Ah, the scientific mystery of the day: a massive volcano erupts and they can't find it.

I am speechless--totally speechless. The American Way of War: the general population is clueless, and by following 700 steps of decision making the unit commanders can assuage their guilt in sending soldiers to die in conflicts we don't give a shit about, and, because we aren't paying attention, we can go shopping with a clear conscience. I would hope this is sarcasm but.....

Charles Hugh Smith has another good piece. I remember a cartoon from the election where a guy tells the woman he is sitting with that there isn't any real difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. She responds that he is right--except for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act and so on down a long list. Unfortunately, those programs and many others over the last 30 or so years have been chipped and whittled down with few vocal protests but little effective action. The parties are obsolete if their purpose was to represent a broad base of voters and their interests. However, Smith is right. They both serve the interests of the financial class, large corporations and the wealthy. They will continue to do so until the system collapses.