Book Review: Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Appelbaum

          As a country, we roll on to November's presidential election, battered by resounding calls for doing our collective best to prevent a convicted felon from occupying the White House, again. Any student of American history, any American who has ever read a book, and American who took the time to vote in a past election, any American who cares about the country's future, should read this book.

      Anne Appelbaum is one of the great modern political analysts and political historians. She is adept at research, adept at gathering facts, and especially adept at writing on her selected topic. This book is a book for our time; a time when technology has transformed the world, the world we live in .  In a span of a few decades, everything we thought we knew has been turned upside down by computing power. And now we have Artificial Intelligence on top of it all.

       So, historian Appelbaum has shone the light on our economic system as it stands today. Get ready: your dark suspicions will be illuminated. Your worst thoughts verified.  Your malaise verified. The concentration of wealth exposed once and for all.

Read it.

Telegram Founder Under Arrest by French Authorities

     Pavel Durov, a 39 year old founder of Telegram, was arrested by French police today. He is beoing held for 96 hours. Charges stem from activities on the web site that are banned by the EU communications laws. Criminal groups, spreaders of misinformation,and other groups that have been banned from other platforms found a home on Telegram which is more lenient of content than other popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram, etc. 

        A spokesman for the company made staements to the effect that Mr. Durov has not broken any laws. However, French authorities do not arrest business executives indiscriminately. His arrest will cause many company executives to rethink their security positions in various domains on the internet.

    Telegram has some 900 million users worldwide. Mr. Durov is said to be worth $9 billions. He formerly worked in the tech hub milieu of San Francisco, California, where he mixed with the smartest developers and designers of modern computer technology. His legal problems will not be dismissed anytime soon. The Russyan citizen has many suporters at the highest levels of Putin's government. They in turn, cannot give much help do to the ongoing Russyan army war in Ukraine. All things Russyan are under sanctions worldwide. This act only illustrates how vulnerable all Russyans are to day no matter where they hide.  

FED Chairman Powell Announces

       Well, as expected, FED Chair Jerome Powell mentioned in his speech what everybody listening expected: a rate cut in interest rates is appropriate and will happen, probably in a month. It is expected to be 1/4% or 0.25%- not much, but clearly demonstrates direction-lower.

     The stock market and financial world was ho hum as this was what was anticipated. Maybe more will occur, but at least the trend is toward lower interest rates. Ok. Now we can plan for a future, somewhat.

India's Pres. Modi Visits Pres. Zelensky in Kviv

       In a calculated attempt to appear neutral, India's premier Modi visited with Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine. It was only last month that Modi stopped in for a visit with the Rus Pirate Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, aka Vova, president of Russyan steppes and other areas of north Asia. The cool meeting between those two comes on the heels of Putin's visit with Chinese premier Xi Jin Ping. Putin's exercise in Ukraine, also called war, appears to have caused some grief among Kremlin planners and bootlickers.

      Meanwhile, Ukrainian army forces continue their attack on Russyan soil in the Kursk Oblast(county), north of the Donbass Region of eastern Ukraine where fighting has continued for more than 2 years. Armored columns of Ukrainian forces blasted their way through thin defenses as Russyan conscripts ran for their lives. The surprise attack caught the Russyan defenses without depth or leadership. Surrender was the watchword among the poorly trained personnel in the field. Kremlin staffers were recovering from vodka overload and have yet to decide what to do in response.  Putin, not a military person, can only sit behind the generals and encourage a swift counter attack. With what- powder puffs and borscht?  Hmmmm.   Where are the babushkas? Where are the strutting robots of the parades?  Where is the Russyan navy?

      Now Putin is aware that his bro -former President Trump is likely to be defeated in November's election and Putin will have to mount a test of Pres. Harris' resolve and international grasp of global politics. She is different that Trumpie: she listens to advisors and department heads.

    So Modi in Ukraine will incite Putin and depress Xi JP. Why am I helping a pirate, they ask. Hmmmm.

Poor Putin.

Crackpot Kennedy Ready to Quit

      In another sad episode of the sad Kennedy family, Robert Kennedy is about to drop out of his idea of a race. The wackadoodle dandy has decided that he has no more money to spend on a frivolous campaign of ego boosting. So, aids say, he offered to put the few idiots who support him in to the Trump camp if Trumpie gives him a high post. Fat chance, Bobby boy. Off to the wood shed to face your family. Loser.

Where is General Lieutenant Lapin?

         Hmmmm. Has anybody seen Gen. Lapin lately? He's the Kremlin's man on the scene in Kursk; that's where Ukrainian forces over ran the border defenses in the last week, scattering the conscripts running for  their lives, leaving local civilians at the mercy of vengeful Ukrainians.  Seems the General, told of a buildup of Ukrainians in the sector, decided a tactical move was not needed. And then, the invasion that has rocked the Vodka Swilling staff in Moskva.

      Oh, poor Vova; he needs some smelling salts; he can't speak; can't even get a word out. How did this happen he asks.  Oh, where are my Wagner troops? Oh, they are gone, along with their old boss, Yevgeny what's his name, the one I had assassinated. Yes, that one. Oh, well. Find Lapin now; tell him I'm angry. Tell the staff to do something, anything.

      Meanwhile the conscripts have been captured and are in camps, getting fed and treated well; better than the earlier times.  And the civilians?  Hmmm. Where are they? Oh, in retreat/relocation. They are R ussyan, they will survive; send them borsch soup, now.

     Where's Lapin? Find him, now. Nappy time Vlad.

Trump is a Scab

        This statement resonated with the crowd of attendees and the DNC Convention in Chicago. The statement was made by the president of the United Auto Workers Union, Shawn Fain. In a bold gesture, this man made a crowd come alive. He extolled the the virtues of the union membership that has endured the aftermath of former President Trump's broken promises to workers. He confirmed the suspicions of those left behind as corporations, CEO's, and Wall St. bankers reaped the benefits of tax breaks for 'Big Business" at the expense of the workers.

      Mr. Fain demonstrated that there are large numbers of workers across the country who feel left out of economic gains of the post-Covid economic surge. Yes, Pres. Biden pumped funds into the economy and many benefited . However, the wage gains did not materialize for union workers. Businesses requested funds to shore up company's challenges from a lack of buyers for their products. Told to stay home, the economy suffered accordingly. The members of unions saw past efforts to prevent large auto companies from failure by injecting government bailout funds. And then, where is the benefit to the workers who kept the lines moving?

      Mr. Trump failed the labor union's members. Fain told the crowd "We need a Democratic president and that person will be , should be, Kamala Harris."

Who Was the Helicopter Pilot During Trumpie's Flight

       Well, now. The bubbling former president has made up a new humorous account of a ride in a helicopter in California a few years ago. In addition to the pilot, there were some other passengers. Hmmmm. If I was on a private helicopter flight, I believe I would remember the few others who shared my experience. However, Trumpie claims that a Mr. Willie Brown was on board the flight that ultimately made an emergency landing because of a mechanical problem. Shortly after making this statement publicly, Mr. Brown declared he had never taken a ride anywhere anytime with the Orange-haired Baboon. Then Mr. Brown added that he would sue the former chief executive if he even mentioned Mr. Brown's name in public anymore. Hmmm. Pretty harsh, even for a 90 year old former San Francisco mayor.

       Then another politician said that he took a helicopter ride with Trumpie. Also, he, too, is a Black man. Is trumpie confused or senile? Can Trumpie remember significant events anymore? Can he speak about anything with clarity?  Hmmm. Can he run a campaign against a competent opponent? It certainly looks like The former Felon -in-Chief has memory issues. If I crashed landed in a helicopter, I would remember all the details.  But Orange Hair can't remember even the largest details. Very sad, but is not uncommon among 78 year old, old, old men.

     Republican party officials have pretty much given up on trying to contain the Big Mouth. Good luck for the remainder of the election cycle.

Kursk: 2024 Version

         Ukrainian army forces using mobile armor, crashed through the Russyan border with lightning speed and overwhelmed the thin line of Russyan conscripts they faced in defensive positions. To historians and ancient Russyan soldiers, Kursk stirs many emotions left from WW II.

     Kursk oblast was the scene of the most massive tank battle of the war. Nazi Panzers(armored tank units) confronted a new Russyan army opponent: the tank divisions concentrated on this plain, supplied and trained to face off with the Germans. The results left countless Nazis dead in their vehicles as the well-trained and well-equipped Russyan forces scored an astounding victory in what is known as the largest battle between armored units in history, before or since. So, Kursk is in the headlines again.

      In a well concealed operation, Ukrainian army units crashed the border and drove several miles into Russya, over running defense positions as they went. Over 300 hundred Russyan army troops were captured, surrendering to the attacking units. Many of the captured soldiers were young conscripts with little training and very poor leaders.  Most had fled their positions and attempted to hide from the Ukrainian forces. They have been rounded up and taken to depots for their own safety. The Kremlin and its vodka-fueled decision makers have been fumbling the response. Mad Vlad Putin is said to be apoplectic(seized by uncontrolled bodily function). Nothing new here as the leader of the largest country in the world continues his assault on a neighboring independent nation.

       His responses have been muted as the active fighting in the eastern area of Ukraine continues to occupy the main Russyan army units there. Given that adding 30,000 new troops into the conflict has been difficult, even for Mad Vlad. The civilians evacuated near Kursk have been shuttled east to avoid being taken prisoner. Over 130,000 civilians have fled the area and the government has done little to help. Perhaps some counterattack is in the works, but so far nothing has materialized on the front. Two strategically located bridges have been destroyed by Ukrainian drones that now isolate Russyan units in the area thereby magnifying the effects of the surprise attack.

    Good for pres. Zelensky!. 

Masters of the Air: Apple TV

        This show has been available for some few months and has garnered many accolades. The producers involved :Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, know the territory well: The greatest generation. This 9-episode series focused on the air war, especially the air war over western Europe prior to and after the Normandy invasion in June, 1944. The invasion has been well documented and well storied. The anniversary is well attended, the beaches the site of many visitors during the summer months.

      This production focused on pilots and crews of the B-17 bomber, one of Boeing's major contributions to the air war in Europe and the Pacific. In brief, the B-17 was a 4-engine aircraft with long range capability plus significant payload capacity. The plane also carried many defense weapons: single and paired .50 cal machine guns mounted in the tail, the nose, the under belly, the top, and the sides. These guns would earn the respect of attacking fighters from the Luftwaffe. The crew consisted of pilot, co-pilot, radio man, navigator, bombardier, and 6 gunners.

       The US 8th Army Air Forces flew from bases all over the UK. Ground crews and maintenance personnel populated all of these bases, caring fervently and meticulously for the planes, before and after their missions.

      The series followed in accurate detail the lives of several surviving crew members before, during and after the conflict ended in May of 1945. During the course of the air war, crew members had a goal of flying 25 combat missions, although chances of making those 25 were about 50-50. The casualty rates were very high and varies because of targets, weather, and damage incurred during the mission. The B-17 demonstrated major toughness: many returning bombers showed extensive damage beyond just disabled engines. Control surfaces-elevators, rudders, and airlerons were often blown away completely, or rendered useless by damage from antiaircraft shells. The thin aluminum skin provided little protection. Crew members were often wounded and would be hours away from first aid and hospitals. The cramped interior spaces offered little incentive to move around unless absolutely necessary.

    Prior to D-Day, the goal of the 8th was to reduce the Nazi Luftwaffe air force as much as possible. Gen. Eisenhower declared that the invasion could not be successful without complete control of the air over the beaches.  Hence, fighter aircraft became primary targets along with their bases and factories inside Germany. Many missions deep in Germany were targeting factories producing air frames and engines for the Luftwaffe.

       During the aerial combat, many flight crews were able to bail out of the damaged aircraft, landing in occupied France or Germany itself. If lucky, a crew member was captured by German soldiers and taken to a POW camp. There the conditions were not great but the crews were fed and reasonably housed against the elements, one of the few high points of German behaviors during the war.

       Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg did not want to glorify war in any way but to tell honest stories depicting actual events that were involved with individuals. One example included the mission that ended when the plane flew to North Africa rather than return home to England. Another involved a crewman who bailed out over Belgium and was taken by the underground to the coast and returned to the UK. Another involved a pilot, "Rosie" Rosenthal who bailed out into the hands of Russyan soldiers as they crossed into Germany in Summer, 1945. He returned to England to finish 52 total missions.

        The visual effects were state of the art as digital technology allows graphics never seen before. The aerial panoramas gave excellent representations of vast air armadas that flew with hundreds of aircraft in tight formations to and from the targets. The film also depicted the cost of the air war on pilots and crews: knowing ahead of time before the mission began, that many of the planes would not return.

      Today, the 8th Air Force has its own museum in Savannah, Georgia, dedicated to the war effort of those men who flew those missions at great cost. Names involved included Gen. Curtis LeMay, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, and Gen. Hap Arnold.

      The series has high ratings and is often watched in total. Actor Austin Butler gives an outstanding performance as do many of the other main characters.

Watch it!  

Gov. Tim Walz: Candidate for VP

          Sitting Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, has been selected as the running mate of Kamala Harris. The governor was elected in 2019 and is a solid Democrat with excellent credentials across the board. VP Harris was selected by the Democratic Party as its candidate in a virtual selection process over the last 5 days avoiding a vote during the upcoming convention.

      Do you hear all the clicking sounds? Those are the keyboard actions of state-sponsored hackers in : China, Russya, Iran, North Korea, and of course, Nigeria, Lebanon, and both keyboards left intact in Gaza. Oh, don't forget the keyboards in Mar-A-Lago and Judge Cannon's chambers. The Kremlin hacking crew has been filtering all hacking activities around the VP candidates whose names were floated as potential partners on the Harris ticket in November. It seems to me that the Dems have timed the choice perfectly, and Old Orange Hair is having fits trying to come up with proper adjectives to shape his ideas about Tim Walz.

     Key questions for the Republicans:

1. Does Walz own any guns?

2. Does Walz have any illegitimate children hiding in the ghetto?

3. What is on his birth certificate?

4. How did he get into the National Guard? And what's on his DD214? Was he court martialed for disobeying lawful orders?

5. Has he revealed his income tax forms? Who donated to his campaigns-Commies?

6. Has he hired illegals? Legal Green Card holders?

7. Has he supported Warren Buffet/Peter Thiel?

8. Has he ever stayed at one of my hotels? Played any golf on MY course(s)?

9. What country is he REALLY from?

    Once the Republicans have the answers to all of these pertinent/important questions, they'll be out on the anti-Harris campaign trail, spewing their Republican lies just like the standard bearer: Liar-in-Chief Trumpie.

Paris Olympics Continue

       So, we have the Olympics under way in Paris, France.  Athletes from all over the globe have descended on the City of Light. A fine locale for a major international event. Obviously, the XXXIII Games were on the calendar for about 10 years, and preparations were under taken way back when. So far, so good. Events have been on schedule, with a few cancelled for weather issues. Some sites are remote: how about Tahiti.

     Yes, that TAHITI, in Polynesia/South Pacific Ocean. They have good surfing waves there at this time of year, not like those conditions currently at French beaches. The Seine River is the scene of several events, but comes with a few caveats: the water may or may not be suitable for many swimming events; in fact, most swimming is done indoors in a temporary plunge where water conditions are closely controlled and continuously monitored for clarity and purity. The river can only be controlled to a certain degree. So, there will be one-time events, such as the triathalon portion in the water. Some crew events, sure. But that's about it.

         Given the variety of sports at these Games, many events are by necessity, located elsewhere, around the City and country. Spectators can take the trains and subways to find their site.  There has been some rain, but basically, the weather has cooperated.

      There's one week to go with lots of different athletes competing for gold. Americans have done well to date in individual events. Noah Lyles won the gold in the 100 meter sprint yesterday, the first American to win the event in 20 years. He got off to a slow start, but picked up the pace after 40 meters, and won in a photo finish by leaning in to cross ahead of 2nd place. He expressed shock when he was announced as winner. In a field event, the shotput, American Ryan Crouser, the world record holder, won his 3rd Olympic Gold medal in the event. No one has done that before Ryan. He studied engineering, and meticulously incorporated analytical efforts to improve efficiency. It has worked-thrice.

     Other American standouts have been in gymnastics and swimming. Katie Lidecky won Gold Medals in the 800 meters and the 1500 meter swim. She even stated that she might swim at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 when she'll be 31 years old. She's not done yet.

       Simone Biles has won 2 gold medals so far and has performed well. After taking time off after the Tokyo Olympics, she has come back better than ever. 

      So, if one wants summer fun and excitement, watch things going on in Paris: worth it!

Venezuela: Maduro's Quest

      So, Latin America's No. 1 petro state held elections last week. Current president, Nicolas Maduro was again on the ballot, seeking a 4th term as president of the ailing country. When the election concluded, Maduro claimed victory, again. However, this election was somewhat different in that opposition groups activated poll watchers and data collection efforts that sought to ensure a valid count of ballots was made.

      And what did they find?  They found that Maduro lost the election. Yes, he lost. The opposition candidate won the election. Hmmmm. Has Maduro conceded? No chance; the dictator who has ruined the economy(following his predecessor's(Hugo Chavez) lead, has declared himself the winner. He and his military lackeys have put down demonstrations of protestors. The citizenry knows who won the election and it wasn't Maduro. The United States does not recognize Maduro as the winner. Most of the other Latin American countries do not recognize Maduro as the winner. There is one country that does: Brazil. It's president, De Silva, recognizes Maduro as the new president.   DeSilva was elected in the last election in Brazil after he was released from prison  serving a sentence for fraud. The Courts freed him and allowed him to run for the highest office again. DeSilva is a populist, and also a communist sympathizer. He promotes strongman governments and insists that dictators rule best. He was/is an acolyte of the infamous Castro brothers(Raul and Fidel) who personally ruined the Island of Cuba.

       With Brazil approving of Maduro, Lula, as DeSilva is called, knows he has access to Venezuelan oil resources, which poorly situated Brazil lacks. Maduro also would like to have DeSilva support his efforts to steal part of neighbor Ecuador's recently discovered oil fields immediately adjacent to Venezuela. That north eastern state of Ecuador has been the site of considerable exploration in recent years that has uncovered vast oil reserves within the country's borders. Ecuador will not approve of a land grab by Maduro. Meanwhile, Venezuelans have fled the country in huge numbers- over 4 millions have left, most going to Brazil and Ecuador for relief from Maduro's policies and decrepit economic conditions.

     So, the arrests will continue, the disputed election results will fester among the population, and the western hemisphere will continue to be disrupted.

     Look for a long waiting period until pressure builds among the Latin American community to oust Maduro once and for all.

Russyan Pirates Release Hostages

      The Kremlin/Mad Vlad exchanged a group of hostages held in Russyan prisons today some of whom had been held for years. Many countries were involved in the negotiations that have been ongoing for years. The Biden administration announced the exchange at a news conference in Washington as the ex-hostages were boarding a plane for a trip back to US soil. Other countries were involved as many held Russyans who had been convicted of crimes, including murder, in their countries. 

     This prisoner exchange illuminates the Russyan landscape of piracy that has existed since Dictator Putin has taken the largest country in the world hostage when he took over the Russyan Federation when Boris Yeltsin resigned over 30 years ago. Yes, it has been a long time since the ex-KGB colonel assumed the leadership position.

       The Biden administration used diplomatic channels and back channels to make this happen. The ongoing exposure by the WSJ of its reporter, Evan Gershkovich, provided a constant message: we will not rest until Evan is freed and returned home.

     It is a fine day for his family and the families of all the hostages who were wrongly arrested and held captive for years in inhumane Russyan conditions, a staple of the "justice" system in Russya.

Welcome home, Evan, and Paul Whelan(after 2000+ days!).