A close-up of the road sign welcoming drivers into Austria, taken from when my son and I traveled to Vienna in August of 2019. The full, unfiltered picture can be seen below.
A little over one week ago, I published one blog entry about the rise of far-right extremism the world over, although particularly in Europe. This was in response to the Dutch election victory of Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right PVV. It was a result that shocked not just Netherlands, but all of Europe. Even the world, really.
Yet, this phenomenon is not restricted merely to Netherlands. The rise of the far right is growing all over Europe, it seems. And right now, one of the biggest, most glaring battlegrounds is Austria.
The election will take place in 2024, but is almost still a year away. Nevertheless, the ramifications of another possible election victory for the far-right is a major concern for many.
Below is the link to an article I used in my previous blog entry, but which also seems appropriate to share now. Take a look by clocking on the link:
A year away from national elections, Austria’s far-right is more popular than ever by Daniel Harper Published on 06/10/2023 - 07:00•Updated 11/10/2023 - 11:49
This was an interesting video, even if the ramifications of the topic of discussion are a little bit unsettling. Well, more than a bit unsettling, actually.
Miles Copeland was a prominent figure in punk rock, back in the day. It might even rightly be said that were it not for him, punk rock would not have been what it was, and maybe would not have gotten as big or influential as it turned out to be. For that, perhaps, fans of punk rock, which includes yours truly, perhaps owe him a small measure of thanks.
However, before we go too far with that sentiment, what the guy in this video is suggesting, and the facts that seem to back all of this up, are enough to raise some eyebrows. After all, Miles Copeland isn't just any ordinary music fan. He had many resources and access to power, because he had some serious links to the CIA. In fact, the most obvious link to the CIA that he had was that his father was a founding member of the CIA. And Copeland used some of these connections to smooth things over in a very foreign land when his biggest band, The Police, felt in need of some security. Almost as soon as he picked up the phone, everything was pretty much taken care of.
That's not the usual story of punk rock craziness or anarchy, and then the authorities stepping in to settle matters, is it?
Apparently, this suspicious access to power, and Copeland's obviously powerful position in the punk music community, not only was noticed by a number of punk musicians, but was cause for suspicion, as well. This included Jello Biafra, who sometimes seems to gravitate to extremes and sometimes borders on paranoia. Still, all of this would seem to validate his concerns in this regard, and lend them some measure of legitimacy. It is indeed quite bizarre - so bizarre as to be suspicious - that the son of one of the founders of the CIA would be so involved with something as obviously anti-government as punk music.
In any case, take a look for yourself. Watch the video, which includes videos with Copeland himself that do little to nothing to allay any concerns or fears, and do some research. All of the facts are there, which makes this story not just strange, but makes it feel a bit sinister.
Please feel free to share your thoughts if you are so inclined.
Punk Rock and the CIA | The Mad Genius of Miles Copeland
Atlanta at NY Jets - The Falcons have not had a great season this year (neither of these teams have, in truth). Yet Atlanta currently is tied atop the lowly NFC South with the Saints in the standings. Clearly, they have a lot to fight for in this one. However, they are also terrible on the road, having gone 1-4 to this point in the season. As for the Jets, they should have been eliminated from the playoff run a while ago. Still, they are in the running - well, somewhat - and need to stop the bleeding from their current four game losing streak. As bad as it has been for Gang Green, they absolutely need to find a way to take this game. I believe that they will. My pick: NY Jets
Detroit at New Orleans - The Lions are meeting the high expectations this season thus far. They are enjoying a wonderfully successful season at 8-3. Their offense looks on point in most games that they have played in. Even better, they have been surprisingly strong on the road, at 4-1. The Saints are kind of an up and down team, unpredictable and obviously inconsistent. Look for the Lions to earn a solid road win here as they close in on the division title. My pick: Detroit
Arizona at Pittsburgh - These two teams had a memorable meeting in the Super Bowl, once upon a time. However, times have changed. The Steelers are a solid playoff contender, but the Cardinals, on the other hand, are suffering through a terrible season. They have a real chance at the number one pick in next year's draft, that's how their season has been going. So the pick here in this one should be obvious. My pick: Pittsburgh
Indianapolis at Tennessee - The AFC South has not traditionally been a very solid division overall in recent seasons. Yet this season, they have three teams with winning records on this first weekend in December, and the Titans, in last place, are not terrible. They are especially tough at home, sporting a 4-1 record so far. True, the Colts are themselves 4-1 on the road, and that helps to add intrigue in this one. Still, I suspect that the Titans do just enough for the win. My pick: Tennessee
LA Chargers at New England - Both of these teams are on serious losing streaks, and desperately would like a win. But only one of them has still a semi-serious shot at the playoffs. Look for the Chargers to beat Belichick's Patriots in this one. My pick: LA Chargers
Denver at Houston - Two surprisingly hot and dangerous teams meet. Who could have imagined, back in late September and early October, that this meeting would have serious playoff ramifications? Yet, here we are. It's December, and both of these clubs are in position to make a run to qualify for the postseason. Really, either team could win this one, the way that they have played as of late. However, I think that the Broncos have shown just a bit more tenacity and determination in their drive for success this season - possibly driven by the desire to put that 70-20 loss to Miami earlier this year behind them - and should emerge victorious. My pick: Denver
Miami at Washington - The Commanders are a tough team to predict. Sometimes, they play extremely well, and can surprise you. However, their defense has allowed a lot of points this season, and they are meeting the league's most dangerous offense. Also, while Miami has been okay at best on the road so far this year at 3-3, Washington has been simply abysmal at home this season at 1-4. Also, the Commanders have dropped three straight games, while the Fins are trying to seal the deal as they get ever closer to that AFC East Division title. Miami's offense, and a solid defense, should prove too much in this one for the Commanders. My pick: Miami
Carolina at Tampa Bay - Surprisingly, despite the Bucs having suffered through what most people would describe as a bad season to date, they are in position to take a part of the lead for the NFC South, should the Falcons and Saints both lose (which I am predicting). And with the Bucs hosting the lowly Panthers, with the worst overall record in the league at 1-10, I expect Tampa to get a rare win, and perhaps astonishingly, to have a real shot at yet another division title this season in December, despite the mess that has been this season for them. My pick: Tampa Bay
San Francisco at Philadelphia - This is the big one that everyone seems to be waiting for this weekend. A rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game, and a possible sneak preview of this season's NFC title game, as well. These likely are the two tops teams in the NFC, with the best overall records in the conference at 10-1 for Philly, and 8-3 for the visiting 49ers. They both have tough defenses, although the 49ers have the top-rated defense to this point in the season. And both offenses are averaging 28.2 points per game at the moment. The real question, then, is how the two teams will adjust since their last meeting back in January in that Championship Game. The Eagles managed to win that one handily, but I suspect that this game should be much tighter. Expect a back and forth affair, with both teams having a shot to win this one. In the end, I believe that Philly, with their home field advantage, will do just enough to win. Although again, it should be a tight one either way. My pick: Philadelphia
Cleveland at LA Rams - Cleveland lost a bad game last week, so I expect them to come out with fiery intensity this week. True, they are not great on the road to this point at 2-3. But the Rams have a matching 2-3 record when playing at home, so that bodes well for the Brownies in this one. Expect the Browns to find a way through for a solid West Coast win. My pick: Cleveland
Sunday Night Football: Kansas City at Green Bay - These two teams met in the first ever Super Bowl. Right now, the Chiefs are on the verge of being a dynasty, and will qualify if they can win one more Super Bowl. They are 4-1 to this point on the road. That said, the Packers are quite hot in recent weeks. Love seems to be solidly installing himself as the quarterback of the future for the club, and they have now won two straight games. This will be a tough game, but in the end, the better team should come out with the "W." And to me, that's still the Chiefs. My pick: Kansas City
Monday Night Football: Cincinnati at Jacksonville - This would have been a much better game, and much tougher to call, if the Bengals still had Burrow. But he is out, and the Bengals just are not the same team without him. The Jaguars are closing in on another division title, and so this is an important game for them. It would be a surprise if they don't get it done and win this one. My pick: Jacksonville
It was a transatlantic flight. Yes, I know that has been done before. But this one was strictly on sustainable aviation fuel. And it was a success.
Perhaps this could help revolutionize traveling while minimizing our collective environmental footprints.
Below are some of the details from a related article and video (see link below), from the Weather Channel. There is also a video attached below that. Take a look:
Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, is a replacement for fossil-derived fuels in the aviation industry. Without retrofitting, the sustainable alternative performs similarly to traditional jet fuel. Virgin Atlantic completed the first ever flight using 100% SAF, flying from London to New York City.
Airline Completes Flight With 100% Sustainable Fuel by Weather.com, November 29, 2023:
Celeste Ng was an author who I almost accidentally stumbled upon earlier this year. The local libraries in northern New Jersey often have book sales, where you can sometimes find some really great books for as low as 50 cents. So I saw one of her books, "Little Fires Everywhere," and saw how the reviews seemed to be glowing. I took the chance, and I was not sorry.
Obviously, I began to read more of her stuff. And having just finished "Everything I Never Told You" just days ago, it seemed like a good time to finally publish a review of the book.
Having enjoyed the previous two other Celeste Ng books that I had read, of course the expectation was that this one would be good, as well. And it was. The characters are complex and feel like real people. The situations they find themselves in, and the decisions that they make are believable. Like with her other books, you feel like you can relate to the characters.
Now, I do not want to get into the spoilers with too much detail. And in fact, I will not do so. But without giving too much away, this story revolves around the mysterious and unexpected sudden death of Lydia, the daughter of a family of two parents and three kids. It is a "mixed" marriage in terms of race, with the man being of Asian descent, and the woman being white. The race issue comes up again and again, almost from the beginning of the book. The kids - two daughters and one son - are therefore also of mixed race. Indeed, the theme of race and uncomfortable moments revolving around race are some of the main themes of the book.
Lydia's death is not much of a spoiler, by the way, because it is revealed in the very first sentence of the book, if memory serves correctly. Certainly on the first page. It is a shocking and obviously dismaying event for the entire family. And the rest of the book essentially deals with each individual family member coping with this devastating loss. It jumps back and forth to give us the back story of how of both parents, James and Marilyn, and how they met, some of the obstacles (again, race being seemingly the main one) that they faced from the start, and how they overcame that to raise a wonderful family.
Yet, it is not quite as happy a family as it seems. Again, without giving anything away, something happens that gives the family a jolt, and shapes the attitudes of all of the family members from that point onwards, ultimately leading to the moment of Lydia's death. We do find out why she died, and all of the mysteries surrounding it.
We also learn much of what contributed to the drama that led up to Lydia's death itself. This includes many seemingly minor - but not so minor, as it turns out - attitudes and misunderstandings within the family itself. Parental pressure on popularity and academic achievement, feelings of isolation, the pressures of presenting an image that is fake and has no actual basis in reality. There is resentment as well, both among family members, as well as between Nath (the son, and Lydia's brother) and Jack, a neighborhood boy who figures prominently in this story.
Ironically, it seems that Hannah, the youngest child, and the one who seems to be both overlooked, and most at peace in terms of not holding any serious grudges against any of the other major characters, who seems to have arguably the healthiest and most balanced attitude in the book. She also will prove to be instrumental in how the story finally gets resolved.
This is a very moving book. It packs a serious emotional punch. Again, the characters feel real, the situations and circumstances believable. The drama Ng sets in the book is gripping. Personally, I was hooked right away, right from the first page, and basically flew this book. It really is that good.
The best thing that I can say about this book is that I did not want it to end. A part of me wanted to stay in this fictional world for a little while longer. And that seems, to me, like a very high compliment to give about a book. When you don't want it to end, when you want to keep it going, because you have been enjoying the ride, so to speak, is that not what we as readers are looking for to begin with?
“Once you’ve been to Cambodia, you’ll never stop wanting to beat Henry Kissinger to death with your bare hands. You will never again be able to open a newspaper and read about that treacherous, prevaricating, murderous scumbag sitting down for a nice chat with Charlie Rose or attending some black-tie affair for a new glossy magazine without choking. Witness what Henry did in Cambodia – the fruits of his genius for statesmanship – and you will never understand why he’s not sitting in the dock at The Hague next to Milošević.”
― Anthony Bourdain
Henry Kissinger was probably the most famous American diplomat in history. Many people felt that he was a hugely influential figure, with his "realpolitik" approach. In later years, he was a regular in lectures and television interview shows, indeed like Charlie Rose.
To his credit, there was an interesting family history that showed perseverance. Kissinger's family fled Nazi Germany, and Henry himself eventually entered the United States Army an fought against Germany. Also to his credit, there were some policies which
Also to his credit, there were some policies in his capacity as Secretary of State, where he served from 1969 until 1977 (for the Nixon and Ford administrations, respectively) where he seemed to have some good ideas. He pursued a détente, or an easing of tensions, between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, which was probably a good idea, considering just how many nuclear weapons both sides had, and just high and deadly the stakes were. Also, he helped to orchestrate the opening of relations with China, which was not a terrible idea, even if it has been a mixed bag of results since.
To me, however, Kissinger will always be associated with the escalation of the war in Vietnam which, of course, the Nixon administration expanded to neighboring countries Laos and Cambodia. All of that after promising to bring an honorable end to the conflict. Eventually, the war in Southeast Asia did come to an end, but again, not until well after the Nixon administration - with Kissinger often being considered the brainchild of this policy - escalated it. He championed cluster bombs, and the bombing was not restricted to Vietnam, but to Cambodia and Laos. This last for years, and some people still feel that the United States was in a de facto war against Cambodia, and to a lesser degree, Laos. According to some reports, some of those bombs did not explode when intended back then, and are still doing damage to people right to the present day.
These American policies and actions, which again were advocated and championed by Kissinger, were nothing short of war crimes. It has been estimated that three million Vietnamese died during the Vietnam conflict (which again, clearly went beyond the borders of Vietnam itself). Much of that blood was on Kissinger's hands, under Kissinger's watch while in Washington. So I agree with Bourdain's quote above, suggesting that Kissinger should have been right alongside Milošević in the Hague, being tried for war crimes.
Let us not forget that Kissinger supported Nixon's attempts to ban the publication of the Pentagon Papers, which was an effort (ultimately a successful one) by journalists to being the true, secret history of the Vietnam conflict into light. an already unpopular war grew even more unpopular still as a result, and likely hastened the end of the Vietnam War, but not on the conditions favored by Nixon and Kissinger. This was an attempt by Nixon and Kissinger to increase secrecy around the White House and government in general, which by now, I think most of us recognize is not a good thing. The ability of journalists to blow the whistle on wrongdoing by officials is one of the few remaining checks and balances that the public has against the "powers that be," and Kissinger was part of the effort to squelch that.
Let us also not forget Kissinger's role in setting up the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, a country he once had described as "a dagger pointed at the heart of Antarctica." That may sound relatively mild, or even polite, by today's standards, since we have had a sitting president dismiss literally dozens of countries as "shithole nations." Still, that remark by Kissinger was very dismissive of Chile in it's own right. It is all the more ridiculous when you consider that Kissinger soon reversed his stance on Chile and supported a coup d'état that established the brutal Pinochet dictatorship, which lasted 19 years and was responsible for many human rights abuses, including the infamous "disappearances."
In a very well-written article that serves as a damning indictment of Kissinger, Christopher Hitchens once summed up one significant aspect of Kissinger's role in Chile this way:
An unelected official in the United States is meeting with others, without the knowledge or authorisation of Congress, to plan the kidnapping of a constitution-minded senior officer in a democratic country with which the United States is not at war, and with which it maintains cordial diplomatic relations. The minutes of the meetings may have an official look to them (though they were hidden from the light of day for long enough) but what we are reviewing is a "hit" - a piece of state-supported terrorism.
Kissinger was also the brainchild of Operation Condor, which established a cooperation by multiple Latin American countries to enforce a brutal crackdown against political dissent. Here again is how Hitchens describes it:
This was a machinery of cross-border assassination, abduction, torture and intimidation, coordinated between the secret police forces of Pinochet's Chile, Stroessner's Paraguay, Videla's Argentina and other regional caudillos.
This, Hitchens declares, clearly violates international law. The dictatorships in South American that cooperated with this policy were all either ousted or otherwise held accountable, at least to some degree. But American officials, obviously including Kissinger, remained somehow exempt from any real ramifications. In fact, Kissinger came to be regarded as a revered statesman by some.
Kissinger's interventionist policies also had adverse effects in other places around the globe, as well. His seemingly unconditional support of Turkey, and most especially his apparent inability to stand up to Turkish aggression had detrimental effects in Greece and Cyprus in 1974. The next year, he seemed to give the winking approval for Indonesia's invasion of East Timor. And just after the Soweto uprisings in South Africa, he helped to give diplomatic legitimacy to the white-minority apartheid government. Also, he supported UNITA in the brutal civil war in Angola, which lasted nearly three decades.
That's quite the track record. Indeed, after reviewing such a history of frankly disastrous outcomes from Kissinger's policies, it becomes hard to argue against those who feel that the late Kissinger had blood on his hands.
Again, here are some words from Hitchens:
All of the above-cited crimes, and many more besides, were committed on Kissinger's 'watch' as secretary of state. And all of them were, and are, punishable, under local or international law, or both.
But Kissinger never was held to account for all the damage that his policies did. Some are even considering his recent death a loss, and still trying to hold up his legacy as one deserving of honor. To me, however, he was nothing short of a war criminal, a stain on recent history. At the very least, he deserves to be remembered as such.
Below are the links to the articles I used in writing this particular blog entry, including the quotes used above. Also, there is a video from Lee Child, who explains a bit more that is rarely discussed about Kissinger, including his role as the architect of the petrodollar, which itself adds to the blood on Kissinger's hands.
Henry Kissinger Is Dead at 100; Shaped the Nation’s Cold War History by David E. Sanger, November 29, 2023:
The most powerful secretary of state of the postwar era, he was both celebrated and reviled. His complicated legacy still resonates in relations with China, Russia and the Middle East.
Henry Kissinger’s Cluster Bombs Are Still Killing People in Southeast Asia by Danae Hendrickson Updated Nov. 30, 2023:
THE WAR THAT NEVER ENDS A half-century after the war “ended,” people in Vietnam Laos, and Cambodia try to live their lives in a land riddled with unexploded ordinance that still kill and maim civilians.
Why has he got away with it? by Christopher Hitchens, Sat 24 Feb 2001:
Henry Kissinger is revered as a statesman, cosseted guest, star of the lecture circuit. He is also the one-time US Secretary of State who oversaw the destruction of civilian populations, the assassination of politicians and the kidnapping of those who got in his way - from Indochina to Cyprus, East Timor and, here, Chile. Christopher Hitchens lays the charges Christopher Hitchens Sat 24 Feb 2001
Granted, I at least predicted the winning team right. But truth be told, it seemed like the Cowboys were destined to lose for much of the fourth quarter. Only a late collapse, when the Seahawks defense - which had played well all night - suddenly could not stop Dallas anymore, coupled with the Seahawks offense also suddenly growing cold, allowed Dallas to mount a comeback win.
Prior to this, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll had been an impressive 36-0 as the Seahawks coach when his team scored at least 35 points. But this marked the first time that his team scored that many points and still lost.
Really, it was a back and forth game. Both teams had plenty of offensive highlights. There were times in the game when both offenses looked virtually unstoppable.
In the end, however, the Cowboys did just enough to earn the comeback win, as they improve to 9-3 on the season. This also was the first time that Dallas actually beat a team with a winning record this season, although they did it in a way where it felt as if it raised more questions than answers. After all, the strength of the Cowboys is often regarded as their defense, and Seattle's offense had really been struggling for a while coming into this game. However, they put up some impressive numbers against that vaunted Dallas defense last night.
Still, the Seahawks suffer another loss. This marks the fourth time in their past five games that the Seahawks have fallen short. They drop to 6-6 on the year, and their next game is against the 49ers, which will not be easy for them. While they looked like a sure bet for the playoffs earlier this season, the reality is that they look like a team right now that will miss the postseason.
As for the Cowboys, they did not play their best, but they survived to win, and now own one of the best records in the league. They next will host the Eagles, the team with the best overall record in the league, who already beat the Cowboys in a tight game earlier this season.
