Tightening the screws

The US is exerting more influence to tighten the sanctions on Iran.  Latest here.  The US needs to continue to press other countries to takes these actions.  The same goes for North Korea.  The common thread in this is that China is assisting in thwarting these sanctions.  There is where the real screw tightening needs to occur.

Holy mother of God.

This story.  How could any American do this to their country? (h/t Jeff “Inch High” Groves.)

Funny story

Ran across this and thought it was pretty funny. No tie in to modeling or the law or anything else, just a funny story.

I don’t understand this.

Not sure on what grounds Krispy Kreme has the right to object to this.

What a mess

More Venezuela news.  While a tank of gas for a few pennies, sounds great, the economic distortions brought about by the government are why folks are having to pay with food stuffs.  Que Lastima!

Don’t fish off the company pier

Why, oh why, do people still insist on becoming involved with co-workers?  It inevitably leads to thinks like this and now both individuals have lost their lucrative jobs.  For the pilot particularly, he has probably flushed all that training and experience down the toilet, as no sane airline will ever employ him.  Good gosh what poor judgment, not to mention the complete cowardice of hitting a woman.

They need us…

…more than we need them.  This has been obvious for a while now, but only in the current administration have we begun to use this leverage.  It discomforts many companies in the US with strong interests in China (i.e. NBA, Nike) but that should not be our governments concern.

Cuba

Looks like oil is getting scarce in Cuba.  I don’t think, despite what the government says, that this problems is temporary or will go away.  As PDVSA produces less and less oil, lless and less of it will make its way to Cuba.

Walking the dog #1

I’ve been a cat person most of my life.  While, my family had a small dog or two when I was younger, I’ve never really been a dog person, until recently.  About a year or so ago, my older daughter’s desire for a dog could be put off no longer and the modelwife and the girls adopted Charlie, who is a very good dog.

Charlie

One thing that comes with dog ownership is walking the dog.  It has the virtue of getting me out and moving when the weather is nice and getting me the exercise that I might not otherwise get.

Well, as I was walking the dog the other night, I was thinking about the recent incident in Russia wherein an explosion took place and radiation was released.  As I’ve said before, I think that Russia is, pretty much, a paper tiger, though one with nukes.  Russia doesn’t have the money to maintain the forces it does have, much less a bunch of extra money to pour into weapons development.  This makes the attempt to develop a hypersonic, nuclear powered cruise missile all the more irrational, or does it?

This is the thought that occurred to me as I was walking Charlie.  Because Russia is so cash starved, deep down they know that they can’t keep up conventionally.  In fact, their attempt to prop up their man in Syria is a drain on their meager resources.  Given this situation, investing in “Hail Mary” types of technological leaps makes a certain sense.  Very similar to what Germany did in the latter stages of WWII, pouring money into the V-1, V-2, etc.  It is even possible, but unlikely that one of these long shot investments might pay off and result in a great leap forward that staves off impending Russian military irrelevance.  I doubt it, but you can’t completely discount the possibility.  Viewed in that light, the recent radiological incident makes a bit of sense.

Venezuela

A grim report on the current hell that is Venezuela.  Looks like the rats are looking for an exit.  On one hand, if you let them off, then maybe the suffering of the people ends sooner.  On the other hand, you let them off and this will happen again.  Examples need to be made.  In spite of my sympathy for the Venezuelan people, they ultimately did this to themselves.  If you try and vote yourself free stuff, this is what happens, Every. Single. Time.