June 28th MISCELLANY!

[maxomai]

• Without a route via Pakistan, the Afghanistan war becomes three times as expensive to supply. Things like this are why the United States dispenses with moral considerations when considering which governments to back - and which to overthrow - in the pursuit of Empire. (And no, it didn't start with Bush. Or Reagan. Or FDR. And definitely not with Obama.)


• Turkey is sending troops and artillery to their border with Syria. Again: the next war is likely to be Syria.


• The Texas Republican Party platform opposes the teaching of critical thinking as some kind of liberal conspiracy to undermine the family. No. Seriously.


• Meanwhile in Virginia, a Catholic priest is accused of sexually assaulting a woman during a series of exorcisms.


• Tonight through this weekend: You Belong To Me, starring Elizabeth Huffman (yes, that Elizabeth Huffman), at the CoHo Theater in Portland, Oregon. I got to see a preview last month. Highly recommended.