Eddie and I went into the center of the Voskresenka neighborhood to go shopping. The sidewalks are crowded – we were forced to bike on the street. City buses are running, although fewer than normal. The jitney buses have yet to reappear.
The two neighborhood butcher shops were open, though they had only chicken and pork. Our neighborhood's small representative of a supermarket chain was open. They had pork and milk, but not beef and not Kefir. Tomatoes, but no oranges. Candy bars but no flour. The bakery was open.
The pet store was open. We can put the neighborhood cats back on full rations. We feel a sense of relief on everybody's face.
Thanks for your missives. On the scene beats commentary from afar. Don't mind rooting for the home team knowing why somebody is doing it. Those germs are good things, as is playing in the mud. Builds the immune system when it is best prepared to receive a strong response.
"There is a large segment of the American right that appears to be rooting for Russia in this set-to, so strongly do they despise Biden and the horse he rode in on. For what it's worth, here is a video by a Col. McGregor that contradicts just about everything I see and pass on. In my opinion Bob Homans and I provide enough substantiation for what we write that McGregor should be able to figure it out for himself."
For what it is worth: I live in a retirement community and have seen nor talked with anyone who speaks positively about Putin. The residents are a mix of professionals, some ministers, and all well off enough to afford the life care package in a very nice place. And most are conservative. I have heard nothing from a McGregor type voice.
On Biden, I consider him a failure, partly age and partly his pushing of polices I think are wrong headed. The horse he rode in on was a uniter and middle of the road guy; he presides as an entrenched progressive, the opposite of his election message. I think that if he were a uniter he might have been successful. We had four years of denial of the Trump presidency by the left so no doubt that would lead some to return the favor.
I find it interesting that large segments of both parties (the UniParty) are supporting Ukraine neo-NAZIS as a Jewish president gets rave reviews. Was the holocaust a comedy or tragedy?
Zelensky walks a very fine line as he must appease his benefactors who are just mob bosses. Those militia are funded by those bosses. None the less the people see Z as someone who can help restore the nation (IMHO) by somewhat constraining the bosses. As long as their theft is modest and Z gets a cut, all is OK. But our erstwhile writer would be more prepared than I to comment.
For all I know Putin is miffed that his guys couldn't get the advantage in the Donbas because of those militia and Putin is not getting his cut. Thus a gang war that might lead to worse. Seems the US and EU prefer the smaller corrupt group.
BTW crime is minimal in Japan because the crime bosses insist on discipline among the criminals. Robbing banks might be OK but robbing the local grocer is not. Robbing the grocer will get you turned over to the cops by those who are really in charge.
Good insight. Zelensky is handicapped in ways similar to Trump. Inexperience, and dependence on pre-existing powers. I suspect that he had his own Mike Pompeos making it difficult to navigate a peaceful resolution.
12:15 pm. A quick addendum.
Eddie and I went into the center of the Voskresenka neighborhood to go shopping. The sidewalks are crowded – we were forced to bike on the street. City buses are running, although fewer than normal. The jitney buses have yet to reappear.
The two neighborhood butcher shops were open, though they had only chicken and pork. Our neighborhood's small representative of a supermarket chain was open. They had pork and milk, but not beef and not Kefir. Tomatoes, but no oranges. Candy bars but no flour. The bakery was open.
The pet store was open. We can put the neighborhood cats back on full rations. We feel a sense of relief on everybody's face.
Thanks for your missives. On the scene beats commentary from afar. Don't mind rooting for the home team knowing why somebody is doing it. Those germs are good things, as is playing in the mud. Builds the immune system when it is best prepared to receive a strong response.
"There is a large segment of the American right that appears to be rooting for Russia in this set-to, so strongly do they despise Biden and the horse he rode in on. For what it's worth, here is a video by a Col. McGregor that contradicts just about everything I see and pass on. In my opinion Bob Homans and I provide enough substantiation for what we write that McGregor should be able to figure it out for himself."
For what it is worth: I live in a retirement community and have seen nor talked with anyone who speaks positively about Putin. The residents are a mix of professionals, some ministers, and all well off enough to afford the life care package in a very nice place. And most are conservative. I have heard nothing from a McGregor type voice.
On Biden, I consider him a failure, partly age and partly his pushing of polices I think are wrong headed. The horse he rode in on was a uniter and middle of the road guy; he presides as an entrenched progressive, the opposite of his election message. I think that if he were a uniter he might have been successful. We had four years of denial of the Trump presidency by the left so no doubt that would lead some to return the favor.
I find it interesting that large segments of both parties (the UniParty) are supporting Ukraine neo-NAZIS as a Jewish president gets rave reviews. Was the holocaust a comedy or tragedy?
Zelensky walks a very fine line as he must appease his benefactors who are just mob bosses. Those militia are funded by those bosses. None the less the people see Z as someone who can help restore the nation (IMHO) by somewhat constraining the bosses. As long as their theft is modest and Z gets a cut, all is OK. But our erstwhile writer would be more prepared than I to comment.
For all I know Putin is miffed that his guys couldn't get the advantage in the Donbas because of those militia and Putin is not getting his cut. Thus a gang war that might lead to worse. Seems the US and EU prefer the smaller corrupt group.
BTW crime is minimal in Japan because the crime bosses insist on discipline among the criminals. Robbing banks might be OK but robbing the local grocer is not. Robbing the grocer will get you turned over to the cops by those who are really in charge.
Good insight. Zelensky is handicapped in ways similar to Trump. Inexperience, and dependence on pre-existing powers. I suspect that he had his own Mike Pompeos making it difficult to navigate a peaceful resolution.
BS