By General Sami Sadat, commander in the Afghan National Army
25 August 2021
THE NEW YORK TIMES — For the past three and a half months, I fought day and night, nonstop, in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province against an escalating and bloody Taliban offensive. Coming under frequent attack, we held the Taliban back and inflicted heavy casualties. Then I was called to Kabul to command Afghanistan’s special forces. But the Taliban already were entering the city; it was too late.
I am exhausted. I am frustrated. And I am angry.
President Biden said last week that “American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.”
It’s true that the Afghan Army lost its will to fight. But that’s because of the growing sense of abandonment by our American partners and the disrespect and disloyalty reflected in Mr. Biden’s tone and words over the past few months. The Afghan Army is not without blame. It had its problems — cronyism, bureaucracy — but we ultimately stopped fighting because our partners already had.
It pains me to see Mr. Biden and Western officials are blaming the Afghan Army for collapsing without mentioning the underlying reasons that happened. Political divisions in Kabul and Washington strangled the army and limited our ability to do our jobs. Losing combat logistical support that the United States had provided for years crippled us, as did a lack of clear guidance from U.S. and Afghan leadership. […]
“I no longer read the New York Times for the news – I read it for the lies”
… Chalmers Johnson, author of “Sorrows of Empire”
… so I (almost) stopped reading at “NEW WORK TIMES”, except (as above) for the lies
Nevertheless, this is a pivotal and fascinating topic, especially in the context of 911 (why else are we talking about Afghanistan?) and I am reading and listening to as much as I can, including the fake news.
I always find Matthew Raphael Johnson worth listening to – he offers some very telling observations and insights on this topic.
(I download and listen through an audio player which allows me to listen at a comfortable speed of say x1.75 which saves me time)
https://www.radioalbion.com/2021/08/the-orthodox-nationalist-taliban.html
Thank you for the link – I was unaware, and am now catching up on an interesting commentator.
Cheers and thanks to charlieprimero for the link below. That particular link does not seem to have been kept up to date but it is a great place to start, so I just offer this for his latest podcast links on Radio Albion
https://www.radioalbion.com/search/label/Matt%20Johnson?&max-results=5
Dr Johnson’s site is “The Russian Orthodox Medievalist” – (rusjournal)
https://www.rusjournal.org/
This provides links to his several books and many essays.
I have (and have read) two of his books – “The Third Rome: Holy Russia, Tsarism & Orthodoxy” and “Russian Populist: The Political Thought of Vladimir Putin”. The title of the former sums up his core area of scholarship, which also includes Ukraine.
Even if he doesn’t get everything right (or something doesn’t resonate with you at first) at least you can be reassured he is true to the logos of research and reasoning, and not trying to deliberately obfuscate. In some of his talks he even admits that “I may have got that part wrong when I first wrote it 20 years ago … “ and proceeds to elaborate based on more research and thinking.
Oh, and this playlist would be of interest for that rainy day:
Thank you for the amplification. I’ll have a good look at his website and get a better idea of his direction and understanding.
Will return to visit the links and the video – great post that looks fascinating.
Best,
SC
Dr Johnson’s site is “The Russian Orthodox Medievalist” – (rusjournal)
Beautiful, but it is going to take a while to just scratch the surface; still worth the time.
Best,
SC
See what you did again? You had to go and bring up a man and author that I was deeply fond of; so much so that I have all of his texts and truly miss his analysis:
Notice the “when” of the interview and his mention of DOD in SPAAAAAAACE. See President Orange Potato may have officially been the face of Space Farce, but the actual inception to our development in that arena pre-dates both Real Genius, staring Val Kilmer, and a stuttering Gipper trying to explain a “laser” being fired out of the ass of a “satellite” to hit a “missile”.
Other people I miss:
Still alive, but not writing at the current time:
Now I did not always agree with, but I do miss:
Certainly I miss this man:
Far too tired to discus Afghanistan, geopolitical gaming, the British role in regional destabilization, the failed dreams of the Anglo-American Empire, where the round tabe groups / NGOs see this heading, pipelines, Russian / Chinese stabilization plans, 3D printer narcotics, and Kabuki theater right now, but I did enjoy your post JS!
Please be well.
Best,
SC
Great links – thank you SC.
I offer you a “two diamonds” and you immediately knew where the missing two Kings were and go straight to a No Trump Grand Slam. I’ll just sit back and watch you play this one out.
Thank you my friend; I am appreciative.
Since I am a little too tired to talk “I love it when you call me big poppies” tonight, I will go with a woman that I have always appreciated:
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2021/08/karen-kwiatkowski/really-bad-poetry/
She is pretty correct that this is not yo mamma’s Taliban and things will change. Obviously, one of your favorite guys — Cowboy Putin — will hop on his pony, sans shirt, but wearing the Gi pants and the black belt, meet Xi in Kabul and another hole will be punched in the “belt of diplomacy” or some such nonsense.
JS, I will kid you not, I saw a ghost today. There was a gentleman jogging along between DC and Maryland who was the doppelganger of Zbigniew, and I have met the gentleman once in a bookstore that we both used to visit (no it was not an event, and the bookstore only sold used texts, nothing new) so I have a first hand recollection of what he looks like. I thought how fitting. Do we think Vlad will have t-shirts printed with his middle finger up saying “you wanted to give us our own Vietnam, well now look at you”.
We would have to admit it is feeling and looking awfully 1975 out there right now, and the symmetry is Hollywood perfect. Although both Ford and Biden had pornographic hearts and predator minds, the former only fell down a lot; the latter both falls down and then forgets where he is. If this is not the largest bit of cinematic nostalgia, being played as politics, then I do not know what is.
But what about the subplot…
See the real issue here is that Trump cannot sell it like the Gipper. Man oh man grandpa could sell the idea of two parties so well, while acting uniparty all the way. Poor President Orange Potato just does not have (as they say in Hollywood) the “chops” to fulfill the remaining role he was contracted to play. With each interview we see a wilted, orange, carcass being rolled out and the sweat just oozes from the pores. Heck, Richard Nixon looks outright cool in his televised debate against Kennedy (and he had the flu), compared to “the Donald”.
So now we have to wonder how the nest bit of the 2 penny opera plays out. My money is on the resignation of Biden, drama over the recounts in certain states, a 9/11 tribute that will signify that Rome has fallen and more balloon toys that scare the masses as the clown car burns rubber through America. By this autumn, the Executive Branch will find its new low and the nation will understand new forms of sadness.
No republic on the planet has lasted 300 years and I do not think the “great experiment”, with its “shining city on the hill” will be any different. Thankfully I have a modicum of Spanish “underneath my belt” and I do not mind the odd churro — VIVA MEXICO!
All my best,
SC
I know we are digressing, but I just wanted to mention that I can’t recall exactly when but I may have stumbled across Matthew Raphael Johnson in the context of trying to understand Fyodor Dostoevsky. Here is the mini-playlist which then took me deep inside the MRJ rabbit hole:
Some great context just in the first minute of the first of those four parts.
Speaking of Dostoevsky, isn’t this just classic FD?:
“Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others.
And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.
The man who lies to himself can be more easily offended than anyone. You know it is sometimes very pleasant to take offence, isn’t it? A man may know that nobody has insulted him, but that he has invented the insult for himself, has lied and exaggerated to make it picturesque, has caught at a word and made a mountain out of a molehill – he knows that himself, yet he will be the first to take offence, and will revel in his resentment till he feels great pleasure in it, and so pass to genuine vindictiveness.”
From Brothers Karamazov – Book II, Chapter 2 – The Old Buffoon
Framed!
Yes this particular section of the quotation is very interesting to me:
“The man who lies to himself can be more easily offended than anyone. You know it is sometimes very pleasant to take offence, isn’t it? A man may know that nobody has insulted him, but that he has invented the insult for himself, has lied and exaggerated to make it picturesque, has caught at a word and made a mountain out of a molehill – he knows that himself, yet he will be the first to take offence, and will revel in his resentment till he feels great pleasure in it, and so pass to genuine vindictiveness.”
Yet, many and / or most of the Russians I have met over the course of this lifetime have been a bit prone to the exploration of the darkness that lurk in the corners of one’s mind and heart. This is not a criticism, but simply observational, and certainly it does not mean that I did not have fun moments of laugh with these friends.
Now as so many of us do, I have lost touch with these friends, an exception being running into one lady every now an again with her husband and child at a cafe; however, our meetings are more random and haphazard these days.
Best,
SC
Okay, last one for now but with the article by Karen Kwiatkowski titled “Really Bad Poetry”, I could not let this anecdote slip by.
According to Norse mythology, in essence the art of good poetry is a gift given to true poets [writers] and scholars who have been invited to sip from the magical mead dispensed by Odin. Here is one version of the story of how Odin acquired the Mead of Poetry.
https://norse-mythology.org/tales/the-mead-of-poetry/
Here, Odin is returning with the mead to the Gods’ fortress, chased by Suttung the Giant. ‘Midgard’ is the world where humans live:
“When the gods spied their leader approaching with Suttung close behind him, they set out several vessels at the rim of their fortress. Odin reached the abode of his fellow gods before Suttung could catch him, and the giant retreated in anguish. As Odin came to the containers, he regurgitated the mead into them. As he did so, however, a few drops fell from his beak to Midgard, the world of humankind, below. These drops are the source of the abilities of all bad and mediocre poets and scholars.
But the true poets and scholars are those to whom Odin dispenses his mead personally and with care.”
In another version [“Norse Mythology” by Neil Gaiman], the drops which are the source of ‘really bad poetry’ [or writing] come not from the spilling of regurgitated mead but from Odin’s wet fart.
SC you are obviously blessed with an abundant personal dispensation of the Mead of Poetry – in fact, I would dare say you are hoarding a sizeable vat of it. As for me (and others down here in Midgard) I can’t help thinking of Odin’s wet fart whenever I try and put words to paper.
PS – this is hilarious – what a circus!!
• Just In: Bombshell! Leaked Transcripts Reveal Biden Pressured Then-Afghan President Ghani to Lie About Taliban Advances to Downplay Crisis
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/08/just-bombshell-leaked-transcripts-reveal-biden-pressured-afghan-president-ghani-lie-taliban-advances-downplay-crisis/
Your Odinic writing covers it nicely.
Regards to Z doppelganger.
“SC you are obviously blessed with an abundant personal dispensation of the Mead of Poetry – in fact, I would dare say you are hoarding a sizeable vat of it. As for me (and others down here in Midgard) I can’t help thinking of Odin’s wet fart whenever I try and put words to paper.”
You are very kind; however, I do think you are being way to humble. Often when I run into you JS, I think I am either speaking with the wisest, yet most down to Earth, Don of Oxford or Cambridge or it is just a really nice supercomputer that I am speaking with. You literally have forgotten more topics than I have studied and write about them quite eloquently.
You move from places and times with ease, still being able to weave a historical thread that layers context in support of an overall theme. Aside from academia or living as a supercomputer, you probably could make the best bespoke umbrellas in the world. Your thinking of working a central theme, building arms off of that theme that may be unique in their own right (some of the best umbrellas do not have uniform arms to provide “give”) and finishing all in a wise choice of covering that builds a unified body (in your case of knowledge) would make you the best umbrella crafts person in the world if you ever elected such a trade.
Now my own normal trade is calling me and I must get to work; however, I wanted to say thanks for all the great responses. As usual, I will need to come back this way just to even look up some of the links, do a lot more reading and view the video collections. It may take me into the weekend to do so, but I will be happy to look at it all (luckily we have a holiday this coming Monday that will provide me with a little extra time).
All my best,
SC
P.S. I really did wish to go to bed early last night, but I had committed to listening to the podcast between RW and Dino. Dino’s energy can really wake an individual up, and I found my brain very awake after it had concluded. Hence, I came over here to look at what was going on.
By the time I was writing the post that was just ahead of the Dostoevsky reply, I think I was too tired to sleep, too tired to think and actually channeling the grumpy old writing style of Mr. Norman Mailer, who I never particularly enjoyed or liked. Yet, as I was typing, I kept thinking to myself, “this sounds like grumpy old Norman Mailer, but I am almost done and it is too late to turn back now”.
My guess is that my brain was triggered by my comments to Ed, in the other thread, referencing the Thrilla in Manila. Somehow Mailer seemed to get to all of Ali’s fights. and I might have triggered a memory inadvertently.
Please be well!
OMG – you are one of the tiny handful of people left on the planet what [sic] knows how to use the not-a-conjunction ‘however’ correctly in a sentence; however, I will have to respond more fully later.
I’ll come back to this later
https://youtu.be/0-pL2J0ZB8g?t=842
What a lovely lady! Her point is well taken and she has a very calm demeanor. Yet, she works to validate the self evident with a serious and sobering pattern of steps. I have no argument here.
I know I probably owe you a response on the other thread, but it has been a heck-of-a-day and I am just very busy all of the sudden. Sorry about that, it was unforeseen.
Still, I have been keeping a few different audiobooks on as I do the more mechanical things and this film had come up in one. Naturally, I thought it might interest you, even if it was not one that you would end up viewing (I have never seen it, but do own many films with the lead actress in them):
Best,
SC
JS,
What is with the students taking the Gaokao who are in the prison section of the building at about 0:18?
Are they provided with more difficult questions or easier ones?
If they pass, do they get out of jail and get to leave?
My guess would be that they do not have an option to attend higher learning in the same manner as the children on the upper floors.
Seems a bit depressing overall. Is this what Laozi envisioned for China’s future?
Oh well, too many questions and thinking — need to move on.
Best,
SC
You are cheeky 😊– I saw that ‘prison’ scene as the lower (ground) floor with a grid over the windows to protect them from basketballs, tennis balls and yes, even ping pong balls at the speed they hit them with. But you have sent me off on another tangent …to be continued …
… continuing
In Chapter 5 of Thomas Carlyle’s “Heroes and Hero Worship” (6 Lectures) – 1841 – “Hero as Man of Letters” – we find the quote “In Books lies the soul of the whole Past Time”.
But reading on, Carlyle writes:
“By far the most interesting fact I hear about the Chinese is one on which we cannot arrive at clearness, but which excites endless curiosity even in the dim state: this namely, that they do attempt to make their Men of Letters their Governors! […] There does seem to be, all over China, a more or less active search everywhere to discover the men of talent that grow up in the young generation. […] The youths who distinguish themselves in the lower school are promoted into favorable stations in the higher, that they may still more distinguish themselves,–forward and forward: it appears to be out of these that the Official Persons, and incipient Governors, are taken.”
• Selection and election: How China chooses its leaders
Who would have thought that in 1841 (!) Thomas Carlyle was virtually writing the script of the rise to leadership prominence of President Xi Jinping?
• Xi Jinping: Scholar in a cave
• Liangjiahe: where Xi Jinping lived in a humble cave at a young age
At 01:59 of the ‘selection and election’ video:
“Indeed the Chinese system of meritocracy today makes it inconceivable that anyone as weak as George Bush or Donald Trump could ever come close to the position of a top leadership.” [and yet ‘they’ still installed Biden!]
Hello SC – my explanation for the 2 + 2 = 4 video by Tibees as promised … it was late and I had drafted a rather lengthy personal testimony and background to put in context that my meagre ‘knowledge’ of the world (and history) has all been garnered in the past six (yes, SIX) years.
Keeping it brief without the blah blah blah … my awakening came when, according to my favourite BBC (and others), “Russia started bombing hospitals and schools in Syria” from September 2015 for no apparent reason. I had been listening to the events in Syria and the rapid and inevitable takeover of the country by the ISIS terrorist. Then I stumbled across people like Eva K Bartlett and Vanessa Beeley (my favourite two amongst many) and my brain literally exploded. I had not even heard of Hegel. I needed to understand President Putin, Russia today and where it had come from – the Romanovs and beyond, the Bolshevik ‘revolution’ (and not to mention Xi Jinping and China – all 5,000 years!). I am currently immersed in the topic of Stalin and the Gulag system (!!).
Out of the blue, an ex-professional colleague and very dear friend, mentor and counsellor shared the following quote with me – it is literally ingrained in my consciousness:
Thomas Szasz, author, professor of psychiatry (1920-2012)
I think he shared it in the context of the story of the island of Diego Garcia.
For later …
The rest is history and I am still searching. My dear wife, who is exquisitely talented in all things crafty (patchwork quilting, embroidery, cross-stich … ) keeps telling me to shut the heck up about all this Dusty-Esky and Golly-Goggle [Gogol] stuff.
So I am very honoured and humbled to have intersected with you via Winter Watch on this journey.
So to the point – no matter how many times they repeat the Big Lie(s) and tell me that 2 + 2 – 5, I simply cannot unlearn what I now know.
I don’t care what they say,
2 + 2 is still equal to 4 (–> the Tibees video)
And i * i is still equal to minus 1 😊
Not enough hours in the day are there? …
Speaking of Eva K Bartlett, I listened to this just last night – what a wonderful conversation between two caring and grounded human beings.
• Eva K Bartlett with Joey B Toonz on the idiocracy of what’s going on in the world right now
(and now Joey B Toonz is on my list)
JS,
Because we are slimming out as we continue the dialogue up here, I will move responses below.
Thank you for all of the generous response on your part; I was very happy to see you here this morning.
You have left me a lot to consider, and I will get back to it today. It will just be later in the afternoon or (more likely) evening / night on my time (EST). This may put us sort of missing one another again from a “LIVE” perspective; however, we do seem to be doing well, even with the differences in locations and time.
So please just look for my responses (below), later today, which is probably your tomorrow.
All my best,
Simple
I just want to wish you and all WW readers goodnight
Okay, I am on a late lunch, but put this on as background and it is very serene.
Many thanks.
Best,
SC
What a cunning story! It reveals a plan to hit two birds with one stone – Biden, for incompetence soon to be declared mental, and the bigger fish, Trump, being, astonishingly, tied to his putative opponent through the thread of a common policy of betrayal of the Afghan people.
But Trump’s guilt being by far the greater, to be used as a wedge not only between him and his supporters, all gulled into joining in the abrupt and unprecedented media onslaught on Biden, but more significantly between him and his military protagonists. The DS and their CIA-media have correctly judged that if DJT can be shown to have betrayed our proxy military in the field, he would also be revealed as a deeply hypocritical and untrustworthy C-in-C of our own military. ‘Just another politician’.
The timing of this attack is notable, as it comes when the reality of Devolution is coming into focus, at least as far as the complex planning and preparations for it are concerned. I said before that the two elements required for a successful counter-coup against the plan to destroy the US were competent and secret plans and preparedness, plus the military willingness to go ahead with it once they had enough evidence of the coup itself. This media attack is designed to erode the willingness aspect of it, at the crucial moment when overt military action will need to be taken.
Will it succeed in disrupting Devolution? Well, it gives regime supporters ammunition at a time when they were running out, and it has certainly succeeded in luring their opposition into running full-scale into the honey-trap of an ironically main-stream-orchestrated campaign to isolate Biden from his own political establishment, which can use him (as they always intended) as a pawn-sacrifice to finally deal with Trump and MAGA alike. Kabul was bait.
Whether it will derail the counter-coup through erosion of military loyalty, I don’t know.
Either way, this general’s credentials need investigating closely, as does his evidence – is the draining of US support real? when did that start? were Afghani troops sacrificed in the way he describes, and who was responsible for that – the US, or the corrupt ANA, including himself (does it strike anyone as suspicious that he himself decamped from the battlefield to Kabul, on a so-far unverified order from a now unavailable and fugitive President)? when were all those armaments rendered useless (a very neat little get-out for JB’s admin if that was done at his instigation, btw)? And many other detailed questions about the evidence he is being used to present.
In any case, ‘a lie is half-way round the world..’ etc. Unless this general’s testimony is effectively countered, it gives the DS a compounded advantage atm, and Devolution could be rendered useless.
I should add that there is additional smoke from the smoking gun of the media so suddenly turning their coats against Biden, and that is the simultaneous volte face of captured administrations across the Western world. Here in the UK, the personal condemnation of Biden’s ridiculous (in)actions is the only decisive and unequivocal Parliament-supported (by both government and ‘opposition’) foreign-policy statement of any kind that has been made in two years.
When I see coincidental moves from many governments, I see co-ordination. And that has the stench of ulterior motives, planned in advance and triggered by anticipated events.
The closely-linked suffocation of any legitimate defensive-aggressive military response to these events, by monopolising the narrative and transforming it into a ‘refugee’ issue is also highly suggestive.
+1 on Dr. Johnson
https://theorthodoxnationalist.wordpress.com
“…and the bigger fish, Trump…”
We really should try to refrain from fat shaming on Winter Watch. Yes, the man loves his food, and yes McDonald’s does make a lovely fish fillet sandwich (which may or may not have fish in it), but we should try to be understanding of this billionaire. Healthy food is time consuming and expensive, so sometimes you have to cut a corner here and cut a corner there, maybe even cut a coupon, to keep the money in the bank and not in the supermarket.
Now because American news will not be outdone by anyone in the world for the seriousness of its hard hitting analysis, I would like to present to you this report, which may in fact help you with some empathy toward President Orange Potato:
Best,
SC
JS,
A cleaner paste:
Best,
SC
JS,
Yeah, I know, I know…Anglo-American Empire. Yes, I am clear on this point and then there could be a Tavistock angle for good measure. They are not classical and it is not really music that soothes the soul. Yes, I know all this and the fact that I may not get back to all of your fine posts until tomorrow or Sunday; however, I will be working some more tonight (on the type of work the energy company paid and happy).
When I do work, I have a guilty pleasure that I enjoy listening at a breaking point in the evening. It prepares me for the fact that the day is a long one and there are “miles to go before I sleep (no, not death – just slumber for the night). So here it is:
Now if I am really lucky, I might get back to one of your posts tonight; however, I am not totally confident. Either way I know we can catch-up over the weekend.
All my best,
Simple
JS,
Okay this bothered me:
“Keeping it brief without the blah blah blah … my awakening came when, according to my favourite BBC (and others), “Russia started bombing hospitals and schools in Syria” from September 2015 for no apparent reason. I had been listening to the events in Syria and the rapid and inevitable takeover of the country by the ISIS terrorist. Then I stumbled across people like Eva K Bartlett and Vanessa Beeley (my favourite two amongst many) and my brain literally exploded. I had not even heard of Hegel. I needed to understand President Putin, Russia today and where it had come from – the Romanovs and beyond, the Bolshevik ‘revolution’ (and not to mention Xi Jinping and China – all 5,000 years!). I am currently immersed in the topic of Stalin and the Gulag system (!!).
Out of the blue, an ex-professional colleague and very dear friend, mentor and counsellor shared the following quote with me – it is literally ingrained in my consciousness:
“Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one’s self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all.”
And this:
“The rest is history and I am still searching. My dear wife, who is exquisitely talented in all things crafty (patchwork quilting, embroidery, cross-stich … ) keeps telling me to shut the heck up about all this Dusty-Esky and Golly-Goggle [Gogol] stuff.
So I am very honoured and humbled to have intersected with you via Winter Watch on this journey.”
BECAUSE I HAVE NOT RESPONDED, AND I CAN TAKE A DAMN MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU. I AM GLAD YOU FOUND YOUR WAY, YOUR WIFE SOUNDS LOVELY, AND I AM VERY, VERY HAPPY WE HAVE MET TOO!
Mrs. Simple encouraged me to get out into the electronic world, as I have always been reticent. Yet, when March of 2020 began the fun, my friends (a bit more senior in years to me ) began to either not wish to go out and / or (quite literally move — for some odd reason the Carolina[s] appealed to them; off topic). Although I am not a huge “social whatever” these days, Mrs. Simple noticed I was unusually grumpy (more than my normal grumpy), so she encouraged me to find a relatively small and thoughtful website to participate in; I told her that would be like looking for unicorns to ride.
Anyhow, tried a first place and found out it was ALL REDDDDD, WHITEEEE, AND BLUEEEE, plus pro-President Orange Potato (which only one of the site’s creators, and I had actually met the guy) and pro-Israel…woo,hoo….mother f*ckers! Needlesstosay, that was not for me.
In the process of trying to write a post (to the site above) about Mr. William Barr, I accidentally tumbled upon Mr. Mueller’s work and here we are.
It is an absolute pleasure to speak with you. We came strong out of the gate, learned a little bit about each other in the early third, regrouped and now it is (quite literally) a “piece of cake to enjoy one another’s company, even if I have a heck of a time keeping up with you.
Have to run at the moment, but I felt it was very important to get back you on these points.
All my best,
Simple
JS,
Okay, still have some work to do, but took time out for dinner (wonderful sweet potato dish Mrs. Simple came up with).
Wanted to smooth the jagged edges of my last post (above). As you know I came around to being more interested in the truths of the world around me as a result of being in NYC on 9/11, waking up, seeing an early part of the event and then living through the aftermath as a resident of Manhattan. It was a really unique experience in this lifetime. Although I do believe my mind has opened up to other opinions on WW over the last (almost) year; I do wish to leave it alone here since it can be such a “firecracker” subject on WW and I am simply trying to communicate with a friend.
Yet, I think no matter how we arrive at a point of questions and seeking answers, the mere fact that we arrive at this quest, could be the most important step we make in our adult lives. To leave the lull of an unquestioned existence, and take moments for both introspection, as well as inspection is a wonderful turning point in life. The process (from my humble perspective) begins an exploration that may in fact take us to darker subjects, but in the process I do believe that a majority of us appreciates our own and one another’s humanity at a deeper level.
I really appreciate your journey, the pivot point in your path, and the subsequent result of a great mind that just keeps wishing to push the boundaries, while asking questions. I will get back to Gumshoe News, but I am currently working my profession, being a family man, trying to fit in outdoor time, communicating on WW, and also trying to provide RW a little support with writing 2 threads that will not be up for a while (assuming approval).
Gumshoe is an excellent site, but it is bigger than WW, and when you are in the “mix” (you JS), I wish to jump in to fight your corner with you; however, with the number of responses you can get on a single thread, this can be a very consuming endeavor. Right now, time is an issue with me keeping up here. So we shall shoot for Oct. / Nov. and if I can lend support, it would me my honor.
Mrs. Simple has many of the same interests as Mrs. Skoolafish; currently, colorful socks are all the rage and holiday gifts are on the mind. You are always welcome to speak with me off of WW, and I will not mind if we keep the JS / SC names. As I am a very private individual, your privacy means the world to me; however, if you just wish to speak, I am happy to do so. Alternatively, we are doing very well here and I am happy to keep on, keeping on.
Now I have a few things to button up…gotta run.
Best,
SC
Some more potato ideas … yum
• The Life of Potato – Liziqi
Liziqi – 16 Million subscribers – enjoy her unique channel.
Very cool and interesting; I am never sure where you are able to source all of these ideas.
Best,
SC
Me neither!! (seriously)
SC, when I was doing what I was doing ‘academically’ (decades ago) and I solved a problem or gained a new insight (eg ‘Harmonic Balance’ (*) – blah Inverse Fourier Transforms blah – and over 15 years before Michel Nakhla by the way) I would just want to scream to the whole world (my family, friends, colleagues and journal publications) – “Hey lookie here – see how neat this is!!”
I particularly focus on comments that provide links to sources – if a comment refers to a book, by default I will search for it on https://archive.org/ and download it as a PDF. I will then go to that particular channel (the uploader) and download everything else I can get my hands on. Alternatively, the book may be in a particular library such as http://www.freepdf.info/index.php?archive or http://www.pdfarchive.info/ (I have several other favourites) and I will do the same – download the entire freakin’ library. It is extraordinary what others have already written about and published, decades and indeed centuries ago, and I am just discovering as a newbie!!
It is impossible to look back at the audit trail and see where and when I stumbled across any particular site (such as Liziqi – or Winter Watch). I just file everything under ‘IS’ for ‘Interesting Stuff’ but am otherwise completely disorganised. I hope my grandkids will view and appreciate my hard drive (and multiple backup devices) as an interesting time capsule and be able to sort everything out.
On that theme, I must share an interesting link with you shortly.
PS – I hope you realise that the penalty for using a semicolon is consecutive sentences; it is simply unacceptable!!! 😊
(*) Chaos is merely a cacophony of simplicities that have not yet become self evident.
Let’s keeping feeding off each other via WW
“Let’s keeping feeding off each other via WW”
Just saw this…roger that…sounds good to me…time for breakfast…gotta run for now.
Best,
SC
Some things:
Finally had a moment to read the entire post and it is a great one. I caught the end of it and wanted to make sure you knew that I caught it. If at any time, I am not on WW and you wish to get a hold of me, please do so. Although my email is up here on a thread or two, you also have my express permission to track me down through RW; he knows how to find old Simple if I am needed.
Having nothing to do with WW or us, I will be off of WW for parts / most of September. Miss Simple’s schedule is about to commence, after the US Labor Day holiday. Although she is home schooled and has been for years, she does participate in a program with other home school students. It is sort of like a university in that she can pick her days and classes. Then she also has physical activities as well that will have a stronger schedule in the autumn.
This is why I am writing two threads now that will be uploaded later to be supportive of RW. If I do not complete this work by mid to late next week, I may not be able to turn them in as planned for quite some time from now.
Although I am not a huge WordPress fan, I am strongly considering setting up an account so that I can “LIKE” posts and use graphics. Any thoughts on this one would be very welcome?
Gosh JS, I knew you were smart all around, but MATHS AS WELL!!! I am left scratching my simian forehead wondering what the heck you are talking to me for? = ) You are one smart man, and I would bet the whole Skoolafish family is wise and happy (since you do always seem rather upbeat) as well.
I would bet an ounce of silver (no kidding, but no coins with HRH on them) that those grand kids adore their grandfather. Who would not have a blast with a man who has an “IS” file…btw…I have multiples of that very same file. Mainly on external drives that I really should visit more…lots of old PDF files that have probably degraded by now, but who knows. Maybe someday you and I should consider building an archive of old stuff for all to access.
By the way thanks for your methodology on research…you have mentioned it in pieces to me before, but I am actually going to cut and paste or PDF the post above, because you have gifted me with a full process that I really like; again, thanks.
Now I have never been your way before, but I can say my mother had traveled that way for business and pleasure a few times. Although Japan was always her favorite place and Singapore was a close second, your location was third.
She visited Beijing in the 1980s, but did not enjoy it. South Korea was fun I guess although she did once have a scary dinner not too far from the DMZ and evidently both sides were taking shots at one another.
She did not enjoy Hong Kong or Taiwan that much. She never visited Vietnam. I am drawing a blank on the Philippines as I type this one.
All of them are place I have never been thus far, but I do hope I will get to in the future.
Well, I am going to close this one out and move over to the other mirror / thread (China’s decision on “boy bands” from Zero Hedge) this evening since I see we broke into 50. I will jog back here to read, but will post over there.
All my best,
SC
Back to the match = )
Pretty:
“But reading on, Carlyle writes:
“By far the most interesting fact I hear about the Chinese is one on which we cannot arrive at clearness, but which excites endless curiosity even in the dim state: this namely, that they do attempt to make their Men of Letters their Governors! […] There does seem to be, all over China, a more or less active search everywhere to discover the men of talent that grow up in the young generation. […] The youths who distinguish themselves in the lower school are promoted into favorable stations in the higher, that they may still more distinguish themselves,–forward and forward: it appears to be out of these that the Official Persons, and incipient Governors, are taken.”
Okay, but does this level of decidedly (very) human framing justify the “wet market”?
At what point do we differentiate the dog eater from the dog?
For all of China’s greatness, much of which I do appreciate; there is a Yin and a Yang to behavior that seems very elusive to the Chinese citizen and their counterpart diaspora. You give me a leader from a cave dwelling, and yes, I do realize the challenges of human spirit; however, I am then left with a question of why such human challenges should exist at all. Why not throw off the shackles of subservience and move on?
The Chinese communist government is a product of, ignorant, imperial powers that once shut down an organic movement during the Boxer Revolution. Why would any culture survive an atrocious war by these oppressors, and then move to adopt their “fast food communist” mindset of control for an extended period of oppression? The very notion is nonsensical for such a studied population.
Now is when my being “cheeky” comes to fold,
(please know I am very much your friend, but I do not have a WordPress account and therefore cannot send you emoticons of expression; it is me, just speaking with you and not a challenge = )
so wait the jail imagery of the children and the other imagery, regarding stacks of paper on a child’s desk, is not real (in my post of the test)? While we are on the subject of Asia, did South Korea get rid of their, public park, that was a tribute to toilets and excrement?
Boy howdy, do I love Asia and Asian culture; however, I have never been blind to its various foibles.
This post (my own, here) is silly overall, but because you are JS, you shall understand the overall premise. Your kindness toward the humanity in NK is very inspiring to me. Yes, I am not a monarchist by a long shot, and that is what NK is really under.
Please be well with you and yours, while knowing that I am sincere in our friendship,
Best,
Simple
Is JS my dad’s running buddy Dennis Rodman in disguise?
Thank you so much Russ for your good humour and your indulgence. I was just getting the hang of ping pong … but I was always hopeless at basketball.
A few more links below if I may in conversation with SC, mainly about China.
Gentlemen, that was funny; many thanks!
JS,
RW’s father Tex Winter coached, was a great friend to and really helped alter the game of Mr. Rodman. Although Mr. Rodman had a great deal of raw talent on the Detroit Pistons, his evolution with the Chicago Bulls was astounding (just in free throws alone, but even being the best rebounder, possibly ever, in the game). RW’s father was a big part of this evolution; he took Mr. Rodman seriously and they forged an excellent friendship.
It was good of RW to chime in here. Since I was not sure how much you know about American basketball teams, it dawned on me to add this note.
I know we spoke of Mr. Rodman a long time ago and his trips to NK.
Best,
SC
Okay, video 1:
China has a meritocracy? Sure, but he nets around the factory for the employees (not “workers”) are for the joyous elation of creating yet another IPhone!
The very use of the suicidal nets is a symbol of both China’s heritage and “meritocracy”.
Yet, I do love the gentleman’s shirt and tie combinations,
JS, really, really, China as a meritocracy through time?
Man I love you, but this one is total fringe. = )
Videos 2 and 3:
If all of us heard of Tibet and perhaps the many stories of the Lama, then Mr. Jinping ‘s life story becomes a coloring book. He is a cutout, and the cave of his handler’s own minds, becomes the impetus for his story.
Personally, I would rather pray for and support (monetarily) the tunnel children of Mongolia, than spend time on this fool. Nice suit, cheap man; now where is the car he wishes to sell me?
Oh yes and lest we forget his role in the current, global, media diversion with health consequences (or just a basic reset),
Best,
SC
Part 1 of my China links
Thank you SC, I understand how busy you must be and let’s not presume to unravel all the mysteries and histories in this session. The journey itself is worth the experience and a conversation like this helps me structure and articulate my thoughts that are otherwise just scattered in the thinkosphere. As they say, “the best way to learn is to teach” – not that I presume to be teaching but that is the principle I was trying to convey.
As a time out, today I went to watch one of my grandsons play in his team’s qualifying final (Australian Rules football – mini colts) and they won by the barest of margins to earn their way into the Grand Final in two weeks’ time – they will probably play the same team who were in fact the best team overall throughout the season.
Now, … China!
Let me first say that there are definitely some aspects of the China question that still bother me – in particular their role in the global ‘COVID™ response’ – and that any opinion I have at the moment is provisional, and certainly different from those ill-informed opinions (or rather non-opinions) I may have had a few short years ago.
One of my main criteria is the simple resonance test (or bullshit test) – and the more I read, the greater the body of background material I have. I am always thoughtful of the question of cognitive dissonance and mindful to avoid the deadly trap of confirmation bias.
With Russ’s continued indulgence I will present links to some of my favourite sources on China subsequently but in the meantime, and with the above in mind, here is Matthew Ehret.
I only have time to watch or read Matthew Ehret occasionally and certainly don’t resonate with everything he says but both he and his wife Cynthia Chung are formidable intellects. More on them later.
Regardless of the rest of the content matter (but please do watch it from the beginning in due course), please start with the ten minutes or so from 1:01:46 where Aziza asks Matthew:
“What advice would you give to people who are just learning about this kind of stuff and they kind of want to expand their knowledge, because even I see people who are in the “truth movement” have fallen for this this China bad narrative?“
• Debunking the Myth of China’s anti-Muslim Genocide Campaign – Matthew Ehret with ‘Aziza’ of the Truth Be Bold Podcast
https://youtu.be/g9erXi4vdng?t=3706
His answer should be framed in terms of how to critically think – on any topic.
The video blurb: “The Uyghur narrative has been floating around for a few years now. But which, if any, of those stories are founded in truth? Why do people in the West know so little about China? Is China the root of all evil? Special guest, author and historian Matthew Ehret joins Aziza on the Truth Be Bold Podcast to deconstruct the anti-Chinese narrative that dominates Western media and rhetoric.”
Part 2 of my China links.
Matthew Ehret and Cynthia Chung are cofounders of Rising Tide Foundation:
• Rising Tide Foundation – Matthew Ehret and Cynthia Chung
https://risingtidefoundation.net/
What an array of fascinating looking topics – not just China!
There is also a youtube channel of the same name and here is one I picked out to listen to …
• Cynthia Chung Interview on China Rising Radio: Her Research, Journalism and Insights
That interview is with Jeff J Brown of ‘China Rising Radio’ and the author of “The Big Red Book on China’ that I recently read. For every single thing I did not resonate with, there were 100 new pieces of liberating information.
I chose that one as it overlaps with Jeff J Brown of ‘China Rising’:
• China Rising – Jeff J Brown
https://chinarising.puntopress.com/
and his youtube channel (see his main site for other social media links):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS4h04KASXUQdMLQObRSCNA/videos
Jeff can be quite passionate but with raw sincerity.
(Excuse me, he has just released a new video – back in a while)
Part 3 of my China links.
• Daniel Dumbrill
https://www.youtube.com/c/DanielDumbrill/videos
very serious exposés.
• Nathan Rich
https://www.youtube.com/c/NathanRichHotpot/videos
Here he explains his research methodology and techniques.
• Cyrus Janssen
https://www.youtube.com/c/CyrusJanssen/videos
(he originally went to China from the US as a professional golfer and coach, got married and moved back to Canada with his Chinese Canadian wife)
• the JaYoe Nation – Matthew (‘Matt’) Galat
https://www.youtube.com/c/JaYoeNation/videos
a variety of presentations including travelogues. Occasionally he gets upset:
• Rural China Is NOT Beautiful! | Angry Rant
On the other side of the fence:
• PrimeInChina – Cory Selby
https://www.youtube.com/c/PrimeInChina/videos
spends most of his time insecurely badmouthing all of the above or producing stuff like the following … as Matthew Ehret stated – you decide.
(Note to self – some Xinjiang links)
Aah – this was a particular video I was looking for by Matt (‘JaYoe Nation’)
• Chinese Government Officials Corrupted My Videos! | JaYoe Conversation
The most important part of all of these messages:
“As a time out, today I went to watch one of my grandsons play in his team’s qualifying final (Australian Rules football – mini colts) and they won by the barest of margins to earn their way into the Grand Final in two weeks’ time – they will probably play the same team who were in fact the best team overall throughout the season.”
I am extremely happy for him and the Skoolafish family; I will keep positive thoughts toward his enjoyment and success,
All my best,
Simple
JS,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the videos and responses; I do learn from you and I am happy to do so. Your ability to either know something about a given subject or find something that is new, always keeps me coming back.
Now let’s set the record straight:
I was a little mad at myself yesterday for getting busy and not taking the time to acknowledge your excellent messages; in my own way I was trying to express my frustration with not managing my priorities well.
I genuinely like all people; I really do. Yet, I do not always love what groups of people do when they get together and try to form group decisions from a governmental perspective. What I like about you is that you cut through the governmental ideaology and sales pitch to simply see the people for who they are. Their art, their culture, their passion and their kindness. You tend to leave the governmental BS on the side, which was why some many LITERAL PEOPLE were going after you on Gumshoe (or at least that is what I would opine). They did not understand that although you are perfectly capable of analyzing government and history with the best of them, you tend for a more positive view of all people (including me when I get tired and outright goofy).
I get it, RW gets it, and that is why over here, no one, but no one could ever gets-a-cranky with a Skoolafish. They want to respectfully disagree, cool, that is how we all learn, but we need to keep it all civil. This is why RW lets you and I go on-and-on. We keep it upbeat and positive, even when we do not always agree. Some of the best links, dialogues, and resources come from our discussions. This is why I wanted us on that older thread to say “thanks” to Kati. People sometimes actually read / look at what you and I are doing whether either one of us is paying attention or not.
An aside: Big, big, thank you for doing that by the way; I am deeply appreciative. I was not trying to put you on the spot and it will not happen again on my part; however, I was deeply appreciative that we both thanked her, because honestly you and I can go so long, that I just think we are oblivious to the world around us.
If you will recall, when we began, people were not nearly so nice in some of our dialogues. Some folks who are no longer around WW (not because of us — not big headed here — that is RW’s call), really tried to let us (verbally) have it when we first started speaking. So to hear a positive voice, from a smart lady, seemed unique in the moment. Now back to the overall.
My core issue is possibly cultural. As an American, growing up in a household in which one parent was truly Asian-centric (multiple languages, multiple trips to all of the nations in the region), I have been told over and over and over again how great Asia is for literally decades (dating back to the 1970s). After a while you just zone out on it, then you resent it, then you make friends from all of the nations of the region (easy to do in NYC), then you realize they are people just like you, then you realize that what makes them exceptional in so many ways is their priorities, as well as focus.
All of this I value and appreciate. What kind of bugs me is when everyone in America is talking about who will beat us next. First it was the Japanese, now it the Chinese, and so on and so forth. As RW knows, I actually have a unique interest, relatively recent one, in Vietnam. Part of it is due to a bit of marital arts history, part of it is the resilience of the people, part of it is the art, and a little bit of the historic cuisine all drives a new interest for me; I do hop I get to bring the Simple family to that nation when the world stops acting nutty.
China has its good and its bad like any other nation. The Chinese people have a beautiful set of classical arts. Their deep love of family and respect for their elders is absolutely wonderful. They are an extremely intelligent and soulful people, which I do not dispute.
What I have a hard time understanding is how such a beautiful group of people can still permit such a repressive government and adhering to the dictates of imperial powers in the west. Why would any smart group of people permit the likes of George H.W. (I nearly ended all by eating pretzels) Bush to help dictate how many kids citizens of that nation are permitted to have? WTF?
While we are on the topic, my first crush and then girlfriend, was a Chinese girl in the 4th grade and we were smitten through the 8th grade (she moved after this year, but we continued to stay in touch for a decade or so more). She was lovely! So if I can appreciate her, why couldn’t the Chinese people appreciate their women for so many decades? I was just a very silly American boy, and they would represent a cultured, mature, people; yet, I was nice to one of their young ladies and they could be outright cruel.
What I like about what you send me is the balance and honesty of both the good and the bad, with most of it being very upbeat / positive.
As RW knows, I met Mr. Rodman at a club in NYC the night before a game against the Knicks. What a nice fella. Just really kind. My only complaint is that he can be so soft spoken (from this guy who is pretty darn big) that he may be a little hard to hear, especially when someone is blasting Massive Attack in the room. Still I do have a fond memory of the man.
For the past 5 months, when I see reports of Australia, I get nervous for you. I hope you and yours are okay. Years ago I had friends down under who all worked for Country Road (I was originally in the garment industry, before 9/11); however as so many people do, we lost touch over the years. You an I are recent friends, and I have to say I do get concerned when I see restrictions of issues in Oz. If you ever need anything or just want me to shut up and listen, please let me know. Thank you.
Oh, by the way, I was never looking for your location or anything like it and I have never asked anyone. I was reading an older post of yours on a WW thread in which you said something that made me think you might like koalas as I do. Since the thread was old and I was not sure you would return to it, I simply did not comment.
The Nathan Rich channel that you have exposed me to is TOP NOTCH. He cuts through so much of the information and hype that we get in the US, and I am appreciative. Plus, he does add the spark of humor from time-to-time.
I do not think the Chinese are totally responsible for our current situation. In fact as I have mentioned to RW, I believe that modifications made at Fort Detrick and two BSL-4 facilities in North Carolina and Texas were then shipped overseas to BSL-4 facilities in China and Italy. This is where the fun begins as these viral agents (weaponized lung infection aerosol) is released on the populations there, independently.
Now this a a shortened version of what I think occurred. Yet, I am still puzzled over two questions:
Was Wuxi AppTec also given the rw materials or was it only the state run BSL-4 in Wuhan?
and
Was the agent used on the “workers” of Chinese companies in Italy first or just the Italian population? (you are probably aware that China has set up factories in Italy where mainly garments are made; by doing so the owners of the factories can pay very low to no wages, while the garments may legitimately say “Made in Italy”…Gucci is a big contractor of this type of working relationship).
Finally, I have to run for now… I will look at all the material and the former posts a little later today.
As always, many, many thanks!
Best,
SC
RED ALERT / RED ALERT
(no I am not talking commies here = )
JS,
We have to keep an eye on this thread / mirror so that is does not begin to track higher in the rankings. I think we are fine at the moment, but we do not want to get too far into the 50s or it may give RW a headache that you and I never see.
On the other hand, I think you and I speaking on a mirror for the longer dialogues may be better than doing so on a WW original thread. So we might have a good idea here rather accidentally.
Like I said, I think we are fine for now; however, we just need to be aware.
All my best,
Simple
JS,
Just a suggestion my friend:
Why don’t we continue the dialogue over here, which you have already been to
https://www.winterwatch.net/2021/09/china-decrees-no-sissy-men-allowed-on-tv/
It is a mirror, on China (of all things) and wide open for us. My concern is that if we keep communicating here and we get into the 50s, RW will need to cut some of our comments and / or lock us out so that we do not trend.
We are both so appreciative of RW and Torchy, that I just wish to be very respectful of them both. There is still so much to talk about in your replies and I would absolutely enjoy continuing the dialogue. I will need to run out for a bit today / this afternoon, but I will not be gone too long and so I will have a clear amount of time to read, watch and speak.
Just in case we miss one another at this other thread, I will check back here. That new thread could a nice place to keep moving along.
Just an idea…please be well.
Best,
SC