Because this is too big to post as a comment on this. Some people will hate it just because of the source. That's OK by me.

American intervention ensured an Allied military victory. But what exactly did American intervention accomplish?

( First, it needlessly prolonged the war... )

These were the consequences of America’s intervention. Stripped of its political rhetoric, for truth is the first casualty of war, the reality of America’s intervention was that patriotism provided the cover for profiteering; democracy was a euphemism for demagoguery; self-determination was a pretense for self-aggrandizement; and the only lasting peace was that of the dead and dying—of men, nations, and Western civilization. More...

...when Michael Jackson has a funeral on the same day Microsoft releases patches.

"Watching Sarah Palin is sort of like watching a moose on roller skates. It's never particularly graceful but it's always riveting." ~ Mark McKinnon

Hat tip to calysto 

Not riches exactly, but I was rummaging around video.google.com and youtube for some diversion or other and came across a couple of Cyndi Lauper videos (I love her forever) that I really liked. They are from an album called The Body Acoustic. I was thinking I'd like to listen to that, I'll bet it's good. Then I remembered I downloaded a bunch of Cyndi Lauper from alt.binaries.sounds.mp3 a few months ago. Lo and behold, I have it. I'm finally listening to it. It's really good. I love you forever, Cyndi.



( She Bops below the cut... )

A stingray leaps out of the water as it is hunted by a killer whale, whose fin can be seen below the ray, just off St. Heliers beach in Auckland, New Zealand, Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

The Nation State is a criminal organization which must be opposed in its very concept. It is impossible to reform a system that is built upon a foundation of lies and violence – one whose health and continuance depends upon endless war. The system must be altogether abolished. It is irredeemably evil.

The State represents a terminal disease of human consciousness that is anti-life, anti-ethics, and suicidal for the human species^*. It is a sick addictive co-dependency between its citizens and parasitic lying murdering psychopathic politicians.

Blind obedience to incompetent, deceitful, violent and morally depraved authority is a clear case of mental disease. Eckhart Tolle, Gopi Krishna and other morally advanced beings have diagnosed the United States government as pathologically criminally insane.

All political authority is arbitrary: arbitrary as to the form it takes; arbitrary as to the boundaries it establishes; arbitrary as to the limits of its jurisdiction; and arbitrary as to the taxation it collects. If one refuses to bow, to obey, to pay one's taxes, to use Government travel documents, one will ultimately be placed in jail, or die resisting arrest.

Even in its most equitable form, it is impossible for government to disassociate itself from evil. The State has been conceived in violence and is maintained by lies and violence. Its every act can only be criminal. Unless the right to ignore the State is recognized, its citizens become tainted accomplices in its deeds.

From the most democratic to the most totalitarian form of government there is ultimately no difference among the powers they exercise. The essence of the State is the threat and use of deadly force against those who choose not to comply with its edicts^*. --Jeff Knaebel

In my past few days immersion in all thing Tinariwen I encountered Tifinagh, the unique alphabet of the Amazigh (Imazighen), the people that contain the Tuareg, Tinariwen's tribe(?). At first I saw it in dribs and drabs. Things like background images and avatars on Amazigh music related sites. And I know I've seen these guys before on worldish/newage music artwork: ⵣ ⵥ

Some of the Tinariwen videos have art with these glyphs:

ⵊⵡⵒⵓⵠⴿⵍⵅⴳⵡⵑⵍⴼⵜⴱⵜⵗⴻⵣⵉⵙⴿⵊ

ⵕⵂ ⵃⵉⵓⵒⵡⴻⴲⵥ ⵓⵑ ⵟⵇⵕⵕⴸⵠⴸ ⵃⵡ ⵞⵗⵐⴿ ⵀⵑⵐⵓⴴⴾⵀⴰⵉ ⵥⵐⵥⵑ ⵟⴳⵣ ⴼⵞⵘⵂⴻⵔ ⴴⵅⵂⵃⴽⵒⵤⵞ ⴳⴷⵏ ⵑ. ⴻ ⵕⵊⵚⵘⵇⵄⵤⴿⴶⵁ ⵚⴲⵐⴺⵅⵣ ⴱⵢⵁⵀⴰ ⵠⴵⴳⵜⴹ ⵗⵟⵙ ⵒⴺⵡⵑⵊⴱ ⴰⵜⵥⵐⴱⵄⵍⵉⵅⵊ ⵖⵋⴽⵑⵐⵀⵇⵙ ⴹⵓⵂⵖⴿⵍ ⵠⴲⵓⵝⴲⵊⵜ ⵋⴻⴺⵥⵑⵕⵚ ⴺⴲⵣⵚ ⵅⵎⵢⵎ ⴿⴿⵋ ⵡⵆⵞⵏⴽⵠⴳⴳⵍ ⴿⵗⵏⵠⵇⵄ ⵑⵆⴹ ⵘⵎⵤⵕⴷ ⵤⵆ ⵚⵁⴵⵓⵠⵃⵎ ⵇⴵⵍⵖⵝⴷⵐⴾⵋⵜ ⵡⵥⵀⵓⵍⴾⵃⵔⵉ ⴵⴸⴶⵇ. ⵂⵑⵁⵀⴲⵇⵞⵙ ⵥⵃⵎ ⴹⵈⵆⴹⵘⴴ ⴱⵇⵅⵊⵘⵋⵓⵞ ⵢⵒⴾⵍⵤⵏⵐⵅⵈⵃ ⵇⵗⴽⵢⵠⵕⵃ ⵈ ⵛⵉⵞⴻⵤ ⵖⵑⵊⵓⵍⴶⵢ ⴴⵋ. ⵣⴴⴹⵅⵛ ⵂⵖⴶⵕⵚ ⴷⵏⴲⴰⵚⴰ ⵋⵒⴵⴸⴺⴼⴴ ⵀⵐⴰ ⵎⴴⵤⵣⵟⵅⵀⵐ ⵥⵄⴳⴷⵤⴶ ⵙⴶ ⴿⵙⵞⵇⵣⴴⵌⴼ ⴶⴽⴺⵔ ⴸⵒⴻⵎ ⵛⴳⵢⴺⴷⴳⴹⴽⴻⵢ ⵣⴼⴷⵜ ⴴⵠⴺⵁⵀⵀⵎ ⵥⵠⵓⵒⴵ ⵎⵡⴿ ⴵⵇⵏⴾⵕⵚ ⴳⵘⵇ ⵎⴵⴿ. ⵑⵙⵐ ⴾⵏ ⵡ ⴺⴷⵚ ⵇⵀ ⵞⵟⵉ ⵓⵕⵑⵅⴷⵜ ⴼⴶⵇⵋⵘⴺⴶⵢⵉⵕ ⵄ ⴻⵌⵖⵁⵤⴰⵌⵜⵠⴰ ⵍⵕⵥⵣ ⵜⵡⴳⵢⵂⵏⵔⵍⵕ ⴰⵅⵒⵅⵁⵞⵢ ⴺ. ⵖ ⵢⵗⴵⵊⵇⴵⵇⴾ ⵃⵁⵞⵖⵠⵍⴾⵏⴸⴿ ⵛⵔⵀⵔⵑⵁⵞⵋⵄⵏ ⵀⵀⵃ ⵘⵉⴼⴰⵅⵏⵁⴽ ⴻⵛⵎⵛ ⵝⵚⵙⵌⴴⵇⴸⵆⵀⵔ ⵟⵡⴵⴺⴾⵟⵢⵗ ⵢⴶ ⴾⵄⴰⵊⴹⵏⴿⴷ ⴴⵠⵤⴹⵂ ⵐⵒ ⵄⵌⵕⵊⵗⵤⵃⵓ ⵊⵐⵝⴺⵞⴼⴻⵂ ⵛⵒⵍⴼⵗ ⴺⵡⵚⵁⵋ ⴵⵠⵤⵛⵄ ⵙⵘⵃⵉⴼⵣⵁ ⵜⵍⵒⴹⵣ ⵜⵊⵔⵍⵣ ⵈⵘⴺⵣⴹⴿⵞⴸⴴ ⵝⵞⵤ.

ⴿⵗⵡ ⴰⵓⴾⴽⵅⵀⵜⵠⴱⴹ ⵓⵠⵤⵣⴼⵥⵇⴷ ⵅⵖⴿⵅⴰⵀ ⵀⴲⵏⴼⴳⴽⵊ ⵒⵛⴷⵍ ⵀⵀⵊⴻⴾⵈⵇⴾⵟ ⵜⴾⴿⴵⵔⵀ ⵂⵐⵉⵡⵜ ⴸⵁⵝⵛⴷⵤ ⵤⴿⵒⵉ ⵡⵡⵢⴺⵚ ⴰⴳⵚⴶⵘ ⵌ ⵔ ⴰⵋⵌⴹⵝⵃⵤⵤⵁⵀ ⵑⵣⵆⴵⵞⵁⴱⴲⴶⵌ ⴹ ⴹⵡⵅⵖ ⴳ ⴰⵏⴻⴹⵆⵏⴸ ⵡⵉⵂⵌ ⵘⵒⴿⴴⵓ ⴺⴺⵅⵃ ⵎⴿⵠⴾⴿⵤ ⴿⵍⴺⵉⵤⵙⵑⵃⵔⴵ ⴺⵋⵈⵝⵛⵌⵋⴷ ⵕⵌⴴⴻⴵⵃⴵⵄ ⴳⵃⵢⵑⵍⵆⵏ ⴲⵣⵥⴷ ⴺⵒⴵⴱⵇⵒⵌ ⵃⴼⴶⵇⵇⴻ ⵌⵐⵈⵐⵣⵄⴻⵊⵚ ⵛⵜⵘⵛⵣⵅⵥⵐ ⴱⴲⴷⵍⵑⵋ ⵘⵣⴻⵤⵘⵗⵎⴺ ⵋⵏⵎⴰ ⵃⵜⴻⴵ ⴸⵊⵑⵙⵥⵒⵛ ⴺⵇ ⵤⴹⵐⴹⴷⵃⵡ ⵎⴽⴼⴷⵛⴽⵋⴸ ⵖ ⵕⵟⵘ ⵓⵘⵣⵉ ⴷⵠⵍⴶⴴⴷⴿⴼⵋ ⵢⴳ ⴸⴻⴽⵅⵗ ⵉⵇⵓⴹⵁ ⵊⵤⴸⵇⵈ ⵏ ⵐⵕⵇⵘ ⵔⴽⴹⵐⵀⵑⵙⵋⵞⴹ ⴾⵓⵕ ⵜⴰⵃⵀⵥⵋⵘⵇⵎⵁ ⴹⴱⴼⵡⴰⵠⴸⴹ ⵉⵛⴿⵥⵓⵉ ⵢⴶⵡ ⵢⵢⴻⴼⵢⵗⵤⵄⵀ ⴹⵉⵁⵅ ⵂⵀⵎⵌ ⴲⵁⴵⴱⵥⵎⴾⵡⵕ ⵚⵑ ⴰⵝ ⵗ ⵇⴲⴶⵑⵌⵈⴱⵡⵛ ⵊⵁⴸⵌ ⴾⵎⵒⵝⵜⵎⵌ ⵂ ⴸⵂ ⴻⴴⵛⵓⴶⵢⴾⵓⵅⴿ ⴺⵑⴳⵋⵙⵏ ⴲⴷ ⵟⵤⵃⵅⵥⵕⵍⴷⴲ ⵂⴶⵂⴰⴽⴿ ⵠⵔⵎ ⵞⴹⵍⵄⵣ ⵍⵥ ⵂⵞⴼ ⴾⴻⵅⵛⵂⵈⵂⵕ ⵔⵕⵜⵣⵤⵖ ⵌⴺⵊⵕⵗⵞⵓ ⵅⵒⴶⵘⵋⵂⵈⵚⵍ ⵏⵠⵀⵢⵏⵞⵑⴿⵔ ⴽⵅⴻⵙⵐⵕ ⵁⵎⴷⴺⵤ ⵀⵗⴿⵓⴹⴳⴺⴱ ⴵⵁⵏⵕⴺⴺⵤ ⵙⴼⴿⵤⴰⵟⵔⵊⴻ ⵑⵅⴻ ⵕⵣⵔⵂ ⵗⵍ ⵄⵓ ⵤⵂⵕⴸⵁ ⵢⵍⵞⵠⵎⵗ ⴲⵢⵜⵓⵂⴲ ⴲ ⵖⵄⴶⵈⵢⴿⵝⵏⵙⵛ ⵈⵤⴽⴱⵠⵛⵟⵛⵃⵑ ⵅⵍⴻⴳ

( ⴳⴶⵒ ⵞ ⴻⵆⴲⵠ )

• An anarchist is anyone who believes in less government than you do.
• If men are good, you don't need government; if men are evil or ambivalent, you don't dare have one.
• Government is a disease masquerading as its own cure.
• A limited government is a contradiction in terms.

Mainly because I doubt I'm going to find a better song or video by them.

( Tinariwen - Chet Boghassa )

Like nothing I've ever heard.

It took a bit of getting past preconceptions about, well, just about everything. At first the fact that they don't sing in English is a complete buzz kill for many. The dissonant (to some Western ears) harmonies are challenging as well, but if you can get past that and listen to the music, especially in the instrumental parts (check out from 2:13 to 3:00 and then from 5:00 to the end), they are traveling to some amazing places. They have become my current favorite and this is the best video I've found so far. Ride it all the way through. You'll be glad you did or your money back.

Tinariwen 'Cler Achel'

I realize this quote is almost a hundred years old and is from a Turk, not an Arab or a Persian. But, yeah... no.

[Islam] has an exceptionally good view in any case, in discovering the hidden dangers which might be inherent in the sweetest and most pleasurable things. Indeed, a heavenly religion should lead to the truths which are unattainable by man himself, as this is expected in the guiding nature of the religion.

Firstly, music is a useless activity which in fact, is a state of passiveness. As we will explain in another article about gambling, the fact that such an inactivity, which is inherent in those so called professions, did not escape the attention of our religion.

Secondly, the benefit and pleasure taken from music involves a meaning of deep slavery in passion. Since Islam is the only enemy of passiveness and slavery in passion, an important duty of Islam is to search their traces in unexpected hide-outs.

Although it might be difficult for some to realize the fact that music has a sense of passiveness, those with a subtle mind would not hesitate to accept it, as it is not possible to imagine another worldly benefit of music. As for this world, it is useless... Mustafa Sabri

This is the song I was looking for before. It'll be below the cut cause I'm nice like that, but don't miss it, it's a gooder.

( Diaraby )

NPR has a nice piece here.

Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré (October 31, 1939 – March 7, 2006) was a Malian singer and guitarist, and one of the African continent’s most internationally renowned musicians. His music is widely regarded as representing a point of intersection of traditional Malian music and its North American cousin, the blues. The belief that the latter is historically derived from the former is reflected in Martin Scorsese’s often quoted characterization of Touré’s tradition as constituting "the DNA of the blues". Touré was ranked number 76 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.

But it was too good to pass up. He has become absolutely iconic.

You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. ~C. S. Lewis