Coup Attempt In Russia, Putin Evacuated

Russian Citizens ASTOUNDING Gold & Silver Purchases

With the Ukraine war (that they started) hanging like a sword over Russia, I was chatting with Asya the other day and a thought popped into my head. I was wondering if Russian citizens are allowed to buy gold and silver.

Well, it turns out that Vladimir Putin has been encouraging citizens to buy gold and silver. They're buying it in record amounts.

Here's a February video by Rons Basement on the topic:

Maybe the Russians know something we don't?

Putin Nuking Russian Economy

 

Putin Mobilizes More Troops For Ukraine War, Threatens Nuclear Retaliation

With Ukraine recently kicking Russia's butt in a counteroffensive, Russian President Vladimir Putin is getting desperate.

He is ordering more troops and appears to be threatening nuclear retaliation against the West.

NBC News reported:

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the partial mobilization of his country’s military Wednesday, calling up reservists in a significant escalation of his war in Ukraine after battlefield setbacks left the Kremlin facing growing pressure to act.

In a rare national address, the Russian leader also backed plans for Russia to annex occupied areas of southern and eastern Ukraine, appearing to threaten nuclear retaliation if Kyiv continues its efforts to reclaim that land.

It came just a day after after four Russian-controlled areas announced they would stage votes this week on breaking away from Ukraine and joining Russia, in a plan Kyiv and its Western allies dismissed as a desperate “sham” aimed at deterring a successful counteroffensive by Ukrainian troops.  

Vowing that Russia would use all the means at its disposal to protect what it considers its territory, Putin accused the West of nuclear blackmail and warned: “This is not a bluff.” 

To read more, go here. 

Biden Explains Why Gas Prices Are So High

 Vladimir Putin was never mentioned. High gas prices were intentional.

Score One For Ukraine...Maybe

Above, the missile cruiser Moskva before its sinking.

If what the Ukrainians are saying is true, the sinking of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva in the Black Sea by a missile is a major win for Ukraine. It symbolizes that Putin's invasion/war against Ukraine is coming at a high price.

According to MarketWatch:

KYIV, Ukraine — The flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, a guided-missile cruiser that became a potent target of Ukrainian defiance in the opening days of the war, sank Thursday after it was heavily damaged in the latest setback for Moscow’s invasion.

Ukrainian officials said their forces hit the vessel with missiles, while Russia acknowledged a fire aboard the Moskva but no attack. U.S. and other Western officials could not confirm what caused the blaze.

The loss of the warship named for the Russian capital is a devastating symbolic defeat for Moscow as its troops regroup for a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine after retreating from much of the north, including the capital, Kyiv.

In his nightly video address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alluded to the sinking as he told Ukrainians they should be proud of having survived 50 days under attack when the Russians “gave us a maximum of five.”

To read more, go here. 

Bring Back The Air Raid Sirens In The U.S.

Above, an air raid siren in the San Fernando Valley in 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer

My viewing of The Atomic Cafe movie today and an opinion piece got me thinking about air raid sirens.

It isn't known to me if the authors of an opinion piece in the April 1 New York Times was quackery or an April Fool's joke, but it is something to think about.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made (what the authors say) an "implicit threat" of using nuclear weapons over Ukraine when his invasion started. 

Steven Simon and Jonathan Stevenson began with:

The Biden administration has done an admirable job checking Russian disinformation efforts by disclosing U.S. intelligence assessments of Moscow’s intentions and marshaling unified political support for Ukrainian sovereignty and indirect military support for its defense.

But the administration has spoken out when it might have kept silent about Russia’s implicit threat to use nuclear weapons. In President Vladimir Putin’s speech announcing the invasion, he stated that anyone who “tries to stand in our way” will face consequences “such as you have never seen in your entire history.” He ordered his defense minister to put Russia’s nuclear forces on alert. It may have been implicit, but the threat was clear.

Air raid sirens were installed in U.S. cities during World War II and were used during the Cold War. Monthly tests of them (at least in Los Angeles) were made on the last Friday of the month at 10:00 in the morning. The tests ended in 1985. 

Some sirens have been deactivated and some are still in use (for tornadoes, etc.). They vary by state.

In view of Putin's nuclear threat, perhaps it's time to restore and reactivate the sirens in areas where they were deactivated, just in case? 

Don't forget, DUCK AND COVER!

Ukraine Train Station Attacked By Russians

 

Ukraine Genocide: No Other Word For It

 

Gas Prices Then & Now

Two years ago today, I posted on Facebook:

Saw $1.999 gasoline prices in Gallup today.

Today, the price in Gallup is $3.999/gallon and the Flying J price for unleaded regular is $4.159.

Amazing how things change in just two years. It's not all Putin's fault either.

You Sanction Our Oligarchs, We'll Sanction Yours!

This Russia-Ukraine war and the sanctions the West is imposing has to be some of the most bizarre things I've ever seen.

In retaliation for the sanctions imposed on the oligarchs of Russia, Russia, in turn, is imposing sanctions against our own "oligarchs". 

The Gateway Pundit posted:

The UK, US and EU on Tuesday expanded economic and personal sanctions on Russian goods and “key oligarchs.”

Russia responded to the new sanctions by announcing personal sanctions against Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others, ABC reported.

A little "tit for tat"? 

To read more, go here. 

Hollywood Elitist George Takei Pops Off About Russia

Before 2016, George Takei's postings on Facebook and elsewhere were funny and entertaining. Since then, he is nothing but an angry old gay man with multiple chips on his shoulders and constantly attacks Republicans.

Now, he is trying to tell us that we should put the screws to Vladimir Putin by paying more for gasoline. It would be an honor to so, or so he says.

There's only one problem with that.

From The Gateway Pundit: 

Hollywood elitist George Takei of Star Trek fame, popped off about the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Takei, who is worth millions of dollars, said Americans should be honored to pay higher food and gas prices “if it means putting the screws to Putin.”

“Americans: We can endure higher prices for food and gas if it means putting the screws to Putin. Consider it a patriotic donation in the fight for freedom over tyranny.” Takei said in a tweet on Friday afternoon.

Someone should tell George Takei that the United States is funding Putin by buying Russian oil.

To read more, go here. 

Ukraine: Why Gun Rights Are Human Rights

Above, Ukrainians arming themselves against the Russian invaders.

A great illustration on why our Second Amendment rights are human rights is on display right now in Ukraine in their fight against the invading Russian military.

The Federalist reported:

The world is captivated by Ukraine’s resistance to Russian invasion, especially since much of Ukraine’s resistance comes from ordinary citizens taking up arms in defense of their homeland.

Ukraine has a fighting chance in part because it has taken dramatic steps to provide its people firearms. More than 25,000 automatic rifles and 10 million rounds of ammunition have been distributed to volunteers in Kyiv.  

In the United States, even supporters of draconian gun control are announcing they “stand with the brave Ukrainian people” in their armed resistance. The glaring contradiction between these positions — supporting gun confiscation one day and gun distribution the next — seemingly hasn’t dawned on many of these ideologues.

To read more, go here. 

Russians Flee Ahead of Rumors of Putin's Martial Law Announcement

Things seem to be getting worse and worse. 

Now, it is rumored that Russian President Vladimir Putin may impose martial law on the country.

From Fox News:

Russian citizens have reportedly started to flee the country ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s rumored announcement of martial law. 

Earlier this week, Russia’s official censorship body issued guidance telling news networks to use only "trusted" sources under penalty of closure, which led to the shutdown of two independent news networks, including Dozhd TV – known in English as Rain TV. 

Tikhon Dzyadko, the overnight chief editor of Dozhd, wrote on Telegram on Wednesday that he was fleeing the country over fear for his life, saying that it is "obvious that the personal safety of some of us is now under threat." 

To read more, go here:  

As The World Is Seeing Putin (Self-Explanatory)

 

No need to add anything to this.

Dow Loses Nearly 600 Points To Start March

It was a good thing that I moved my investment accounts to a "safe haven" two weeks ago.

Yesterday, the month of March did not have a good start as the Dow lost nearly 600 points due to the Russia/Ukraine war (we may as well call it that) and the surge in oil prices.

According to CNBC:

U.S. stocks slid Tuesday, the first day of March, as oil prices surged and investors continued to monitor the fighting between Russia and Ukraine.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 597.65 points, or 1.76%, to close at 33,294.95. The S&P 500 sank by 1.55% to 4,306.26, and the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.59% to 13,532.46.

The decline in stocks came as satellite cameras captured a convoy of Russian military vehicles apparently on its way to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. A U.S. defense official said Tuesday that 80% of the Russian troops that massed on Ukraine’s border last month have now entered the country.

We have Vlad the Invader to thank for all of this.

To read more, go here. 

Russians Face Economic Point of No Return

Well, well, well. Look at Russian President Vladimir Putin has wrought on this people.

Since he decided to wage an unprovoked war on Ukraine, the world community has imposed severe sanctions on Russia and the effects are starting to be felt by the Russian people. 

The Guardian reported:

As markets opened in a panic on Monday, many Russians rushed to local cashpoints in Moscow to retrieve their savings before the damage got any worse.

“It said they had dollars so I came here immediately,” said Alexei Presnyakov, 32, pointing to an app for Russia’s Tinkoff Bank, indicating he could withdraw hard currency. About 20 people were queued in line. “Yesterday [the rate] was 80 [to the dollar]. Today it’s 100. Or 150.”

“I just made a spontaneous decision today that I would ask [out of work] and go around until I took out all my money,” he said. “Before it was worth zero.”

Within minutes, however, the word traveled down the queue: the dollars were gone.

Nearly half the queue walked off. “Who needs roubles?” one woman said sarcastically as she walked away.

From shopping malls to corporate boardrooms, Russians were trying to find their footing on Monday in what the Kremlin described as the “altered economic reality” that the country was now facing following sanctions on Russia’s Central Bank and other key financial institutions. There were signs that something extraordinary was taking place: the Moscow Exchange, Russia’s largest stock market, has halted trading until 5 March.  

For many Russians, who felt themselves to be European by the food they ate and the way they lived, it’s clear that Monday marked a moment when the war came home.

The Russian people had better start seriously thinking about ousting Putin from office before the Russian economy totally collapses.

To read more, go here.

President Zelenskyy, Remember Hungary 1956

 

European Airspace Closed To Russian Planes

Finally, European countries are showing that they have some guts against the big bully to the east, namely Russia, over their unprovoked attack on Ukraine. This is welcome, given their past history of appeasement.

From CNBC:

Key Points

• A growing number of countries have announced Sunday they’re joining a string of nations in closing their airspace to Russian aircrafts after Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine.
• Officials for Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and Iceland all announced the measures on Sunday that would further isolate Russia.
• The moves by the nations put even more pressure on Russia, with countries banding together to impose wide-reaching sanctions on Russia and its elite.

A growing number of countries announced on Sunday they’re joining a string of nations in closing their airspace to Russian aircraft after Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine.

Officials for Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and Iceland all announced the measures that would further isolate Russia. It follows similar restrictions from the U.K., Poland, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The moves by the nations put even more pressure on Russia, with countries banding together to impose wide-reaching sanctions on Russia and its elite. A ban means Russian aircraft can’t fly over or land in the nations that impose the rules, which often means lengthy and costly reroutes.

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said on Twitter his government is pushing for a European Union-wide ban of Russian flights at a meeting of the bloc’s ministers of foreign affairs. An EU official told Reuters that could be a part of fresh sanctions.

There are also reports that Vladimir Putin has put Russia on nuclear alert over the sanctions. This is definitely something to keep a watch over.

To read more, go here. 

Ukraine Battleground Map

Sebastian Gorka posted the following map of where the attacks by the Russians are taking place:

 

There is absolutely no justification for this attack and it could have been resolved and prevented.