The French: Money for Nothing, Chicks for Free.

From the Guardian:

"The deputy chief executive of France Telecom today resigned in the wake of a spate of staff suicides that unions have blamed on a bullying management style and brutal approach to restructuring.

The former state monopoly, now Europe's third-biggest phone company, has seen its brand name, Orange, suffer a public relations disaster as 24 workers have killed themselves in shocking circumstances in the last 18 months, with at least a dozen others making failed attempts to take their lives. Some staff were found dead in their workplace or left harrowing notes blaming the company for "management by terror" and bullying.

In the latest death, a 51-year-old threw himself off a bridge in the Alps after being moved from a back-office job to one in a call centre. Previously, a 32-year-old jumped from her office in front of colleagues at the end of the working day. Both left notes blaming unbearable working conditions and enforced job changes."

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So, why are the French really killing themselves? Because they finally have to work for a living. No more 30-35 hour work weeks, no more 30-90 day vacations, shucks, life is hell. (Well, they still have that stuff, but not for much longer)

Although the under 35 crowd in America would not know a good days work if it bit them in the ass, the United States as a whole is still at least twice as productive as other countries.

In less than 200 years from the Declaration of Independence, we have gone from musket technology to developing the technology and infrastructure to put a man on the moon.

Meanwhile, cave paintings discovered in France indicate a human presence in that area for at least 13,000 years; and in that entire span of time the French have learned how to do three main things: Stomp grapes, make a souffle and invent gay porn movies.

Yet, for some reason, the world is enamored with French culture--of which there really isn't any. (If only von Choltitz had carried out his orders)

I particularly have to laugh at the fact the French are pissed that McDonalds wants to open a restaurant at the Louvre as it is seen as an insult to French culture. Yeah, I guess those French produced golden shower videos are so much more high culture than a Mickey D's.

This illustrates why we never should have rebuilt an ungrateful Europe after WWII.

One also has to wonder about any country where their females do not know how to use a razor. Men do not find hairy legs or armpits particularly appealing. (Though some French chicks do shave now--progress)

Frankly, it's pretty pathetic that you have people killing themselves over a changing job assignment because it is too stressful. Ask any American small business owner, many of whom work 12-14 hrs./day 7 days a week, about stress. Ask any American salesman who works on straight commission about stress. We aren't jumping out of windows because we have learned how to develop a thick skin and understand what it is to work for a living, unlike much of Europe.

Even in the midst of a horrible economic situation, most of us Americans are bucking up and dealing with it as best we can.

If you French want to keep killing yourselves 'cause y'all finally have to work for a living and may be losing that big government tit to suck on (I'm not talking about a safety net), then go ahead and keep up the good work.

Looks like it's on!!!

From the Daily Express:

INTELLIGENCE chief Sir John Scarlett has been told that Saudi Arabia is ready to allow Israel to bomb Iran’s new nuclear site.

The head of MI6 discussed the issue in London with Mossad chief Meir Dagan and Saudi officials after British intelligence officers helped to uncover the plant, in the side of a mountain near the ancient city of Qom.

The site is seen as a major threat by Tel Aviv and Riyadh. Details of the talks emerged after John Bolton, America’s former UN ambassador, told a meeting of intelligence analysts that “Riyadh certainly approves” of Israel’s use of Saudi airspace.

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The article goes on to state that the site was detected three years ago by British, U.S. and French intelligence sources. (It's not everyday that one gets to use the words French and intelligence in the same sentence) I'll have to admit that it was kind of scummy of Bush to pass this gig on to Obama, but "W" had a lot on his plate.

With the Saudi green light I'd say the chance of an Israeli strike on Iran is 100%. The politics in that area and why the Saudis would let an enemy like Israel use their airspace would take a mile long post to get into, but the bottom line is that the go ahead has been given.

Iran has perhaps one opportunity to stop an attack, but the way things are shaping up, I doubt they will do it.

If you can afford it, it may not be a bad time to start stocking up on supplies of food, water and such.

Link to article: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/130251/Saudis-will-let-Israel-bomb-Iran-nuclear-site

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Against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.

On the foreign enemies front we see that Iran sent a letter to the IAEA disclosing a large uranium enrichment plant near the southern city of Qom.

This is bad news times ten. I must admit that I am quite surprised that Israel has not already attacked Iran. Israel's security has always been priority one and any threat to it has been harshly dealt with.

The only possible reason that Israel has not yet attacked Iran would be their fear of Russian retaliation............which could/would be massive and then the U.S. would have to jump in with both feet. Not a pleasant prospect.

The Iranian disclosure (we, apparently, have known about it for a while) of the second nefarious reactor now guarantees an Israeli response. Considering the logistics of a conventional strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, the Israeli's may have to use a couple of small nukes themselves to properly get the job done. At any rate, an Israeli strike at Iran would cause us serious problems as well.

The international community is finally getting upset at Iran since there is no legitimate purpose for the second facility except to produce weapons grade uranium. This may be the saving grace for Israel. The Russians might even sit out getting involved, but they will have to have a huge carrot offered to them which I think they will accept, but we will have to pay for it later.

For political purposes Israel may have to wait while the world tries out harsh sanctions against Iran, but Israel may just decide to hit them in the very near future anyway....................stay tuned.

 

On the domestic enemies front the economy is still a big one. It is being reported that the unemployment rate for young Americans aged 16-24 is 52.2%. This means more kids staying at home with their parents who will have to continue to support them for several more years. It also means that their co-signer parents will have to start paying back their kids student loans, so less money to spend, and consumer spending is 70% of our economy.

Two thirds of the jobs in the U.S. come from small business, but none of the Obama stimulus bills have any significant assistance for small biz. (largely because big biz can afford bigger bribes and payouts to politicians) Thus, we will continue to have high unemployment.

No job, no pay the mortgage, so, forclosures will continue to increase and retail will continue to suffer, putting more people out of work. On the bright side the stock market will probably continue to rise until the elites decide to cash out and then Humpty Dumpty will come tumbling down.

Besides the high unemployment for the entry level young workers, white collar middle manager layoffs have increased 56% since 2007. So, yes, the rich have been getting richer. What happens when the middle class bread winner gets laid off/let go and their kid just graduates from college with large student loan debt and no job prospects? You starve to death is what happens...............and you will start seeing that happen soon too.

There was a time when I thought these things would just work themselves out, as they have in the past, but now I just do not think they will.

Paglia supports Birthers/Keep following the money.

Back on August 5th, I wrote a post called Follow the Money which dealt with my opinion that if something were to happen to Obama it would not be at the hands of a pissed off redneck, but instead, that it would be the result of Obama ticking off a big money special interest who would do him in.

I also commented on Orly Taitz latest birther lawsuit and that her husband was in the tank with Novartis pharmaceutical. I mentioned that the birther movement might still have wings.

Lo and behold, Salon's own cultural critic Camille Paglia, in an NPR interview, stated that the birthers may have a point.

From WND:

Feminist icon Camille Paglia, a Salon.com columnist who earlier wrote about the ambiguities of President Barack Obama's birth certificate, now has told a National Public Radio audience that those who have questions about his eligibility actually have a point.

 

President Obama

Talking to the NPR program "On Point" this week, she provided a defense to the citizens who carried protest signs asking "Where's The Birth Certificate" at the recent protests that drew hundreds of thousands to Washington.

The program discussion focused on the "civility" of the political attacks on both Obama and his critics. One caller to the program described his visit to Washington and the myriad signs questioning Obama's eligibility to be in office.

"It was unbelievable. It was absolutely everywhere," the caller stated.

Paglia responded:

First of all, I reject the idea that the 'birther' campaign is motivated by racism. There may be racism among it, but there are legitimate questions about the documentation of Obama's birth certificate. I'm sorry, I've been following this closely from the start. To assume that all those signs about the birth controversy were motivated by racism, that is simply wrong.

She continued, explaining she first came on the scene in the 1990s and has dealt with cries of sexism and homophobia, calling such battle cries "emotional" triggers.

 

Paglia said the fact there was little racism in the campaign against Obama is evidenced by the fact he "was elected by white people."

Criticism of Obama, instead, is coming because of the "strategic failures he is making in pushing this very important issue of health care reform."

According to the Washington Independent, the exchange was "compelling."

Paglia, a professor of humanities and media studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and Salon.com columnist, earlier wrote, "Yes, there were ambiguities about Obama's birth certificate that have never been satisfactorily resolved. And the embargo on Obama's educational records remains troubling."

Her commentary at that time addressed Obama's "painful missteps," and she addressed charges that Obama has suffered from poor advice.

"The buck stops with the top executive. But we all know how little executive experience Barack Obama has had. He was elected for his vision and his steady, deliberative character, not his résumé. For better or worse, Obama is learning as he goes – and surely most fair-minded people would grant him reasonable leeway as he grows into the presidency, one of the hardest jobs in the world," she wrote.

"At a certain point, however, Obama will face an inescapable administrative crux. Arriving at the White House, he understandably stayed in his comfort zone by bringing old friends and allies with him …. But these comrades may not have the practical skills or broad perspective to help Obama govern," wrote Paglia.

Citing "one needless gaffe after another," including the "embarrassing incident" in which Obama bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia, she wrote about the "ambiguities" about his birth certificate and the "troubling" status of Obama's concealed educational records.

Link to rest of article: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=110114

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I'm not going to get into whether or not Obama was born in Hawaii or Kenya, it does not matter. If enough big money interests are upset with Obama, then whether he was born in Kenya or not, he WILL have been born in Kenya and thrown out of office......or worse.

For the moment, Obama has apparently calmed big pharma and the insurance industry by stating he will take the public option off the table, but his cancelling of the Euro  missile defense system and the cutting of key pet defense projects put him in jeopardy from big defense.

Obama has also angered many of his base by continuing Bush/Cheney policies and not delivering on his many promises.

Considering the magnitude of the Obama enemies list, I'd say the best he can hope for at this point is to be removed from office by some legal means, but more and more it is looking like his enemies will take that option off the table and just eliminate him outright.

America is heading for some really turbulent times in the not too distant future I'm afraid. I'm no fan of Obama's, but for the sake of his family and the nation, I hope he gets through this mess OK. (But, sadly, I do not think he will.)

Keep up the good work Camille...........NOT!