Alex Jones Takedown

        So, Alex Jones, the carney shill from Austin, Texas, lost in court, again. (more loses to come!). The judge in the punitive damages trial awarded the plaintiffs almost a billion dollars, not an insignificant amount. The living, breathing scumbag, Mr. Jones, blew off the award with a challenge:"try to get it" message. He's scrambling to hide his millions behind shell companies and declarations of bankruptcies, but in the end, this home-grown mental case will pay up, no matter his bleak future. His backers, those deranged individuals who attach their fantasies to a pathetic personality, will go along with his slide into obscurity. They will have to find another Texan who can give voice to their perverted dreams and otherwise shallow lives.

        An excellent recap of Jones' career was written in an NYT column, describing his rise as a "bloviating" red-faced liar. It started in 1995, awhile ago, really. But, as can happen, given the microphone of internet connections, he was able to fool the gullible, uneducated fringe that seems to have grown over the years in a society broken by political hacks for whom truth is not a factor in their work. Jones is more than a despicable human being; he's a terrorist, picking on the weak and down trodden among the public. We know these folks, decent persons, suffering from tragedies beyond their control. The weak legal structure offers little protection from these mongers of conspiracies that stretch belief by any measure. First Amendment rights are trumpeted as inviolable, and hence they pursue the goal of convincing a few sad cases that there could be some truth/facts among their many statements.

        Will his career go down into history as yet another example of aberrant behavior? We hope so.

Putin Rains Missiles Down on Ukraine Civilians

        My,my. Mad Vlad must be experiencing some indigestion. After commandos blew up his bridge across the Kerch Strait, Vlady talked with his yes-men and they advised sending a "strong" statement to Volodimir Zelensky in Kyiv. Results: 90+ cruise missiles were directed at targets across Ukraine, hitting a multitude of targets including civilian sites. However, 50+ missiles were intercepted, softening the impact of the barrage. International outrage was swift and broad-based. The Kremlin is now seen as struggling to accept the failed effort to bring Zelensky's government to its knees. The citizens are more resolute than ever, and the Ukrainian army continues to march forward sending the ragtag Russyan army reeling in disarray.

      All of this makes clear that Putin erred. His desire for a successful annexation without local or international resistance has not happened. The isolated idiot will not have a successful birthday party number 70. His arteries are clogged with old borscht and bad vodka. His brain is showing signs of early onset dementia and Alzheimers. His food tasters are probably afraid to taste anything put in front of them. His domestic partner probably is looking for a way out. And his friends in Beijing aren't answering his email pleas for arms.

      And winter will begin soon.

Culloden: The Battle

      I wouldn't call it a battle, more a skirmish, really. Two opposing forces meet head-on across a flat piece of ground in broad daylight. When the shooting was over in 45 minutes, the hopes and dreams of the Scots were dashed forever(or so). The redcoats claimed victory, Bonnie Prince Charlie went into hiding in the Highland glens until he could escape to France and oblivion.

      Have you viewed any of the OUTLANDER series on Netflix? There's the story, made for TV, from the fictionalized history created in a story by writer Diana Galbadon. It's a time -traveler epic: from the 20th century back to the  18th century. Skillfully depicted is the romantic history of Scotland with the love story of two characters who participate in emotional events surrounding the bitter end of the Scottish clans that ruled the Highlands for centuries.

      Most recently, the Mayor did a tour of the Scottish Highlands, the Land of Lochs and Glens, Tartans and bagpipes, kilts and swords, wind and rain, and more than a few castles. It was revealing, to say the least. It was summer in the Highlands, warmer weather, to be sure, but plenty of wind and rain, and green, green fields over the low hills.

Putin Rant Declares Ukraine East as Russyan Territory

       Bombast over DonBass is what I call the latest Kremlin provocation. The Little KGB colonel announced that with the "elections" over, the locals in the DonBass region of Ukraine are now "Russyans Forever". This is akin to Mexico declaring Texas is now part of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. Or Canada declaring the State of Washington is now part of British Columbia. Or New Jersey declaring that New York is now New Jersey. You get it. The Mad Men of the Kremlin are looking more and more like those they often rail against: NAZIs!.

       The West has been treated to news from Russya that demonstrates that Putin is losing his grip. As his security operation, as he calls it, in Ukraine continues to falter, the consequences at home are starting to pile up. Military recruiting has begun to look like an impressment operation against the poor villagers in the Siberian hinterlands. Attacks have occurred at recruiting centers. Eligibles are fleeing the country in droves, stacking up at the borders, creating embarassing photos. My, my. The two spokesmen, Lavrov and Peskov(Curly and Moe), are losing sleep as they create "spin" control of the Kremlin's statements to the world.

       So, President Zolensky of Kyiv petitions the West for continued support as he deals with the existential crisis in his country. The U.S. Congress passed a new law that includes an additional $12.3 billions in military aid to his country. It's the least we can do. Yes, sure, it's a proxy war(remember Vietnam? Iraq? Afghanistan?). Hmmm and Korea,too? Sad that such a situation exists but the alternative- a world war- is not a modern option. Soon, Ol'Man Putin will age out and his sad constituents will move on, sell off Siberia to China, take the money and run.

Russyans Trying to Escape Russya

      Well, now. We have the pictures: Russyan young men(and not so young men) heading for the nation's borders to escape the enforcement force of the Kremlin's draft thugs. The Kremlin's call for 300,000 draftees has caused the support groups to press the 'no' button.  Has Mad Vlad reached the point of no return? How would you respond to draft that exists in a " security operation" ongoing in a foreign country down south? Hmmmm. Has the Little Dictator miss calculated? have all the Kremlins "yes" men ducked away from the the Little Dictator's view? Has Putin reached the limit of his power? Time will tell, and the clock is ticking on his "securityz' operations in the DonBass.

Turn out the lights, the party's over.

The Judge At 61

    That would be Aaron Judge, a baseball player. No, he's not 61 years of age. But he has hit 61 home runs this season, tying Roger Maris' record for American League players set a long time ago. There are few games left in the regular season, but Aaron could hit 1 or 2 more. Could he do it? Possibly, but odds are not great.

Stay tuned.

Queen Elizabeth II-70 Years on the Throne

       The beloved Queen of England, Elizabeth II, was buried in the family tomb at Windsor a week ago. This marked the end of an extraordinary period of national mourning for the people of the United Kingdom and all members of the Commonwealth. Even members of former colonies took time to recall this longest serving regent in Great Britain's long history.

        The Mayor was in Edinburgh, Scotland when her death at Balmoral was announced. That she was in Scotland was coincidental to her annual stay at the family's estate there where Elizabeth had spent countless summers during her lifetime. She enjoyed the environment, the peace and quiet, and the comfort of surroundings most familiar to her. She had a final act to pass the Prime Ministry to the latest  official, Liz Truss.