Minneapolis/St.paul riots

[Dr. MD MD]

MAO'S GREAT FAMINE
DENNIS T. AVERY | Jun 09, 1998 8:00PM EDT

We're approaching the 40th anniversary of the world's last big famine. It occurred in China between 1958 and 1961, when some 30 million people starved in the only big famine that didn't start with a food shortage.

China's Communist Party leader, Mao Tse-tung, had read Russian press reports about new farming systems, such as ''deep plowing'' and ''close planting,'' that supposedly were producing record yields on Russian state farms.Mao was busily forcing his millions of peasants into collective farms, reneging on his promise to give them their own land. He hoped ample harvests would keep the farmers content even if they didn't own their land.

But the Russian reports were lies: Plowing too deep turns up subsoil with few nutrients, few soil bacteria and little capacity to nurture crops. And planting 10 times as many seedlings per acre, without fertilizer, starves all the plants. (Mao refused to spend scarce capital on chemical fertilizers.)

Rural officials didn't dare oppose the chairman, so they followed his instructions. They didn't want to tell him about failure, so they claimed his new methods had tripled the harvests.

When Mao toured model collective farms, they showed him flourishing rice fields so densely planted that small children stood atop the growing grain stalks! (Huge numbers of rice plants had been laboriously transplanted just for his visit, and the children were standing on hidden benches.)

He was driven past miles of piled-up vegetables. Officials said the communes had more food than they could eat, even with five meals a day.

Historically, the government had taken about 30 percent of the harvest for the cities and the army. And since the countryside was reporting three times as much grain production, Beijing demanded three times as much grain, too. But that left only 10 percent of the harvest to feed the farm workers and their families.

Jasper Becker, author of ''Hungry Ghosts: Mao's Secret Famine,'' says the officials in one county of Henan Province reported a 1959 harvest of 239,000 tons, although the farms had actually produced only 88,000 tons.

Not surprisingly, officials found that they couldn't collect the entire harvest. They ended up with 63,000 tons, but the inflated production statistics meant that the county still owed a grain levy of 75,000 tons.

Local officials began beating peasants, hoping to force confessions of hidden grain. Some farmers were buried alive or left outdoors to freeze. But no one could find grain that had never been grown.

The state granaries were full, but the kitchens on the communal farms had nothing but soup made from tree bark, wild vegetables and the seeds of wild grass. Party cadres smashed household cooking pots to prevent families from cooking hidden food secretly.

After the first year, weakened peasants began to die in huge numbers. The elderly were the first to go. Families stopped feeding young girls. Cannibalism became widespread.

At first, the famine didn't touch the 90 million privileged people living in the cities. Their grain was ''guaranteed'' by the state. But when the farmers got too weak to farm, the state's grain ran out, too, and the famine spread to the cities.

The government began distributing food substitutes: ground-up banana tree roots and stems to be mixed with steamed rice, cakes made of rice husks, sugar-cane fiber and turnip tops.

People hunted rats and sparrows. Finally, in 1961, Mao's senior lieutenants assembled conclusive evidence of the massive death toll.

Mao was forced to reverse his farming policies. Peasants were allowed to plant grain for themselves, but only for a while, and the Chinese government began to make big investments in chemical fertilizers. In 1962, the Chinese government even bought grain from the hated capitalists in Canada and Australia. People were encouraged to write relatives overseas for food parcels.

Mao hated to face his farming failure, however. Most of the realists were soon to be purged in his Cultural Revolution.

Deng Xiaoping, Mao's eventual successor and the author of China's economic miracle after 1978, was exiled to a remote village for the third time in his career.

Looking back, it seems hard to believe that Mao and his colleagues would be taken in by Russian pseudoscience, which could have been checked easily with a few test plots. It's also hard to believe that government officials would rather starve their own people than admit to the world a policy mistake had been made.

China's politically correct famine should stand as an urgent reminder that objective reality must remain the foundation of a successful society, especially for its food production.

[FearBoysWithBugs]

[Walks_At_Night]

You know Chaz is like six blocks, right?  There is a Whole Foods just outside.

Whole Foods = Amazon = Evil       Grab Pookie and get to work.  You know what to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2977kyiTByM

[ItsOver]

I keep wondering... If you can't call the police, the fire department will not respond, the trash is not picked up, and the street sweepers don't go down your avenue anymore: Are you still required to pay taxes?

I'm telling you that I would actually take the city to court to return my property tax as it is (apparently) no longer located in Seattle...

I'm sure the "tribute to the king" is still required.  The usual way the wacko commie leaders see it, it's a privilege just to be able to do it, plus your duty.  Don't forget to include a thank you note, too.

[ItsOver]

Oh they are already autonomous creepy fucks who are generally left alone.  You'd probably have to marry somebody's obese halfwit daughter to be accepted, though.

Remember where we are, Dubb.  This is probably an upgrade for most BellGabbers.  Including JoJo.

[Dr. MD MD]

Remember where we are, Dubb.  This is probably an upgrade for most BellGabbers.  Including JoJo.

That does it! I won’t have my wife spoken of this way!! Now stand there and take your punishment like a man, IO.

[ItsOver]

Movie night in CHAZ LOL!

It's good to see CHAZ evolving into a trendy, fashionable "life style center." Before you know it, Raz will be selling high dollar condos and it'll just become another gentrified, capitalist horror.

[ItsOver]

That does it! I won’t have my wife spoken of this way!! Now stand there and take your punishment like a man, IO.

Woops!  I thought JoJo was your Ex, Doc, with the accompanying disgust that usually comes with that situation.  My apologies.

[Dr. MD MD]

Woops!  I thought JoJo was your Ex, Doc, with the accompanying disgust that usually comes with that situation.  My apologies.

Well, honestly I never really know where we’re at, what with her obsession with Snorge. I’m sure she’ll give you her two cents too. At least I’m hoping.

[ItsOver]

Well, honestly I never really know where we’re at, what with her obsession with Snorge. I’m sure she’ll give you her two cents too. At least I’m hoping.

Heh, heh, heh... oh, yeah.  I'm really looking forward to it. 

[Walks_At_Night]

Wow.  SV is really kicking ass.  Didn't think he had it in him.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWTISBnFIOw

[Walks_At_Night]

^^^^^^^^^
NVM - it is like 400 cops watching 8 guys hanging around a stop light.

[ItsOver]

Walkies!  Time for a morning walk in utopia.

http://youtu.be/vIjXjQxX9bs

[Walks_At_Night]

And I suppose you think defunding the police actually means defunding the police, too.  I don't know why this is so difficult.

I'm sorry K_Dubb but there will be no food for you.  No skinny jeans, iPhones or laptops either.  Time to get that bond passed so SPD can get that fleet of Apache attack helipcopters they have been eyeballing.  Else that cardboard garden thing better start churning out wheat because that is the only flour you are gonna get.

Truck Drivers Say They Won’t Deliver To Cities with Defunded Police Departments
https://cdllife.com/2020/truck-drivers-say-they-wont-deliver-to-cities-with-defunded-police-departments/

[Dr. MD MD]

I'm sorry K_Dubb but there will be no food for you.  No skinny jeans, iPhones or laptops either.  Time to get that bond passed so SPD can get that fleet of Apache attack helipcopters they have been eyeballing.  Else that cardboard garden thing better start churning out wheat because that is the only flour you are gonna get.

Truck Drivers Say They Won’t Deliver To Cities with Defunded Police Departments
https://cdllife.com/2020/truck-drivers-say-they-wont-deliver-to-cities-with-defunded-police-departments/

Is this check or checkmate?

[SredniVashtar]

Wow.  SV is really kicking ass.  Didn't think he had it in him.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWTISBnFIOw

These are the grandchildren of Oswald Moseley. No football at the moment so they have to find something else to do. I bet there are a few Alex DeLarges on the look-out for an opportunity to give their rookers some action.

[Walks_At_Night]

These are the grandchildren of Oswald Moseley. No football at the moment so they have to find something else to do. I bet there are a few Alex DeLarges on the look-out for an opportunity to give their rookers some action.

It does appear to be a nice day so why not?  Catch some rays and get some vitamin D.  Was bit confused on this text under the video stream:

On Thursday night, scaffolding was erected around the Churchill statue, Cenotaph on Whitehall and the statues of George Washington and King James II on Trafalgar square amid concerns they would be vandalized.

Why is there a statue of George Washington in Trafalgar Square?  Wouldn't imagine y'all would think too highly of the old boy.  Or is Russia Today just confused?  Or there are more than one George Washington?

[SredniVashtar]

It does appear to be a nice day so why not?  Catch some rays and get some vitamin D.  Was bit confused on this text under the video stream:

Why is there a statue of George Washington in Trafalgar Square?  Wouldn't imagine y'all would think too highly of the old boy.  Or is Russia Today just confused?  Or there are more than one George Washington?

https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/george-washington

I've pissed on it enough times to confirm its reality.

Some people would regard it as a sign of the magnanimity of the English, that we erect a statue to this treacherous sack of shit.

[Dr. MD MD]

https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/george-washington

I've pissed on it enough times to confirm its reality.

Some people would regard it as a sign of the magnanimity of the English, that we erect a statue to this treacherous sack of shit.

[Walks_At_Night]

https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/george-washington

I've pissed on it enough times to confirm its reality.

Some people would regard it as a sign of the magnanimity of the English, that we erect a statue to this treacherous sack of shit.

Well how about that!  Pushing the boundires on the "special relationship" there a tad.   Can we have the Bon Homme Richard's remains back too?
Or is that pushing it?  ( was just reading about this find two years late  )

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-46474363/remains-of-uss-bonhomme-richard-found-off-yorkshire-coast

[SredniVashtar]

Well how about that!  Pushing the boundires on the "special relationship" there a tad.   Can we have the Bon Homme Richard's remains back too?
Or is that pushing it?  ( was just reading about this find two years late  )

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-46474363/remains-of-uss-bonhomme-richard-found-off-yorkshire-coast

If you want it, you can pay for it! I remember the fuss when they raised the Mary Rose more than 30 years ago.

If these protesters were smart they could use the Churchill statue as a diversionary tactic, the way we convinced the Hun we were going to attack the Pas de Calais on D-Day. While the enemy have the resources deployed in the wrong place, we can dash over and fuck up the Washington statue. I'm basically the reincarnation of Montgomery: I don't attack unless the odds are overwhelmingly in my favour, and I'm a total dick.

[Walks_At_Night]

If you want it, you can pay for it! I remember the fuss when they raised the Mary Rose more than 30 years ago.

If these protesters were smart they could use the Churchill statue as a diversionary tactic, the way we convinced the Hun we were going to attack the Pas de Calais on D-Day. While the enemy have the resources deployed in the wrong place, we can dash over and fuck up the Washington statue. I'm basically the reincarnation of Montgomery: I don't attack unless the odds are overwhelmingly in my favour, and I'm a total dick.

Well Viscount of Alamein that would work I am sure but I don't want to see any statue "fucked" up. Move it over to the American Embassy but don't destroy stuff for the savagery of it.   Except for the Lucille Ball statue.  Unleash the barbaric hordes on that crime.

[SredniVashtar]

Well Viscount of Alamein that would work I am sure but I don't want to see any statue "fucked" up. Move it over to the American Embassy but don't destroy stuff for the savagery of it.   Except for the Lucille Ball statue.  Unleash the barbaric hordes on that crime.

I admit that ongoing developments make me fear for my statue ('for services to BellGab') when it eventually goes up. Although my views are generally exemplary, I may have made the occasional remark about the gay community that prejudiced minds might consider objectionable. I don't want K_Dubb despatching a posse of poofs overseas to tamper with my erection.

[Taaroa]

Why is there a statue of George Washington in Trafalgar Square?  Wouldn't imagine y'all would think too highly of the old boy.  Or is Russia Today just confused?  Or there are more than one George Washington?

Trafalgar Square is purely for the tourists - the statue is there to make American ones feel warm and fuzzy at the hospitality of the Britons.

[SredniVashtar]

Trafalgar Square is purely for the tourists - the statue is there to make American ones feel warm and fuzzy at the hospitality of the Britons.

Well, it's quite warm, and there's plenty of fuzz about today.

[ItsOver]

Well Viscount of Alamein that would work I am sure but I don't want to see any statue "fucked" up. Move it over to the American Embassy but don't destroy stuff for the savagery of it.   Except for the Lucille Ball statue.  Unleash the barbaric hordes on that crime.

Ha!  Yeah, they should just call in a nuclear strike on the LB abomination.

[albrecht]

Well Viscount of Alamein that would work I am sure but I don't want to see any statue "fucked" up. Move it over to the American Embassy but don't destroy stuff for the savagery of it.   Except for the Lucille Ball statue.  Unleash the barbaric hordes on that crime.

WTF is that? Who made that? Some disgruntled employee of Desilu Productions? Just a basement-dwelling, rat-eating hater? I also have changed my opinion of iconoclasm, in this instance, and would even support some Obama-style imported Muslims to "take care" of that monstrosity.

[Walks_At_Night]

WTF is that? Who made that? Some disgruntled employee of Desilu Productions? Just a basement-dwelling, rat-eating hater? I also have changed my opinion of iconoclasm, in this instance, and would even support some Obama-style imported Muslims to "take care" of that monstrosity.

"Who made that?"  A guy that said he was sorry:

Lucille Ball Sculptor Apologizes For 'By Far My Most Unsettling' Work
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/04/07/398032028/lucille-ball-sculptor-apologizes-for-by-far-my-most-unsettling-

They eventually replaced it with something that looked like a human.  The folks in Charlotte have been wanting the MLK statue there replaced for forever.
It doesn't look like him in the least.

[albrecht]

"Who made that?"  A guy that said he was sorry:

Lucille Ball Sculptor Apologizes For 'By Far My Most Unsettling' Work
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/04/07/398032028/lucille-ball-sculptor-apologizes-for-by-far-my-most-unsettling-

They eventually replaced it with something that looked like a human.  The folks in Charlotte have been wanting the MLK statue there replaced for forever.
It doesn't look like him in the least.

Ha. I like how the 'artist' also inexplicably decided to put a booze flask in her hand. Did he do that MLK one also? That doesn't look him, though not quite as "unsettling" as the Lucy statue. I chuckled when Obama unveiled the MLK statue in DC and they had the misquote and all the MLK family lawsuits and so on.

[Walks_At_Night]

Ha. I like how the 'artist' also inexplicably decided to put a booze flask in her hand. Did he do that MLK one also? That doesn't look him, though not quite as "unsettling" as the Lucy statue. I chuckled when Obama unveiled the MLK statue in DC and they had the misquote and all the MLK family lawsuits and so on.

I think that was supposed to be a scene from her TV show.  Yeah - that MLK statue isn't really freaky it is just some random guy. Maybe they had it in stock out back?