Author: R J Adams

How the media loves to split this country in two. Take the case of Bowe Bergdahl, who’s recently exchanged his Taliban prison in Afghanistan for a US military prison (sorry, that should have read ‘hospital’) in Germany.

It’s interesting to note Bergdahl was a lowly private first class when he disappeared from his platoon, apparently after just walking away from his base. He’s been twice promoted while held in captivity by the Taliban: once, to specialist, and then, to sergeant. (So far as we know, it was the US army that promoted him, in absentia, – not the Taliban!)^[1]

The release of Bergdahl was agreed with the Talban on condition five detainees were freed from Guantanamo Bay in exchange. The US media has played up the idea these five are dangerous individuals who will return to the battlefield and fight against America. It’s probably true. No-one held without trial for years, and treated with gross inhumanity during that time, is going to thank their captors on the way out.

The idea that five mere human beings are going to make a huge difference to the Taliban’s grudge against the West in general, and America in particular, is beyond ludicrous. Yet it serves to divide this nation down the middle, with many viewing Bergdahl as a deserter who should have been left to rot, and others agreeing with the US president, who authorized the exchange without consultation with Congress. The corporate media is once again deploying its power to divide and conquer.

News recently of the tragic road accident that killed one man and put the comedian, Tracy Morgan into intensive care, has now revealed the driver of the Walmart truck that collided with their vehicle had not slept for twenty-four hours.

Walmart say their driver was ‘operating well within federal regulations’. It is, perhaps, the type of irresponsible reaction one might expect from Walmart, but the sad fact is that the only legislation addressing the subject states that drivers can work a maximum seventy hours a week. This means a man or woman may drive fourteen hours a day, every day, for five days of the week. How many us could keep that up without having an eventual accident?

Showing, yet again, a reliable lack of consideration for the safety of US citizens, Congress last week moved to relax these already lax regulations following sustained lobbying from the truck industry. A 24/7 economy apparently requires truck drivers to work 24/7, and Congress is only too happy to oblige big corporations like Walmart.

Apparently, it’s gone unnoticed in Congress that Europe’s economy is also 24/7. It might seem amazing to certain US senators and representatives that European economies manage to operate despite truck drivers having to adhere to these rules:

Daily driving must not exceed 9 hours, although this may be extended to 10 hours twice a week.

Weekly driving must not exceed 56 hours.

Fortnightly driving must not exceed 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks.

Drivers must take breaks that total at least 45 minutes during or after a maximum of 4.5 hours of driving. The break can be split into two periods, one of at least 15 minutes followed by one of at least 30 minutes. You cannot split breaks into three periods of 15 minutes.

Drivers must normally take at least 11 consecutive hours of daily rest. This can be reduced by up to 2 hours on no more than three occasions between any two weekly rest periods…^[2]

It’s amazing what Europe manages to achieve, that America finds quite impossible. In this instance – the saving of many lives.

In company with the US mainstream news media we’ll finish with a feel-good story, to warm our souls and revitalize the love each human being holds in his heart for his fellow man.

Are you feeling stressed, low, depressed or suicidal? Fear not, the folks at Los Angeles airport will be happy to help you. There you’ll find the soothing company of a ‘therapy dog’, complete with handler, to ease your cares away.

Yes, LAX is running a “Pets Unstressing Passengers” program (acronym: PUP – get it?) designed to put your stress to rest and allow you to fully enjoy the airport experience.^[3]

What a truly wonderful idea! Though, there is perhaps one concern.

Given that the stress experienced by airport users is created almost entirely by the airlines and airports, and domestic animals can be equally affected, those ‘therapy’ dogs may just end up needing therapy themselves.

Who’ll be the first unfortunate traveler to get bitten?

^{[1] “Army Promotes Missing-Captured Soldier” US Dept of Defense, June 16th 2011}

^{[2] “DRIVERS HOURS RULES FOR GOODS VEHICLES IN THE UK AND EUROPE” Warwickshire Police, UK.}

^{[3] “Meet the PUPs of LAX” LAX Website}

There’s a lot going on right now to thwart attempts by the government and corporate interests to take control of the internet. We’re all aware, thanks to Edward Snowden, of the NSA’s surveillance of the American public’s use of cellphones and internet access. FFTF (Fight for the Future) and other organizations are currently sponsoring efforts to assist us in making our own internet activities safer from prying eyes.

At the end of this post is a link to a website detailing just what can be done, mostly for free, to keep your internet activity secure.^[1]

Meanwhile, the FCC is suspending its decision on whether to hand over control of the internet to corporate ISPs like Comcast and Verizon, for a period of 120 days. This is, at least ostensibly, to allow us peasants to make our feelings known. Given that US president Obama has just handed control of the FCC over to Tom Wheeler, whose previous career was as…

… a venture capitalist and lobbyist for the cable and wireless industry, with positions including President of the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA)”.[Wikipedia]

…it seems unlikely the US president is on the side of the people.

“Yes, we can! Yes, we can!” … NO, HE DIDN’T!

Coincidentally, Wheeler raised over half a million dollars for Obama’s presidential campaigns.

Spend a few minutes with John Oliver while he succinctly explains the subject of net neutrality:

[cvg-video videoId= ’14’ width= ‘420’ height= ‘250’ mode= ‘playlist’ /]

^{[1] Reset The Net ResetTheNet.org}

Is anyone else out there perturbed by the latest fad employed by the wealthy to amuse themselves? I’m referring to certain, well-healed, individuals hiding sums of money in various parts of the country, then using social media to present the common plebs with clues where to find it.

This little game began in the US, but has now spread to Britain. It’s been picked up by the national media in both countries, who seem to think it’s a great prank, and bundles of fun for all and sundry.

Have the ordinary people of both nations totally lost pride in themselves that they’ll go scrabbling about on their hands and knees for the amusement of some anonymous billionaire?

One sad fact is that the people who might truly benefit from this surplus cash are the very people who have no chance of finding it. The destitute and homeless don’t have access to social media. They’re lacking the accoutrements of smart phone, laptop, or tablet. None of these things are capable of informing them where particular dumpsters are located with the least contaminated stale crusts or restaurant leftovers. They have to work it out without technological aid.

Perhaps, if the person with all this surplus money were to place it in such receptacles, where the truly needy might find it, he or she might actually do some good. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t then have the smug pleasure of seeing this ‘act of philanthropy’ displayed across their big screen TVs.

As it is, the finders are generally middle class socialites who’ll no doubt spend their ill-gotten gains down their local bar, while recounting to bored friends – only there for the free drinks – how they were clever enough to discover it.

Are the rich really so bored with their private jets and Lamborghinis that they must resort to this puppetry of the peasants for amusement? Perhaps so. After all, it’s said that money doesn’t bring happiness, and there’s ample evidence of that in virtually every glossy magazine on the news stand.

^{[1] “Free money hidden in cash-filled envelopes in Plymouth city centre – can you find them?” Plymouth Herald, May 31st 2014}