The Roving Eye — Breaking American exceptionalism
Asia Times
October 1, 2013
Aaron Paul, Vince Gilligan and Bryan Cranston of AMC’s ‘Breaking Bad’ (wikimedia commons image: http://tinyurl.com/ogbhmuw)
THE ROVING EYE
Breaking American exceptionalism
By Pepe Escobar
Never underestimate American soft power.
What if the US government actually shut down to mourn the passing of Breaking Bad, arguably the most astonishing show in the history of television? It would be nothing short of poetic justice – as Breaking Bad is infinitely more pertinent for the American psyche than predictable cheap shots at Capitol Hill.
Walter White, aka Heisenberg, may have become the ultimate, larger than life hero of the Google/YouTube/Facebook era. In an arc of tragedy spanning five seasons, Breaking Bad essentially chronicled what it takes for a man to accept who he really is, while in the process ending up paying the unbearable price of losing everything he holds dear and what is assumed to be his ultimate treasure; the love of his wife and son.
Along the way, Breaking Bad was also an entomologist study on American turbo-capitalism – with the 1% haves depicted as either cheats or gangsters and the almost-haves or have-nots barely surviving, as in public school teachers degraded to second-class citizen status.
Walter White was dying of cancer at the beginning of Breaking Bad, in 2008. Progressively, he gets rid of Mr Hyde – a placid chemistry teacher – for the benefit of Dr Jekyll – undisputed crystal meth kingpin Heinsenberg. It’s not a Faustian pact. It’s a descent into the dark night of his own soul. And in the end he even “wins”, under his own terms, burning out with a beatific smile.
His secret is that it was never only about the transgressive high of producing the purest crystal meth. It was about the ultimate Outsider act, as in a Dostoevsky or Camus novel; a man confronting his fears, crossing the threshold, taking full control of his life, and finally facing the consequences, with no turning back.
VIDEO — The Truth About the Government Shutdown
Stefan Molyneux
October 1, 2013
The facts about the US Federal Government “shutdown” – and what is to come in the imminent debt ceiling crisis!
Sources: http://board.freedomainradio.com/topi…
Freedomain Radio is 100% funded by viewers like you. Please support the show by signing up for a monthly subscription or making a one time donation at: http://www.fdrurl.com/donate
Bitcoin Address: 1Fd8RuZqJNG4v56rPD1v6rgYptwnHeJRWs
Litecoin Address: LL76SbNek3dT8bv2APZNhWgNv3nHEzAgKT
Get more from Stefan Molyneux and Freedomain Radio including books, podcasts and other info at: http://www.freedomainradio.com
Amazon US Affiliate Link: http://www.fdrurl.com/AmazonUS
Amazon Canada Affiliate Link: http://www.fdrurl.com/AmazonCanada
Amazon UK Affiliate Link: http://www.fdrurl.com/AmazonUK
Freedomain Radio Facebook: http://www.fdrurl.com/fb
Freedomain Radio Twitter: https://twitter.com/freedomainradio
Freedomain Radio Google+: http://www.fdrurl.com/google
Freedomain Radio LinkedIn: http://www.fdrurl.com/LinkedIn
VIDEO — A Young Girl’s Account of Sex Abuse by Syrian Rebels: Victims of US-Sponsored Insurrection
Global Research TV
October 1, 2o13
This is the story of Rawan Milad Al-Dah, a young Syrian girl explaining how she was repeatedly raped and abused by members of Syrian rebel factions.
In a related article, Mariem Karoui writes the following about such devastating occurrences:
“A problem remains to be exposed. All human rights activists following this story voice their concerns about the case of these women and their offspring. Concerns are being expressed that the situation will soon become an explosive matter, making it necessary to treat these pending files with urgency.
“An overwhelming majority of these sexual Jihadist women are shunned by their families for the scandal they brought on them…
“Such terrible cases should not be swept under the carpet. Unless authorities act on them with great scrutiny, they will only worsen. Serious measures should be taken to assist victims, and recruiters should be identified and arrested, to allow the judiciary to carry out its duty.”
(To read the full article, visit: http://www.globalresearch.ca/tunisia-…)
VIDEO — US govt shuts down for 1st time in 17 years as budget talks fail
RT
September 30, 2013
The US federal government is partially shutting down after the Congress failed to fund its work amid a Republican drive to defund the Obamacare healthcare program. President Obama addressed to US troops to boost their confidence amid the crisis.
10 WAYS GOVT SHUTDOWN WILL HURT AMERICA http://on.rt.com/q82mht
READ FULL STORY http://on.rt.com/6ug0sv
FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES http://on.rt.com/umr8zf
RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air
Subscribe to RT! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c…
Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RTnews
Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/RT_com
Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/rt
Follow us on Google+ http://plus.google.com/+RT
RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 1 billion YouTube views benchmark.
[related video: Celente: Govt shutdown theatrics, US lawmakers drama queen]
New Island Rises Out of the Sea During 7.8 Earthquake in Pakistan
Activist Post
September 24, 2013
There are breaking reports of a new island rising out of the sea due to a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southern Pakistan.
Reuters reports:
A major earthquake hit a remote part of western Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 45 people and prompting a new island to rise from the sea just off the country’s southern coast.
Tremors were felt as far away as the Indian capital of New Delhi, hundreds of miles (kilometers) to the east, where buildings shook, as well as the sprawling port city of Karachi in Pakistan.
The United States Geological Survey said the 7.8 magnitude quake struck 145 miles southeast of Dalbandin in Pakistan’s quake-prone province of Baluchistan, which borders Iran.
The earthquake was so powerful that it caused the seabed to rise and create a small, mountain-like island about 600 meters (yards) off Pakistan’s Gwadar coastline in the Arabian Sea.
No video has yet to emerge of the island’s unprecedented rapid formation. The USGS provides some background on how this could have occurred.
The USGS writes:
Geologic development of the region is a consequence of a number of first-order plate tectonic processes that include subduction, large-scale transform faulting, compressional mountain building and crustal extension…
Continental thickening of the northern and western edge of the India subcontinent has produced the highest mountains in the world, including the Himalayan, Karakoram, Pamir and Hindu Kush ranges. Earthquake activity and faulting found in this region, as well as adjacent parts of Afghanistan and India, are due to collisional plate tectonics.
Commentary below by earthquake and climate researcher Dutchsinse:
Share this and stay tuned for updates…
[Potent News editor’s note: I’m sorry I’m 6 days late posting this one.. I’m in the process of moving. Please bear with me.]
‘A Little 1940s Germany’: Parents Livid After Middle Schoolers Watch Video of Celebrities Who ‘Pledge’ Support for Obama — and Ask Viewers to Do Likewise
by Dave Urbanski
TheBlaze.com
September 29, 2013
Remember that “I Pledge” video produced by Oprah Winfrey’s production company after President Obama took office in 2009?
It features a gaggle of celebrities telling viewers all the good they promise to do for humanity. But toward the end, it drifts into a pledge of support for Obama — the kind of rhetoric that befits a political convention spot as opposed to a public service message.
Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis says, “I pledge to be of service to Barack Obama,” kissing his biceps in the process.
(Credit: Harpo Productions via YouTube)
After a number of other celebs staring invoking their intentions to “be the change” (sound familiar?), Demi Moore finishes things by saying, “I pledge to be a servant to our president.”
(Credit: Harpo Productions via YouTube)
For some reason the Hudson (Wis.) School District unearthed the “I Pledge” video for its middle school’s Peace One Day event a few days back, and a number parents in attendance were outraged.
District and school officials made a quick backpedal, apologizing to those offended by the video, reports KMSP-TV.
“The reason the video was used was to show students small ways to make a difference in their communities,” the district wrote in its apology. “Unfortunately, the video also had a political slant. The district is non-partisan and does not endorse the political messages found in this video. This video will not be used in the district again.”
[READ THE FULL ARTICLE and SEE THE PROPAGANDA VIDEO]
[hat tip: Jennifer Sanchez]
VIDEO — Iran unveils attack drone dubbed Shahed-129
RT
September 28, 2013
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has unveiled an attack drone, capable of carrying missiles and described as the unit’s “most sophisticated” so far. The Guard’s website, sepahnews.com, says General Mohammad Ali Jafari unveiled the drone on Friday. He is quoted as saying the all-Iranian-made drone is a strategic asset in protecting the nation’s borders. The website says the drone, dubbed Shahed-129, or Witness-129, can fly up to a distance of 1,700 kilometres (1,062 miles), which puts much of the Middle East within its range. It says the drone has a 24-hour non-stop flight capability, can carry eight bombs or missiles, and hit both fixed and moving targets.
RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air
Subscribe to RT! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c…
Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RTnews
Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/RT_com
Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/rt
Follow us on Google+ http://plus.google.com/+RT
RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 1 billion YouTube views benchmark.
PN 