Well, with all the bad news going on at least yesterday was Orson Wells day on TCM, and fortunately I was able to record The Third Man. So as I write this post today I am listening to the film, and the sounds from the zither, composed and performed by Anton Karas, are eerily acting as a backdrop to the news articles I am collecting for this evening reads…
As you may already know, today the stock market was more like a lame ride at some sultry summer night carnival. Where the air is so thick it becomes difficult to breathe, and then when by chance you do feel a breeze..it feels like someone opened a hot oven door. The rush of scorching heat makes your eyes tear up. And the only relief you can find is a Rainbow Flavored Snow Cone as you walk out and head back home…
Yup, that is what Wall Street was, an agonizing circus, but at least there was a bit of shaved ice at the end, with the Dow closing at 11,239.54…up 429.62 from yesterdays close.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average regained its footing finish up more than 400 points after fluctuating heavily in the wake of the Fed decision. The Dow swung in a 600-point range during the session.
The Fed released this statement earlier today, and for a summary, here are a couple of articles from the National Journal:
The Federal Reserve announced on Tuesday that it would keep interest rates low through 2013, just as the already weak economy sustains jolts from the recent U.S. credit downgrade and a tumultuous few days on Wall Street.
Reading the materials provided, participants wait in line to enter the fourteenth annual D.C. job fair presented by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton at the Washington Convention Center on Tuesday.
The Federal Reserve didn’t announce any new monetary jolts for the fading economic recovery on Tuesday, but it signaled that help could be on the way soon if conditions don’t improve.
It was a largely disappointing result for investors, some of whom had hoped for bold Fed action to calm increasingly frazzled markets. Stocks seesawed on the news.
[…]
The Fed didn’t announce a third round of quantitative easing, or any other monetary stimulus, even though the committee painted a significantly bleaker picture of the recovery than it did in June.
Instead, the committee offered a large hint that it may act at its next meeting. Members “discussed the range of policy tools available to promote a stronger economic recovery” during Tuesday’s meeting, the statement said, and the Fed “will continue to assess the economic outlook in light of incoming information and is prepared to employ these tools as appropriate.”
In Salford, officers in riot gear confronted about 70 teenagers who tried to break into a closed shopping centre and pelted armoured police vans with stones.
Terry Sweeney, assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said on the force’s Twitter feed: “Aware of pockets of minor disorder in Salford city centre. Advising people to stay out of city centre but also keep calm.”
The trouble followed the increasingly familiar pattern of large groups of young people gathering after messages by text, Twitter or BlackBerry Messenger and targeting shops before police arrived in strength.
The Labour MP for West Bromwich East, Tom Watson, said: “The messages can be distributed very quickly. I think that should probably have an impact on the way we do future policing.”
Police are also using social network sites and the West Midlands force tweeted during the afternoon to calm fears, saying that an Asda in Wolverhampton that closed early was not acting on police advice.
You may have seen this picture, a woman is jumping from a burning building…
British officials anticipating more riots Tuesday night sharply increased police presence in London and elsewhere to try to control the country’s worst uprising in years.
About 16,000 officers, roughly triple the number on duty in London a day earlier, were being deployed to try to accomplish what some observers described as “reclaiming the streets.”
Pat Burn, a retired social worker who has lived in west London for 30 years, said she heard the sirens and feared for her and her elderly husband’s safety.
“I think everybody around here is very worried. It feels as if things are out of control.” She too thought military support might be needed. “The police should get the water cannon out and use the army if they can’t cope.
“I’m not sure how it will all end. This area will be a target because it is wealthy. The problem is that in this country we live in extremes of rich and poor. We need to live in the middle, like they do in Scandinavia.”
Then there is this comment from a man in the street who did not want to be identified:
“You have a generation of kids now that don’t respect their parents or the police,” chipped in his friend. “When we were youngsters we were made to have respect for the olders. Now if an older was to slap a youth that kid is going to pick up a hammer.
“I was one of these kids but it’s bloody hard for them. There’s nothing to do at all. University fees have gone up, education costs money. And there’s no jobs. This is them sending out a message.”
On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered outside the Tottenham police station, peacefully calling for “justice” for Mark Duggan, a man killed by officers three days prior.
Police stood in formation, separating the community members from the station they were guarding, until a 16-year-old woman reportedly approached an officer to find out what was going on.
According to a witness account, some officers pushed the young woman and drew their batons.
“And that’s when the people started to retaliate. Now I think in all circumstances, having seen that, most people retaliate,” said the witness.
The “retaliation”, from peaceful chants of “justice” in front of the police station, have since turned into massive groups of Londoners in numerous parts of the city who seem unafraid of breaking windows, looting stores, and burning buildings, doubtless causing millions of pounds’ worth of damage.
Scores of businesses have been looted and international media continue to play images of smoldering buildings, in areas where firefighters were reportedly too afraid to enter – for their own safety
For a few hours Tuesday night a half dozen state Senate districts in Wisconsin will be the focus of American politics as voters cast ballots in recall elections for six Republican lawmakers.
Tens of millions of dollars are being pumped into these recall battles with one local expert, J.R. Ross of WisPolitics.com, telling NBC’s Chuck Todd on Tuesday that in five of the races, the amount of money spent has already exceeded the most costly state Senate race in Wisconsin history.
That is all I have for you this evening…I am off to make some meatballs, the family has been hungry for some good home-made spaghetti and meatballs and I must appease them.
So, here is the opening theme and scene from The Third Man, enjoy it:
If you would like to see Anton Karas playing this on a zither, just click on this link here…the quality is not as good, but it is cool to see him playing on this odd instrument. Geez, take a look at those fingers in action!
Did you like this post? Please share it with your friends:
I heard this AM though that it wasn’t a police officer who shot Duggan – the police have not been using guns because they didn’t want to escalate things anymore than they are.
Honestly, I don’t know what all the riots are really about. You get different stories depending on what news media you read…I thought that England Police officers did not carry guns either…
Thank you – neither do I. I don’t understand if the riots are flash mobs, social riots, boys behaving badly. It leaves me feeling quite empty and without much understanding of the situation.
Depends upon the police officer, their post, and what’s going on if they have a gun or not. The average bobby on the street, including the ones ‘protecting’ against the riots, don’t have guns. But some special ops and so on, do.
Remember the police shooting of the guy just going onto the Tube? The police mistakenly thought he was a terrorist going to bomb the Tube. He was just an innocent guy… That incident raised hell and ruined careers in the London Police, but not enough.
In the case of Mark Duggan, apparently he was shot by a ‘firearms officer’. There was no evidence that Duggan fired the gun he was holding. (Duggan’s death was the ostensible cause of the first riot last week). Here’s the beeb on the inquest: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14459516
I don’t remember where I read it because it was several days ago. It might have been in The Guardian. Mark Duggan was shot by the police but he had a gun. The police were a special armed unit who were dealing with an increase in illegal firearms in the area. Rumors flew that Duggan was shot when he was holding the gun down to his side or had dropped it. The English do have a civilian review board who investigate situations like this.
“Yes,” said the young man. “You wouldn’t be talking to me now if we didn’t riot, would you?”
“Two months ago we marched to Scotland Yard, more than 2,000 of us, all blacks, and it was peaceful and calm and you know what? Not a word in the press. Last night a bit of rioting and looting and look around you.”
Eavesdropping from among the onlookers, I looked around. A dozen TV crews and newspaper reporters interviewing the young men everywhere ‘’’
There are communities all over the country that nobody paid attention to unless there had recently been a riot or a murdered child. Well, they’re paying attention now.
Unfortunately this sounds all too familiar right here at home. I remember the riots in ’78-’79 here in America – we lived only 12 miles from the Newark riots and my oldest was an infant at the time – it was pretty scary. Let’s hope American politicians wake up before it comes to this again, here at home.
Yup, that is what Wall Street was, an agonizing circus, but at least there was a bit of shaved ice at the end, with the Dow closing at 11,239.54…up 429.62 from yesterdays close.
When Obumbles talks, the market loses. When Bernake talks, the market gains.
Great round up Minx! (I love having my internet back! I get to read these posts in real time!)
I don’t know whether I should post this here or in the earlier topic. Anyway, several news sites are saying that Reid has picked Patty Murray, Max Baucus, and John Kerry for the Super Committee and that Murray will be co-chair. This sounds good to me.
I’ve heard two objections to Patty Murray’s presence on the Super Congress Committee. First, her state leans heavily on the defense industry and that, as the fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Committee, she might be particularly vulnerable to large corporations’ aka big givers’ interests.
Murray’s always been good on social programs, as far as I know, but I still think that this evil committee idea is a betrayal of voters.
I think that Kerry is a terrible pick. He’s the ultimate silver spoon pick. He’s one of the richest people in Congress if one includes his wife’s wealth. I remember when he was debating GWB in 2004, Bush said something about the number of jobs that had been created during his tenure. The problem was that the average pay for the jobs created by Bush was $7.00 an hour. The average wage for jobs lost under Bush was $14.00 an hour. Kerry didn’t even challenge Bush on that or even point it out. Additionally, Kerry’s expertise is in foreign affairs. He’s never involved himself in domestic policy as a senator. Imo, Reid has screwed up, yet again.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Tuesday that he would appoint Senate Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry of Massachusetts to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.
Murray, from Washington state, was tapped to co-chair the committee, Reid said in a statement.
People can only be pushed so far and then they feel they have nothing to lose. This is what the wealthy have forgotten.
In the ’60s, there were riots in many cities. I was in two major riots in Cambridge back in in the day. It wasn’t pretty. Once people get out of control, there is looting, burning of cars, and so on.
The politicians are making a huge mistake by aiming to slash the social safety net. Income inequality is already at record levels here. It won’t be much long until something like this happens here. It doesn’t take much to get a riot going, and once one starts, the contagion can spread from city to city.
Obama and his Wall St. goons are playing a very dangerous game IMO.
Yes, you are so right BB. The thing I find interesting and a bit scary is the way social media is used in these riots over in London. I can believe the twitter effect, where word gets out so damn quick is also another way the violence can escalate. As far as numbers of people involved…
Protesters have been using programs and then social media contacts to make themselves aware of when the police are gathering to start a kettling operation or charge them on horseback.
Read about it a few months ago on one of the techie sites. Can’t recall where….
In defense of the interviewer, aren’t broadcasters enjoined from discussing pending charges? Or is that only once a charge is made and prior to trial? I’m not sure, but, sheesh, she seemed…defensive.
NPR top of the hour news compared British rioters to US flash mobs…so yeah I think we will see yet more authoritarianism. And even more infringements on our civil liberties.
There will be new legislation to make tracking Tweets and instant messaging more easily trackable. All our internet actions will be tracked –and stored.
Next, tracking chips, first to get into any government buildings, then to get on transport….
Obama’s unrelenting hostility to “entitlements,” which he vowed to put “on the table” for cutting two weeks before taking the oath of office in January, 2009, came to fruition this week, setting in motion a rolling implosion of Roosevelt’s New Deal and Johnson’s Great Society. It is a monumental catastrophe, worthy of a Mt. Rushmore in reverse (say, deep in a guano-filled bat cave). History will, without doubt, lay this ruin of a nation at the doorstep of Obama, the corporate Democratic Trojan Horse whose complexional characteristics neutered, neutralized or outright made insane the bulk of Black America and most of those whites that pass as “progressives.”
My congressman is one of the 15 members of the black caucus who voted yes. He was so torn that he was holding a virtual town meeting on the phone prior to the vote.
You know what. I once heard a black politician, I think it was Al Sharpton, say this particular quote (paraphrased of course) that has stuck with me for many years and really opened my eyes a bit. “It doesn’t matter what color a snake is because a snake is a snake and it will bite you if you let it.” And yet, these guys being streetwise and wary all got burned anyway. The people getting hurt he worst by the first AA president is who? Let’s just say the socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Ah, yes, Gregory. And how Sharpton has pledged to not criticize Obama on MSNBC…go figure. Wonder if he has a destroy-SocSec-and Medicare/Medicaid release clause….
Wow is right – Glen Ford: He is the enemy. Unequivocally. Cast him out
In 2008 an old friend of mine who happens to be AA said she hoped he didn’t win because “He isn’t ready, and maybe never will be – He’s just going to make things worse for black Americans.”
So now Steinem is enraged at Michelle Bachmann being called “Queen of Rage” and they think the picture makes her look crazy (ha)- where was Gloria Steinem when the magazines and newspapers were printing the worse pictures they could find of Hill and calling her all kinds of names?
I guess she’s a sometime feminist
Yes, she is – what got me was the fact that there are people actually defending her and saying that Newsweek made her look crazy – look crazy – of course she does, she is!
In fact, any picture that makes her look sane is a misrepresentation. Bizarrely, Jon Stewart just defended her because she is photogenic, and thus, it’s obvious that the picture was chosen to make her look bad.
Well, so what? SHE IS BAD. A bad person, a bad candidate, and a potentially horrible Vice President. There is not one redeeming feature about her except her looks, which apparently affected Stewart’s libido and overrode his brain.
Meanwhile, how many horrible pictures of Hillary were published without Jon Stewart saying a G-D word? Maybe he ignored them because he doesn’t consider Hillary “photogenic.”
Via commenter Rangoon78 at Corrente, information I had not known about, that Obama (or staff? manager?) had set up meeting in June ’07 with several Wall Street Gank Banksters to offer himself to them as “their” candidate for the president.
Someone who would look out for their interests, as Hillary was just not trusted to do that.
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Great, juicy post!
I heard this AM though that it wasn’t a police officer who shot Duggan – the police have not been using guns because they didn’t want to escalate things anymore than they are.
Honestly, I don’t know what all the riots are really about. You get different stories depending on what news media you read…I thought that England Police officers did not carry guns either…
Thank you – neither do I. I don’t understand if the riots are flash mobs, social riots, boys behaving badly. It leaves me feeling quite empty and without much understanding of the situation.
I found this over at truthdig: London Riots: They’re Paying Attention Now – Truthdig
Depends upon the police officer, their post, and what’s going on if they have a gun or not. The average bobby on the street, including the ones ‘protecting’ against the riots, don’t have guns. But some special ops and so on, do.
Remember the police shooting of the guy just going onto the Tube? The police mistakenly thought he was a terrorist going to bomb the Tube. He was just an innocent guy… That incident raised hell and ruined careers in the London Police, but not enough.
In the case of Mark Duggan, apparently he was shot by a ‘firearms officer’. There was no evidence that Duggan fired the gun he was holding. (Duggan’s death was the ostensible cause of the first riot last week). Here’s the beeb on the inquest:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14459516
I don’t remember where I read it because it was several days ago. It might have been in The Guardian. Mark Duggan was shot by the police but he had a gun. The police were a special armed unit who were dealing with an increase in illegal firearms in the area. Rumors flew that Duggan was shot when he was holding the gun down to his side or had dropped it. The English do have a civilian review board who investigate situations like this.
Unfortunately this sounds all too familiar right here at home. I remember the riots in ’78-’79 here in America – we lived only 12 miles from the Newark riots and my oldest was an infant at the time – it was pretty scary. Let’s hope American politicians wake up before it comes to this again, here at home.
Yup, that is what Wall Street was, an agonizing circus, but at least there was a bit of shaved ice at the end, with the Dow closing at 11,239.54…up 429.62 from yesterdays close.
When Obumbles talks, the market loses. When Bernake talks, the market gains.
Great round up Minx! (I love having my internet back! I get to read these posts in real time!)
Hillary 2012
I don’t know whether I should post this here or in the earlier topic. Anyway, several news sites are saying that Reid has picked Patty Murray, Max Baucus, and John Kerry for the Super Committee and that Murray will be co-chair. This sounds good to me.
That does sound better than I expected.
I’ve heard two objections to Patty Murray’s presence on the Super Congress Committee. First, her state leans heavily on the defense industry and that, as the fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Committee, she might be particularly vulnerable to large corporations’ aka big givers’ interests.
Murray’s always been good on social programs, as far as I know, but I still think that this evil committee idea is a betrayal of voters.
I think that Kerry is a terrible pick. He’s the ultimate silver spoon pick. He’s one of the richest people in Congress if one includes his wife’s wealth. I remember when he was debating GWB in 2004, Bush said something about the number of jobs that had been created during his tenure. The problem was that the average pay for the jobs created by Bush was $7.00 an hour. The average wage for jobs lost under Bush was $14.00 an hour. Kerry didn’t even challenge Bush on that or even point it out. Additionally, Kerry’s expertise is in foreign affairs. He’s never involved himself in domestic policy as a senator. Imo, Reid has screwed up, yet again.
So much for my argument about Max Baucas. I’m really glad Durbin didn’t get picked.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/09/usa-debt-super-committee-idUSN1E7781VW20110809
Here is more on that too: Reid picks Sen. Murray to co-chair debt committee – CNN.com
People can only be pushed so far and then they feel they have nothing to lose. This is what the wealthy have forgotten.
In the ’60s, there were riots in many cities. I was in two major riots in Cambridge back in in the day. It wasn’t pretty. Once people get out of control, there is looting, burning of cars, and so on.
The politicians are making a huge mistake by aiming to slash the social safety net. Income inequality is already at record levels here. It won’t be much long until something like this happens here. It doesn’t take much to get a riot going, and once one starts, the contagion can spread from city to city.
Obama and his Wall St. goons are playing a very dangerous game IMO.
Yes, you are so right BB. The thing I find interesting and a bit scary is the way social media is used in these riots over in London. I can believe the twitter effect, where word gets out so damn quick is also another way the violence can escalate. As far as numbers of people involved…
Protesters have been using programs and then social media contacts to make themselves aware of when the police are gathering to start a kettling operation or charge them on horseback.
Read about it a few months ago on one of the techie sites. Can’t recall where….
The media are clueless in Britain, too.
Oh yeah, you got that right!
The woman interviewer was completely thrown that this man would not confirm the media Narrative.
Wow.
Shades of the 60’s-70’s riots here in the US. And, spot on that once thiings hit a tipping point it’s almost impossible to control crowds.
Here’s a post with transcript of much of the interview.
In defense of the interviewer, aren’t broadcasters enjoined from discussing pending charges? Or is that only once a charge is made and prior to trial? I’m not sure, but, sheesh, she seemed…defensive.
Via WRHouse’s comment at Corrente.
After reading this, I’m afraid the riots will be used as a “shock doctrine” excuse for more authoritarianism.
I’m sad I missed Orson Welles day. I love the 3rd Man. Carol Reed. genius.
Joseph Cotton ❤
NPR top of the hour news compared British rioters to US flash mobs…so yeah I think we will see yet more authoritarianism. And even more infringements on our civil liberties.
There will be new legislation to make tracking Tweets and instant messaging more easily trackable. All our internet actions will be tracked –and stored.
Next, tracking chips, first to get into any government buildings, then to get on transport….
S&P director says balanced budget amendment would do more harm than good.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/sandps-chambers-balanced-budget-amendment-would-do-more-harm-than-good/2011/08/09/gIQAElip4I_blog.html
Dak told us that a few days ago – maybe they were reading this blog???
Could be…..
Actually it’s about the most moronic policy anyone could imagine.
Amazing article by Glen Ford over at the Black Agenda Report.
http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/ruin-nation-obama-catastrophe
wow… just WOW
My congressman is one of the 15 members of the black caucus who voted yes. He was so torn that he was holding a virtual town meeting on the phone prior to the vote.
Is that a righteous rant, or what?!
Imagine being an anti-Obama black activist in 2007. Holy guacamole! These guys have been eyes wide open for four years, just like a lot of us.
You know what. I once heard a black politician, I think it was Al Sharpton, say this particular quote (paraphrased of course) that has stuck with me for many years and really opened my eyes a bit. “It doesn’t matter what color a snake is because a snake is a snake and it will bite you if you let it.” And yet, these guys being streetwise and wary all got burned anyway. The people getting hurt he worst by the first AA president is who? Let’s just say the socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Ah, yes, Gregory. And how Sharpton has pledged to not criticize Obama on MSNBC…go figure. Wonder if he has a destroy-SocSec-and Medicare/Medicaid release clause….
Yes, that is some article…I posted about it when Glen Ford published it last week, I am glad it is getting some traction now.
Yes, I read it when you posted it, Minx.
Wow is right – Glen Ford:
He is the enemy. Unequivocally. Cast him out
In 2008 an old friend of mine who happens to be AA said she hoped he didn’t win because “He isn’t ready, and maybe never will be – He’s just going to make things worse for black Americans.”
Barbara – you were right.
So now Steinem is enraged at Michelle Bachmann being called “Queen of Rage” and they think the picture makes her look crazy (ha)- where was Gloria Steinem when the magazines and newspapers were printing the worse pictures they could find of Hill and calling her all kinds of names?
I guess she’s a sometime feminist
I could not care less that Bachmann is being called what she is. She is a hateful, angry woman.
Yes, she is – what got me was the fact that there are people actually defending her and saying that Newsweek made her look crazy – look crazy – of course she does, she is!
In fact, any picture that makes her look sane is a misrepresentation. Bizarrely, Jon Stewart just defended her because she is photogenic, and thus, it’s obvious that the picture was chosen to make her look bad.
Well, so what? SHE IS BAD. A bad person, a bad candidate, and a potentially horrible Vice President. There is not one redeeming feature about her except her looks, which apparently affected Stewart’s libido and overrode his brain.
Meanwhile, how many horrible pictures of Hillary were published without Jon Stewart saying a G-D word? Maybe he ignored them because he doesn’t consider Hillary “photogenic.”
Via commenter Rangoon78 at Corrente, information I had not known about, that Obama (or staff? manager?) had set up meeting in June ’07 with several Wall Street Gank Banksters to offer himself to them as “their” candidate for the president.
Someone who would look out for their interests, as Hillary was just not trusted to do that.
Thank you!! Great reads and comments. I’m catching up.