Sunday, January 19, 2025
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Culture Shock
This is a thing.
Folks in shelters who have lost a lot may be experiencing Culture Shock.
Some advice I received years ago helped me.
It is: Create a morning routine you do before any interactions. Do that routine every day.
That gives a frame to your day and helps you gain some perspective.
Try it; it may help you in your recovery process.
Saturday, January 11, 2025
He is Wrong About Tariffs
New Book Announcement
Trump thinks he can cure some American economic issues by raising tariffs on things we import from China and elsewhere. But, pretty much all economists agree that just raising tariffs without a comprehensive policy framework will increase prices Americans must pay and thus increase inflation. A recession most likely will follow. California economists are more in agreement on that than the national averages suggest.
Tariffs can be a tool in our policy toolbox to make the United States better off; however, tariffs do not stand alone: they are a small part of a country's economic strategy.
Most countries understand that and create a country-wide set of policies to achieve sound economic growth. The United States has not had such a policy for many decades. It has been to our disadvantage that we did not.
The brand new book 'INDUSTRIAL POLICY FOR THE UNITED STATES, Winning the International Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries', [authors Marc Fasteau and Ian Fletcher, 2024, Cambridge University Press, UK] suggests a well thought out strategy of raising some tariffs and ensuring a good economic future.
The book also addresses the underlying economic issues with trade as well as providing some examples of countries which have implemented a National Economic strategy and a coordinated trade policy.
Mike P. McKeever, Economics Professor, City College of San Francisco.
Email: mckeever.mp@gmail.com
Cell: 415-816-2982
URL: miepa.net; econoak.org
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
New Year Hope Is Here
We face a stark situation. 2025 will be a difficult year. My hope is that all Americans recognize the threat from the GOP and resist it every day.
We can delay and demoralize them, if we act together. If we do not, then our condition today will be eroded until we are all destitute.
Robert Reich presents the same message
My hope is that we unite in resisting 47 and the GOP in their plans and programs.
Americans come together historically to resist a common enemy to our country.
Today the GOP presents such a common enemy to our American Democracy.
Their goals include taking an extensive list of actions to weaken our National purpose and our institutions which support the Rule of Law.
Today's GOP is led by several native and foreign born billionaires who have no interest in serving or protecting Americans from harm. Their only goal appears to be removing any impediment to their taking even more of our treasure and blood for their personal gain. They seem to see the United States as a vast treasure house ripe for the taking.
But, if we all unite in resisting each and every action they propose, we have a chance to preserve our values and institutions for the future.
This resistance requires courage and risk. We will see theft, misery, violence, illness and wars. The Billionaires will take our houses, our wages, our votes and perhaps our lives and health away from us. Then, when we are living on the street without medical care or shelter, they will take away our small bag with our last precious memories and reminders of what we once had.
Monday, December 30, 2024
Saturday, December 28, 2024
No.
Here's a plan to resist 47.
MAGA is Criminal
The foundation behind the GOP today is criminality. They are thugs. They will steal what ever they can.
No Point in Debating Policy
They do not understand or have any interest in debates about policy. Discussing policy is a waste of time; you might as well be giving a lecture on Keynesian vs Chicago economics or the finer points of Japanese calligraphy of the 16th Century.
We should wait them out. While waiting we work very hard to win the 2026 elections at ALL levels including National and State elected and appointed officials, School Boards, water districts and on to every place and office MAGATS might be.
We Have the Duty to Disobey
The Uniform Code of Military Justice requires military officers to disobey any order they deem violates the Constitution. In order to prevent the harm trump will try to inflict on the United States from his war on the USA, civil service employees at all levels of government should adopt the 'duty to disobey' toward any order or action that violates the Constitution. Additionally, they should collect evidence of any criminal act and report that criminal act to the Dept of Justice for prosecution.
'So, can a person in the military simply refuse to follow an order if they don't like it? The answer is yes — if they consider the order itself to be illegal or unconstitutional. It's generally called a "duty to disobey," and is empowered by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Nov 27, 2019' [https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/law-and-life/what-is-a-military-duty-to-disobey/] [From my post: Weaponize the Deep State in 2025, April 18, 2024]
Putin Model
As Putin style thugs, the GOP will appoint thieves to all the political appointments available to them. It's a version of the basic Putin model: establish criminals in positions of power and insist each share some of the booty with the Boss. Find any person who will not go along or who may not acquiesce in the future and eliminate each such person. Elimination can be done through snipers, poisoning, imprisonment in lethal conditions, dismissal from any position of authority and also et. cetra ad finitum.
What To Do
Recognize that any act which prevents or stalls a GOP command or policy is the definition of Patriotism. We may be able to save much of our country by resisting all MAGA commands or orders. We should be quiet until called upon to act by the 'Federales'; then we should insist that we will not do what they ask. Force them to fire you from your job. When they come to force you out, record the actions and post to social media and all the usual media as well.
Confronting MAGA in Friends and Family
Whenever you are confronted by a MAGA thug in your personal life, simply state that you think he/she is wrong. Then, ask them to provide real evidence supporting their belief.
It Is OK to Bail When You See Danger
When the MAGATS come for you and you do not wish to endanger your family, then it is OK to resign and/or say that you will do what they ask, soon. Then, you can disappear by moving or going off grid.
Friday, December 27, 2024
What's Going On?
This old song seems right today.
Click for link
Or copy and paste this:
https://www.facebook.com/Amantidelrock/videos/808119211388949
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Let's Get Real: It is a Shitshow
Objectively and non-partisanly, it is a shitshow.
I hope our Body Politic will vomit out this infection before it kills us.
A human body's reaction to salmonella, e-coli, explosive diarrhoea and listeria, with which I have personal experience, describe normal reactions to the nascent Administration. These illnesses are not fatal in all cases but do provide a terribly unpleasant experience in every case.
I pray for a quick recovery.
“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” Dec 24
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
On Fear and trump
He says that his ability to create fear is his strongest weapon.
“Real power is – I don’t even want to use the word – fear.” - Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump in an interview with Bob Woodward and Robert Costa on March 31, 2016, at the Old Post Office Pavilion, Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C.
That may happen because his targets intellectualize their own fears and do what he would want them to do in order to prevent him from doing so. He does not need to do anything if his targets do it to themselves first.
“A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.” ― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Billionaires and corporate CEO's who anticipate how to appease him actively participate in harming their own interests.
He is a bully. He will use your fear against you. He will have you do things to destroy your interests and self-respect, just because you have already given him permission to do that.
"If you can't eat their food, drink their booze, screw their women and then vote against them, you have no business being up here."
That actually comes from Jesse M. Unruh, who was the Speaker of the California Assembly! Cannon, Lou (1987-08-06). "Jesse Unruh, a 'Big Daddy' who gave politics and power a bear hug". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
Our national wealth and security is created by the effective rule of law. When a person or organization gives him permission to break the law, they harm their own property and interests as well as their own self respect.
If you harm your personal interests, then you harm the interests of all the people who depend on you. CEO's who appease him harm the interests of their shareholders and employees.
And that appeasement harms the National Security of the United States.
The better approach is to flatter his ego and defer taking any action that will harm yourself and your dependents.
He owns you when you voluntarily appease him. He will use that to reward you with a small reward and then humiliate you on the national stage. RFK, Jr., was forced to eat a McDonald’s meal at his table with a photographer recording the event. RFK may get a Secretary appointment, but he is there to be the fall guy when trump causes a pandemic.
On a personal note, I have engaged with a very small sample of trumpies. I find that when I ask for proof of their statement, they fade away like a wisp of fog. I encourage everyone to vocally disagree with any trumpie you encounter, and than ask for evidence supporting their assertion; this will include trump himself......
Monday, December 16, 2024
Countering Russia Cyber Attacks
From: [https://www.itpro.com/security/cyber-attacks/russia-is-targeting-unpatched-vulnerabilities-what-to-do]
Amid the war in Ukraine and escalating global geopolitical tensions, the threat from Russian cyber adversaries has never been greater. So much so that the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued a warning to firms to buckle up for online attacks by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).
According to a joint advisory of US security agencies, the nation is targeting unpatched vulnerabilities to infiltrate organizations. More than 20 publicly disclosed vulnerabilities are at risk at being exploited by the hacking group APT29 – also known as Midnight Blizzard and Cozy Bear, the advisory said.
In late November, a UK minister warned that Russia is ready to carry out cyber-attacks on the West in a bid to weaken support for Ukraine, which he said could leave millions without power. And in December Britain’s new cyber security chief warned that Russia is among the hostile adversaries exploiting the UK’s dependence on technology to cause “maximum disruption and destruction”.
As the threat from Russia ramps up, what should businesses be doing to protect themselves?
Russia’s cyber activity
Experts concur that Russian cyber-activity is increasing, with the nation targeting critical national infrastructure (CNI) as it continues its war with Ukraine.
Over the last two years, Russia has been performing “relentless attacks” targeting CNI, as well as organizations linked to supporting Ukraine’s war effort, says Philip Ingram, MBE, a former colonel in British military intelligence.
Russian cyber forces focus on four primary activities, says Ian Thornton-Trump, CISO for Inversion6 UK. The first is to “disrupt and demoralize” Western nations through disinformation and misinformation. Secondly, it wants to “ruthlessly pursue internal dissension within Russia and its allies”, he says.
Russia generally sticks to a playbook. This has resulted in “limited cyber success against Western allies”, says Thornton-Trump. “Although clumsy and operational security mistakes have occurred, the Russians are persistent and continue to leverage their capability.”
Over the last few years, Russia’s methods became “much stealthier and more sophisticated”, says Sergey Shykevich, threat intelligence group manager at Check Point Software. The country is evolving towards “intense targeting of the supply chain”, especially focusing on technology vendors, he says.
Mitigating the Russia threat
To help prevent attacks, businesses should "threat model" appropriately against Russian groups, says Thornton-Trump. “Invest in proactive and detective cyber security controls that are effective against a highly skilled adversary who will unleash bespoke and targeted attacks. When facing Russia, robust defenses are required, but threat hunting and anomaly detection, as well as sophisticated honeypots, are essential to detect compromise before the damage is done.”
At the same time, Organizations must adopt a "not if, but when" mindset regarding cyber-attacks, says Dan Lattimer, AVP, EMEA West at Semperis. To mitigate the risks, businesses must implement comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks and invest in tools and processes to harden environments, he says.
Mitigation isn’t easy because of the volume of attacks, but it comes down to getting the basics right, says Ingram. Given that Russia is targeting unpatched software flaws, this includes patching and ensuring operating system updates are done on time.
Russian threats often strike at areas of cyber hygiene that can be defended using industry-standard best practices, says Ken Dunham, director of cyber threat at Qualys threat research unit. He emphasizes the importance of strong patch management, anti-phishing solutions, and identity access management. “By shoring up overall cyber hygiene in a framework-driven SecOps environment, businesses have a much better chance at mitigating the risk of a Russian attack.”
Notable Russian groups
There are multiple known adversarial groups linked with Russia, some of which are backed by the GRU – the “oldest and most powerful” of the nation’s intelligence agencies, says Ingram.
He says GRU-related cyber groups include Fancy Bear and Sandworm, as well as new groups designated with the names Cadet Blizzard and Ember Bear. The campaigns from the well-known government-backed group, Cozy Bear “align with the goals and tasks” expected from a Russian foreign intelligence agency, says Kennet Harpsøe, lead security researcher at Logpoint. This includes espionage against Russian opponents such as Ukraine, Europe, the US, and central Asia, he adds.
Many Russian attacks focus on the supply chain to gain backdoor access to the main targets. The SolarWinds attack is the primary example of this, Harpsøe says.
APT28, APT29, Turla, and APT44 (Sandworm) seem to be the most prominent Russian government-affiliated groups, says Harpsøe. APT28 and APT44 focus on “destructive cyber-attacks”, while APT29 and Turla lean towards “traditional espionage”, he says.
The Russian government-backed threat groups are regarded as some of the most capable of all the state-sponsored attackers, says Harpsøe. “They are well-funded, and work at the level of a specialist who does this as their salaried day job.”
He explains the defining characteristic of Russia-backed groups is patience. “They have the time to develop their own malware and maintain it. And they have the resources to set up clandestine infrastructure to increase their operational security, as well as the patience to be stealthy and run operations for a very long time.”
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