On Monday night I was up watching in stunned amazement a meltdown of the almighty market the likes of which has not been seen in years.
Even if you never held or traded stocks, you couldn’t miss the corporate media talking heads blubbering something incomprehensible, like “it’s a garden verity market adjustment.” I want to share with you two very useful links. These graphics give you a full world markets overview at any time. Major world indices
and the World markets in real time
You will notice that Russia is conspicuously absent here. I found it impossible to understand anything on Russia’s stock exchange website. This is how Russia’s volatility index looks like They want you to estimate the Volatility index by using these simple formulas. To keep your mind sharp and all.
Here is a general overview
Russian media: U.S. ‘economic apocalypse’ in September
I don’t know what is left for the Fed to do. We are basis points away from a goose egg, and it looks like the curtain is lifting on this charade for too many people. I don’t see the Fed being able to buy the “markets” back up while everyone knows what will happen the moment the money runs out. The lies have run their course, and the truth is leaking out.
The half-life of Central Bank intervention has grown so very short that there just isn’t any marginal return on taking action anymore. Another Quantitative Easing (the Federal Reserve buying up the market and Corporate buybacks) to keep the market up would finally and completely expose the game for what it is – the fiscal plundering of America.
I really wish that markets could stay up for a little longer, though. The main reason is this public embarrassment is pushing the US government and local corporate media to search for more enemies. They have already placed the blame for the crash on China. I am confident they will find the way to blame Russia also.
It’s Western economy however, which is in a deep and desperate slump. I drove by the local produce market owned and run by Catholics and was floored to see the market opened on Sunday. It’s never happened before. Inside, I suddenly and fully understood the meaning of Emmanuel Kant’s “Thing-in-itself,” that we all studied in high school but not to the point of comprehension. Kant claimed that the thing-in-itself was incomprehensible for humans, because we were outside it looking in. The only way to understand the thing-in-itself is to open it. However, once opened thing-in-itself stops being a thing-in-itself and becomes something else. Kant claimed that he wrote his books about God, but I am convinced that he wrote about watermelons.
Another thing-in-itself we never get tired of talking about is the Ukrainian mind being opaque to the outside comprehension. Take for example the War on Corruption, that precipitated the putsch and coming of junta.
Update on the war against Corruption in Ukraine.
Борьба с коррупцией провалилась: за полгода в бюджет вернули только 8 тысяч гривен — Госказначейство
Keep in mind that Corruption (in countries other than the US) is such a bad thing, it’s the worst evil in the world, worse even than poverty or genocide. Corruption is SO evil, that it is worth overthrowing every government that has it; it is worth completely destroying a nation, going to war, killing thousands of innocent people, and then rebuilding again, only just without Corruption this time.
With that background in mind, Ukraine’s anti-Corruption Center issued their report on how much money they have returned to the Ukrainian treasury, which would have been lost due to Evil Corruption, if not thwarted in time.
And it turns out, it WAS worth it: The war, loss of Crimea, destruction of Donbass infrastructure, tens of thousands of dead soldiers, thousands of civilian lives lost… it was all worth it.
Because the Anti-Corruption Revolution was able to return a whopping 7865.77 HRYVNAS* to the Ukrainian treasury.
*1 Ukrainian Hryvnia equals 0.045 US Dollar
The other obvious achievement of Maidan driven junta is that millions of Ukrainians live on less than $1 a day.
Have you ever heard of the Russian fairytale Masha and the Three Bears?
Now, I am going to tell you the opposite story. An American fairytale called A Gunman and Three Marines.
Like any other American fairytales, this one takes place in France.
Let me get the story straight how I heard it from the French and US media. An “alleged” Muslim gunman prepares to go and “to kill many people” on a train. A gunman has ” no known connection to any terrorist groups.” Of course, because this fake Hollywood produced and CIA staged “terrorist” attack would be immediately rebuffed by everybody.
Back to the “lone” gunman. Upon careful consideration he chooses a Russia made automatic weapon, that he most likely picked up in a local grocery store. He also has a handgun and a knife. Plus, he had many magazines. At least 8 magazines judging by this Reuter image:
Somehow, all those magazines and a Kalashnikov fit into his small backpack.
He has the whole arsenal on his persona, but he doesn’t load any of his weapons. How one can bring a Kalashnikov and pass the train station security?
I recall years ago I was able to assemble and disassemble Kalashnikov in under one minute. It’s heavy, long, and bulky. It would make terrible clunking noises hitting those magazines inside the backpack, while the man was walking. No one can carry undetected a Kalashnikov around in the summer time, wearing just jeans and a t-shirt. So, an alleged “gunman” came to a train station carrying an automatic Kalashnikov rifle, a handgun tacked into his jeans and a big knife, and a backpack full of magazines. I won’t speculate the place he hid a knife. The train station attendants, police, security, and other passengers must all politely have looked the other way.
Did the three “heroic” marines board the train at the same station, or did they just “happen” to be on this train and in this wagon? I have a terrible suspicion that there are three US NATO marines on every train and in every wagon all over the EU.
Now, the “gunman” carries his arsenal onto the train and into the crowded wagon, but he has never loaded his weapon. Which is completely understandable. This is something he could do anywhere anytime, right? So, he goes to the restroom allegedly to “load his weapon’ ignoring the fact that he was followed there by two white and one black guys. Because, it’s completely normal for a group of guys going to restrooms together. So, the alleged gunman loaded his Kalashnikov in the restroom, meanwhile three guys were standing on the other side with their ears pressed to the door, listening.
In Europe if you notice many young people congregating at public restrooms, have no fear. All those men are the US NATO marines and they are there to protect and serve you, and undoubtedly give you a happy ending.
After that mayhem. They attacked him, and one of them got shot in the back. We don’t know how many people were around. Why no one took a video and uploaded it on YouTube? We don’t see security videos of the alleged gunman walking at the station with his arsenal.
“He could kill so many people… he had a magazine. I don’t know how many magazines he had” said a mayor of a local town. Security kept him in a dark about a quantity of magazines, but they immediately released the information on a gun maker. It was Kalashnikov, of course. Every fake staged terrorist attacker uses a Kalashnikov. Never- ever a western-made weapon is used. The softheaded western plebes have to be reminded about Russia lurking somewhere on a background.
The very next day, which happened to be a Saturday, the mayor of the town awarded three “heroic” marines with some French awards or medals, that just happened to be lying around in his office. Days later these American “heroes” are awarded the Legion of Honor, but not the guy who got short in his back. We don’t know who actually shot him. The injured guy wasn’t in the military. He was a professor of sorts. He wasn’t part of the group, no medal was made for him.
The whole story reminds me how a couple of years ago I was approached by a shady character that looked like a bar bouncer offering me to buy a gold and diamond engagement ring for a hundred dollars. I agreed, of course. Who wouldn’t want to buy a gold and diamond ring for a hundred dollars? A ring looked good with an 18K mark and all the paperwork with $11,000 price tag attached to it. “You see, the guy said. My girlfriend just dumped me. I wanna sell the damn ring and to get some cash.” I recommended him to return the ring back to a store. “No, man.” he said. “I used my girlfriend’s credit card to buy it, so they won’t give me my money back.”
I reached into my jeans pocket and got out a small magnet that I always carry with me, just in case. The ring got stuck to my magnet with no hesitation. “You see, bro. This is not gold. If it sticks to a magnet, it’s not gold.” “It’s gold, he said. Only a special kind of, sticking to magnet gold.”
“I know now why your girlfriend dumped you like a hot potato.” I said, returning a ring back to him. “Why?” “Because, you gave her an engagement ring that sticks to a magnet. That’s why”
Will the European public buy a fake terrorist story from such a shady character as NATO? It’s really irrelevant, because the US occupational authorities will use this fairytale to place a tank in every European train station and more US boots on the ground for protection of the US interests in Europe.
A CEO of the largest and longest running Ponzi schemes, the Pope of Rome, is about to arrive to Philadelphia on his way to Washington in September. Philadelphia that suffers a 100 year decline and urban decay is expecting to accommodate two million pilgrims. The City Hall dwellers thought long and hard and came up with the original idea of a fence around the center of the city. No one has answered the simple question of how two million people are supposed to get inside this Pope cage, considering that no one will be allowed to use cars or similar self-propelled apparatuses. Two million bicycles?
The plan is as native to Philadelphia as a fake flu vaccination, and cheesesteaks. Caging people, houses and urban ghettos is a lifestyle, but I suspect that this event will become the final straw that will break the town’s back. Just think about the impact on 100 year old plumbing that has never been updated. Philadelphia is located along the Delaware river at the sea level and is surrounded by elevated suburbs. Some of those burbs still use sewage treatment plants and piping built in the 1900s, proof of a great civilization that has been gone a long time. Two million people descending to Philadelphia will create a certain challenge for antiquated and fragile plumbing. If it gives up, the level of substance floating down into Philadelphia might be as high as the Pope himself.
That’s why this visit has a potential to be more interesting than other Pope’s pop ups around the world.
As if it wasn’t enough the organizers of Popacalypse are using prison inmate slave labor to build decorations and props like a carved chair for Pope. Just like they use 30000 prison inmates to put out wild forest fires in California and state Washington. Oh, America, land of the very few free white rich men.
Ukraine
1. “Witch-hunt” the Ukraine style by Clement Chautant
“Chasse aux sorcières” à l’ukrainienne Clément Chautant 25 Août 2015
Ukraine has made the choice to lead an offensive legislation to counter the Russian influence, regardless of its form. This has led to the changing and rewriting of the “history” and adopting the “décommunisation” laws, intended to punish different from the authoritative political views and historical analyses in a country in a quest for order and stability.
2. The turnout for Independence day in Kharkov proves it is a Russian city [source]
Report from bloggers:
“Kharkov administration held a concert devoted to the Independence day of Ukraine. Millions of Kharkov patriots came to the central square to celebrate this most important holiday. On the biggest square of Europe there was no place to swing a cat. Kharkov patriots once again proved to all that Kharkov is Urkaine, and quilted jackets [vatniki] should stay in Russia”.
Not…
3. MH17 Most Likely Downed by Surface-To-Air Missile – Dutch Prosecutors [source]
Investigators believe that Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was most likely hit by a surface-to-air missile, though the possibility of the plane being downed by an air-to-air missile cannot be excluded, a spokesman for the Dutch Public Prosecution Service said Tuesday.
the following is the comment of Mark Nesop of marknesop.wordpress.com
I saw the MH-17 story in the Kiev Post as well, under the bullshit headline, “Netherlands considers air defense rocket as likeliest cause of Malaysian Boeing crash”. Since the “story” is just a paragraph, I will repeat it in its entirety:
“MOSCOW – The Public Prosecution Service of the Netherlands is still examining a theory whereby the Malaysian Boeing was shot down in Ukraine by a Russian Buk rocket, but to say that the parts discovered earlier were precisely of this system would be premature, Public Prosecution Service spokesman Wim de Bruin said.”
Emphasis mine. If I were one of those lying-as-naturally-as-breathing Ukropi, that would ring in my ears as a warning, considering there have been many much more condemnatory statements made already which say the investigators are “almost 100% sure” and “ready to identify the perpetrators”, and Kerry has blustered all along that the evidence is ironclad, no doubt, you can take it to the bank. This sounds an awful lot like waffling to me. Like they’re actually not that sure. And now, thanks to the perfidious west and the spineless Malaysia and the criminal Ukraine, even a verdict that says “We just don’t know what happened” is going to expose their clever tribunal stunt as the vicious piece of malfeasance it was – because it will be obvious they were prepared to convict on an investigation which was not finished, and in the end could not reach a conclusion. This is a no-lose for Russia now – it just has to be patient and stick to its guns.
4. Ukraine Is Too Corrupt for Debt Deal to Work [source]
Novorossia Donetsk Lugansk
1. Novorossia Military Analysis on August 24th, 2015 [source]
Обзор военной ситуации в Новороссии на 24 августа 2015 года
General Situation
The overall military situation on the fronts of the unrecognized people’s republics DPR/LPR continues to remain extremely tense. The fighting continues to occur in the positional key with episodic attempts to conduct reconnaissance by force with 1-2 RTG or take part of the “neutral territory” as the Armed Forces of Ukraine AFU regularly try to do it in the region of Donetsk, or as Armed Forces of Novorossia AFN recently has done in the area of Maryevka. l and Maryevka is ours Photo report
Not leading a large-scale offensive action, the parties are trying to be active on a tactical level, extracting small local victories, which have a negligible effect on the overall operational environment. It is worth noting that the renewed since the beginning of August a massive bombardment of the frontline cities over the last few days has weakened, and the brunt of the nonstop evening and night artillery barrages across the front now lay on the positions of the parties and the areas of concentration of artillery.
The political situation
Politically after the talks in Minsk in early August, followed by continued escalation of hostilities, we observed a complete standstill. The resumption of consultations in Minsk will commence on August 26th, but progress is not not expected neither military, nor politically speaking. None of the points of the Minsk agreements is completed and, as recently stated by Poroshenko, in the Ukraine they actually needed Mink agreement only to recover after the defeat at Debaltseve and to prepare for a new phase of war. With this in mind, it is naive to expect that Ukraine will implement this agreement if they formally consider it nothing more than a gimmick and a way to gain time in the interest of continuation of the war. Therefore, any negotiations in Minsk now look like merely informational and diplomatic camouflage.
The situation on the front line
Last week, the frontline changed insignificantly. Some success of the Republics’ armed forced at Marevka (which was a contested part of neutral territory) is similar to the success of the AFU same kind of in “neutral” Gubankov. Attempts of offensive activity of AFU in the area of New Laspi and Stargatewiki didn’t brought any significant success to the enemy. At the front from Shirokino to Granite, the situation largely remained within a fairly heavy shelling. In the area of Dokuchayevsk and Yelenovka in recent days enemy activity decreased slightly. Existing group, launched in sector M, remains the strongest armed forces in Donbas, and this is where you can expect the most large-scale offensive activity which ambitious versions may be associated with attempts to go to the borders of the DPR and the Russian Federation.
On the fronts of Donetsk and Gorlovka situation geographically remains without significant changes. Attacks on suburban districts periodically transferred to the forefront. Counter battery works to Novorossia’s Armed Forces partially successful, and the AFU can still vary as the target, and the intensity of the shelling. The MRLS are applied sporadically, heavy type systems “Uragan” and “Smerch” hold in reserve in mind the limited quantity of missiles. After increasing activity in the middle of the month advanced positions Novorossia’s Armed Forces somewhat strengthened, although from the front periodically are being received complaints that the front is strengthening is not enough and need more to draw arms from the rear to the front, especially in relation to the military preparations of the armed forces. It is worth noting that in the last few days some alarming symptoms were noticed like removing the AFU minefields on potential areas of attack, loitering of aircrafts of AFU on the Mariupol direction near the front line, the continued accumulation of equipment (tanks, artillery, armored personnel carriers, cannons, etc.) on the first and second lines. In the zone of effective action summed up tactical missiles and heavy artillery.
Dubbed by command of the direction of impact of the AFU, in General, reflect the simple fact that the main forces deployed against the DPR. With high probability, the main effort of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be made to the achievement of the operational objectives on the territory of DPR, although it is possible that the General staff of AFU may be several options for plans of offensive operations.
In LPR the enemy’s offensive capabilities are much less and the defeat of the armed forces of LPR junta does not compute even in the plans. However, even here assembled grouping deployed in order of battle to attack and threaten the Slavyanoserbsk and Lugansk (although the capture of Lugansk it is unlikely to go). Fighting on the fronts of the LPR are similar in nature to what we observed on the territory of DPR, although the intensity, as shelling and clashes are traditionally less. However, this difference may be deceptive if the impact of AFU on the front of the LPR will be coordinated with strikes on the territory of the DPR and it will retard the portion of provisions for the relief attempts of the enemy to capture one of the major towns of the Lugansk. Military sources in parts on the “front” as one suggests that the onset of the junta expect in the next few days and preparing hard for him.
During the reporting period on the territory of the republics (mainly on the territory of DPD) several dozen homes and infrastructure destroyed by shelling. Military losses of the parties in fact are secret, but judging by the information leaks to the press by the junta, they reach up to 100-120 people a week killed and wounded. Obviously, losses and on the part of the Armed Forces of Novorossia. Here it can be noted that the level of military censorship on both sides has grown significantly. Although, as shown by the battle for Debaltseve, in the battle party Armed Forces of Ukraine lost control of the information and much of what might fall outside the framework of public attention was leaked.
Conclusions
On August 24, we have a medium fighting situation with sporadic nature and its transition to high-intensity positional phase. While the current configuration of groups of the AFU in all four sectors is offensive in nature, and technical and human intelligence AFN has identified a number of characteristics of the preparation for a large-scale offensive operations. In general, there is a very high probability of transition of the fighting into maneuver (mobile?) phase, where the first blow will belong to the AFU.
Speaking about the possibility to completely destroy People’s Republics, it should be noted that such military capabilities of the APU is gone, when the current correlation of forces possible for the APU is offensive to a depth of 15-25 kilometers with the capture of several settlements, after which the battle will take the nature of a counter battle, where the APU, being at new and unequipped positions, would have to repel the attacks of AFN reserves
Obviously, such adventurous activities, like during the summer of 2014, cannot be expected from the AFU. However, when enemies are trying deep breakthroughs, there are still huge risks associated with bare flanks, which can be counter-attacked with strikes that may put into question the integrity of the front with the APU in Donbas. That lack of confidence in the ability to win in an oncoming battle and repel the counterattacks of the AFN reserves keeps the junta from the very, very reckless adventures. But at the strategic level, the junta is interested in the war, as it reflects both the objectives of the United States and allows it to divert public attention from the difficult situation in the economy.
2. Novorossia SITREP August 26, 2015
3. Last night Kiev junta Armed Forces started massive attack on Belaya Kamenka on Viking battalion of the First Slavic Brigade of the Armed Forces of Donetsk People Republic positions [Video]
НОВОСТЬ ДНЯ: боевые действия под Белой Каменкой продолжаются 6 часов, батальон «Викинг» держит оборону (+КАРТА)
Russia and Beyond
1. Cragill office in Russia fires a specialist for criticizing the company’s support of non-traditional sexual minorities
Американские компании увольняют российских специалистов за традиционную ориентацию
A very interesting article on how the American companies getting to Russian market by buying out various small European companies, and how the US companies conduct abuse of Russian employees.
2. Anguish and gnashing of teeth in Sardine-stan
Latvia was waiting in vain for Russia to lift its food ban and to buy Latvian canned sardines. First, Russia banned the fish in response to the EU sanctions. However, being Russian which means not wanting to sound rude, authorities asked Latvia to fix some production problems and to bring the quality of their product up to level with made in Russia products. Latvians acted like it was all a big joke and responded in Latvian language, not even bothering to translate their letters into Russian. Lo and behold, Latvia lost its biggest buyer, billions of dollars in annual revenue and 20,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Kaliningrad region companies came up with their own canned Baltic sardines that 2.5 times cheaper and taste better.
3. Ukraine positions itself to be ” a stopper of Russian aggression” for the West, eager to reap huge unspecified rewards. Ukraine should learn from the mistakes of others. Even the biggest American bootlicker, a former Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski compared his country’s liaison with the US with giving to the Americans free blow jobs. Everyone thought he got a brain damage in a process. No wonder he lost his job, his bid for presidency, and even his American wife, who for some reason decided that her soul wasn’t “Polish” after all, and couldn’t not stand to stay even a minute longer in “this country.”
The following interview points a somewhat unexpected light on the uncomfortable position Azerbaijan twisted itself in trying to serve its American masters. Needless to say its efforts were futile. This explains why Azerbaijan has been uncharacteristically quiet lately. An informative interview with the Israeli political analyst Avraham Shmulevich. Keep in mind that Israel acted as big friend of Azerbaijan. The Jewish community in Azerbaijan is rich and powerful, and it’s known to direct large financial support to both Azerbaijan and Georgia (Gruzia) for anti-Russian propaganda. It’s not going to change ever, but it’s interesting to watch Shmulevich kicking the former Azerbaijani “friends’ with his shuda cuda wuda.
After the West’s agreement with Iran, Baku has no one to contain. One week of the South Caucasian region in review
После соглашения Запада с Ираном, Баку стало не кого «сдерживать»: Закавказье за неделю. Издание minval.az беседует с Авраамом Шмулевичем
The title of the original interview war “Russia has already captured Azerbaijan without any military actions”
Shmulevich says that Azerbaijan has only itself to blame for growing tensions with the West caused by low oil prices, war on Russia, and abysmal state of civil society that the West has been silent about until now. The West (not clear the US or EU) said something nasty about Azerbaijan being a totalitarian corrupt regime. Essentially a code word for incoming western putsch and all the following bombing and plundering of a country. Azerbaijani authorities suddenly woke up to the great opportunity to be westernized, which means to be hanged like Saddam Hussein, or sadomized to death like Colonel Gaddafi. No wonder, they decided to stick with Russia and to seek peace with Armenia and Iran, at this point. Shmulevich doesn’t like this sudden change of the Azerbaijani government’s mind, which is an excellent indication that they are doing something right.
4. Russian MP, a member of the Committee on Information Technology and a member of LDPR Vadim Dengin contacted the law enforcement with request of developing software against internet trolls. He claims that this sort of software is used in the EU and US with the 89% of accuracy. He claims that internet trolls are dangerous species and their activities often leads to victimization of their innocent targets. However, he admits that the best way to battle trolls is to ignore them
5. The Myth of a Russian “Threat [source]
August 26, 2015 by Pepe Escobar
Not a week goes by without the Pentagon carping about an ominous Russian “threat”.
Where’s our loot?
The Pentagon’s rhetorical games also serve to mask a real high-stakes process; essentially an energy war – centering on the control of oil, natural gas and mineral resources of Russia and Central Asia. Will this wealth be controlled by oligarch frontmen “supervised” by their masters in New York and London, or by Russia and its Central Asian partners? Thus the relentless propaganda war.
6. All future wars will be fought for water [source]
7. Alfred Cox, a former member of the US imposed occupational government of the post Soviet Russia in 1990s, on his pilgrimage to the roots of Ukrainian nationalism in Germany writes about his trip on his FB
Cox also wished to drive a wooden stake through all those opposing Ukro-Nazism.
As one of the readers commented, “Alfred Cox on the Stepan Bandera’s grave. It’s all we have to know about the liberals in Russia.”
It’s also all we have to know about the European democracy.
And now for another edition of “Amerika in decline…”
Join in as we watch the collapse of the US dollar, and with that the implosion of the US economy
1. Why It Really All Comes Down To The Death Of The Petrodollar
• the world seems to have underestimated how structurally important collapsing crude prices are to global finance;
• the Petrodollar meaning was the world in which oil export countries would recycle the dollars they received in exchange for their oil exports, by purchasing more USD-denominated assets, boosting the financial strength of the reserve currency, the US, and the US military;
• In 2014 the oil producers effectively imported capital amounting to about $10 billion. By comparison, they exported $60 billion in 2013, $248 billion in 2012, and $511 billion in 2006;
• ZeroHedge along with the Western governments tend to believe that the death of Petrodollars came as a result of China, Russia and the rest of the BRICs trying to distance themselves from the West smilingly for no reason at all. See “The main thrust for this shift away from the USD was that with Russia and China, as well as the rest of the BRIC nations, increasingly seeking to distance themselves from the US-led, “developed world” status quo spearheaded by the IMF, global trade would increasingly take place through bilateral arrangements which bypass the (Petro)dollar entirely.”
• The truth is that unraveling of the Western economy is entirely of the US doing.
2. some truly amazing charts showing the first minutes of trading and how there was practically no market for a period of about 30 minutes due to every single HFT algo going haywire almost as the same time…
The Stunning Comparisons Between The “Flash Crash” Of August 24, 2015 And May 6, 2010 [source]
3. Judging by predictions of VIX backwardation, S&P500 and the whole US stock market will keep crashing until September 18, 2015, after which it will be very slowly rebounding or trading sideways into March 2016
4. Devaluation Stunner: China Has Dumped $100 Billion In Treasuries In The Past Two Weeks [source]
“China has sold an epic amount of Treasuries in the past two weeks.
How epic? We turn it over to SocGen once again:
The PBoC cut the RRR for all banks by 50bp and offered additional reductions for leasing companies (300bp) and rural banks (50bp). All these will take effect as of 6 September, and the total amount of liquidity injected will be close to CNY700bn, or $106bn based on today’s onshore exchange rate. In perspective, the PBoC may have sold more official FX reserves than this amount since the currency regime change on 11 August.
There you have it: in the past two weeks alone China has sold a gargantuan $106 (or more) billion in US paper just as a result of the change in the currency regime!”
China’s FX reserves are still 134% of the recommended level, or in other words, around $900bn (1/4 of total) and can be used for currency intervention without severely impacting China’s external position.
Remember this past winter everyone was saying that to collapse the US economy and to stop its war machine, all China had to do was to sell its holding of the US Treasuries. Now, China HAS to do this to support its economy. The Western economy has been piggyback riding on China’s back, while threatening, insulting, and abusing the country and its people. The US $, as a reserve currency, days are few to come. This, too, shall pass…
The whole sitrep is very well put together. Lots of useful stuff in there sprinkled with a nice dose of sarcastic humour. Thank you Scott!
Totally agree with Nightingale – a treat to read.
Great work!
These links should work:
Armed Forces of Novorossia AFN recently has done in the area of Maryevka. http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/08/dpr-takes-maryevka-accidentally.html
and
Maryevka is ours Photo report http://rusvesna.su/recent_opinions/1440393297
Yes, Scott, there IS an anti-corruption fairy. . . and he is hired to put a clean face upon “Change-For-Other-Purposes.” Sadly, the fairy has been put to work in China, too: Chinese mega-state enterprises, especially in the energy sector, are to be privatized. And those who object are guilty of. . . (you guessed it)– corruption! China continues to open to Western privatization and investment:
Bo, Zhou & Guo removed from office; and Guo jailed for life.
Bo had been an outspoken advocate of the so-called Chongqing model and the protection of the country’s largest state-owned enterprises (SOEs) so as to transform them into “national champions.” Zhou was closely connected to China’s giant state-owned energy corporations and a number of his associates have also been targeted in the anti-corruption drive.
Neither Zhou nor Bo was opposed to the program of capitalist restoration in China over the past three decades. But they were regarded by Xi and Premier Li Keqiang as an obstacle to the government’s economic agenda of privatising SOEs, liberalising the financial and banking system and further opening of the economy to foreign investors. These policies were detailed in the China 2030 report, co-authored with the World Bank and with which Li was closely associated.
Also in July, retired general Guo Boxiong was detained and stripped of his party membership. Guo, who had close connections to former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, is the highest-ranking military figure to fall in Xi’s purge. In June, Zhou Yongkang, a member of the CCP’s top Politburo Standing Committee and the country’s former security chief, was jailed for life on charges of corruption. Zhou was the most senior CCP bureaucrat to be imprisoned since the trial and conviction of the Gang of Four in the 1980s. http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/08/25/fact-a25.html
Penelope,
Your comments read like a US embassy, Beijing, handout.
The criminality of each of the men you seem to protect is so evident that if each were shot like years back the public would cheer. Bo and his police chief and his murdering wife were guilty of a panoply of crimes. His Chongqing model was the resurrection of Maoism. Zhou was a threat of a violent military coup being hatched.
Guo was a totally corrupt military man.
Larchmonter445,
I am glad to learn that these particular worthies deserved their fate. But nevertheless the order of the day in China is to privatize State enterprizes and open up to foreign investment.
Premier Li Keqiang attends Davos, where he gave a presentation this year, and it is just for insiders you know.
I very much hope that the struggle for power at the top continues between the US and China. Perhaps in the interval a legitimate people’s movement for sovereign nations with individual rights can be empowered.
Larchmonter445,
Btw, I forgot: China’s sold $100B in US treasuries since the beginning of the year– and another $100B in the past two weeks alone. I don’t know if this is just a way to protect the relative value of the Yuan, or if it’s war at the top.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the Trotskyites apart from the Wall Street crowd. Xi’s struggles against corrupt Western assets, agents, and friends is great news. Some of us here bemoan the lack of progress in Russia in weeding out all the fifth columnists and destructive pro-Western elites. All that we are hoping for and more has been going on in China under Xi.
@ Penelope,
Q; Sadly, the fairy has been put to work in China, too:
R; Have you checked the Vegas Strip lately?
An old and wise woman once told me, “I can smell smoke, but for now… I can’t see the flames… They’re there though… I can sense them…”
Back then, as an impressionable child, I desperately wanted to believe in ‘Santa Clause’, but it was his wicked aunt ‘Ana’, that came barreling down the barren
dessertdesert and wolfed down property after property…China’s influence has become worldwide [regardless whether ‘you’ and ‘I’ like it or not] and they seem to buy up everything.. – link to google search
Daniel, According to Ellen Brown China is allowed to print her own money supply at need. Russia is not. If China wd come out in favor of dissolution of the IMF/Fed system of control over EVERY nation’s currency creation, the terrible need for dollars and the other institutions of the NWO wd be dead. We wd be dealing w economically sovereign nations. Instead, China wants a share in running these institutions, wants to have a share in the SDRs.
Only 25% of the circulating currency in Russia is rubles; the rest is euros & dollars. With sanctions against long-term capital & even mediium-term — well, you see the problem. Plus, the Russian Cntrl Bank is run by the Fed– mandates high interest rates in Russia. Business expansion w/o investment just isn’t possible.
If nations lack financial sovereignty, then they get Greece’s result– cuz your govt that you elect is powerless, dependent on an exterior institution for money-creation.
I was reviewing Evgeny Fedorov’s video http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/07/negotiations-to-remove-putin-underway.html
I don’t thik it’s quite so dire, but I have sympathy for his sovereignty arguments.
Russia has sovereign currency and can print as much as it wants. It is also moving towards free float
http://www.rt.com/business/203959-russian-ruble-free-float-bank/
It can, but it doesn’t, and that self-imposed.
Blue, The Central Bank of Russia is NOT controlled by the Russian govt, according to the Russian constitution so helpfully written for it by the US following the USSR breakup.
If you listen to the various Russian economists that have been covered on this site, you will find that every one– Glazye, Starikov & Khazin– all speak of the necessity of nationalizing the central bank and the ruble.
Further, in the last Russian economist article there was anger expressed that the US Fed had actually sent a 5-page memo of instrux to the Russian Central Bank, which was followed exactly!
By law, the Russian C Bank is “independent” of the Rus govt– that is, it’s controlled by the IMF/Fed system.
http://lit.md/files/nstarikov/rouble_nationalization-the_way_to_russia%27s_freedom.pdf
Russia may issue her own currency only against import income. This is why Russia is so hardhit by sanctions against her borrowing. It’s why so many govt employees are unpaid. It’s why only one-quarter of the circulating currency is rubles. There is a scarcity of rubles cuz she can’t print them as needed. She is dependent on outside investment & THIS is the reason she has such difficulty developing her industry & agriculture.
“By law, the Russian C Bank”
By Russian law — which Russia can change any time it wants if it gets the political will to do it. It’s an internal decision.
It’s not like the EU with the ECB controlling nation’s currency, which would require a nation to leave the Eurozone to change that, or the US where a state would have to secceed from the US to control it’s own currency. All it would take in Russia is changing it’s own law and/or policies. The IMF or US Fed does not have the power to force Russia to do anything it decides not to do voluntarily. So it isn’t that Russia is not ‘allowed’ but that it decides what to do.
As Russia continues to move away from SWIFT, WTC, etc., control it will likely decide to change how it manages it’s currency. It could decide differently next week if it chose to. The problem is bringing the fifth column under better control — which is in progress. It’s a different sort of problem than ‘not allowed’.
Blue, you make it sound like changing a major law, such as the Russian Constitution is a simple matter of getting control over the fifth column. This is misleading, as, for example, it took the banksters decades to get the Federal Reserve Act through the US Congress, even though they had tremendous influence. Major changes are a lot harder to make and that currently works in favor of the bad guys when it comes to Russian economic matters.
As a practical matter, certain changes are only feasible during a serious crisis. Russia incorporating the Crimea for example. It will likely take a serious crisis for the people around Putin to make a similarly aggressive move in nationalizing the central bank.
It is a serious problem
see http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-functioning-of-the-russian-central-bank-the-ruble-and-the-us-dollar/5422850
or
http://english.pravda.ru/russia/economics/30-12-2014/129431-usa_russia_central_bank-0/
and not easy to deal with, internally, but it is in Russian hands to change the law.
Putin failed to amend the constitution
but things are moving now and the struggle is in process.
http://www.gwu.edu/~ieresgwu/assets/docs/ponars/pm_0349.pdf
“To be considered independent, a central bank must have both formal, legal autonomy and
de facto policy autonomy. The CBR has lost ground in both areas under Putin, although
more in practice than in law.”
http://new.euro-med.dk/20141215-putins-confident-putin-to-nationalize-rothschilds-central-bank-and-purge-collaborators-with-west-war-till-one-side-collapses-inevitable.php
This goes along with the shift eastwards and brics, etc., but remember that Putin is an economist and not about to neglect the bank. He is also soaring in popularity with more support than ever.
The key issue, however, is that Russia IS a sovereign nation, unlike EU members, and has the power to change its banking once it gets itself consolidated more. It does need Europe’s or the US’s permission to revise it’s constitution, and it knows it is at war with the empire.
See https://www.creditwritedowns.com/2009/11/russia-sovereign-debt-defaults-and-fiat-currency.html
Blue, The author of the link you gave equates the Central Bank of Rus w the govt. He probably believes the US Fed Reserve is under the control of the US govt, too. Instead, please read Glazyev, a Russian economist:
http://thesaker.is/they-just-follow-washingtons-recommendations/
“The actions of the Central Bank in raising interest rates and allowing the ruble to float freely fully conform with the recommendations of the IMF. But the monetary authorities pay no attention to the consequences which we forecast. This is indeed strange, when you consider that raising interest rates and tightening credit conditions always reduces the money supply and there is nowhere where it doesn’t lead to a drop in production and investment.
“You mean the stagflation which we are now experiencing – is the result of decisions taken by the monetary authorities?
“And you thought it was the anti-Russian sanctions? If, after we were notified of them, the Central Bank has provided the manufacturing sector with an extension of credit, then we would have had a growth in production of import-substituting products after the introduction of our counter-sanctions against Western foodstuffs. But as loans for the increase of working capital to be used for the extension of production at domestic producers’ free production capacities could only be taken out at a high interest rate, they were forced to go the way of price increases.
“We had a unique situation in world practice – a combination of devaluation of the national currency and a fall in the volume of production. Always and everywhere devaluation of the national currency automatically leads to the growth of domestic production, which becomes more price competitive with foreign imports and correspondingly displaces more costly imports and increases cheaper exports. It is this effect the President was referring to when at the Business Russia Congress he spoke about the additional opportunities that had arisen for domestic business in connection with the fall of the ruble. But few were able to take advantage of these opportunities. In conditions of low profitability it is only possible to fight off sharply increased interest rates for loans with a corresponding hike in prices – and that means at the expense of demand. Due to the insane inflation of the key rate and the deterioration of the credit conditions of manufacturing enterprises, instead of expanding production and import substitution as the government had encouraged them to, they were forced to follow a path of banal price increases and reduced production as a result of falling demand.
“Are they idiots? Or saboteurs? No, they are just carrying out the recommendations of Washington’s financial institutions.”
Please read the whole article; so much more in it.
The US Fed is also undercontrol of the government — if the government decides to control it. The point is they are both internal, not external issues, so the solution is different than if there was an external power controlling currency, as in Greece or Michigan. It’s ‘the enemy within’ which needs to be defeated.
That can happen in a system where currency is directly controlled by the goernment too, where an oligarchy controls the government. The US defense budget is controlled by the congress — but the congress is controlled by the MIC, so we end up again with corruption and giving all the money to the wealthy. If the FED was abolished not much would change because congress would do what the banksters told them to (which is probably how the Fed was created to begin with, with congress going along with it). Except if the banksters’ control is institutionalized it’s that much harder for the people to wrest control back from them because laws need to be redone — an additional hurdle.
For better or for worse, China wants a gradual move to a less unipolar world. Besides, would it actually matter if China came out and said that the IMF should go away? What would be the practical implications of such a move? Wouldn’t it just convince those in power in the Anglo-American Empire that war was necessary to smash China?
Paul II,
If an entire goup moved to recover their sovereign ability to control & create their own currency, Sovereigny cd be recovered all over the world. If one country alone tried, they wd be smashed.
The 7 countries that US decided to take down in the mid-east didn’t belong to IMF or WTO (sorry, not quite positive). They retained the ability to issue their own currency and opposed usury (interest).
The international banking cabal that funnels power to themselves & military strength to the US is entirely vulnerable to abandonmnent of their institutions by the nations of the world. It is nearly impossible to defeat them or their military arm, the US, while we continue to funnel money to them thru the dollar, interest, etc.
Very good SitRep, Scott,
I specially liked philosophical-comic commentary on Kant’s “thing in itself” and watermelon. An old joke that – the European greens resemble watermelon: outside green, inside red, with many dark fascist spots around the core – now acquires a rich Kantian hue.
A minor quibble: I would prefer Sardine-reich to Sardine-stan.
Thank you, Spiral
Hi Scott,
thank you once again for this excellent collection of information.
It probably takes a day to read and absorb all this, which makes me wonder how many days it took to first search, find, verify, write and create it.
Also some bottles of квас from me!
many thanks as usual—I had posted am on Saker’s latest military situation NR ,with Minsk political items etc etc too…………………………..might be worth re-posting here mods to keep sitrep up to date and all in one place?????????
but not wishing to take away so much credit that is due to “the vice-principal of sitreps”
——————————————————
The intention of the Federal Reserve System (FRS) to tighten monetary policy in September, was the main reason for the collapse of the global stock market. This was stated by the director of a financial institution under the People’s Bank (the central bank) China’s Yao Yudong. According to him, the rate hike could lead to the global financial crisis.
“This news came as a trigger, triggering uncontrollable fluctuations in the market” – quoted him as saying edition of China Daily. “Rising interest rates may lead to a drop in US equities, for this may be followed by the sale of assets around the world that could eventually result in a new global financial crisis”, – predicts expert.
Yao Yudong believes that the Fed should “stay calm” as long as the rate of inflation in the United States will not reach the level of 2%”
item in anna news google translate
Sitrep-Scott: Thanks for generalized coverage. As for corruption? The US system is the most corrupt of all–money is speech so elections are bought. Well, the Lebanese are dealing with that these days. An NGO called “You Stink” started this whole garbage revolution so dealing with corruption and incompetence is important. Hezbollah and other factions are in the streets also which means if this new “color/utility revolution” takes on a demand for state power, it will have to deal with some of the real actors in the society who will have their say. Corruption? Depends on who is buying whom and what the real price is.
Scott: love your detailed scenarios regarding the gunman and 3 marines!
@Spiral
Sardine-reich it is for now on,
Thank you, guys, and ladies
As a fréquent traveller on Western Europe, I am hardly surprised as there is a complete lack of onboard train security and in France, soldiers patrol the stations as part of vigipirate, the whole thing is farce or facade. Unlike the Russians who have learnt from bloody experience. Therefore I am not surprised if someone can board a Tgv with an AK in a rucksack. What is indeed odd is the timing and location of the 3 U.S. Citizens. As Scott, are they on board most European expresses? Puzling
Absolutely true.
Compare it to China: Since the terror attacks in the disputed muslim regions a few years ago in all of China boarding any train is like boarding a plane!
X-ray control of your luggage, carefully watching eyes everywhere, security officers in every train (and every plane). In part hidden as “civilians”.
Here in the EU: Nothing at all.
And when I was in the USA in 2007 (Sun Micro paid the tickets amd hotels): First all sorts of controls, removing the shoes and almost the underwear, but then in the Lufthansa/Star Alliance we got metal forks and metal knifes for lunch.
What a joke.
Summary: We can conclude from those contradictions that it appears to be lesser about true safety than more so about frightening everybody and keeping the western public supporting “the war on terror” …
@ledahu
Exactly.
Which makes such ‘incidents’ – like Charlie Hebdo – such a ‘gift’ to the security industry.
Do you want to see a militarized – um, ‘ secure’ – transport system everywhere?
Because I sure as hell don’t.
Scott, I do love it when you mock the faux-terrorist incidents. Reminds me of Sandy Hook where they told the ambulance-personnel to drive down the street to the firehouse and any wounded children wd be brought to them. Then, contrary to state law, it was the police who declared them all dead.
A brand-new state law said children’s autopsies didn’t have to be revealed. When the AP and the Washington Post asked at least for the death certificates, Newtown town clerk refused to supply them. (It’s a felony to falsify one). She went so far as to introduce a bill to ban release of ALL death records, witness information– and marriage records(!)
http://mediasolidarity.com/watch_video.html 37:00 – 45:00.
Today, in the state of Connecticut, the release of ANY unauthorized info about ANY homicide will get you 5 years in the State pen. Truly, you can’t make this stuff up!
@ Scott,
Thanks, man. I really wish we could discus this
shitcrapBSstuff over a meal and drinks, but yeah, I appreciate the time and effort you [and Baaz] put into providing us with these sitreps.Is it too good to be true?
A psychedelic trip down Abbey Road will-
‘Paul is dead… Paul is dead…”
What?
Excellent stuff today.
The train marines – I thought the same from the start – though I normally try to avoid the theatrical conspiracy theories. I suspect they didn’t know about the Luger in advance buy had supplied a non-working AK47.
MH17 – If there had been a Buk (with a magic trail) then there would have been thousands of parts of BUK in a great big circle with a centre that indicates where the momentum of the BUK would have taken it. Hundreds of parts should have been found very early on. Finding one or two parts now is hugely suspicious and almost explained by Kiev planting them.
Moreover, not finding BUK parts and projectiles at an early stage is pretty much proof that there was no BUK.
Like the appeal for more social media evidence of the BUK transport, this comes close to an admission that there is no BUK evidence.
Come the next report deadline in October, a “still not sure” report is most likely and should be interpreted as it was not a BUK. A report that says “BUK but not sure where” means it was a Ukrainian BUK. It is not possible that the US could not provide enough hints of where to search if there had been a rebel BUK. A “Rebel BUK” report should be treated according to the degree of evidence made available.
My guess is a “still not sure” report accompanied with a pile of anti-Russia rhetoric is most probable. That will be a test for our press.
The other issue is the Dutch Prosecutor’s office. I see no reason why they would have any more knowledge of the Dutch lead JIT’s investigation than you or I. There is a man called the Chief investigator (who as an employee of of the Prosecutor’s office does not actually investigate) whose job seems to be to go around and give TV and radio interviews in every country and deliberately create the impression he knows who did it but can’t quite say. The Dutch Prosecutor’s office is pure western PR right now, and its comments should be ignored as such.
Scott, A little Russian lesson for you: if a year ends in 1, you say: год (year), if it ends in 2, 3 and 4: года; otherwise, you say: лет, which means “summer”. This is true in general, a subject noun following one or a number ending in 1 (21, etc.) is in nominative case; subject noun following 2, 3 or 4 or a number ending in 2, 3 or 4 (22, 23, 24, etc.) is in genitive singular; otherwise, for any other number including 11, 12, 13 or 14, the subject noun is in the genitive plural. That comes from two years of college and high school Russian; I won’t say how many years ago. So in short, 2014 года but 2015 лет.
@ Albertde,
Q; Scott, A little Russian lesson for you:
R; Wo/man, that reminds me of the ‘Romanes eunt domus‘ slap shtick…
or
“What have the romans ever done for us?”.
Some things are simply brilliant.
Agreed, it was a mistake that I took the time to respond to that nonsense.
Because given the things we are facing on this blood covered burning planet, how stupid is it to start talking about grammar (and then even incorrectly).
Your video reply hits the nail much better.
It reminds me of my few semesters of Maths studies at Technical University, when some complete noobs complained about a ridiculous misspelling.
Wrong: 2014 лет __ but 2004 года.
Russian is Latin on steroids for nouns but not for verbs. But for every Russian verb there are two aspects: perfective and imperfective, sort of like the distinction in French between the passé composé (or passé simple) and the imparfait but for all tenses just not the past. The present perfective has a future meaning.
I only wish my Russian vocabulary was as good as my Russian grammar.
@Albertde: Did you ever put into consideration, that Scott might well be a native speaker of Russian (which I think is the case)?
But beyond that, here is a simple experiment for you:
Go to google.ru and enter in double quotes:
“2015 года”
https://www.google.ru/?gws_rd=ssl#newwindow=1&q=%222015+%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%22
Результатов: примерно 54 500 000 (0,27 сек.)
This looks a slight deal larger than the number of hits for your suggestion:
“2015 лет”
https://www.google.ru/?gws_rd=ssl#newwindow=1&q=%222015+%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%22
Результатов: примерно 415 000 (0,23 сек.)
And those were not even entered by mislead non-natives, but represent cases where people mention the AGE of somebody or something.
@ Albertde,
Q; I only wish my Russian vocabulary was as good as my Russian grammar.
R; If it makes you feel any better, at least you’re able to discern the Russian language [to whatever extend], whereas I resemble a rabbit, one that stares at a cat barking out loud…
Every language seems to have its own pitfalls and to fully grasp the layering of those strung together syllables, might get lost in translation or, in my case, blissful ignorance.
Hi Albertde,
I’m also only still learning Russian.
But I know enough to point you to the fact that you are confusing telling your age to somebody versus dealing with the date.
There it is always 2015 года, or simply 2015 г. (from 0 to 9)
If you use the form …
A) the so and so manyth day: Nominativ 6-oe мая 2002-го года
B) on the so and so manyth day: Genitiv 6-го мая 2002-го года
Also allow me the hint, that while it is true that лет
лет м
сущ
1
years old
2
age
(возраст)
лет возраста – years of age
uses the same radical as the word for summer and is probably derived from it historically from ancient times, the correct translation for summer is nevertheless not лет but лето
summer [ˈsʌmə]
сущ
лето ср, год м
(year)
hot summer – жаркое лето
according to https://translate.yandex.ru
You can use your form if you are talking about somebody’s age and he is indeed 2015 years old ;)
That’s at least how I understand it so far.
Fascinating linguistic discussion. Thank you.
Albertde and Martin you are both right
.
As a rule, but there are always could be exceptions, the word лет (summers) refers to age or duration of time; 5 лет means 5 year old and a period of 5 years;
Because, In Russia, one lives during summers and hibernates during winters.
The word год (года) refers to date.: 2015 год or 2015 года
Your interest in Russian linguistic is truly inspiring.
I apologize for starting this whole digression. The problem arises because, according to my trusty Kolni-Balozky, год has two declensions in the plural, one fairly regular but with locative in году.The one with forms of год is used when expressing points in time and historical periods of time like the ’60s, I.e., dates, calendar years (my 25th year: мой двадцать пятый год) and the one with forms of лет is used for intervals of time when the numbers do not end in 1, 2, 3, or 4, etc. as I explained before. That is the rule for the use of the second form of the declension when the cardinal number is in the nominative or accusative. When the number of years is cardinal (one, two, etc.) and is in genitive, use лет. When the cardinal number is in dative, instrumental or locative, always use the one with forms of год. Ordinal numbers (first, second, etc.) always use the forms with год in the appropriate case.
I set out this detailed explanation because otherwise you will see forms of лет with two and wonder what is going on and the same with forms of год with five, etc. This of course applies to intervals of years only. With dates and historical periods it is always with a form of год.
This comes about because лет is an archaic word for year and is still used in some situations, while год is the present-day word for year.
Thanks you Scott for confirming this and bringing some clarity into this tuman.
@Albertde:
Here is a good hint for you. And who would not believe that lady … :)
p.s. I post it here and there because the single only disadvantage after transition to this (really good) new blog format and URL last spring: No confirmation messages are being sent to the E-Mail address if somebody writes a follow-up.
Second rule “How to learn russian language?” | Project “The Easy Russian”
—–>> Не учите грамматику! Don’t learn grammar!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heiAeEsiFKE
My personal comment:
Let’s ask ourselves: Who is best in learning a new language? —>>> Children.
And do they start with grammar (which is so complicated that they would never manage to say MAMA MAMA HUNGRY??
I had the same problems with grammar.
After a few days one forgets the first extra rules and exceptions and needs to repeat the lesson. And this can continue for decades.
A good approach is entering “learning Russian” into youtube and see what comes up.
In addition I have some University books as reference.
Plus I try to read some articles at (original Russian) Cassad or Russian Saker.
Reply to Martin from S.E.B.:
Actually I did learn Russian the “children’s way”. We repeated and did substitution drills with sentences like: Я учусь русскому языку в школе. Мне нравится рыба, щи и картошки. The result is that even though I rarely get to practise Russian and have forgotten most of the vocabulary I learned, my Russian accent is probably better than the other languages I learned. After a semester of this method, unfortunately, my Russian teacher left and was replaced by a Russian speaking women from Lithuania, who used the traditional method in a fast paced course emphasizing reading and grammar. The only concession she made was to speak with a Moscow, not a Leningrad accent. At university it was more of the same.
My key reference books for Russian are (1) Duff and Makaroff and (2) Kolni-Balozki. The first because the Duff method emphasizes reading real articles in the foreign language with English translations either side-by-side or interlinearly and the second because Kolni-Balozki gives complete coverage, including etymological remarks, of grammar and vocabulary difficulties in all their gory detail.
Besides Russian, I learned German and Spanish the traditional way in school and university and French and Dutch through course instruction while living and working in countries where the languages are spoken.
I have been to Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine years ago when it was still the Soviet Union during the cold war. Camping and conversing with people in Russian, English, French and German. (The person I was with didn’t speak Russian.) In those days, the younger generation was speaking some English, while the older generation spoke French or German.
Dear Saker, I love you dearly, but please, Catholicism is not a “Ponzi scheme.” In an imperfect world it is an imperfect institution but a darn sight better than its Protestant imitators. I know that the Catholic religion has not an altogether good history in the Ukraine. True. But please don’t overlook what is good. You are too good a Christian for that.
The Pope’s visit–well, an interesting development. I hope it goes well. I’ll be hunkering down in
Northwest Philly–probably won’t try to do to town.
Good luck for hurricane week.
Did I ever mention the Catholic religion?
Pope Finds 100s Of Millions Of Euros “Tucked Away”; Freezes Ex-Vatican Bank Heads Assets
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-07/pope-finds-100s-millions-euros-tucked-away-freezes-ex-vatican-bank-heads-assets
Vatican Bank Profits Plunge Following Clean-Up
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-07-08/vatican-bank-profits-plunge-following-clean
$4 Trillion In “Fake” Euro Bonds Seized At Vatican Bank
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-31/4-trillion-fake-euro-bonds-seized-vatican-bank
Pope Opens Vatican Bank Kimono
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-25/pope-opens-vatican-bank-kimono
Pope Pissed After Feds Force FATCA Down Vatican City Bankers’ Throats
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-06-11/pope-pissed-after-feds-force-fatca-down-vatican-city-bankers-throats
Vatican Bank To Shut All Embassy Accounts To Halt Money Laundering
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-30/vatican-bank-shut-all-embassy-accounts-halt-money-laundering
Priest, Spook And Banker Arrested In Vatican Bank Probe
http://www.zerohedge.com/node/475804
Lightning Strikes Vatican After Papal Resignation – Video
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-02-12/lightning-strikes-vatican-after-papal-resignation-video
Vatican Blesses Porsche, Blocks Plebs From Sistine Chapel
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-10-20/vatican-blesses-porsche-blocks-plebs-sistine-chapel
German Lawyer To Head Vatican Bank
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-02-15/german-lawyer-head-vatican-bank
i wonder what this Pope signed during his visit to Israel, all the accords should be open for scrutiny. who are the best in money laundering? what state hold the most criminals in money laundering.
@Caryl
Scott is absolutely right.
And he was polite by not having mentioned the Vatican’s role in, among many other things:
* helping some of the worst Nazi SS slaugterers to escape to USA and Southern America (O.D.E.S.S.A)
* having visited Hitler and having had excellent connections to the Nazi elites
* All the laws they made with Hitler are still CURRENT LAW, for example the bill that forces all Christians in Germany to pay the so called “Church-tax”, no matter if they go to church or not, no matter if they are catholics or protestants
* Let’s not mention Vatican’s biased role in Ukraine and many other war zones (not only now, but since ages ago)
* let’s only speculate about their connections to Satanism
It is nice to see well-intended catholic believers (civilians) in Poland, Bavaria or Austria.
But they permit themselves getting cheated by an evil Vatican. Are they blind?
“All future wars will be fought for water.” MSM is pushing this topic as the western oligarchs buy up some water supplies and destroy others.
Interesting that no one is trying to fix the problem. The following link will surprise you as to the ways to solve the problem that you have never heard of:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/california-water-wars-another-form-of-asset-stripping/5438835 Ellen Brown.
Includes several innovative sources for inexpensive water. Suggestion that these are being avoided in order to enhance the value of limited water which is being bought up. It’s the people against the new “water barons” – Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Monsanto, the Bush family, and their ilk – who are buying up water all over the world at an unprecedented pace.
Thank you, thank you Scott. So interesting as always.
I wonder if anyone in France considered it “excessive” to award the Legion of Honor for that. I was a bit shocked at it myself.Even if the whole story they are putting out was true.Would that be something worthy of a Legion of Honor award.I think Napoleon might have disagreed with that.
they alreday gave to th elikes of Madona or Sharon Stone, so no it’ snot execessive, they descrated the legion d’honneur long ago. Back in the 90s I would say…
“So, the alleged gunman loaded his Kalashnikov in the restroom, meanwhile three guys were standing on the other side with their ears pressed to the door, listening…”
i was very sceptical when i heard on TV. What stroke me is how media and interior ministry disagreed on details on nationality of the guys.
Media went for the whole Us Marines heroes, no french heroes there (SNCF personnel looked themself and didn’t respond to any help cries from People, actior Jen Hugues Anglade was there in the tran in that wagon, as witness and confessed he saw himslef dying in the minute)
French interior ministry inisted on the fact the first guy who took the bullet was french (franco-american to some), i guess this one was not to offend french military taking patr in the “Vigipirate plan”. Anyway this double version was inetresting adn revealing.
Thank you Scott.
Interesting as always.
Rgds,
Veritas
Post deleted because of breaking the blog policy about use of capital letters. Perhaps you colud repost it in a better way. Vineyard moderator. E.K.
Scott, thanks. Excellent effort.
Regarding corruption, for years i’ve been saying the USA is the “banana republic” of the “banana republics”. The master.
The other obvious achievement of Maidan driven junta is that millions of Ukrainians live on less than $1 a day.
That is what some of my grandfolks earned per day picking crops during the 1920’s-30’s depression in the USA.
Also, though OT:
Have you ever heard of the Russian fairytale Masha and the Three Bears?
I’m sure you have heard of Маша и Медведи (Masha & the Bears – for those Russian challenged – like me) ;)
Reykjavik – Masha & Medvedi
The Icelandic homage, with relation to here, may not be so OT after all. :D
Маша и Медведи – без тебя