plat diagram

Via Present /&/ Correct, we’re treated to these clever and cosmopolitan bars of chocolate that are partitioned out to match the layout of world capital cities’ centres. Inside the wrapper there’s a legend to the map of landmarks.

global research political analysis strategic insight

Bowing to pressure from the interview subjects of the firm that was retained by first a conservative publication and then by the Clinton campaign to conduct oppositional research on Trump who insisted that their sworn testimony be made a matter of public-record, panel member Senator Feinstein released the full transcript of the Judiciary Committee’s dialogue with the strategic intelligence group responsible for compiling the infamous and damning dossier on Trump’s ties to Russia.
While many of the allegations levied against Trump and his cohorts have already been independently corroborated (with disappointingly little incriminating impact) and much of the material contained therein was procedural boiler-plater, the release of the transcript, which was strongly opposed by Republican members of the investigation, does discredit one central tenant of the conspiracy narrative that Trump and his supporters are weaving: that the Federal Bureau of Investigations is biased against Trump and that the dossier was a politically-motivated fabrication. The FBI was in fact looking into Trump run for presidency and his business-dealings, the documents reveal, well before the file was pieced together and the FBI was even warned by the former-spy gathering background on Trump and associates and the bureau believed that at least some of the reporting was credible. There is no witch-hunt.  The entity responsible for leaking the story to the press is unknown. What stands out to you? Possibly no amount of evidence could convince some of collusion but perhaps with the claims of conspiracy on the part of the FBI somewhat defanged, perhaps now the inquiry can continue unfettered.

o

Though we are intrigued past the point of relief and hope to joy and exuberance at the prospect of Winfrey running for US high office we’d all do well to remember that enthusiasm ought to be conditional and contingent. As exhausting as last year’s campaigns were—and in the case of the US, delivering an incredulously atrocious outcome—the notion of an extended, three-year ordeal makes one shudder and illustrates how bad the present is to even entertain the idea that voters are possessed of such stamina.
We draw no equivalence, despite the celebrity stature, and are confident that Winfrey would be humble and surround herself with and defer to subject-matter experts and would be a far better representative of the America public to the rest of the world and would be compassionate and inclusive. These are all very fine and agreeable things that Winfrey incorporates into the empire and brand that she has established, but governance by fame and affinity is probably more alike on both ends of the spectrum than we are comfortable with admitting. Having a platform and agenda separates our Oprah from the indifference, laziness and nihilism of the doltish, criminal syndicate of Trump’s camp to be sure, but I have to wonder if lurching (blowback that’s systemic to democracy) to the other extreme isn’t just a continuation of baiting cultural warfare and stark polarisation and raises the question of what the role of politicians and being governed means. Is statecraft without experience (however that is gauged) or as a chosen career-path just brand-loyalty?  Probably both Trump’s and Winfrey’s relation to their fan-base—not constituencies—are similar and while the latter is certainly preferable to the former, neither I’d venture to wager will attain the political and civic maturity needed to work together and affect real and enduring change until the American president acquires the preparation and experience to govern.  Granted, we would be content with an America that exudes just a modicum of confidence that it won’t start World War III or further savage the environment and if they’re electing celebrities, they might as well elect good ones.  Trump has demonstrated that he is unwilling and incapable of rising to the occasion, no matter what his handlers and surrogate try, but Winfrey, like other personalities that have taken up the mantle of public-service, can, if she chooses, fill her quiver with the tools of state. 

kreuzstich

Once again Colossal commandeers our attention the work of the crafty Swiss artist Ulla-Stina Wikander who lovingly and ceremoniously retires household objects by enveloping them in cross-stitch.  Here’s an alternate tradition for recognising the career of long, faithful service of domestic artefacts from Japanese folklore. Like a bronzed baby shoe, is there some everyday item that you’d like to have encased and memorialised in such a fashion? See a whole gallery of her creations plus her personal collection of traditional, inspiring patterns at the links up top.

shōgatsu

Since the late nineteenth century, Japan’s official civil calendar has followed the Gregorian, Western one but retains many traditional elements of the luni-solar cycle, including dispatching new year’s greeting cards, often based on the zodiacal character of the coming year.
Beginning 16 February, we leave behind the Fire Rooster and enter the time of the Earth Dog. Spoon & Tamago have nearly completed a whole cycle of animals, having rung in the season by posting an assortment of post cards for a decade and among their selection this time, we really liked this salutation from Individual Locker whose kanji arrangement of the characters for 2018 suggest a rising sun over Mount Fuji.