Check out this great video by Stefan Molyneux. This video discusses the dangers of Bitcoin for central banks, governments, and also Bitcoin users as well. Must see.

BlackEnergy

" A destructive “Trojan Horse” malware program has penetrated the software that runs much of the nation’s critical infrastructure and is poised to cause an economic catastrophe, according to the Department of Homeland Security. National Security sources told ABC News there is evidence that the malware was inserted by hackers believed to be sponsored by the Russian government, and is a very serious threat. The hacked software is used to control complex industrial operations like oil and gas pipelines, power transmission grids, water distribution and filtration systems, wind turbines and even some nuclear plants. Shutting down or damaging any of these vital public utilities could severely impact hundreds of thousands of Americans."-- From ABCnews.

It was only a matter of time. Just one more reason to develop robust, local infrastructure.

H/T-- http://market-ticker.org/

 

Origins of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)

Caspian Report ends its hiatus with a much welcomed piece on ISIS.

The Geopolitics of World War III

Storm Clouds Gathering's latest. Watch and share.

Brigitta Jonsdottir and Iceland's Pirate Party

I'm quite impressed with the political movements in Iceland and their ability to achieve results.

I knew that they kept their government from approving a banker bailout like the TARP program here in the U.S. I've also heard a bit about the Pirate Party but I guess I need to do some more research.

I'd like to see peaceful political change along these lines here but, after the disappointment of both the Tea Party and the Occupy movement it appears that we are missing something.

I hold out hope that what's missing isn't 2nd amendment remedies.

Maybe we just need more folks like Birgitta Jonsdottir.

Check out this Motherboard article on Brigitta and the Pirate Party's stance that Iceland should be a safe haven for data. Interesting stuff.

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-pirate-partys-poetician-plans-to-make-iceland-a-data-haven

The Covert Origins of ISIS

Anti-Russian graffitti in Bulgaria

"On August 19 The Moscow Times reported about Russia's demand that Bulgaria try harder to prevent vandalism of Soviet-era monuments, after yet another monument to Soviet troops in Sofia was spray-painted.

The Russian Embassy in Bulgaria has issued a note demanding that its former Soviet-era ally clean up the monument in Sofia's Lozenets district, identify and punish those responsible, and take "exhaustive measures" to prevent similar attacks in the future... The vandalism was the latest in a series of similar recent incidents in Bulgaria - each drawing angry criticism from Moscow."--Source

"Figures of Soviet soldiers at the base of a Soviet Army monument in Sofia, Bulgaria, spray-painted into superheroes. The writing in Bulgarian, "в крак с времето," means "in keeping with the times."

For more of Oleg Atbashian's work check out http://thepeoplescube.com/. 

ISIS

And not the awesome song by Dylan, either.

Pretty decent article on ISIS and its origins. 

While I largely agree with the Anand Gopal, I don't believe he is looking far enough back on the origins of the Arab Spring and ISIS.

It didn't start with the US involvement in the MENA region post-9/11 for the GWOT. It began with Britain and France carving up the Middle East out of the remains of the Ottoman Empire after WW I.

These borders lumped together ethnic enemies (divide and conquer, maybe?) to be ruled over by Western-backed strongman dictators to allow for "easy trade negotiations".

Despite that disagreement, I think the journalist is right on on the current state of affairs and his assessment on the best course of action for the US in response to ISIS.

Jello Biafra was a genius

I pointed it out once before in Rediscovery that Jello's lyrics were certainly applicable today in the case of domestic politics in the state of California.

His insight into foreign policy was just as sharp and in fact, nearly prescient. Check out this video, from the 80's as well, mind you. This isn't an official video and the references are updated to the early part of the last decade but, they are relevant again in the early part of this one.

Current state of oil supply and demand

"We frequently see stories telling us how well the United States is doing at oil extraction. The fact that there are stories in the press about the US wanting to export crude oil adds to the hype. How much of these stories are really true?"

RTWT

Ron Paul's Ad on our Wars

A classic, and still relevant.

The Clock

Great post over at WRSA

Worth your time and consideration.

http://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/synth-isis/

Great post at WRSA

Check it out. http://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/fascism-fusa-and-the-future-2/

 Still think this is the land of the free?

Well maybe we should start acting like it then.

The truth on war and American foreign policy

Ron Paul makes the case:

"Since 1945, our country has been involved in over 70 active or covert foreign engagements. On numerous occasions we have provided weapons and funds to both sides in a conflict. It is not unusual for our so-called allies to turn on us and use these weapons against American troops. In recent decades we have been both allies and enemies of Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, and the Islamists in Iran. And where has it gotten us? The endless costs resulting from our foolish policies, in human lives, injuries, tax dollars, inflation, and deficits, will burden generations to come. For civilization to advance, we must reduce the number of wars fought. Two conditions must be met if we hope to achieve this."

More at:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-18/ron-paul-explains-why-they-hate-peace

This is a timely piece of writing that we should all reflect on at this time. Right now it seems we are on the precipice of global conflagration. The events in Ukraine and the tensions in Asia between the Chinese, the Japanese, and the Vietnamese are not likely to resolve themselves peacefully without fundamentally new thinking and systems to cultivate and allocate resources.

And make no mistake, greed over resources is at the heart of these conflicts.

F'ing F'ed up

From the Overheard section of the latest Woodpile Report:

"Fukushima - I watch NHK TVJapan with my wife. Over the past weeks they've had many specials about Japanese living great lives outside of Japan. In poorer parts of Asia and interestingly South America. Have never seen so many of these programs as NHK is very nationalistic. Seems they are prepping their citizenry for the eventual need to abandon Japan.
Infinite QE, comment 4726925 at zerohedge.com"

Violence may not be the answer...

...but the threat of reciprocal violence often is.  Oftentimes when you see someone walked all over, from an individual level or even as large groups it is because they simply don't have the means to resist or defend themselves.

Quite simply, anyone who advocates for gun control or disarming individuals is NOT an advocate for minorities, as they are usually the ones victimized when in a weakened, disarmed state.

Consider the current events in the article.

http://reason.com/archives/2014/03/20/ukrainians-and-venezuelans-need-guns-to

Don't Poke the Bear

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/03/17/don_t_poke_the_russian_bear_ukraine

Here's a pretty good article detailing the foreign policy implications of the state department's reaction and explaining the way the Russians likely view this whole situation.

H/t Dan Carlin's Twitter feed.

P.S. For more on this and other things, I highly recommend Dan's podcast. Follow the link above.