility to take them on.
3. Corruption: The political elite shall lead by example, for instance by publicly declaring their assets – at home and abroad, held under their own name or another. Additionally, political parties/blocs and movements shall abolish their economic committees.
Medium term measures (within one to three months) include:
1. Constitution: With the technical support of the UN, the Constitutional Review Committee shall continue its work. Any amendment to the constitution shall be put to referendum by the people of Iraq.
2. Corruption: The Commission of Integrity shall submit corruption cases to the High Judicial Council or the Central Anti-Corruption Court. The Central Anti-Corruption Court shall handle corruption cases at all levels of the state. All corrupt officials will be held accountable and prosecuted.
3. Enactment of laws: The Government shall send the following draft laws to the CoR, and the CoR shall complete its due process as soon as possible:
a. A law addressing the principle: ‘Where did you get this from?’
b. The Federal Court Law
c. The Social Security Law
d. Law on resolving the Housing Crisis
e. The Oil and Gas (Hydrocarbon) Law
f. Amending the Law on Encouraging Investments and Public-Private Sector Partnership
g. The Council of Ministers and Ministries Law
h. The Reconstruction Council Law


The day after issuing the above, UNAMI's Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.




  1.  19 hours ago
النجف – 11 تشرين الثاني/نوفمبر 2019 – استقبل سماحة السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني اليوم الممثلة الخاصة للأمين العام للأمم المتحدة في العراق، جينين هينيس-بلاسخارت. مصدر الصورة: مكتب سماحة السيد السيستاني
175 replies39 retweets259 likes
 
 
 19 hours ago
Najaf, 11 November 2019 - Today, His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Husseini Al-Sistani received the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Eminence.
347 replies88 retweets204 likes
 
 



The US government followed up with this statement from the White House:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2019
Statement from the White House Press Secretary
The United States is seriously concerned by continued attacks against protestors, civic activists, and the media, as well as restrictions on Internet access, in Iraq. Iraqis won’t stand by as the Iranian regime drains their resources and uses armed groups and political allies to stop them from peacefully expressing their views. Despite being targeted with lethal violence and denied access to the Internet, the Iraqi people have made their voices heard, calling for elections and election reforms. The United States joins the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq in calling on the Iraqi government to halt the violence against protesters and fulfill President Salih’s promise to pass electoral reform and hold early elections. We also call on the rest of the international community to join us in supporting a better future for the Iraqi people.


  1.   यांनी पुन्हा ट्विट केले
     २२ तासांपूर्वी
This is indeed a more representative formula allowing voters to have more say than political parties in selecting members of parliament. Also, deprive parliament (pol parties) of the authority to appoint the electoral commission. Expect strong opposition unless pressure continues
Also reducing total seats in parliament by one-third is a step in the right direction. Big question is will political blocs agree to these changes that could…
हा थ्रेड दाखवा
१ reply५ पुन्हा ट्विट्स१७ पसंत्या
 
 
  यांनी पुन्हा ट्विट केले
 २३ तासांपूर्वी
The draft elections law the presidency had been working on has been published: مشروع-قانون-الانتخابات3.pdf This will go through several changes before parliament approves it but will likely still face criticism
५ replies१८ पुन्हा ट्विट्स३१ पसंत्या
 
 
  1. हा थ्रेड दाखवा



Raya Jalabi and Ahmed Rasheed (REUTERS) report, "Iraq's ruling parties appear to have rallied behind a strategy, blessed by Iran, to try to survive a mass anti-government uprising by containing protests on the streets of Baghdad while offering a package of political reforms and elections next year."  The reporters note:


 A senior security official told Reuters new tactics were being rolled out to try to confine the demonstrations to Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, a roadway junction at the foot of a bridge across the Tigris, where demonstrators have camped out for weeks.
“Security forces received new orders on Saturday that protesters must be kept in Tahrir Square,” the security official said. “They’re working quietly now to seal off the square from all directions, and an arrest campaign is expected to follow in a bid to reduce momentum of the protests.”


l

Link to headline article
Fear spreads among Iraqi protesters as government cracks down, keeps death toll secretCrowds have begun to shrink in the face of violence, arrests and threats.
Profile image of authorThe Washington Post
Nov 11, 2019




  1.  Nov 9
Horrific videos coming from today. This unarmed protestor in Baghdad, gets shot in his leg, collapses with flag, not even an ambulance to pick him up. AFP reports on Gov decision to end protests “by any means.” > 300 killed so far, > 1000 wounded:
/>
1:06
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  1.  9 minutes ago
21st Century Weapons: blocks internet access amid ongoing protests
1 retweet1 like
 
 



 
 
 14 minutes ago
Replying to   
The new generation in is conscious and brave ,This is what should have been done in the first place, when the mullah's started to rule in , must keep on going until it gains its aim
1 retweet1 like
 
 
 17 minutes ago
Replying to 
The protests in Iraq suppress live bullets and poison gas
 
 
 19 minutes ago
Replying to 
The protests in Iraq suppress live bullets and poison gas
 
 




  1.  51 minutes ago
casualties continue to rise according to
As casualties in the protests rise worryingly by the day, we continue to support first responders and hospitals to treat the wounded and we engage in a dialogue with authorities to promote respect for International Human Rights Law and the safety of health care personnel. …
 
 


Iraq's prime minister has been a big part of the problem.  He's proven to be ineffectual at governance.  This should have been obvious at the end of October 2018 when he was unable to put together a cabinet despite the Constitution stipulating that he had to do so in 30 days or could not move from prime minister-designate to prime minister.

Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi remains a major issue.  Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) notes, "Abdul Mahdi agreed to resign on October 31 after weeks of anti-government protests."  Faraj Najjar (ALJAZEERA) notes, "Abdul Mahdi has refused to step down, but according to President Salih, he said he is willing to resign if parties agree on a replacement."  Both are correct.

Per Iraq's President Barham Salih, Mahdi has said he'll resign.  But he's made no move to do so.  The closest Iraq's been to this point in recent history was in February 2011 when months of protests demanding an end to corruption resulted in a nervous Nouri al-Maliki announcing that, if the protesters would go home, he would end corruption in 100 days.  They went home.  100 days later, Nouri did nothing.  It was a lie to get them off the streets.

The government has a history of making promises that they never intend to keep.

With Mahdi refusing to make the statement that he will resign publicly -- instead hiding behind Iraq's president -- the protesters have even less reason to believe him.


Meanwhile, Mariya Petkova (ALJAZEERA) wonders why the Kurds are not more active in the protests and offers:

Since last month, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have taken to the streets in the capital Baghdad and across southern towns and cities to protest against the government's failure to deliver basic services and economic opportunities. In recent weeks, the demonstrators' demands have broadened to include the resignation of the government and an overhaul of the political system introduced after the US-led invasion of 2003. More than 300 people have been killed since the uprising began.
In the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, however, the streets have remained calm. Salio believes that authorities there did not grant permission for a demonstration because they were afraid of what such a protest could turn into.
In Erbil, there appears to be some solidarity with the Iraqis protesting in the south. Of about a dozen locals of different ages and economic backgrounds Al Jazeera spoke to, all of them said that they believed Iraqis have good reason to be on the streets.
Some said that in the Kurdish region, they face similar problems to those that have driven the protests in the south, including corruption and a lack of job prospects for young people. Youth unemployment is officially over 20 percent in the region and 25 percent nationwide.

 However, people did not seem to be in the mood for protesting; some appeared jaded, while others said they were apprehensive of the possibility of political changes that could undermine Kurdish autonomy.


It's not that simple.  We'll try to discuss it in tomorrow's snapshot.














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Monday, November 11, 2019

Drake begins to fade?

If you missed it, Drake was the surprise headliner at Camp Flog Gnaw.


Drake came out and was greeted with . . . boos.  And he retreated immediately and left.

Does that surprise you?

It doesn't surprise me.

He's popular but not that popular.  If and when people stop accepting the Jay Z streaming service figures (they've been exposed as fraudulent) his BILLBOARD rankings will be much lower.

He is popular.  I'm not denying that.  But his popularity has been inflated.

That's why he's repeatedly had trouble with touring.  Was it 2017 when he had to reschedule the tour because they weren't selling?   In August of 2018, he had to reschedule.

He has two best selling tours in the last ten years.  2012's CLUB PARADISE and 2015's WOULD YOU LIKE A TOUR.

Since his best selling 2015 tour, he's had three tours (SUMMER SIXTEEN, AUBREY & THE THREE MIGOS and BOY MEETS WORLD).  So you could argue he peaked in 2015 and has been fading ever since.

Even when he 'hits' like with 2018's SCORPION, there's a sour after-taste.  It was the lowest selling number one album in 27 years.

Maybe if he ever did an actual story instead of just rapping about what he bought.  He's built a career on shallow so it's no real surprise that it's cratering so quickly.  Michael Jackson, George Michael, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Prince, all the legends made their music about something more than shopping.  Even self-confessed "Material Girl" Madonna didn't try to build a career out of singing about what was in her AMAZON cart.

Drake has talent.  That's why it bothers me so much that he doesn't try to record some real stories.  He could sell them -- he's got the acting chops.  He could move us all deeply.  Instead, it's always another boast, another shopping list and it really gets old.


Closing with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"


Monday, November 11, 2019.

In the US, the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination continues.  Norman Solomon (COMMON DREAMS) observes:

 The extremely rich Americans who are now frantically trying to figure out how to intervene in the Democratic presidential campaign make me wonder how different they are from the animated character who loved frolicking in money and kissing dollar bills while counting them. If Uncle Scrooge existed as a billionaire in human form today, it’s easy to picture him aligned with fellow plutocrats against the “threat” of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
The exceedingly wealthy are usually content to stay in the shadows while their combined financial leverage and media power keep top government officials more or less in line. But the grassroots strengths of the Warren and Sanders campaigns have jolted some key oligarchs into overt action.
“At least 16 billionaires have in recent months spoken out against what they regard as the danger posed by the populist Democrats, particularly over their proposals to enact a ‘wealth tax’ on vast fortunes,” the Washington Post reported over the weekend. Many of those billionaires are “expressing concern” that the populist Democrats “will blow the election to Trump by veering too far left.”
But are those billionaires more worried about a wealth tax that will curtail vast fortunes, or about Trump winning re-election? Are we supposed to believe the far-fetched notion that voters will opt for Trump over the Democratic nominee because they don’t want billionaires to pay higher taxes?
The biggest fear among the billionaire class is not that a progressive Democratic nominee will lose against Trump. The biggest fear is that such a nominee will win -- thus gaining presidential muscle to implement measures like a wealth tax that would adversely affect the outsized fortunes of the 0.1 percent.
Such fears are causing a step-up of attacks on Sanders and Warren, and even some early indications of trauma. “Piling on against the wealth tax have been corporate celebrities from Silicon Valley and Wall Street,” the Post reported on Saturday. Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg “suggested Sanders’s call to abolish billionaires could hurt philanthropies and scientific research by giving the government too much decision-making power. . . . Appearing on CNBC, billionaire investor Leon Cooperman choked up while discussing the impact a wealth tax could have on his family.”

Sanders often points to the fact that just three individuals -- Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett -- own as much wealth as the entire bottom half of the U.S. population. Gates has publicly denounced Warren’s proposal for a wealth tax. It shouldn’t surprise us now to learn that earlier this year Bezos urged Bloomberg to run for president. We might call it ruling-class unity -- which is a point that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quickly made while campaigning alongside Sanders in Iowa when the news broke.


As we've already pointed out last week, 2020 is the one election where you can go left.  Barring Donald Trump announcing he won't seek re-election, no move to the center is necessary.  It may never be necessary but it certainly wouldn't be in 2020 and that's got a number of fat cats very nervous.

The never-Trump Republicans aren't suddenly going to vote for him.  They may vote for a third party candidate -- splitting the GOP vote between Trump and, say, a Libertarian.

This is a time for bold action and bold moves.  A timid Joe Biden isn't going to be the answer.

Let's stay with Bernie for a moment.  I'm not being fair to Bernie, an e-mail to the public account, informs me.  Naomi Klein endorsed him and I didn't make a big deal out of it.

I didn't.  I made a point not to include those Tweets.  If something's a known lie, I don't put it here.

Here's the Tweet:


 Nov 9
I’ve written about my preferences but I have never formally endorsed a candidate for President in my life - never mind spoken at a campaign rally. That ends today in . The world is on fire and our most credible hope of beating the arsonists is
1,136 replies9,593 retweets44,931 likes



Naomi said in her Tweet that this was the first time.  No, it's not.  She endorsed Barack Obama in 2008.  She shouldn't have and we'll get to that.  But she was promoting her book at a book signing event and she endorsed him.  I heard about within ten minutes of her endorsement.

So, no, I'm not going to put something that I know is a lie up here.  Bernie is not her first endorsement.

Second, I don't think she should be endorsing.  Not just because she's supposed to be an independent voice but also because she doesn't live in the United States.

I have no problem with what Naomi's father did.  Elaine and I knew him and knew many others who went to Canada instead of taking part in the assault on Vietnam.  She's an American by way of her parents.  Her parents live in Canada and made a home in Canada.

I don't think she needs to be making endorsements for a country that isn't her home.

She was born in Canada, she's made it her home.  She really doesn't need to be endorsing in a US election.  It's not really her place.

That's not a new position on my part and I've called out others for similar reasons.  I've called out John R. MacArthur for voting in France's elections and the US' elections.  I don't think you should do that.  I know he has dual citizenship.  I also know that any election pivots on numerous issues and I don't believe anyone is able to closely follow all the issues in two countries.  I think most of us struggle to keep up with one country.


The war in Iraq continues . . .


l

Link to headline article
5 Italian soldiers wounded by roadside explosion in IraqA roadside blast wounded five Italian special forces soldiers in northern Iraq on Sunday as they were on a training mission to assist Iraqi troops, Italian military officials said.
Profile image of authorStars and Stripes
Nov 10, 2019



The protests continue in Iraq as well.  The US government is now calling for elections to be held early to address the protesters concerns.

Human Rights Watch notes:

 Today the UN Human Rights Council will hold a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session to examine Iraq’s human rights records. The rash of killings of protestors by Iraqi security forces over the past month should at the front of diplomats’ minds as they shape their recommendations.
At least 147 protesters were killed by security forces in protests in Baghdad and Iraq’s southern cities in early October; more than 100 have been killed in a second wave since October 25.
In the second wave, Baghdad security forces have fired teargas cartridges not just to disperse crowds, but in some cases directly at protesters, a brutal form of lethal force. The UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) documented 16 protesters killed by teargas cartridges striking their heads or chests. Amnesty International has identified that some of the teargas cartridges Iraqi forces are using to kill protesters were made in Iran.
Some security forces have continued to use live ammunition in Baghdad and other cities. UNAMI said 97 people were killed from October 25 to November 4, with news reports of more shot dead since then. Authorities have arbitrarily detained protesters and released them later without charge, and others have gone missing. Human Rights Watch has received reports that security forces are threatening and even shooting at medics treating protesters.
The government has tried to prevent Iraqis and the world from seeing the extent of its deadly response. First, the government repeatedly throttled the internet to prevent people from uploading and sharing photos and videos of the protests, and blocked messaging apps. Then it imposed a nighttime internet curfew. As of November 5, mToday the UN Human Rights Council will hold a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session to examine Iraq’s human rights records. The rash of killings of protestors by Iraqi security forces over the past month should at the front of diplomats’ minds as they shape their recommendations.
At least 147 protesters were killed by security forces in protests in Baghdad and Iraq’s southern cities in early October; more than 100 have been killed in a second wave since October 25.
In the second wave, Baghdad security forces have fired teargas cartridges not just to disperse crowds, but in some cases directly at protesters, a brutal form of lethal force. The UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) documented 16 protesters killed by teargas cartridges striking their heads or chests. Amnesty International has identified that some of the teargas cartridges Iraqi forces are using to kill protesters were made in Iran.
Some security forces have continued to use live ammunition in Baghdad and other cities. UNAMI said 97 people were killed from October 25 to November 4, with news reports of more shot dead since then. Authorities have arbitrarily detained protesters and released them later without charge, and others have gone missing. Human Rights Watch has received reports that security forces are threatening and even shooting at medics treating protesters.
The government has tried to prevent Iraqis and the world from seeing the extent of its deadly response. First, the government repeatedly throttled the internet to prevent people from uploading and sharing photos and videos of the protests, and blocked messaging apps. Then it imposed a nighttime internet curfew. As of November 5, most internet access has been blocked. “The disruptions in Iraq now rank amongst the most severe NetBlocks has observed in any country in 2019,” said NetBlocks, an independent international non-partisan group monitoring internet access.
Beyond the protests, security forces have arrested some Iraqis simply for expressing support for the movement with Facebook messages. This marks a new low in a country that, despite a very troubled past, has valued a level of free speech over the last decade.
While the UN, United States, and European Union have issued multiple statements condemning the excessive use of force, Iran and other allies of Iraq have remained silent. Today, Iran and every other UN member owes it to every dead protester to persuade Iraq to protect, rather than suppress, its citizens’ rights to free expression.ost internet access has been blocked. “The disruptions in Iraq now rank amongst the most severe NetBlocks has observed in any country in 2019,” said NetBlocks, an independent international non-partisan group monitoring internet access.
Beyond the protests, security forces have arrested some Iraqis simply for expressing support for the movement with Facebook messages. This marks a new low in a country that, despite a very troubled past, has valued a level of free speech over the last decade.

While the UN, United States, and European Union have issued multiple statements condemning the excessive use of force, Iran and other allies of Iraq have remained silent. Today, Iran and every other UN member owes it to every dead protester to persuade Iraq to protect, rather than suppress, its citizens’ rights to free expression.


Let's deal with another e-mail to the public account.  If Cindy Sheehan can go on TV, why oh why can't Khizr Khan!!!! I never said he couldn't go on TV, I did call what he was doing pointless and, yes, for this country, wrong.  When Cindy Sheehan asked to meet with Bully Boy Bush again, he said no.  This is what led to Camp Casey.  If Cindy had been Khan, it would have made sense.  Khan has nothing new to say or offer.  Cindy, on the other hand, was calling for an end to the war.  She wasn't going to meet up to rehash the same statements she'd made before.  That's all Khan does.  And if you lived through the Vietnam era and all the divisions is created in this country, you're not going to applaud conservative Khan pimping all that crap again.  He has nothing to offer.

He did not serve.

There are more than enough veterans in this country who have served.  They could be put on air to talk about what they saw.  They could be put on air also to talk about any number of issues facing veterans.  I don't need Mommy Khizr on MSNBC repeating the same stuff he does every time -- remarks that inflame only to inflame.

He's a joke, a sad joke.  A pro-war, scardy cat who couldn't serve himself but is for every war in the world and is a knee-jerk conservative and is now regularly attacking Donald Trump who is not the person who sent his dead son into war.  Bully Boy Bush.  That's the name Mommy Khizr never utters.

This is about veterans, it's not about service.  It's just a grudge f**k against Donald Trump.  It detract from real issues.  They could have had an IAVA member talking about suicides or the need to do an increase in the post-9/11 GI Bill.  They could have addresses, seriously, the issue of homeless veterans.  Instead, they gave the microphone to a man whose son died 15 years ago -- and they gave it to him because they knew he would trash Donald Trump.

That's not news and if it's someone's idea of entertainment, we should all pray.

Not a Tammy Duckworth fan, but this is the sort of sentiment we should be noting on Veterans Day:




Search results
  1.  2 hours ago
Today on , I'm taking a moment to pause and honor Veterans like my buddies who refused to leave me behind on that battlefield in Iraq. Every day — but especially today — I think about what I can do to repay them.
41 replies279 retweets1,268 likes


  1. Show this thread


Another pertinent example.

 40 minutes ago
After losing both arms in the Iraq War, retired Army Sergeant & guest artist Pete Damon was inspired to pursue a career in art. He painted today's to honor all those who have served in the U.S. armed forces. 🇺🇸 See more →

3 replies41 retweets109 likes






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