So, now we know for sure: the Russyan spy authority, aka the FSB-Federal Security Bureau, aka The Kremlin, managed the hacking teams that did so much to damage the reputation of an American corporation-Yahoo.
So, now we have the Justice Dept. naming names and pointing fingers. Let's see the Old Colonel get around this one. And the Trumpster, too. Well, he's still trying to define "wiretapping" or his mouthpiece, Sean Spicer is trying to define something for somebody.
A member of the hacking team was arrested in Canada before he could flee to join his co-conspirators somewhere in the largest country in the world where the word "gulag" needs no definition because everybody who lives in the largest country in the world understands what gulag means: long, slow, painful(torturous death). Will there be a trial? Of course. Anytime soon? Hmmm. One can never be sure these days about a timely trial, even if the defendant(s) are Russyans.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Book Review: Elon Musk, biography
Seems impossible to pickup a newspaper or search effort without finding Elon Musk somewhere in the course of that effort. Who is Elon Musk? American? No. Canadian? NO. South African? Yes. Raised where? South Africa. Secondary education? South Africa? First trip abroad? Age 17, Canada-alone, w/o supervision: teenage explorer. Goes West, looks up uncle. Works; works hard. Decides on college in America; M.I.T. Hmm. Likes computers; likes coding. Does his own research. Remembers everything. Meets like minded folks. Begins startup cycle. Hits the big time.
How big is big? Nobody knows where this run will go; but, the arc is long and getting longer.
Tesla? Making money, finally. Solar City? Maybe making money; expanding. SpaceX? Making money: big plans for the future. The only drawback? One's imagination.
His biographer realizes that this is an open-ended story. There's more to come. He promises the moon(Mars); electric cars for the masses @$35K; batteries that will change the world(see Giga factory, Nevada). While he has accomplished much, he has detractors. However they frame his personality, readers will understand that the man is driven, focused, and defiant of nay-sayers and obstructionists. Experienced people said a private company could not launch a rocket, much less retrieve it(done). Or provide a reasonable mission to the ISS(space station) and return safely(done).
With Tesla S models zipping quietly around the neighborhood, and 350,000 orders for the Tesla family car, he's on a roll. He's an example of entrepreneurial spirit. He has thrown out the old commercial playbook, and created an entirely new book. The old industrial order has been shaken to its core by one man: Elon Musk(with a little help from his friends).
Check out the stock price runup and the affect on his net worth.(2021, November).
Good read.
4 Stars
Snow :Again
March: Spring, winter no more. But, wait, more snow. Winter: still here
Highway 89 is still closed around Emerald Bay. Seems CalTrans will not reopen the stretch for awhile due to avalanche potential. That's Ok for locals-who wants to chance that drive under these conditions. Skiing around the Lake has been the best in decades.
Enjoy.
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| Weekend Conditions:Homewood, West Shore |
Enjoy.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan Shoots Off His Mouth
Just what the Middle East needs: a president without verbal restraint. case in point: the President of Turkey accuses Germany of using "Nazi" tactics when it prevented demonstrations preceding referendum votes on constitutional changes that would grant Mr. Erdogan sweeping new powers. Germany is home to 3.4 million emigrants from Turkey, the largest diaspora of its kind in Europe. Prime Minister Angela Merkel of Germany issued a rebuke of Mr. Erdogan's statements.
Relations between the two nations have been strained since the arrest in Turkey of a German/Turkish journalist in Turkey as part of a larger Turkish government effort to stifle media in general and journalists in particular. This follows a crackdown in Turkey on tens of thousands of civil servants and teachers after a failed coup attempt in Ankara last summer. The action also follows an agreement between the EU and Turkey to stem the flow of refugees from Syria and North Africa who have fled the region's war and turmoil. The EU promised to pay Turkey over 5 billion Euros to set up refugee centers and care facilities for those from war-torn regions. Turkey has given Turkish expats the right to vote and Erdogan has sought their vote. However, Germany retains the right to control foreign intervention in political activities within its borders.
Modern Turkey is wrestling with its current situation: is it a secular nation or will it revert to its former status as a religious fundamentalist theocracy. With Mr. Erdogan at the helm, it appears that Turkey will have to endure his explosive decision making for some time to come.
Relations between the two nations have been strained since the arrest in Turkey of a German/Turkish journalist in Turkey as part of a larger Turkish government effort to stifle media in general and journalists in particular. This follows a crackdown in Turkey on tens of thousands of civil servants and teachers after a failed coup attempt in Ankara last summer. The action also follows an agreement between the EU and Turkey to stem the flow of refugees from Syria and North Africa who have fled the region's war and turmoil. The EU promised to pay Turkey over 5 billion Euros to set up refugee centers and care facilities for those from war-torn regions. Turkey has given Turkish expats the right to vote and Erdogan has sought their vote. However, Germany retains the right to control foreign intervention in political activities within its borders.
Modern Turkey is wrestling with its current situation: is it a secular nation or will it revert to its former status as a religious fundamentalist theocracy. With Mr. Erdogan at the helm, it appears that Turkey will have to endure his explosive decision making for some time to come.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Sergey I. Kislyak: Russyan Ambassador to USA
Mr. Kislyak probably is not too happy about his recent publicity involving allegations that US Attorney General Jeff Sessions is on the public carpet for having had conversations with the Ambassador BEFORE Mr. Trump was elected. The NYTimes has a nice article with all the details mapped out for a clear view of what went on among Mr. Sessions, Mr. Kislyak, and their various assistants and operatives from Trump's campaign staff.
Mr. Kislyak is a career diplomat, representing his country through thick(now) and thin(old Soviet period). He is highly educated with a degree from Moscova Univ. of Engineering Physics, speaks English well, w/ accents, and is considered brilliant by those who have worked or met with him in his role as Russya's No. 1 man in America.
He is a staunch defender of the largest country in the world where the state sells and profits from home made vodka, where alcoholics are everywhere, and the economy is slowly imploding. He is also obviously overweight and in poor physical health, At age 66, one would think he'd take better care of himself; but, as we know, it only happens among Russyan Olympic hopefuls who are monitored by the drug pushers from the Kremlin. We also know that last week, the Russyan ambassador to the UN, Vitaly I. Churkin, died of an apparent heart attack(?). Was he unhealthy or unlucky? We won't really know. Mr. Kislyak could be at the UN next week.
Locals in diplomatic circles say that Mr. Kislyak threw great parties. He also presided over the 'dacha' in Maryland at Pioneer Point where he invited many Americans to relax and enjoy comforts provided by the Kremlin( no doubt more comfortable that a bunk in a gulag hotel).
I wonder how he gets along with Gary Kasparov? or the late Mr. Nemtsov?
More later
Mr. Kislyak is a career diplomat, representing his country through thick(now) and thin(old Soviet period). He is highly educated with a degree from Moscova Univ. of Engineering Physics, speaks English well, w/ accents, and is considered brilliant by those who have worked or met with him in his role as Russya's No. 1 man in America.
He is a staunch defender of the largest country in the world where the state sells and profits from home made vodka, where alcoholics are everywhere, and the economy is slowly imploding. He is also obviously overweight and in poor physical health, At age 66, one would think he'd take better care of himself; but, as we know, it only happens among Russyan Olympic hopefuls who are monitored by the drug pushers from the Kremlin. We also know that last week, the Russyan ambassador to the UN, Vitaly I. Churkin, died of an apparent heart attack(?). Was he unhealthy or unlucky? We won't really know. Mr. Kislyak could be at the UN next week.
Locals in diplomatic circles say that Mr. Kislyak threw great parties. He also presided over the 'dacha' in Maryland at Pioneer Point where he invited many Americans to relax and enjoy comforts provided by the Kremlin( no doubt more comfortable that a bunk in a gulag hotel).
I wonder how he gets along with Gary Kasparov? or the late Mr. Nemtsov?
More later
Sweden and the Draft
It has been years since Sweden had a draft: a government imposed obligation for military duty on all citizens. But, times change. And the geopolitical climate has changed, especially to the east of the Nordic countries, ie., those that border the Russyan 'Bear".
Since Mad Vlad Putin has assumed control of the largest country in the world, he has exhibited irrational/ dangerous behaviors. He has eliminated competition at home by all available means. He has eliminated opponents abroad by assassination, and he has had disguised troops invade a foreign country: Ukraine. Now he has paid a price for these actions, slight as they may be- financial sanctions, etc., he has tightened his grip on his people. He uses tactics learned while a KGB officer during the old Soviet period.
Now Sweden looks around and realizes Old Man SAM might not be up to its promised NATO commitment. A draft seems to be prudent, given Russyan military movements on the border of Finland and the Baltic States(Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania).
Look for more such actions as reality takes hold in the USA.
Since Mad Vlad Putin has assumed control of the largest country in the world, he has exhibited irrational/ dangerous behaviors. He has eliminated competition at home by all available means. He has eliminated opponents abroad by assassination, and he has had disguised troops invade a foreign country: Ukraine. Now he has paid a price for these actions, slight as they may be- financial sanctions, etc., he has tightened his grip on his people. He uses tactics learned while a KGB officer during the old Soviet period.
Now Sweden looks around and realizes Old Man SAM might not be up to its promised NATO commitment. A draft seems to be prudent, given Russyan military movements on the border of Finland and the Baltic States(Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania).
Look for more such actions as reality takes hold in the USA.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Poor Russyans Suffer With Bad Vodka
Way out east, near Russya's Pacific Coast, times are tough. Locals struggle to make ends meet. Some retirees exist on less than $130 per month. This means they can barely survive. One woman claims she can afford to eat regular food 1 week a month. The rest of the time, she eats bread and butter, that's all. It's a very sad situation in the largest country in the world, ruled by an elite crowd of oligarchs and insiders 6000 miles to the west, beyond the Urals Mountains, in European Russya. Here one finds a different type of Russyan, far removed from their brothers in Irkutsk. It is claimed that in Moscova, people dine on caviar, by the bucket full. An obvious exaggeration, but a meaningful one at that.
Since Mr. Putin, former KGB officer, took over, the life of the average Russyan has not gotten any better. Many of these folks cannot afford good vodka. They drink a watered-down version that sells for 1/5th the price of Moscova-controlled State vodka, with all profits going to the Kremlin. Hmmm. Nice work if you can get it. Sadly, what has happened is that the poor, in their quest for relief through alcohol, have become victims of vodka scams: the black marketeers make up a batch of cheap rotgut vodka and sell it to thirsty peasants. Unfortunately, poison is often included: no extra charge. Just recently, there was a concentration of fatalities in and around Irkutsk. Over 110 victims died of poisoned vodka. The State(kremlin) is investigating.
The outcome is unknown. The surest bet is there will be more deaths as Russya's economy continues to shrink despite the USA's Nat. Air and Space Administration's $320 millions contract for 5 seats on a mission to the Space Station in the next 2-3 years. Don't bring any vodka- might not be real. Have a nice flight.
Since Mr. Putin, former KGB officer, took over, the life of the average Russyan has not gotten any better. Many of these folks cannot afford good vodka. They drink a watered-down version that sells for 1/5th the price of Moscova-controlled State vodka, with all profits going to the Kremlin. Hmmm. Nice work if you can get it. Sadly, what has happened is that the poor, in their quest for relief through alcohol, have become victims of vodka scams: the black marketeers make up a batch of cheap rotgut vodka and sell it to thirsty peasants. Unfortunately, poison is often included: no extra charge. Just recently, there was a concentration of fatalities in and around Irkutsk. Over 110 victims died of poisoned vodka. The State(kremlin) is investigating.
The outcome is unknown. The surest bet is there will be more deaths as Russya's economy continues to shrink despite the USA's Nat. Air and Space Administration's $320 millions contract for 5 seats on a mission to the Space Station in the next 2-3 years. Don't bring any vodka- might not be real. Have a nice flight.
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