(#5140) Give Ukraine what it needs short of nuclear weapons

      Let me be perfectly clear here. The Ukrainian military is doing the world a favor right now. Sure they are fighting for the right to self determination and preservation of their country. But they are also fighting to stop putin from advancing further into a larger scale war. Ukrainians have made it clear from the outset that if the western nations would only supply weapons and munitions, the Ukrainian forces would fight and defeat the Russians right there in Ukraine. If Ukraine is not successful in stopping Russia from over running its borders then the Russian horde will be further emboldened to cross into Poland, Moldova, Finland, Sweden etc... and other European countries as Russia wants to begin by consolidating the whole of Europe into its egoistic sphere.
     So stopping putin now in Ukraine is the single greatest event that we in the west need to accomplish. The only way that Ukraine can stop Russia is for we in the west to give Ukraine the modern weapons and munitions they need to not only defend against Russian attacks but to move offensively against Russian military targets outside of Ukraine. Russia has stockpiled weapons and troops just beyond the Ukrainian borders in order to have them ready to attack inside Ukraine at a moments notice. Well Ukraine needs to be able to destroy those military targets in Russia that are a direct threat to Ukrainian sovereignty.
     So giving Ukraine a full compliment of strategic conventional weapons is in the interest of Ukraine and as well the interest of all freedom loving nations on our planet. From tanks to planes to missiles, the greater good is achieved under the scenario of Ukraine being a trusted partner in the dissolution of the Russian plan to dominate the world. As a trusted partner we have to supply Ukraine without apprehension nor doubt. Ukraine needs the modern warfare armaments in order to defeat the larger army of Russia. There cannot be any doubt now that putin is not interested in peace. He is committing war crimes every day so does not want a world after he is done that would hold him to account for his atrocities. Give Ukraine everything they need under the heading of conventional weapons.

(#5139) Enjoying the rain

      All this week the rain has been coming down in a somewhat steady fashion. Which is good by the way so as to not flood my backyard. The intervals between rain have been enough so as to allow the creek to rid itself of the rainfall pretty quickly and then be ready for the next deluge of rain. I kind of like it this way even if I didn't have to worry about flooding. I can get outside and do my daily chores without the rain intervening in my work. It is also good for the ground outside so as to allow it to absorb the rain without it washing off into the creek area.
     It has also been briskly cold, near freezing but not quite. I like the feel of the cold on my face but not too much. It always reminds me of summer when I yearn for such a feeling. I don't get out and do much anymore since I really don't like leaving home unless it is necessary. So the rain is my entertainment for now and I am enjoying the effect and feel of it. Yes, I do go out into it just to have it get me slightly wet. It is nature watering it's greenery and for that I am well happy. The snow pack up in the mountains must be getting really deep and I expect the ski slopes this year will do a robust business. More so though the spring melt off will do wonders for increasing water levels for our reservoirs and lakes.
     The drought is still with us but this years rain will go a ways toward alleviating some of the worst effects of the drought after several years of little rain. I can hear the rain coming down on my flat roof with a good amount of force so right now the rain is pouring down and somehow that reassures me. I had a new roofing material put on this house last year so the previous leaks from years gone by are now all sealed up. In fact where the swamp cooler, yes swamp cooler, was on top of the house over the hallway was removed and where that vent hole was is now a skylight. So I can now see the rain hitting the skylight. Lots to do at this old house still but for now just sitting back and letting the rain soothe my soul is good enough.

(#5138) My world is dominated by Ukraine

      There is nothing more important to me right now than the defense of Ukraine. President Biden seems to have things under control here in America as to the insurrectionist republican party so I am not as much focused on that at the moment. Although that could change with some good news. But otherwise the situation with Ukraine and it's fight to exist on our planet as a sovereign nation is the greatest single need for our future. The necessity of defeating the Russian invasion is paramount because the kremlin aggression would not end with Ukraine. All the previous Soviet era bloc nations would become the next target of the madmen in the kremlin.
     Just so you know, I do not capitalize nouns of people and places that I abhor. It is my little protest to the rules of grammar against them specifically. Which should verify my current disdain for all things putin. I do capitalize Russia because it is not all the Russian people who are as rabid as their leaders although it is a close call with me. Anyway, back to the main subject of this post. I have several sources that I connect with each day to give me updates on the action and possible strategy the invading horde of putins try to put on Ukraine. Not all of it is dead on but enough of it is close so that a picture of the overall strategy has formed.
     Russia would retake all of Europe given the opportunity that they thought could be available. Yet their strategy to do so in February of 2022 has not materialized. They thought Ukraine would roll over for them. Not so as it turned out yet the strategy to dominate the world is not stopped by Ukrainian obstruction. We in the west should know that Russian aggression against the world is their appetite and nothing will suppress the kremlins insatiable appetite except a resounding defeat. It is why no negotiating for a peace will ever stick. The kremlin has already broken many peace treaties after using them to bolster their forces. Russia must be defeated in Ukraine if our world is ever going to be free for human rights and individual liberty.

(#5137) Authoritarianism is slavery!

      For those of you who are rooting for putin to conquer and destroy the Ukrainian culture you are an advocate of slavery! Because controlling other people's lives under authoritarianism is the same as making people slaves. Take from people their right to choose, their right to talk, their right to even pursue their own happiness and you have enslaved them to a life that is not freely chosen by them. Authoritarianism is control just the same way slavery was control. People are not property yet authoritarianism is just another form of making people property. Where the choice to come and leave is not allowed because a tyrant won't let it be so.
     We Americans live under democracy and as such may choose the life we wish to live. We are not beholden to anyone unless we choose that through written or oral contract. For those who are not allowed to choose their futures of their own free accord the tyrants and slave masters roam freely. The worst of our human natures is the outcome that allows for slavery and tyrants. So our worst natures must never be allowed to foment into the lives of our citizenry. There are many elements of the current republican party that are past primed for being tyrants and slave masters. They would take from all of us the equality that our principles demand in exchange for some illogical racist misogynist word candy.
     This is why the republican party here in America must be defeated and diminished so that the remnants of it's authoritarianism is laid dead and buried. Same with Ukraine and the effects of Russia's war criminal putin. The invasion by Russia into Ukraine must be stopped and Russians sent backwards toward their own borders and the instigators in the kremlin need to be brought out into the public square where they are adjudged for their many heinous crimes. As we abolished slavery here in American law the intent of slavery still needs to be purged from the hearts of dastardly men and women. As well we need to kill and bury the intent of tyrants who would be authoritarians who demand to rule a world of slaves at their feet.
     
   

(#5136) The end is near for putin and his failed invasion of Ukraine

      The pro democracy western countries have had it with putin and his bullshit threats and lies! The weapons will be coming to Ukraine that Ukraine can then use to actually push Russia back from Ukraine's original borders. Apparently the brain trust of the world has figured out that putin is full of bluster as to threatening nuclear attacks to the point that having built up a larger nuclear arsenal to counter anything putin can do they are now comfortable with supplying Ukraine the smart conventional weapons it actually needs. No more is the west to be cautioned by putin the wanna be bully. Ukraine will win against this murderous invasion of Russia and the time to end this murderous decadent folly of putin is now.
     A major offensive is being planned by Ukraine for the spring but don't be surprised if Ukraine does something earlier. The Russians for their part tried to do their offensive over the last few weeks but were stymied by superior Ukrainian combat forces and the brain trust of the Ukrainian military command. Russia is on the verge of having lost 150,000 troops in total within a few days so their competency in planning and instituting their strategy has been a miserable failure. As the weapons pour into Ukraine from many different countries the Ukrainian defense is buttressed significantly while the Russians are scrounging for troops throughout their limited empire even to sending in convicts as front line troops.
     How much longer will putin hold out before the rats in the kremlin turn on him as the scapegoat so as to extricate themselves out of what they well may perceive as war criminal defendants. Because when this failed invasion is finally put to rest there will be an accounting and those Russians who are still advocating to extend the invasion will be the first to have to answer to the coming war tribunal. Where does putin end up? I don't know or if he even has a chance to live beyond this ego driven disaster he led. But for certain putin will either be tried or he will have been removed permanently from a life of existence by either falling out of a high rise window or too much polonium tea.

(#5135) Getting some rain today

      Over the last several years we here in Sacramento California have had very little rain during the winters. So very little that this year looks like a deluge comparatively. So today when the rain hits later in the day I will be especially pleased to go outside and let some of it soak into me. It is cold out still this being February and all but still I want to pay tribute to the rain by enjoying it. It won't be long before the sun dominates our climate here and temperatures hover in the 100 degree range. So this time especially since it is not as common as before I am going to bask in the rain for however long it lasts. We are still in a drought condition here but each time it rains with some force we move a little further away from the perpetually dry conditions.
     I lived up north in Seattle and Fairbanks for 20 years so I am well accustomed to rainy and snowy weather. Being a born and mostly raised Sacramentan I am well aware of our hot climate. When I was younger I loved the hot because it allowed me to go out into the area to our watering holes for fun and refreshment. But now that I am older the hot is not my favorite anymore. The rain is my favorite and the snow is there as well. Given a choice of living in the hot or rainy I know would I choose the rainy. If I could relocate to the Seattle area I would but circumstances around my property keep me here for the time being. Once things have evolved here though I will likely look to relocate.
     In the meantime however when the rain hits this afternoon I will be extra happy for it to splash down here where it is needed. For me it is not only needed but appreciated. I can sit and just watch as it washes down through the air to hit the ground. Entertainment of sorts for me anyway. I am not easily entertained by simplicity but when it comes to rain I am all in. I used to think that climate change would make rain here nearly impossible anymore but with this wet rainy season upon us I am heartened that climate change has not destroyed our weather patterns completely. With a green energy plan being implemented maybe we might just escape the intentionally delinquent stewardship of our planet.

(#5134) China and Russia are no match for the US and European Union

      It is quite obvious that China and Russia are flailing in their attempt to be bullies on the national stage. Neither has the moral high ground nor the wherewithal to bully their way over the top of the rest of us. Instead they are searching around the edges to find a crease in the defense of democracy to undermine our commitment to it. They will fail of course because when it comes to resolve the western nations are not to be fooled with. Most all understand this however the Chinese and Russians are slow learners. Just like all other slow learners they will be taught harshly the simple message they should have paid attention to when the lesson was first taught.
     Ukraine will continue to teach Russia that no matter how badly the putins of the world want to dominate, putin and xi will only learn the disappointment of it. The Chinese have mainly stayed out of the limelight but we all know they support the Russian invasion of Ukraine and that China has designs on Taiwan that are similar to Russia and it's wont to expand beyond its own borders. Both are in need of being scolded beyond words and if they don't figure that out the reckoning gets much more painful. Time will tell but at minimum Russia is first up for the woodshed treatment because like spoiled children the brutes in the kremlin think they are infallible.
     A reworking of how the world order plays out is happening and the world will find out that the democracies of the world will be our future and the tyrants like putin and xi will find out that their days are quickly becoming numbered. There is no path forward for them and they are struggling with that very concept now. Which is why there is so much bluster from them. They still think they can bluff us but what they don't get either is that we don't care about their threats. Because nothing they can do will save them in the end. No matter what they will be finished as world leaders and the only unknown at the moment is what will their situation be when the dust has settled on this current idiocy of theirs.

(#5133) Literal war in Ukraine while figurative war here in the US

      The bullets are flying in Ukraine as they work hard to fend off the Russian horde. While here in the US we Americans are fighting against the lies and omissions of truth by the right wing political party called republicans. The war in Ukraine is obviously much more grave at the moment but the war against lying words here is just as problematic, albeit not as immediately dangerous. But dangerous it is when the lies spread to the unbeknown and unchecking of facts hot heads! People like rupert murdoch is quite comfortable with telling lies so that he can make a buck. Meanwhile the effect of his lies are killing innocents!
     Much like the Russian horde pushed to invade a sovereign country under the guise of a lie. The similarities are stark and remind us that the corrupting lies coming from "fox not news" are the foundation for the deadly angst and mayhem that is spreading across our nation. When reagan dismantled the fairness in broadcasting act the door was opened for lies to become part of our reporting. Too many take the word of reporting on television and radio as truth because they assume that lies are not permitted to air on our public communications. Unfortunately that is not true.
     The problem with the assumption that lies are not allowed to be spread by national media is that the lies being fed by too many right wing broadcasting organizations are taken as fact and then acted upon with extreme prejudice aimed at the subject of the lies. An accountability is now under way in one such instance involving "fox not news" that will financially wound rupert murdoch and his organization. Telling lies in public for profit should never be allowed and every time it happens the liar needs to be held to account. The damage is done as soon as the lie is told so no amount of justice will change that but making liars pay for the lies they tell will surely be decreased when a punishing penalty for telling harmful lies is sentenced upon the guilty.

(#5132) Destroying our democracy is no laughing matter!

      I cannot be more ashamed and embarrassed for our nation because of the treachery to destroy our democracy committed by republicans. Nothing they do will ever erase what they attempted and are still attempting to do. Who the hell do they think they are? They are not going to get anything from me and if I had my way they would all be paying a heavy price in prison! Why our justice system is so inept at the moment in rounding these traitors to democracy up is beyond me. If I as a regular person would have done what they did I would already be rotting in some ill forsaken prison. So why aren't they?
     I suspect that politics has a lot to do with it but I say the hell with politics because the rule of law supersedes any fudging of the facts here. There cannot be any compromise when it comes to preserving our democracy. There cannot be any slap on the wrist for committing one of the most heinous of crimes of trying to forcibly break our social contract with each other. Our fore fathers and mothers installed our democracy as a protest to the tyranny of autocracy and monarchy. Our way of government has been slowly but surely working its way toward full rights for everyone. We are not there yet but the momentum is on our side. Yet there are those who don't want full participation in our democracy of all and are seriously trying to usurp our constitution.
     These would be those who command the republican party and their ill informed voters. Through untrue news outlets and a rallying cry of hatred for those who are not like them. They persist to not only overthrow our elected government but to install a form of government similar to the putin led Russia. When the appointed president trump wooed the tyrants of the world as exalted leaders he effectively made known that the rights of all citizens under democracy were not going to be protected under his watch. Had not Joe Biden defeated trump in the 2020 election and staved off an attempt to overthrow that election we would likely right now be saddled with an autocratic trump who had no plans of ever leaving the presidency. How anyone can still defend and vote for republicans are as bad as the republican party leaders who want to destroy democracy!

(#5131) No sympathy for Russia

      When this invasion by putin started I was on the side of the Russian people who were being forced to accept the invasion in the initial stages. But as this invasion is about to reach one year I am not sorry at all for the people of Russia. They have had all year to stop putin from murdering their sons and fathers but they don't seem to care. Nearly 143,000 young Russian men have died so far and for what? Practically nothing! Well except Russia getting their asses handed to them by a superior culture of Ukrainians. It is good to learn that you are not what you portrayed yourself so as to learn a lesson. However Russia and its ego driven tyrant ruler have no such logic to fall back on.
     They just keep doing what doesn't work while the blood and treasure of Russia continues to disintegrate on Ukrainian soil. This coming February 24th, the actual one year marking of time since Russia invaded Ukraine, will not provide a victory of sorts for Russia by taking a major city like Bakhmut. But what it will do is mark the death of around 150,000 Russians soldiers! Parade that at the red square putin! Yet his people continue to keep the war going by not protesting in such numbers as to stop putin from destroying their nation. Because that is exactly what the conclusion will be with Ukraine. The Ukrainian people know that nothing short of military victory will make Russia leave it's land.
     As it stands now any offensive from Russia before the rainy season begins in about 4 weeks will not happen. There has been too little progress at the front and too many personnel losses for Russia to stage a massive surge. Instead they are just barely creeping forward in increments that cost them dearly with Russian lives and armaments. For Ukraine's part they are in such a good position with their defenses at the front that the continual stockpiling of forces and weapons only makes them stronger and ready for whatever Russia may throw at them. If Ukraine is able to take Kreminna in the next several weeks they themselves may be poised to do an offensive that will surely end the invasion in the next several months. We will see.

(#5130) Trying to get a rule change on the increased flow of water in the creek behind my home

      I have been in touch with the Sacramento City Mayor's office about getting some relief from water overflow from the creek behind my house. My neighbors and I are experiencing flooding in our yards just short of coming into our homes. My home was with a few inches of having water in my den just 16 months ago. While at the fence that borders the creek, 125 feet in total in my backyard, the water level was 2 feet above ground. There is a rule in the governing of creek dredging and widening protocols that prevent the city from operating such an option. No area beyond a 100 foot distance from a man made facility or structure can be dredged nor widened in our creek.
     This rule is well over several decades old and does not include an option for flexibility in it's guidelines. Much more water has been directed to Arcade Creek over the decades because land has been covered with asphalt and cement which increases water runoff instead of ground storage. Much of this has happened on the eastern side of our Sacramento county which does supply a significant amount of rain runoff to Arcade creek than in previous decades. My concern with the city is that a rule that is becoming long outdated still is the controlling factor in whether my home is flooded or not. This isn't about insurance by the way this is about preventing the need for an effect after the fact.
     Smart design of rules that not only protect wildlife in the creek area but also protect homeowners who through no fault of their own are increasingly at risk of being inundated with unchecked over flow water that is not sanitary and is destructive. 16 months ago our city had 5.5 inches of rain in one 24 hour period. This nearly brought the water into my home while still completely covering by as much as 2 feet all my land behind my home. Meanwhile that late evening a power outage took place with power lines lying in that deep pool of water that was my backyard. As grave as that could have been it does amplify the need to keep our creek from overflowing into our yards and homes through efficient and modern rule changes that flex with unique circumstances.

(#5129) Relationship advice: Only like minded need apply

      I am no relationship guru so there are a few disclaimers here. First each of us is different in many varied ways so the advice I may want to give may not be correct for you. Second I have never been married nor in a long term relationship in my life. But putting those two paradigms aside, what I have learned is that in the few relationships I did have albeit no more than 2 years for any of them, the key to lasting that long was our shared like mindedness. By that I mean we were of the same heart on politics. We were allies in the fight to change injustice to justice and treated everyone fairly regardless of race or gender.
     Even that wasn't enough to keep me with the few women who were in my life but it was needed for us to even begin. I do take full responsibility for my part in the failure of all the relationships I have had over the years but at least the relationships didn't end because we fought over whether we should be allies in the political arena. As I see it if you are supportive of republican concepts that are currently being displayed then you are not even an option for me to be a partner. Because hurting people with policies is not attractive nor endearing. Especially when the current republican party is for insurrection and hatred of those who are not them.
     The current republican party just displayed an insurrection on our American capitol. They are currently taking away women's hard fought rights. They are trying to stop Americans of color from voting. They are working to end the only lifeline seniors have to support themselves by gutting Social Security and taking away health care by ending Medicare and Medicaid. The republican party supporters would never have a shot of being in a relationship with me. Now let me be clear, many would not want to anyway. But from my perspective none would ever have a chance when the decision is mine. I would like to find a partner in this world but be assured, it will never be one who isn't likeminded.

(#5128) The stories told in our music

      I cannot even imagine what life would have been like without the music of my generation. The sounds that rocked the world as we knew it. Sure sports were good to follow on radio and television but there has been nothing to me like the music of our generation. Blasting it loud and often was our motto. The groove we felt and still feel in our soul is incomparable. To this day we can get lost in the lyrics and instrumentations that were brilliantly combined through an eye for entertaining and informing. The music of our generation was mainly a protest to the state of affairs we found ourselves in. Improving our lot while hammering it home with the sounds of our time was and still is a priority for us.
     The poets of our day were not writers of single lines combined on paper for books that get dusty on the shelves. No, our poetry was placed on the musical sheets for combining with melodic composition into magnificently powerful sounds. The kind of sounds that ripped far and deep into our bone marrow and the words that stung us with their truth and clarity. The music of our time could stop us in our tracks and force us to reconsider all that existence offers. Our priorities were and still are shaped by the message and sound from some of the most influential artists of our time. I cannot image who I would be without the panoramic view our music exposed.
     Like the Allegory of the Cave in The Republic by Plato. Having not so much our eyes opened but our ears. The metaphors abound in our music. It isn't just the simple lines of words and their meanings but the bigger picture they also incorporate. Our music was and is the most prolific lesson of experiences and paradigms to absorb into who we are and will ever be. There is more to life than music but with no music in our lives we are so much less amazing and complete. The power of our music has changed our society from acceptance and subservience to protest and leadership. We drew unimaginable breath from the words and melodies of our time and shaped our lives accordingly.
     

(#5127) We liberal progressives will save our society

      The only thing of any substance, negatively I will add, that conservatives bring to our society is their wanton disregard for the rights of others. They do not like women to have rights nor do they like people of color to have rights. Evidenced by not passing the Equal Rights Amendment to our national Constitution and their constant gerrymandering of people of color to dilute the power of their vote. Now it is clear that I am correct here in my statement of fact that conservatives show superiority toward women and people of color. So why would anyone want to be associated with the republican party? Beats the hell out of me since it is clear they do not represent anything good about our species.
     I can only come to grips with why by assuming a low level of understanding about the nature of all of our struggles. I think they get their struggles but are not able to grasp that everyone else has equal or more dire struggles. Why would seniors want to gamble on eliminating their own, and their children's Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid? Because they believe that women and others are more a priority to control than their own mostly only means of income and healthcare? Seems highly illogical so am I missing something here? I don't think so because I have yet to see what that could be in all the years I have been fighting for these liberal progressive programs.
     The abortion issue has shown us that republicans say what they mean and when they say they are going to eliminate a right for anyone, believe them. Take their word for it because they are dead set on accomplishing their goal of removing rights and insurance programs aimed at helping all in our society. The deviousness of the republican party is that they let slip their intentions, then deny them before you cast your ballot, then go back to their intentions once they have received your vote. They don't like women, people of color, and even the poor to have power that in their way of thinking should not have to share, thus the evidence of voter suppression in poor counties by republicans. Democracy is not a value to them if they cannot control the outcome of how democracy operates. Again, why would you be a republican who only wants to divide and conquer? Have you lost all sense of human rights?

(#5126) We human beings can remember with pictures in our minds

      One of the most fascinating features of being a human being is being able to recall memories that are etched inside our minds with such visual clarity. There is nothing about time and space that equals that. It is a unique quality we existential beings have. Other life forms on our planet surely have memories and recall but I cannot for the life of me equate them to our ability. We can sit back in a chair or lounge and remember the happenings from long ago or from just a few minutes ago. My minds eye can see just how I observed any time and even imagine how I looked when I lived it. It is amazing what our minds can do with our memories and other imaginings.
     There are some thoughts that are memorable and some that are not. As to memorable, I can think of a girl I used to know and how knock out gorgeous she was more than 50 years ago and then see her now and still see her for the first time as a 7th grader. The juxtaposition is complex but still doable. That is the brilliance of our memories. They can be uploaded to fit into our evolving timeline. Life is really something else and living in a life that has so many possibilities for existence is even more special. I do not take any of it for granted. I just live and do not allow myself to be compartmentalized into any restricted paradigm. All things are possible, even the impossible.
     For today though I am full of reflections. I have many years to reflect upon to choose from and many memories to reconsider from all my adventures. Today is a good day for that and hopefully many more years to come are in my future. I have not lived a conventional life. I have never been married although I might well have been a couple of times if not for circumstances that interfered. I have no children for whatever reason I am not aware of but not from a lack of opportunity. I am just now settled down into a home the latter part of my life but only because age has dictated that. Otherwise moving from one place to another is still an attraction I feel. Indeed, today is a good day to reflect. :)

(#5125) Always outside the box

      When inside the box offers no answers then outside the box it is. In other words conventional wisdom can only take us mostly so far. So we need to imagine another scenario where a solution may come from. I am not one to quit on things so imagining is part of my repertoire. There is no rule book to life. Sure we have laws and ordinances that guide us in our behaviors but as to what life is all about and the big why life exists we are at the mercy of history's unknowns. So trying to imagine something unique to a problem is not unthinkable, in fact it is smart and savvy.
     Each generation of our species has added to the previous generation through imagining and amazing discovery. So it will be onward through the next generations. So thinking outside the box when inside the box is not enough is absolutely appropriate. What is inappropriate is to give up on solutions because current logic or science doesn't offer one. Our brains are amazing organs. They have yet to be fully tapped for their potential so not trying to tap that potential is wasteful and counterproductive. There cannot be any quit in our striving for understanding and evolvement. Our species has come to this point in time with much change behind us and further change ahead of us so let us get busy being that change during our time of existence.
     My life hasn't many cycles left to circle the Sun so doing nothing until my time is over is not a consideration in fact doing something is an imperative. Most of the time if I just focus on my problem at hand I do find a way to solve it even though the process is not clear to me. I just keep taking one step after another and then hope that solutions are inside the box for me to find. Otherwise I have to put my imagination to work and create a scenario where I can fix my problem even if it is against the laws of space and time. I have no other choice if I am going to solve the presently unsolvable. I am just one person doing his best to be a force in my existence so if all of us do the same hopefully together we may bring new understanding to old paradigms that frustrate us.

(#5124) The defense of Ukraine is about protecting democracy

      There are other reasons to help defend Ukraine like stopping a war criminal nation like Russia from destroying lives but in the big picture stopping Russia is about protecting democracy. Protecting the rights of a sovereign nation like Ukraine, to define it's own destiny, is a democratic principle. People who live under a social contract within borders deserve the right of self determination. What history has shown us is that when given a free and fair way of deciding a future, democracy is the dominant choice. So in the tradition of evolving our planet toward liberty, fairness, and equality of opportunity, the defense of Ukraine is well justified and clearly a prerequisite to our own survival as a threatened democracy.
     Having the right to participate in our own self determination allows us to be who we are when we decide what that is. We are not beholden to some other force from others who want to dictate to us who we are and when we will be that. Democracy gives every soul a chance to pursue their own happiness without fail. As an individual I would be ashamed if I didn't step up and fight for equal rights within a democracy nor any society that is striving for a democracy. Which is exactly what Ukraine is doing in their defense against the invasion by the authoritarian regime of the kremlin in Russia. Ukraine must prevail in this and likely will if we in the western nations who have established democracies continue to backstop them with the armaments they need.
     Ukraine right now is the epitome of the struggle for our future where people are the highest priority and leaders are our servants. The days of leaders being kings or tyrants are over and the new era of servitude is the foundation of guidance. The best of who we are as human beings can be directly attributed to democratic principles. Equality, justice, self determination, and pursuit of happiness are but a few of the principles we are gifted with when democracy is our form of government. Our species will grow immeasurably, both intellectually and spiritually, when we prevent the brutes of the world from taking our democracies and denying our rights as free human beings.

(#5123) Another 1,140 Russians soldiers died yesterday in Ukraine

      The single largest death count for a 24 hour period so far in Ukraine for Russian soldiers was 1,140 yesterday. The previous high count was 1,030 on February 7th, just 4 days ago. Since the 7th until today the death count for Russian troops in Ukraine is 4,720. Overall the death count of Russian troops in Ukraine is 136,880. That many young Russian lives are now lost because the Kremlin wanted to be greedy and steal land from another country. I don't list the dead from the Russian aggression because Ukraine does not release it's death totals but be assured that the number is if not more at least closing in on 100,000. This does not include the wounded on either side which can easily equal the death count numbers.
     The kremlin is throwing it's troops into a hail of weaponry hoping to exhaust the supply of ammunition that Ukraine has. But the west, NATO and Biden in particular are not going to allow that to happen. Russia is treating it's citizens like property, cannon fodder, and expending them with little regard to their lives. This will continue until either the Russian forces overrun the Ukrainian defenses or more likely their troop levels drop so dramatically that they cannot invade further and will be beaten back to their own borders and beyond. My money is on the Ukrainians. They are savvy, smart, and relentless in their defense of their own country.
     The desperation coming from the current Russian strategy will likely continue and although 1,140 is a really high number for a one day total it likely will be surpassed in the coming days, weeks, or months. Russia is determined to mount another offensive either in a few days or in the spring. If in the spring they will have lost all the momentum they have tried to build these last few days and the losses of manpower will have been for nothing. Which by the way is what is happening now. Ukraine is not going to fold to the Russian aggression so every Russian soul killed going forward is just for nothing at all. The putins of this world and his allies in the kremlin will soon be quaking in their shoes as their performance so far against an inferior nation on paper is being spoiled by the underdog Ukrainians actual better fighting.
     

(#5122) Big Russian push into Ukraine before the snow melts into mud

      The relentless attacks in the east of Ukraine to gain better footholds to launch a major offensive is currently underway. I suspect that Russia will want to have as much an advantage in strategic territory before they are prepared to throw all their might into an illegal and monstrous conquering of land in a neighboring country. The kremlin is already throwing away Russian soldiers as expendable to gain these footholds and will not relent on sacrificing young lives for few kilometers of soil. Best described as cannon fodder is what is happening to Russian soldiers. They are pawns in the kremlin portfolio of death and will remain so as long as they are driven by the egoists in the kremlin.
     I am not feeling sorry for the Russian soldiers who are being used like throwaway disposables but the Russian mothers and fathers of these doomed to death soldiers should be. However it is clearly apparent that the parents are not against the idea of their children being slaughtered for the kremlin's ego. No matter how they are fed the propaganda of nationalism their failure to love their children more than their pride is abhorrent and does not evoke any sympathy from me. As to the young soldiers themselves they seem to have been indoctrinated enough to disappear any critical thinking on their own part and just follow along like the lemmings they emulate.
     Within a few weeks the ground in eastern Ukraine will become muddy and almost impossible to overcome as to tanks and attack vehicles. Yet it seems that fate is not on the side of the Russian invaders as time has become their enemy. They need an offensive now to try to catch Ukraine in a vulnerable position however the mud will make that vulnerability of Ukraine less significant. Russia has once again shown that they are not a worthy adversary on the battlefield as their overall strategies are less than ideal for their ambitions. They will go ahead with their offensive and it will bog down giving Ukraine many opportunities to eliminate them as sitting ducks. Ukraine defended masterfully in the east and now Russia will rightly suffer for it's ineptitude!

(#5121) No advances by russians

      I said early this last weekend that the Russians will do all they can within this week to get their next aggressive offensive started and this week would be the tell if they will be able to do it. Well we are almost through this week and Russia has barely budged forward from the lines that existed last week. Even though they are throwing countless men forward in their attempts to set the stage for their large offensive. Instead they are losing close to 1000 troops a day to death from Ukrainian defensive fire. Through bullets, missiles, mines, and bombs the Russian advances on several fronts in the east of Ukraine are failing.
     Which takes the steam out of a Russian offensive. They still have time to get themselves into a more advantageous position to springboard their offensive but the window for that is rapidly closing. The rainy season is about upon them which would make any successful offensive much more difficult and more improbable. As long as the Ukrainian defense and small counterattack strategies hold the Russians will be left out in the cold with little to show for their loss of life and armaments this week. Which brings another dynamic into play. Some generals in the hierarchy of the kremlin are about out of patience with putin, if he is still alive, and are about to do something about it. Especially if this new Russian offensive about to begin stalls in its tracks.
     Also as each day goes by the armaments that the west has committed to Ukraine keep arriving. They are being situated as needed to not only keep Russia from getting on the threshold of their offensive but will be waiting for them if they either do get on the threshold and start their offensive; or don't get on the threshold and start their offensive anyway. However the scenario plays out the current defense of Ukrainian lines in the east is holding and making for a very uncomfortable Russian response. No doubt the Russians will keep throwing their soldiers into the Ukrainian buzz saw and the daily deaths will continue in the near 1000 deaths a day for Russian soldiers while still not getting much tangible from it.

(#5120) The kremlin underestimated Zelenskyy, Biden and NATO

      If trump had been allowed to take the presidency in 2020, putin would already be storming the rest of Europe from Ukraine. There is no doubt in my mind that trump would have nullified NATO and sat on his hands and done nothing to help Ukraine defend itself from the Russian invasion. Without help from Biden and his rallying of NATO forces, Zelenskyy would not have been able to keep Russia from overrunning them on February 24, 2022. The depth of the disgrace and dishonor trump is capable of has not yet bottomed out. Our planet would have been shifted into chaos with Covid no doubt still raging.
     What putin has over trump is still unknown but you can imagine that for trump to betray democracy the what is very important to trump. He is as callous a person that has ever been born to be able to allow the murder of untold thousands to protect his secret. The kremlin is showing itself as a bastion of cruelty and brutality. So for the kremlin to be painted with the brush of blackmailing terrorism is more than appropriate. I suspect that the Ukrainian people would have fought any takeover by Russia even if they were dealing with a trump presidency. The problem though is that the Ukrainian people likely would not have been able to stand against Russia this long.
     But Joe Biden won the presidency and with it a commitment to Ukraine that their borders are not to be breached by Russian aggression. With Joe rallying NATO and other western countries to aid in the effort to thwart Russia the difference in Ukraine being under Russian control has been mostly reversed and instead the odds are that Russia will find it is pushed out of Ukraine and vulnerable to other nations that border it. The hiding tyrants in the kremlin have been defended against and now they will feel the brunt of Ukrainian determination to right the wrongs that Russia has already inflicted on them. History will show that despite evil men with power, the good of the rest of us is too much for them to succeed.

(#5119) More than a thousand Russian troops died yesterday

      The invasion of Ukraine by the kremlin will be known as the Russia's Waterloo. The place where Russian blood runs deep into the ground. Yesterday approximately 1030 Russian soldiers spilled blood for the last time in their shortened lives. The day before 870 Russian soldiers died. It is becoming clear that the strategy the kremlin is employing of throwing their troops in front of the buzz saw that is the Ukrainian defense is a tragedy for Russian mothers. All because the kremlin wants to take Bakhmut on or before the 1 year anniversary, February 24th, of their so far failed invasion of Ukraine. The ego it takes to send countless young men to their deaths just so that the murderers in the kremlin can crow about some minor victory in Ukraine is incredibly offensive.
      At least offensive to me. What is astonishing is that the mothers and fathers of these dead Russian soldiers are not complaining or protesting. It is as if they find solace in the kremlin calling them fallen heroes more that them being alive to life a full life. The hero worship notwithstanding is just a veneer for the murderers in the kremlin to hide behind. Yet despite the obviousness of the deception from the kremlin the Russian society at large is beyond redemption for their silence. Fear can make one silent surely but when their children are being led to slaughter when does the love for their children overrule their fear?
     Many more Russian soldiers will die in Ukraine in the next few weeks and if this continues at this rate this Russian invasion may be coming to an end. Russia will have failed to achieve their goal of eliminating Ukraine from the world map and now the numbers are closing in on over 150,000 soldiers being killed in Ukraine. As many as another 100,000 Russian soldiers injured. Nearly 15,000 tanks, armored personnel carriers, and vehicles and fuel tanks have been destroyed and/or captured. This ego driven folly of invading Ukraine will be the end of Russia as anything approaching a superpower. They will be lucky if their federation of brutality survives in whole.

(#5118) Joe Biden is killing it on the economy

     The cost of things are going down in most economic sectors and the unemployment rate is doing the same at 3.4 percent nationally. More people are working for more money than ever. Inflation has been slowing down for the last 6 months and should remain doing so going forward. The cost of living is still not where we all would like it but it is not skyrocketing without a solution. With more jobs being open for employment the likelihood of increasing wages is most probable. When wages go up then so does productivity so both the worker and the owner will see increased success in the economic market.
     From the mess that trump left with a largely unchecked pandemic coursing through our veins to the loss of market opportunities ranging from bottlenecks at ports of delivery and closures of businesses due to decreased human activity of Covid related restrictions. Joe immediately set out to conquer the pandemic with policies and economic help for most of the vulnerable. He made getting antidotes to Covid a higher priority and provided free tests and shots for anyone who would take them. With Covid now under control the human activity in the marketplace has increased again and businesses that were shuttered have been able to reopen.
     President Biden has been one step ahead of every calamity that has followed the disastrous 4 year appointed president trump. If not for the steadfast focused diligence of Joe, the recovery we are in would be far less closer to being solved. If we have learned anything about choosing presidents I hope it is that the republican party is not a place to look for leadership. Not only are they insurrectionists but they are bad managers of economic importance. Their big claim to fame is to cut taxes for the wealthy which only put our national debt in a very bad place. They are still clamoring for even more tax cuts for the wealthy as an economic platform. Never again should we allow a republican to become a president of our country.

(#5117) 6 days until Russia starts the new offensive in its invasion of Ukraine

      The die is cast! The cat is out of the bag! However you want to exclaim it the Russians have been found out. Of course they would be because to mobilize a large offensive inside another country's territory requires many moving pieces. But even that isn't the whole story on the new Russian offensive. The kremlin has been talking about winning a major city before the 1 year anniversary of its illegal invasion of Ukraine. That would be in 19 days so if Russia is to capture a major Ukrainian city, Bakhmut, then they need to get going immediately. Which combined with the Russian pieces of war machine being moved into place tells us all we need for now.
     Sure there could be a feint by Russia to show force in one region while secretly building up a force in another region but with today's modern technology, spying capabilities, the chance of that is 0. So here comes the Russian offensive in the Bakhmut area. If there is one way to see the Russian strategy it is through brute force. So Russia will send in a massive amount of troops in order to capture a small area. Whatever the kremlin has to do to get to crow about taking a major Ukrainian city. The Ukrainians for their part are aware of this and have been fortifying their defensive positions for many weeks. Yet the sheer manpower Russia is willing to sacrifice in order to achieve their propaganda goal is daunting.
     One thing we should never lose sight of is that the Russian high command will easily sacrifice its troops for a victory. There is no clamoring at home in Russia for them to safeguard their men. They have been fed and believe the propaganda message of hero for all their young men who fall in Ukraine. So expect a mad rush by Russian troops in large numbers to try to overrun the Ukrainian defenses. We will see shortly how this plays out but if it fails the Russian army will be vulnerable to a counter attack that could end the last bit of Russian occupation in Ukraine. Hopefully the west and our weapons will be in place before the Russians come poring across their current positions into the Ukrainian jaws of death that awaits them.

(#5116) The Russian people won't stop the kremlin from killing their young men

      This illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine is showing the world just how callous ordinary Russian people are about their young men being killed in Ukraine. I had not thought that the Russian people would be so callous to the unnecessary death of their offspring but it seems I was mistaken. Not only are the Russian people generally for the invasion but they see it as necessary. Of course they are getting their news from state propaganda but that is what they prefer it seems. They could be getting other accounts of things from other sources but regardless they are not or are dismissive of other accounts. So the point here is that regardless of the deaths of young Russian soldiers the citizens of Russia are not going to stop the kremlin from killing more of them.
     The fact that Russia is gearing up to mobilize another 500,000 Russians through conscription tells me that the Russian people have bought into the kremlin narrative of Ukraine being allied with nazis. How that is even possible with the west supplying the weapons to Ukraine is something even the simplest of souls should see through. Yet, no sign is given that any push back to kremlin plans is in the offing. So the invasion of Ukraine will continue and daily deaths of many times well over 500 will continue. The Russians are purported to be gearing up a within weeks a massive offensive against Bakhmut because the kremlin wants to celebrate a major city capture for its one year anniversary of invading Ukraine.
     Funny how the narrative keeps changing for the kremlin since the invasion was only supposed to last a few days. Yet here we are coming up in a few weeks of 1 year. Over 130,000 Russian troops are dead with nearly that many injured. The Russian stockpiles of weapons are more depleted than not and the Russian economy is not in good shape. Yet the likelihood of a Russian retreat is no where to be seen. So we in the west must immediately make sure that Ukraine is fortified from the coming Russian assault while also making sure Ukraine can also mount a counter offensive of their own. The kremlin is showing that they have no care for civilized behavior so we must make sure Ukraine puts an end to the kremlin dream of ruling the world.

(#5115) The fundamentals of math and language are essential to living a self controlled life

      I use my math skills every day. As well my language skills. I can figure and communicate the varying problems that arise in my life. I have tried to think about how math and language have evolved in my life, especially language. I say that because of this daily blogging I do. When I do the daily blogging, it is the key to my evolvement. Fresh in the early morning when my mind has just begun to begin again after a sleep period. I have always had an imagination that basically has no boundaries so delving into words to describe my dreams and thoughts comes naturally to me. I suppose my thirst for knowledge has a lot to do with it but even so my mind is a fertile field ready to grow new ideas and concepts.
     Not the same with my math skills. I learned the hard cold facts of math when I was very young. I took pride in being able to remember how to do basic math and remembering solutions to simple calculations. As I got older and learned more about algebra and geometry I learned that applying those formulas to carpentry and other laborious endeavors I became more precise in my work product. Being able to think somewhat like a computer is important when shaping a life path of purpose and attraction. My mind is the stable where all the horses are and when it is time I let those horses out to run. Being alive is really an amazing experience but only because I can form and calculate ways to express.
     There are many other fundamental building blocks to a satisfied life but for me having the desire to being at least minimally proficient at numbers and letters has elevated my worth to myself and hopefully to those around me. I am no braggadocio outwardly about my spirit to learn but to myself I am proud that I try to master the things in my life that effect how I communicate. I want to be the master of my life and the only way I could see to do that was for me to understand the basics of math and language. All our children need to experience the delight and joy of the lightbulb moment when a confusing concept suddenly becomes crystal clear. That is what learning math and language did for me.

(#5114) I saw a young man yesterday who asked me for food

      At my house I usually put stuff out at the front of my driveway to give away because I have a lot of stuff here and will likely never use them. Especially clothes. I have grown out of my clothes over the last several decades and have not worn them since. So yesterday and today I have been gleaning out my dresser drawers of the too small stuff for me to wear anymore. I must say it is not easy letting go of some of these things. Yet, I am doing it because I know that if I ever get down a lesser size and I can wear some of this stuff I can always buy something inexpensively new. Yesterdays pile of stuff pretty much is gone except one item of summer wear.
     I put out the last of the winter wear stuff and some dress shirts that should be gone today as well. So yesterday this young polite respectful man, less than 25 years old by my calculation, came by and loaded up several items. I went out to let him know he could take whatever he wanted. Yet the first thing he did was tell me he was hungry and hadn't eaten for several days. I looked at the state of him and it was apparent that he was homeless. Not only that but he looked somewhat worn down and possibly discomforted from his hungered appearance. I said sure and went inside the house and grabbed some things that were easily available and put them in a bag for him. There are a lot of homeless here in my less affluent area so his plight was not a shock. I am also keen on knowing who is a con and who isn't and this young man wasn't.
     That little episode yesterday hit me hard later in the evening when it was getting colder outside. My conscience was letting me know that the angst I felt about giving away clothes that I could no longer wear was inappropriate and reinvigorated me to go through all my clothes and let go of any coat and blankets that I had too much an attachment. Almost shame on me for being possessive of material things in an abundance when others where struggling to survive. There is no excuse for me not to help where I can and give as is needed when I have more than enough. That young mans imagine will stick with me for some time because he personified what some homeless are struggling with and that is just to stay alive.

(#5113) Give Ukraine the planes now!

      I know there are a lot of logistics involved besides just giving the planes. But even in a scaled down version of the planes to defend Ukraine, their value to saving Ukrainian lives are immeasurable. The sensitive nature of the components of the advanced flying war craft does belie just handing over the technology. However, the massive Russian offensive that could be coming within just weeks from now demands that an air presence of an advanced nature be available. Otherwise not to supply air defense and offensive capabilities to the brave Ukrainian warriors is tantamount to being allied with Russia. Standing back and watching the Russian invasion overwhelm the Ukrainian defense is beneath contempt.
     So organizing a hurried force of air defense for Ukraine is vital to them winning this invasion with Russia. Over the next several weeks the story of this invasion will be decided. There is no time to procrastinate over fears and technicalities. The winner of this invasion must be Ukraine if our world is to start on a new path toward democracy worldwide. If not the dictators of this world will be emboldened to advance on other democracies around the world. Now is the time to stop the threat of tyrannical authoritarianism and give democracy the first real modern foothold in Eastern Europe, Asia and beyond. If we don't stop the threat of the Russian invasion of Ukraine then our own society here in America is jeopardized.
     For those who do not see the bigger picture here let me explain. Last February putin made a calculation that if he was able to steamroll Ukraine into his orbit the rest of that continent would be more likely to follow despite the threat of NATO. But what putin did not understand in his calculation is that Ukrainians are not cowards. They stood up to the Russians and then President Biden reinvigorated NATO countries to join in aiding the Ukrainian rebut to the Russian invasion. Given these two miscalculations by putin the strategy he had of dominating all of Europe is fading. But to make putin's dream of having all of Europe disappear the west must supply Ukraine now with the weapons it needs to push Russia out of Ukraine!