You know how at the end of a fireworks show they send up the reat of their stash all at once? That's what this Ukraine extravaganza reminds me of. Since about the first month of the invasion Putin can't have been expecting to realize a compliant population. But then, a drunk home sband may trash the whole household when he cannot get his way. I saw an interesting graphic today envisioning Russia divided into three parts, presumably somewhat along ethnic lines. There's European Russia, Central Assian and Far East. EuroRussians are sort of like EuroAmericans, stuck up and intolerant. It's almost as if Europe has been exporting its ne'er do wells east and west for centuries.
The Trans-Siberian Railway System was completed just over a century ago, and remains the main connector among the parts of the former Tsarist empire. I continue to wonder what will happen when it decays into irrelevance. The area west of the Urals seems pretty well connected; Eastern Siberia has connections to East Asia and the wider world via railway and ports; I am not sure about the central Asia beyond Iran, but will get around to looking that up some time.
Francis Fukuyama: Still the End of History [Click] “Over the past year, it has become evident that there are key weaknesses at the core of seemingly strong authoritarian states.”
When we got back from grocery shopping my ballot had arrived. After lunch I marked it and deposited it in the nearest dropbox. Our state assembly member is a Republican; I give him credit for constituent services (used once) and for choosing his legislative agenda in a way that is makes it possible to accomplish something despite being in a small (19 of 80) minority. But he made the mistake of sending me a campaign e-mail with too much extremist nonsense. So no vote, even though his opponent is a Libertarian rather than a Democrat. (The state and national Democratic parties often do not support their candidates hereabouts.)
Peter Zeihan: Breakthrough Will Happen Before The End Of This Month, Day Of Judgement Has Arrived [Click] Peter Zeihan can certainly be overly theatric (a cynical person might say it probably drives up his YouTube views), but he regularly makes some good points. His main point here is that the Kerch Strait bridge has been damaged badly enough to choke off Russian fuel supplies to the southern front in Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Kyiv attacked this morning by kamikaze drones
ReplyDeleteYou know how at the end of a fireworks show they send up the reat of their stash all at once? That's what this Ukraine extravaganza reminds me of. Since about the first month of the invasion Putin can't have been expecting to realize a compliant population. But then, a drunk home sband may trash the whole household when he cannot get his way.
ReplyDeleteI saw an interesting graphic today envisioning Russia divided into three parts, presumably somewhat along ethnic lines. There's European Russia, Central Assian and Far East. EuroRussians are sort of like EuroAmericans, stuck up and intolerant. It's almost as if Europe has been exporting its ne'er do wells east and west for centuries.
The Trans-Siberian Railway System was completed just over a century ago, and remains the main connector among the parts of the former Tsarist empire. I continue to wonder what will happen when it decays into irrelevance. The area west of the Urals seems pretty well connected; Eastern Siberia has connections to East Asia and the wider world via railway and ports; I am not sure about the central Asia beyond Iran, but will get around to looking that up some time.
DeleteHere’s the information [Click]
DeleteFrancis Fukuyama: Still the End of History [Click] “Over the past year, it has become evident that there are key weaknesses at the core of seemingly strong authoritarian states.”
ReplyDeleteI think I finally have this post right . . .
ReplyDelete‘I’m back on food stamps’: Nurse who exposed ‘uterus collector’ still faces consequences [Click] I find a GoFundMe for a different person of the same name.
Shelters are overwhelmed as pet owners grappling with inflation surrender their dogs, cats – and guinea pigs [Click] Guinea pigs require a lot more than one might think. [Click]
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DeleteThe Bad News Turns to Worse for China's Semiconductor Industry [Click] Ouch. Even allowing for Peter Zeihan's tendency to be theatrical.
ReplyDeleteRobert Reich: Republicans are trying to win by spreading three false talking points. Here’s the truth [Click] Probably not news to anyone here, but well put
ReplyDeleteWhen we got back from grocery shopping my ballot had arrived. After lunch I marked it and deposited it in the nearest dropbox. Our state assembly member is a Republican; I give him credit for constituent services (used once) and for choosing his legislative agenda in a way that is makes it possible to accomplish something despite being in a small (19 of 80) minority. But he made the mistake of sending me a campaign e-mail with too much extremist nonsense. So no vote, even though his opponent is a Libertarian rather than a Democrat. (The state and national Democratic parties often do not support their candidates hereabouts.)
ReplyDeleteArtur Rehi on recent Russian attacks on Kiev, resulting Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod, Israel sends aerial defense equipment to Ukraine in response to Iranian missiles sold to Russia, Russian “defenses in depth” etc. [Click] Currently for every Ukrainian casualty there are 6.5 Russian casualties; that’s approaching the figure of the Winter War—ten Russian casualties for every Finnish one. Jeez.
ReplyDeletePeter Zeihan: Breakthrough Will Happen Before The End Of This Month, Day Of Judgement Has Arrived [Click] Peter Zeihan can certainly be overly theatric (a cynical person might say it probably drives up his YouTube views), but he regularly makes some good points. His main point here is that the Kerch Strait bridge has been damaged badly enough to choke off Russian fuel supplies to the southern front in Ukraine.
ReplyDelete