Last week in Minnesota we were on the receiving end of the wildfire
smoke from Canada. You may have heard about the noxious blanket of
the stuff that had taken up residence in New York and other areas of
the east coast of the US. Well, it wasn’t just those states that
were affected. Nor was this the first year that we were on the
receiving end. But it appears to be getting worse.
Some have compared
the poor air quality to that of other notorious cities, such as those
you might find in China or India. We seemed to have topped them. It
has also forced some people to reach for, yes, those masks that were
so prevalent during Covid. Although I am not sure that those would
actually help, but they made one feel a little better.
Here where I live we
are seeing drought conditions increase again. This after what was a
very snowy winter and rainy spring. But it was like someone turned
off a faucet. We haven’t had any significant rain for weeks now
and it is a struggle to keep things green, and alive.
That there are those who still don’t believe in climate change boggles the mind. We were supposedly going to have rain today, but so far that has been a no show. The saying that it is too dry to rain is quite accurate.
Maybe we could use a little help?
Update:
Maybe that rain dance worked. We did end up getting a half an inch of rain. Not enough to turn things around, but I will take anything at this point.
76 comments:
That pall of smoke ran up against a backdoor cold front and was pulled southwest clear to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and into Texas. (Not sure how far into Texas it managed to penetrate.)
________________________________
Putin's Saturday 'summit meeting' in St. Petersburg with a group of African leaders didn't seem to go very well. Putin read them his standard propaganda lines, and they were apparently very much unimpressed.
So, he's gonna try again. Exactly when he's gonna try again hasn't been specified, but it has been specified that they'll convene in St. Petersburg once again. WaPo
(I suspect this means Putin has already decided he's not gonna risk a personal appearance at the upcoming BRICS conference in South Africa in August. There is talk of South Africa forfeiting its turn to host the BRICS conference this year--get it moved to either China or India, neither one signatories to the ICC treaty, so that Putin can attend without fear of arrest.)
________________________________
The NYT published an analysis of such evidence as they could gather that concludes the Nova Kakhovka was blown up by an internally planted explosive charge; i.e. the Russians did it.
Correct link for the above ↑↑ NYT article!
Putin read them his standard propaganda lines, and they were apparently very much unimpressed.
Neither was at least one Russian vlogger. He managed to pick apart Putin's speech, rebutting a lot of what Putin said.
The NYT published an analysis of such evidence as they could gather that concludes the Nova Kakhovka was blown up by an internally planted explosive charge; i.e. the Russians did it.
I had heard about that. It makes sense. The dam was well built, made to last.
Four Alarming Charts Show How Extreme our Climate Is CNN Website
Soaring temperatures. Unusually hot oceans. Record high levels of carbon pollution in the atmosphere and record low levels of Antarctic ice.
We’re only halfway through 2023 and so many climate records are being broken, some scientists are sounding the alarm, fearing it could be a sign of a planet warming much more rapidly than expected.
In a widely shared tweet, Brian McNoldy, senior research associate at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, called rising ocean and air temperatures “totally bonkers.”
We may not have until 2050. We might be seeing a tipping point sooner.
I have had to pour a lot of water on my garden just to keep it alive. Imagine all commercial growers having to do that. Won't last long.
It seems there are those who are concerned that Ukraine isn't moving fast enough with this counter offensive. I would say people need to be patient. This is not an easy undertaking. Each piece of the puzzle needs to be set right.
"It seems there are those who are concerned that Ukraine
isn't moving fast enough with this counter offensive."
Chicken Little types always abound. Plus, Ukraine's startling success in executing its Kharkiv offensive last fall led many to anticipate a repeat performance this year.
The Ukrainian government and military cautioned against unrealistic expectations, but people rooting for their own side in war are hard to warn off of unrealistic expectations.
I have to admit I was hoping for a repeat of the Kharkiv experience myself. But hoping and expecting aren't the same things, and I wasn't expecting a repeat performance just 'cause I hoped for one.
Yes, I think we all would like to see this ended as quickly as possible, with a Ukrainian victory. But the Russians have had a while to dig in. It might take longer. The Ukrainians are good tacticians, though, using geography as a stepping stone.
The Russians came up with a new tactic, creating an IED out of an old tank. They packed it full of explosives, set it's course, and let it go. The driver jumped out. The soldier charged with conducting the attack say it was remotely detonated, a Russian blogger said it hit a mine before reaching Ukrainian lines. I'll check tonight to see what the Ukrainian vloggers say.
NYT Headline:
Zelensky Defends Slow Progress, Saying Counteroffensive Is
Not a ‘Hollywood Movie’
Seems Zelenskyy has also heard the chatter from "those who are concerned" ↑↑. And he deems that chatter enough of a problem to warrant his personal response.
The Russians have planted a lot of mines, which makes it slow going for the Ukrainians. They have to remove them before they can safely advance the troops waiting in reserve.
I noticed that Zelenskyy said: “But nevertheless, those who fight shall win and to those that knock, the door shall be opened.” That sounds like a message to those on the Russian side who may not agree with Putin's "special military operation".
I note that the press seems to be making a big deal out of the Bradleys or Leopards that the Ukrainians may have lost. I have no idea why. They are designed to help soldiers stay safe and to advance. They are doing that. If you look at all of the equipment we left behind in Afghanistan the amount expended in Ukraine is very small.
Patience is a virtue.
Btw, I haven't seen anything mentioned about the Russian tank IED by the vloggers. Interesting.
"I note that the press seems to be making a big deal out of the
Bradleys or Leopards that the Ukrainians may have lost. I have
no idea why."
"Chicken Little types always abound."
And besides, the war correspondents need something to put in their headlines and fill their columns. Lacking any major battlefield events to report on, they try to make the lack thereof into a battlefield event to report on.
It looks like the Ukrainians targeted the Chonhar bridge Thursday. This is one of the connections between Crimea and the rest of Ukraine. An important conduit for Russian supplies. Seems there is a big hole in it now.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, it's not looking good for that missing sub and its passengers. There was a debris field found in the search area. They haven't confirmed it has anything to do with the sub yet, though.
The sub's "96 hours of breathable air" would have expired around 6:00 am Central Daylight Time.
"I haven't seen anything mentioned about the Russian tank
IED…"
That probably means Russians driving their tanks over land mines isn't considered particularly noteworthy. And the driver bailing out early this time didn't make any more interesting.
Looks like the conflict between Prigozhin (Wagner) and Shoigu (Ministry of Defense) has broken out into full public view. Putin has yet to weigh in personally, although the two parties first mentioned have made extraordinary appearances on public media, and the Russian FSB has weighed in with a public announcement of the opening of a criminal case against Prigozhin.
I find it curious that Putin's dragging his heels on getting into this one.
A brief audio has been posted by Prigozhin. It says Wagner Group has shot down a Russian chopper (presumably in Moscow) which was supposedly attacking a 'civilian column' (presumably a Wagner formation) approaching the Kremlin. NYT
Maybe not in Moscow. Prigozhin may be the "Rostov region" a/k/a Rostov Oblast bordering Ukraine, South of Belgorod Oblast.
And still no public comments directly attributable to Putin.
Prigozhin is saying that the Russian military attacked one of the Wagner camps. He is vowing revenge. I don't know in what order these various events have taken place. This attack, the supposed shooting down of a helicopter and Wagner entering Rostov. Maybe the attack on the camp first, Wagner entering Rostov and then shooting down a helicopter attacking them in Rostov?
Things are heating up in Russia. Putin controls the FSB, so perhaps the investigation is his comment on Prigozhin?
"Putin controls the FSB…"
Maybe; maybe not.
"Maybe the attack on the camp first."
the Ministry of Defense denies there even was such an attack, but 'yeah' Prigozhin's accusation of this attack came first. Everything else came after.
One Ukrainian vlogger is suggesting that the video of the attack on the Wagner camp was staged.
He is saying the Wagner column is heading to Moscow from Rostov. It has met a tank unit which let them through. Some commenters are suggesting that Prigozhin has worked some kind of deal with someone to make this work. The Ukrainian vlogger suggests it is Putin. The purpose being to put all the blame on the "special military operation" on Shoigu and Gerasimov. Maybe an elaborate way out. That is his "conspiracy theory".
Meanwhile the Ukrainians have been busily bombing the bridges and railway connections between Crimea and the rest of Ukraine, trying to shut down Russian supply routes. Once these are disabled the Kerch bridge may be next.
blame on should read blame "for"
Putin's weighed in finally. He accused Prigozhin of treason and asked Wagner Group soldiers to abandon Prigozhin and return to their bases. And he promised, or at least strongly implied, that they'd be forgiven their sins if the bailed out of Prigozhin's rebellion and turned him in to Russian authorities.
All kinds of security measures are being taken to prevent Prigozhin's from making a march against Moscow. I think we can safely say this rebellion's got Putin spooked. But, that's understandable. For the twenty-five years of his reign, Putin has always put the suppression of internal dissent before all other goals. He's feared Russia above all other things.
I'd reckon Prigozhin's probably toast now. If he expected Putin to back him against Shoigu then he bet wrong. But, the fact of the rebellion will probably dim Russian public support for their war on Ukraine. (And maybe Prigozhin's betting on the common Russian soldiers to back him so they don't have to fight in Ukraine--that may be more likely than was him ever getting Putin's support.)
Gonna be an interesting day.
Hmmmm… Need more coffee.
And now we have Wagner Group hitting the highway on the road to Moscow. Yep, gonna get interesting before the day is out.
Yes, interesting indeed. Looks like Putin has way miscalculated, even if he manages to smother Prigozhin. This may actually catch the attention of the Russian people. And it will certainly aid the Ukrainians in their counter offensive, if only as a distraction.
Is Prigozhin toast or are the people right who say he has support from somewhere? Just not Putin as that vlogger speculated?
Maybe someone in the lower military ranks? Could thus be part to a larger military rebellion?
President Erdoğan of Türkiye (new official spelling) has weighed in expressing Türkiye's "full support" for the current Russian leadership.
Gotta wonder about their continued presence in NATO.
"Could this be part to a larger military rebellion?"
I have long argued that a military mutiny might be the way Putin's war gets eneded. But Prigozhin is now widely despised among Russian senior military leadership. Even those who seemed to admire him only months ago (the Chechen leader Kadyrov, for just one example) have come out as hostile to his mutiny. Prigozhin's only hope is that he can garner enough support from within the lower ranks of soldiers to force Putin to negotiate. And I don't think that's likely. But, only time will tell.
I wasn't expecting this, at least, not this quick.
Headline NYT
Russian Paramilitary Chief Says His Forces Will Turn Around
"The Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny V. Prigozhin
announced that his troops marching toward Moscow would
turn around was turning around his troops [sic] marching
toward Moscow, minutes after the leader of Belarus,
Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, said he had successfully negotiated
with the Wagner boss."
Hmmm...that didn't last long. When I left this morning it looked like Russia was moving toward civil war and when I came home Prigozhin's "coup" was a royal flop.
Last seen leaving in the backseat of a car, heading to perhaps Belarus (?), Prigozhin was ordering his men back to field camps. Odd, very odd.
Wonder how long it will be before he takes a dive out of a window somewhere?
Never, ever, trust Vladimir Putin.
Given that part of the deal was for Wagner fighters to sign contracts with the Russian military and thus serve under Shoigu I wonder what happens to PMC Wagner and its efforts in other countries?
It appears that during the Wagner foray into Russia they shot down 7 helicopters and caused the deaths of 13 airmen. A good day for Ukraine. But not for Russia.
I am hearing that PMC Wagner will be rebranded as a Belarusian company. Still eligible to participate in the SMO. Odd, very odd.
So, no punishment for the mutineers? (Save for punishment for Prigozhin, who is banished to Belarus. Although this might be considered an escape from the punishment (perhaps a temporary escape) that Putin and Shoigu had originally decreed).
This lack of punishment will be noted by other reluctant soldiers. This may lead to further incidents of mutiny. Although, I would expect to see more bare refusals to fight rather than another march to Moscow.
And Putin must have been chilled to the bone when he noticed that the Russian citizens of Rostov-on-Don were clapping, cheering, and chanting for Prigozhin and his men as they boarded their automobiles, presumably to be driven away into exile in Belarus.
________________________________
"Never, ever, trust Vladimir Putin."
Yeah, Belarus ain't near far 'nuff away. Unless, of course, Prigozhin's got notions of goin' a second round with Putin. (Recall, if you will, the cheering and clapping Prigozhin received as he came out of his base in Rostov-on-Don.) He might wanna stay close in the case there's gonna be a second round.
"…they shot down 7 helicopters…"
I hope the Ukrainians took notes.
Ukrainians, speaking of whom…
And Putin must have been chilled to the bone when he noticed that the Russian citizens of Rostov-on-Don were clapping, cheering, and chanting for Prigozhin and his men as they boarded their automobiles, presumably to be driven away into exile in Belarus.
I noticed that. Prigozhin and Wagner were being hailed as conquering heroes. I also noticed that they took over those military bases rather easily. Not to mention getting halfway to Moscow.
It looks like it was one helicopter and a plane that Wagner may have taken down. So not quite seven as reported by one Russian vlogger. But there were deaths.
And no one seems to know where Prigozhin is now. Not someone I would want to lose track of if I were Putin.
Yes, the Ukrainians were very disappointed. They had gotten their popcorn ready for the show and it never started.
As for the western allies they seem to be making numerous phone calls, discussing the events in Russia kind of like neighbors who gossip over the back fence about the house next door.
"Not to mention getting halfway to Moscow."
Three quarters of the way to Moscow, or more. Different credible sources have them at 125 miles or so from Moscow or 200 miles from Moscow when they turned back on their own accord. And the Russian military still hadn't fielded a force to stop them. (Lotta people gonna be examining that failure in the next couple of weeks.)
I think the final count was actually six (6) choppers and one (1) command and control plane (a Russian equivalent to one of our AWACs). KyivIndependent
"As for the western allies they seem to be making numerous
phone calls…"
Putin's allies been doing a lot of calling as well. China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Iran, among several others. Very much dismayed. Putin's got a lot of explaining yet to do.
Prigozhin has resurfaced with a new audio stating his reasons for what he did. He said the march was more of a protest rather than an effort to overturn the Russian government. He thought the Russian MOD was trying to make Wagner cease to exist as of July 1st. That's his story. Will it fly with Putin? Recruitment centers for Wagner are back open in a couple of cities in Russia.
Meanwhile he did do Ukraine the favor of eliminating some of Russia's air assets.
__________________________________________________________________________
The UK has come out and said that the longer range missiles, in their case the Storm Shadows, have been very effective and they urged other countries to also contribute the longer range munitions. ATACMS anyone?
Nope, it doesn't look like Prigozhin's story is going to fly with Putin.
He's saying the "insurrection" would have been put down anyway and has thanked Wagner fighters for doing the "right" thing and turning back. He is saying they can either sign with Russia MOD, return to their families or move to Belarus.
If I were Prigozhin I wouldn't stand near any high windows. Same may be true for some of those high ranking military officers who let Wagner get so close to Moscow. Putin isn't going to forgive being made a fool of.
Of course, Putin will never admit this is really all of his fault for invading Ukraine in the first place.
"Prigozhin has resurfaced with a new audio …"
All about yesterday, nothing about tomorrow (nor today for that matter--he doesn't disclose his current location).
Putin's short rebuttal, on the other hand, was mostly about what the Wagner people could do tomorrow. (After a brief macho 'bout how he was gonna break the rebellion in any event, had they not abandoned their march on Moscow. Gonna hex 'em with Putin macho magic I reckon. )
No: Putin's not in a forgiving mood here.
________________________________
Past time for some M-140s (ATACMS) for Ukraine. They fire from the same launchers the HIMARS use.
Russian TV showed Putin meeting with his 'security advisors', including Shoigu, on Monday evening. Putin even allowed them sit up close to him (roughly within 8-10 feet I'd reckon it).
Prigozhin is in Belarus now, apparently. Now comes the hard part, what to do with him and his followers. Or, perhaps, how soon to do it. Right now Putin is making nice and soft pedaling, but I doubt that will last.
What future does this bode for the Ukraine invasion when your most capable military force is also a danger to you? Or at least cannot be totally trusted going forward.
Haven't looked in for a while (maybe even pre-COVID?).
I suspect Prigozhin will have to be left alone for some time so as not to disenchant those Wagnerites prepared to assimilate into the regular army. But I've no doubt his cup of polonium tea is already brewing on Vlad's back burner. Putin will never forget or forgive the treachery, though my personal hope is that he won't survive long enough to administer it.
P.S. Never thought I'd be rooting for Joe Biden but I don't want to think about the fallout for Ukraine if Orange Man gets reelected. Of course, Orange Man could end up in jail too, but then I'd worry about the fallout for *y'all's* country. Would be preferable if DeSantis just up and won the primary. Y'all need SOME kinda challenge to the current gerontocracy.
Nice to see you are alive and well, Petes. So much has happened since you were last here. Still a crazy world.
Yes, Prigozhin has a certain following, so it will be tough to pitch him out a window too soon. But not only that, Russia has lost the most effective fighting force it had. Even if they absorb Wagner fighters into the Russian military it won't be the same as those fighters fighting under Prigozhin.
One Ukrainian vlogger has heard that Wagner commanders in Syria are being removed by the Russian military. I don't know if this is accurate or not, but I suspect that this rebellion will have far reaching consequences for Russia and its "allies".
Trump has been busy digging himself a hole with his mouth, so I hope he succeeds in burying whatever chance he had at regaining the presidency. As for DeSantis, he is just as bad, if not worse, than Trump. If the Republicans want to take on Biden they need someone that will appeal to more than the far right.
Meanwhile, score one for democracy.
The news Tuesday is that the US Supreme Court squarely rejected the fringe legal theory by which far-right activists and supporters of Trump hoped to be able to ignore election outcomes.
Maybe those checks and balances still do work, albeit slowly.
An excerpt from an article on CNN:
The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, said that the failed Wagner insurrection destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the Russian army, in an interview with CNN’s Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour.
Yermak, speaking from Kyiv on Tuesday, said the events of recent days had “destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the Russian Army…it’s finally destroyed the myth, that everything in Russia is under control.”
I would disagree with him. I think Ukraine destroyed that myth a long time ago.
"If the Republicans want to take on Biden they need someone
that will appeal to more than the far right."
Such a candidate likely would not appeal to Petes.
________________________________
"Same may be true for some of those high ranking military
officers who let Wagner get so close to Moscow."
Definitely some rumors goin' 'round 'bout that. Hard to say how much is just stirrin' the pot and how much has some beef on the bones.
Shoigu's position seems secure. I 'spect that's not true for all of his subordinate generals (and probably colonels and majors and even captains before it's over).
Of course, Putin can hardly afford to toss Shoigu right now. It would look like Putin was admitting that Prigozhin's analysis of Shoigu was correct, and Putin certainly can't have that story makin' the rounds. Also Shoigu's been fully loyal to Putin and Putin prizes loyalty above competence (part of what Prigozhin was railing about, come to think of it).
________________________________
And Putin made a personal appearance before a crowd of selected 'citizens'. He was resoundingly cheered by the collected crowd and thus struck back against Prigozhin, who was last seen being cheered by a real crowd. (Presumably Putin will have learned to not use the same faces repeatedly as he did until it was noticed late last year that his 'crowd' was always the same people, just re-costumed for the current theme for the photo.)
Shoigu's position seems secure. I 'spect that's not true for all of his subordinate generals (and probably colonels and majors and even captains before it's over).
Gen. Sergey Surovikin, the commander of the Russian Air Force, seems to have disappeared. One Ukrainian vlogger said he has been arrested.
It sounds like Wagner got at least 2 Majors when they downed one of the Russian aircraft during their "march".
"Wagner got at least 2 Majors…"
Counting Prigozhin, Putin's got at least 2 Generals, so far.
How does that phrase go..."Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
Of course, in Putin's case he's really damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Because both of those people he is eliminating were two of the better fighters for Russia, but could also prove to be the most dangerous internally.
So the Supreme Trumpkins are busy gutting anything that smacks of trying to level the playing field for marginalized people. The Republicans are probably in seventh heaven this 4th of July weekend.
"So the Supreme Trumpkins are busy gutting anything that
smacks of trying to level the playing field for marginalized
people."
They 'stole' Obama's last judicial appointment, and then rushed through the seating of Trump's lame-duck appointment, and thereby created a six/three right-wing majority (not a conservative majority, a right-wing majority). And they're very proud of that achievement. And they're clearly milking it.
The Justices themselves seem almost oblivious to the backlash they're creating against The Court. (I'm pretty sure the more political branches are becoming aware of the building resentments, but the Justices themselves don't seem to quite understand that the recent tanking in 'favorability' of The Court, is the direct result of their own behaviors and decisions.) I expect there will be a counterstrike against The Court in the coming years.
It's happened once before, about a hundred years ago with what's come to be called ‛The Lochner Court’:
"The Lochner era has been criticized from the left for judicial
activism, routinely overturning the will of Congress, and also
for the Court's failure to allow the political process to redress
increasingly unequal distributions of wealth and power."
The Lochner Court backed down in the end, dramatically and suddenly, when it became apparent to them that the country had taken quit enough of their usurpation of democratic government, and was gonna trim their feathers for them.
I don't think this Court is gonna have the capacity to do that. I think they're gonna sail it right into impeachments of some the Justices before they're through.
Post Script:
I think the upcoming attempt to impeach Joe Biden will acclimate some liberals to the notion that impeaching a government official for being politically unpalatable is now a feature of our democracy.
You hearing anything about whether or not the Russians have actually overrun the Ukrainian beachhead over the Dnipro River at or near the Antonivka Bridge a/k/a the Antonovsky Bridge? Seems to be a difference of opinion reporting on that.
It sounds like the Russians threw just about everything they had at the Ukrainians by the bridge. From what I am hearing the Russian attack via road using armored personnel carriers ran into mines planted by the Ukrainians, the boat attack ran into Ukrainian drones and infantry on the shore and the Iskander Missile that took out the bridge missed the underground bunker the Ukrainians were using.
So according to this source the answer is, no, the Russians haven't taken out the bridgehead. It has only expanded.
The Justices themselves seem almost oblivious to the backlash they're creating against The Court.
The letters in my paper are coming fast and furious blaming people who sat out the 2016 election because they didn't like Hillary Clinton for the situation on the Supreme Court we are seeing now. They are reminding people that voting matters when it comes to appointing judges.
"It sounds like the Russians threw just about everything
they had at the Ukrainians by the bridge."
I gave that a second look because the Russians started off using an Iskander missile against a company of around 70 Ukrainian soldiers who crossed without armor. That made no sense to me. Russia doesn't have enough Iskanders to afford such casual usage of a high cost and scarce munition.
Since then their renewed and repeated assertions that they've thrown the Ukrainians back have become increasingly shrill. The shriller and more insistent they've gotten, the less I've believed them. But the Ukrainian government hasn't considered the matter worthy of official comment (not that I've been able to find).
The Ukrainians are very closed mouth about their operations. I think they understand better than anyone else the capability of Russian intelligence.
The people on YouTube only publish news on events after the fact and even then some of it comes from Russian sources. They usually try to get multiple confirmations.
There was an interview on CNN with the Patriot crew that shot down the Kinzhal. They all wore balaclavas so as not to give the Russians any info on their systems location or their own. They understand the value of people, unlike the Russians.
Lynnette: "Trump has been busy digging himself a hole with his mouth, so I hope he succeeds in burying whatever chance he had at regaining the presidency."
I hope so too.
"As for DeSantis, he is just as bad, if not worse, than Trump."
Here, I might part company with you. Doesn't seem like the same sort of narcissistic sociopath at all. I guess his policies might not be your cup of tea, which I could understand.
"So the Supreme Trumpkins are busy gutting anything that smacks of trying to level the playing field for marginalized people."
Not sure if you mean the affirmative action ruling. Wasn't affirmative action kind of, uh, racist?
"Wasn't affirmative action kind of, uh, racist?"
Depends on your defintions; once the white power structure has created a permanent black underclass, any attempt to remedy that situation will likely be deemed to be 'racist' by that same white power structure. (It's all a matter of tinkering with the definitions so's to make things come out the way ya want.)
A few days ago Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister was complaining that 'the collective West' wasn't putting forward any acceptable peace offerings to Russia. (I took note of it at the time.). Just today Dmitry Medvedev, one time designated surrogate for Putin ('til he overstepped his role and said something on his own, but who has recently been making something of a comeback as Putin's mouthpiece and #1 cheerleader) has offered the idea for consideration that Russia is 'threatened' by the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO, and that Russia will fight forever to prevent that. This looks to me like he's suggesting possible peace offerings that Russia might find acceptable.
S'pose Putin is trying to solicit a peace deal he can sell back home as a 'win' for Russia?
Apparently tourism has fallen off in Crimea for the summer sun and fun season. WaPo
[Petes] Doesn't seem like the same sort of narcissistic sociopath at all.
No, he doesn't appear to be that way. You are right I don't agree with his policies. I feel he has taken Florida into a world of government control that does not resemble what America was dreamed to be. His idea of freedom only applies to certain segments of the population. Those segments that he personally connects with. Those who oppose his ideas he attempts to squash, Disney being one. This does not resemble either the America that was dreamed of.
I think he is more dangerous than Trump because he is not an obvious narcissistic sociopath like Trump. He is playing his cards smarter and enacting the same kinds of self-centered, discriminatory polices that Trump would and did do.
Wasn't affirmative action kind of, uh, racist?
That's kind of like that argument they make about the phrase "black lives matter", saying it is racist to point out only one segment of the population when it is obvious that all lives matter. If there wasn't a problem in the first place we wouldn't have to give any consideration to race in education or safety of people.
As others have pointed out, if you are going to do away with affirmative action then you should also do away with any greater consideration of legacy applicants.
Truly the applicants with the best academic ability should be high on the list for consideration of placement at any facility of higher learning. But what should be done to make sure that actually happens? What should be done to ensure that those students with the most potential get the assistance they need to succeed leading up to that point? What about those who have potential but were never able to explore that in the earlier grades, due to various issues in their educational path? Maybe they came from a poorer area that lacked funding or the supply of talented teachers to challenge and support them were not there? If you are going to do away with affirmative action on the federal level something needs to replace its goal.
But I also referred to the ruling supporting the Christian web designer who wanted to refuse service to those she didn't agree with, particularly the LGBTQ community. That ruling kind of opened a whole can of worms. Does that mean we don't have to offer services to Trumpkins because we don't agree with their politics?
Interestingly someone interviewed a fellow who is gay and he said he really didn't care as there were a lot of other businesses out there that he could use. He said that if a small business wanted to turn away revenue out of hate that is their choice. I think he would have a different view if that kind of discrimination was the norm rather than the exception.
S'pose Putin is trying to solicit a peace deal he can sell back home as a 'win' for Russia?
If he is he is more aware about what is going on in Ukraine then people have given him credit for. The Ukrainians have been slowly picking apart Russian defenses. They are bleeding them dry of weapons and ammunition. They don't need to have a massive break through of Russian defenses to do that.
Losing Wagner was not a good move for Russia.
"No, he doesn't appear to be that way."
Watch him a little closer, a little longer, and you'll likely change your mind on that. He hides it better is all, but its there.
Affirmative action is not racist according to the standard English definition of "racist". It is only racist in the fairly unique definitions crafted and used by those opposed to affirmative action (usually on political grounds).
Google
adjective
characterized by or showing prejudice, discrimination, or
antagonism against a person or people on the basis of their
membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically
one that is a minority or marginalized.
"we are investigating complaints about racist abuse"
noun
a person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic toward
people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial
or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or
marginalized.
"he has been targeted by vicious racists online"
Merriam-Webster Online
racist
1 of 2
adjective
rac·ist ˈrā-sist also -shist
Synonyms of racist
: of, relating to, or characterized by racism: such as
a
: having, reflecting, or fostering the belief that race (see RACE
entry 1 sense 1a) is a fundamental determinant of human
traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an
inherent superiority of a particular race…
2 of 2
noun
plural racists
: a person who is racist : someone who holds the belief that
race (see RACE entry 1 sense 1a) is a fundamental
determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial
differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular
race
Dictionary.Com
noun
a person who believes in racism, the doctrine that one's own
racial group is superior or that a particular racial group is
inferior to the others.
adjective
of or like racists or racism:
racist policies; racist attitudes.
"Washington, DC – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible
Republican presidential candidate, has described the war in
Ukraine as a ‛territorial dispute’ that is not a top national
security interest of the United States.
"DeSantis’s position – which echoes that of former President
Donald Trump, who has declared a run for the White House in
2024 – underscores growing scepticism among Republican
politicians of Washington’s support for Ukraine as it tries to
fend off Russia’s invasion.
‛While the US has many vital national interests, … becoming
further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and
Russia is not one of them,’ DeSantis said in a statement to Fox
News host Tucker Carlson this week.
AlJazerra
(FoxNews has buried the clip, now that they've fired Tucker Carlson, best as I can tell anyway. I can find FoxNews clips grossly misquoting the original, but the original seems to disappeared from their website.)
Prigozhin is apparently not dead yet.
Don't know 'bout Surovikin, but I'd guess he's being tortured for info on who else inside Russia's military.
[Lynnette] "Those who oppose his ideas he [DeSantis] attempts to squash, Disney being one. This does not resemble either the America that was dreamed of."
Is he trying to squash them? Seems to me he just objected to public money going to tax breaks for a company that seemed to be prioritising political activism over normal corporate activities.
[Lynnette] "If there wasn't a problem in the first place we wouldn't have to give any consideration to race in education..."
And what was the problem that affirmative action was solving? Genuinely interested. It always seemed to me that if a minority wasn't making the grades for getting into college, then the college admissions stage was way too late to be trying to even things up. The problems for kids leaving high school without basic literacy skills started much earlier. It's also likely to be more a problem of socio-economic status than one of race.
[Lynnette] "As others have pointed out, if you are going to do away with affirmative action then you should also do away with any greater consideration of legacy applicants."
Totally agree with this. And, let's face it, "legacy applicants" is a euphemism for rich people who bribe their way into college.
[Lynnette] "What should be done to ensure that those students with the most potential get the assistance they need to succeed leading up to that point? What about those who have potential but were never able to explore that in the earlier grades, due to various issues in their educational path? Maybe they came from a poorer area that lacked funding or the supply of talented teachers to challenge and support them were not there? If you are going to do away with affirmative action on the federal level something needs to replace its goal."
Here you seem to be mostly agreeing with me: a) it's to do with socio-economic status and nothing to do with race. b) it's too late to fix at the college admissions stage (not to mention discriminatory and unfair). I'm not sure I agree with replacing its goal, which seems to be to fix childhood educational deficits by fiat. I'd prefer to fix educational deficits with ... education. The US has been trying to do that since 1965 with Johnson's Education Act, and Bush Jr's and Obama's amendments of it. There's been some over-tinkering in education like the dismal "Common Core", but that's not unique to the US. The fact is -- and this is also not unique to the US -- there's a seriously resistant rump of educational underachievement that is as much to do with social environment and aspiration as it is to do with funding. But where funding is needed it should be spent, I agree.
[Lynnette] "But I also referred to the ruling supporting the Christian web designer who wanted to refuse service to those she didn't agree with, particularly the LGBTQ community. That ruling kind of opened a whole can of worms. Does that mean we don't have to offer services to Trumpkins because we don't agree with their politics?"
In fairness they didn't want to refuse service to people, they just didn't want to engage in work that offended their values. Would you like to be forced to design an anti-abortion website for a Trumpkin? Maybe not. What about a website advertising a bake sale to raise money for a school? Chances are you would have no idea of the politics of the client.
[Lynnette] "Interestingly someone interviewed a fellow who is gay and he said he really didn't care as there were a lot of other businesses out there that he could use. He said that if a small business wanted to turn away revenue out of hate that is their choice."
People who don't share your values most likely don't "hate" you.
Reporting from Ukraine
The story of one recent battle. Skip the ads.
[Petes] Is he trying to squash them?
Well, it seems to me that he's trying to do everything possible to shut them up. Threatening to build a prison or another theme part next door and replacing the oversight board with his hand picked conservative choices would be a hint. He is also doing the same with one of the more liberal colleges in Florida. That is, replacing its board with his hand picked conservative choices.
As for if Disney has a right to speak out against a policy by DeSantis that they don't agree with, I don't see why not. They are Americans, they should have the right to their opinion.
And what was the problem that affirmative action was solving?
This was the basis for the affirmative action law being implemented:
Affirmative action
And, yes, I know you already know this, I just wanted to have a link here to it. Did affirmative action work, that is really the question. As the link mentions even some minorities are questioning that. That's kind of like the question of reparations. Are they needed to compensate the descendants of slaves? In that case I would say, no. To get back to college admissions, I agree that it should be the brightest who are enrolled in our colleges and universities. But I also agree that there should be choices made from all of our population, not just some. I don't want to see anyone discriminated against. But the Supreme Court is throwing out rulings with seemingly no vehicle of replacement. The only way for us to really know if affirmative action worked is to go back in time, remove the original ruling and compare what our country would have been like without it, which is impossible.
It's also likely to be more a problem of socio-economic status than one of race.
Then that opens up the argument that there are those who have been held back economically because of discrimination with regard to race or gender. Are employers or college admissions departments more willing to hire or admit a black/brown person or a white? Back in the fifties it seemed the answer was white. But after 45 years of affirmative action in college admissions there might be a different answer.
Perhaps California is a model. They ended affirmative action in colleges admissions in the 90's. This is what happened there.
b) it's too late to fix at the college admissions stage (not to mention discriminatory and unfair).
For those who are not qualified. But what about for those who are? What about the situation pointed out by the problems that California had, where people just did not try to attend a college that lacked diversity?
Would you like to be forced to design an anti-abortion website for a Trumpkin?'
This is a good point. I would not. But then an anti-abortion website would be advocating depriving someone of their right to choose. A website featuring a gay couple is not depriving anyone of their rights nor is it advocating for people to become gay. It is merely showing a couple who have chosen to spend their lives together.
People who don't share your values most likely don't "hate" you.
Tell that to those who have been beaten up or killed because their gender identity offended someone.
"But the Supreme Court is throwing out rulings with seemingly
no vehicle of replacement."
Remove the "seemingly" and you'll have it right. It's the result of affirmative action, i.e. more blacks in college that is target here. They want more whites in college. That is the inexorable consequences of their rulings on this subject. They know that. They intend that shall happen. They do not intend to replace affirmative action with a better system--merely to strike down the current system and allow white supremacy to flower naturally.
"A website featuring a gay couple is not depriving anyone of
their rights nor is it advocating for people to become gay."
But it does advance the notion that it's okay to be gay. This is exactly the idea that the fundamentalist Christers take issue with. According to their supposedly 'religious convictions', being gay is not okay; gays are not okay, gays 'out' in public and publicly unashamed are especially not okay, and it's their right, perhaps even their duty to promote disapproval and censure of such people. (They will say they do not promote actual violence--a necessary position to take in court, whether or not it's their real position in the streets.)
@ Lynnette,
If you're gonna continue to argue affirmative action with him, you might want to take notice that he's buried an assumption on you, embedded it in the premises from which he's arguing. I.e:
"…it's to do with socio-economic status and nothing to do with race."
Petes @ Tue Jul 04, 12:05 pm ↑↑
The hidden premise is, of course, that one's socio-economic status has "nothing to do with race". (And, of course, that's demonstrably false, at least in America.)
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