I am sure you have heard this term before, prepping. It is a catchall term used for being prepared for whatever may come that disrupts our normal lives. As we deal with the war in Ukraine and the extreme weather events that seem to be more frequent and, well, extreme, I thought it might be of the moment to look at this idea. I work with someone who has been stockpiling food in preparation for some kind of disaster. And I will tell you that some of that stuff is really unpalatable. But the basic idea of being prepared is important.
I ran across a couple of videos on YouTube about prepping. One was by a farmer in the United States who was warning about a food crisis in the making. With the danger of drought in the southwest and flooding in other areas of the country we are seeing farmers pressed to get crops to market. Many ranchers in Texas are selling off cattle because they cannot feed them. In my state of Minnesota we are also seeing drought conditions. That, coupled with high temperatures, make for challenging conditions to keep crops healthy.
This video comes from the U.S. This is climate change. It is here and she is right, we need to prepare as best we can. You may want to read some of the comments, as she has people from other countries commenting on their own situations. There are some conspiracy theorists among them, just ignore them. But listen to the others. They show the global depth of what is happening.
This second video actually comes from Sweden. I ran across it by accident, possibly because of the types of search I was doing. But it is prepping of a different nature. In this case they are preparing for a possible invasion by Russia. Their time frame for what is needed to be stockpiled is much less than in the first video, but nonetheless they are preparing for the worst. It appears they have been doing so for years.
From where I am I don't fear an invasion by Russia. But I am concerned, as you know from previous posts, about climate change. But climate change and the invasion of Ukraine are inexorably linked. Putin has not only murdered thousands of innocent people, destroyed the economy of a country, and blocked needed food for the world, he has diverted critical resources at a time when those resources should be focused on global climate change. His legacy will not be one of greatness but one of complete and utter waste and stupidity.
40 comments:
The Russians are moving to fortify Kherson, to the extent that they have virtually abandoned (for now) their efforts to expand south in the Donbas to Donetsk Oblast. Zelenskyy has take the opportunity to call for an immediate and unexcepted civilian evacuation from the province--everybody out--now! No exceptions.
Yes, the Ukrainians have been doing a nice job of telegraphing their plans. Although one would hope not all of them.
Will she or won't she? That is the question. Will Pelosi visit Taiwan?
I support the encouragement of chip makers in the US.
"I support the encouragement of chip makers in the US."
Gonna need to bring home more than just computer chips. In fact we need a whole new national outlook toward multi-national corporations. The days are over when large corporations could be viewed as 'American' corporations just because they filed their corporate papers saying so here in America. (Corporate papers can be rewritten and refiled anywhere in the world in minutes.) They've gone global and are now competitors with the nation-states for power on a global scale. The work of the global oil companies to create and sustain a panic price for oil and gas (and incidentally helping Russia increase its cash flow in the process) is only one example.
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"The Russians are moving to fortify Kherson…"
Your response suggests you may have missed the significance here.
"…they have virtually abandoned (for now) their efforts to
expand south in the Donbas…"
The Ukrainians can defend in Donbas and prepare to attack in Kherson. The Russians have to choose one or the other. That's significant, and it's only the 1ˢᵗ of August.
She will. Visit Taiwan. The correct decision, I am thinking. China has no business dictating the country someone can visit. A visit is not a declaration of war.
The Russians have to choose one or the other. That's significant, and it's only the 1ˢᵗ of August.
Yes. The Ukrainians can defend or attack where ever. The Russians may fall into wack a mole territory.
Gonna need to bring home more than just computer chips.
It's a start. Now we wait to see if any of these bills actually get signed into law...
Kansas voted no. They kept the right of women to make their own health care choice with regard to abortion in their constitution. Their will be no amemdment limiting their choice.
Score one for freedom in this country!
"Their will" should read "There will".
"Score one for freedom in this country!"
It ain't over. The Bible Thumpers ain't gonna surrender Kansas that easy.
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The Ukrainians are saying that the Russians are about ready to finally launch that much ballyhooed second assault in the south. So far I'm seeing nothing but renewed artillery barrages and long-rang strikes on civilian populations wherever they may be easily attacked.
Aug. 5th was the date I heard for Russia's putsch...er...attack.
The Bible Thumpers ain't gonna surrender Kansas that easy.
We can only fight each battle as it comes. I was just happy to see there are still some people out there who are willing to stand up for the rights of women. I do not want to be controlled by those with narrow religious views, such as you find in places like Iran and Saudi Arabia.
So I guess we should have figured that Sinema would be a sticking point since Manchin was on board.
There is something wrong in our system where one person can hold a bill hostage at the last minute. The details should have been already worked out.
"The details should have been already worked out."
I presume you're developing a plan for how you're gonna make Manchin and Sinema agree to your "details…already worked out" model for glorifying Manchin and Sinema?
*sigh*
Yes, you're right, it would be impossible to change people's behavior when their goal is grandstanding.
So the Russian court gave Britney Griner 9 years. To be served in a penal colony.
I wonder will people now understand that visiting a place like Russia really isn't a good idea? Not now, and probably not ever.
Well, mainland China has unleashed and now completed its temper tantrum against Nancy Pelosi.
Near as I can tell folks are mostly unimpressed. Maybe the Commies'll revisit the issue later; plot on making a second strike somewhere down the line, but that one didn't get 'em a lot of awe from the audience. (Although, Pelosi probably would have been better served to not give interviews after they'd so clearly failed to impress people.)
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I heard (here in fact) that this was supposed to be the day Russia unleashed its third wave of war against Ukraine--after the first two waves both petered out.
Ain't noticed the Russians generating a lot of shock and awe either. Mostly they seem to be still enjoying the "regroup and reorganize" phase of their war against Ukraine, lookin' to string that out a while longer it seems.
Well, mainland China has unleashed and now completed its temper tantrum against Nancy Pelosi.
And wasted missiles and probably killed a lot of poor fish.
Why have i always felt the maturity level of both Russia and China is rather low?
I heard (here in fact) that this was supposed to be the day Russia unleashed its third wave of war against Ukraine--after the first two waves both petered out.
Never listen to rumors in a time of war.
Who knows, maybe they realized that the that fielding untrained and I'll equiped soldiers wouldn't really work?
Or there is just no one left to lead them.
War seems a little slow in Ukraine. The New York Times didn't even post a 'daily updates' web page this morning. The Washington Post's 'daily updates' page consisted of three short articles that were several days old and had been hanging around for use when needed as filler.
(Does Putin know his war is boring this week? Would he care?)
Ukraine made some advances near Izum yesterday. Seems they are still taking advantage of Russia's repositioning of troops. Perhaps Kherson was a decoy? At least at this point in time.
Ukraine also managed to destroy a resupply train load of equipment from Crimea. HIMARS were the suspected culprits.
There is growing concern about the nuclear power plant at Zhaperizia. Yes, that may not be the correct spelling, I was doing that from memory.
Perhaps our mainstream media are the ones who are getting bored?
Oh, and another Russian scientist was arrested on suspicion of treason. This is the third one. Seems we are not the only country China spies on. Why bother developing your own hypersonic missile technology when you can steal it? I think they are just lazy.
"Ukraine made some advances near Izum yesterday."
And that was in the news yesterday; nothin' comparable this morning though.
And, by evening, Ukraine time, the Russians had managed to actually make some news with their 3ʳᵈ wave against Ukraine. They'd tried, tentatively, to advance some troops against targets in the northern Donetsk Oblast (not new targets--one's they tried to get before and failed). Took 'em 'til evening to force their ground troops into the field, and didn't seem to score any new territory for it, but they did show signs of trying to move against Ukraine held territory.
New York Times has restored its 'daily updates' page on the war against Ukraine.
It looks like Putin has asked North Korea if he could "borrow" 100,000 soldiers. Perhaps they will join the volunteers from Syria.
I do hope someone is making notes on China's simulated invasion of Taiwan. They may prove useful in the future.
If Russia does for some reason fail in its invasion of Ukraine i suspect it will be due to a sudden collapse of its military rather than some kind of negotiated deal.
A military, like an economy, can't be built on Swiss cheese.
I can't quite envision the Hermit Kingdom lettin' the leash slip on 100,000 soldiers. I just don't see that happenin'.
"If Russia does for some reason fail in its invasion of Ukraine
…it will be due to a sudden collapse of its military rather than
some kind of negotiated deal."
You're probably working on the theory that Putin will not conclude negotiations which end in Russia's loss in the war in Ukraine. I largely agree.
But, I think the example for that end to the was is the Korean War--no negotiated deal was ever arrived at. They hit stalemate in the negotiations (which were, technically ongoing for 50 some years--still are officially open in fact) And that's where it ended.
I can see Putin never coming to an end to his war--the war goes on forever; the peace negotiations go on forever; meanwhile Russia lost all the ground it grabbed. But they simply refuse to conclude a peace treaty based on that reality. So, officially, the war goes on forever; the peace negotiations go on forever, but the fighting has stopped. Everybody goes back to business as usual. That's how the Korean War ended.
I can't quite envision the Hermit Kingdom lettin' the leash slip on 100,000 soldiers.
Indeed. They might not get them back, one way or another.
Everybody goes back to business as usual.
Except in the Korean War North Korea did not, go back to business as usual, that is. Unless, business as usual for them was hunger and stagnation. Now with the cult of personality that revolves around the Kim family I can see where people there will put up with a lot. I am not sure that is the case with some Russians. I still see this ending badly if Russia is not soundly defeated on the battlefield.
I watched some Russian YouTuber's videos last night.
The one was asking Russians who live outside the cities if they would ever leave Russia. Almost to a person they said no, it was their motherland, it was a beautiful country with lots of opportunities. Perhaps for them it seems so. But they may not realize exactly what they may be missing. These were poorer areas.
Another video was taken when they were trying "Tasty, and that's it" the new Russian version of McD's. They said the food was similar, but there was just something missing. I suspect from their comments it might have been the connection to the outside world.
Another YouTuber talked about the changes he has witnessed in Russia over the past few years. His analysis was darker, focused on the lack of freedom now. He bluntly says he fears for the future of Russia.
Another video was shot in the capitol of Georgia, Tblisi, where the Russian expat community has increased by leaps and bounds since Feb. 24, 2022. He was, at first, a little uncomfortable with all of the graffiti supporting Ukraine and which was derogatory towards Russians. It seemed like every block had a Ukrainian flag on display. He does not support the Russian invasion of Ukraine but was a little uncertain about how he would be welcomed there. He found that everyone was very nice and he had no problems. Because of the increase in population the housing market there is tight with high rents.
So far, it appears that Russia's 3ʳᵈ wave in its war on Ukraine is producing moderate territorial gains for Ukraine.
Explosion at an air base in Crimea. An ammo depot, it sounds like. That is quite far from Ukrainian lines.
The occupied areas of Ukraine have apparently been recruiting construction workers from North Korea to help rebuild. Hmmm....not what I would sign up for, but maybe they have no choice.
It occurs to me that Putin doesn't want Russian contractors going home and telling what they've seen and heard while working the war. So, he has an incentive to pay what it takes to get the North Korean construction crews. He probably pays them considerably more than they'd make working in North Korea. Probably has to pay Kim a premium too, plus a little more for their 'reëducation' when they come home to North Korea.
Keeping things underwraps is a Kremlin hallmark.
It strikes me that any reasonable person would realize that an FBI raid on a former president's home would not be taken lightly, or simply for possible political gain.
It also strikes me that there is a close Trump associate who does have some sense of loyalty to the United States, since there appears to have been a tip from someone close to him.
I have no sympathy for the armed man who tried to storm an FBI office and was subsequently killed.
Lastly, why would anyone think it okay to remove classified documents from the White House?
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