https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/08/moscow-names-square-after-kim-philby-british-double-agent
I'm starting to wonder if Putin is just parodying himself at this point .....
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Thursday, 8 November 2018
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Distraction Tactics
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/26/trump-china-beijing-election-midterms-interference-claim
Not a bad display of geography knowledge, President Trump, although if you were really looking for election meddling and were mentally capable of taking heed of your own intelligence services you might be looking north of the Sino-Russian border ....
Not a bad display of geography knowledge, President Trump, although if you were really looking for election meddling and were mentally capable of taking heed of your own intelligence services you might be looking north of the Sino-Russian border ....
Saturday, 27 February 2016
Around the World in 108 Days....
As usual I'm late to the party in finally getting around to playing this 2014 gem.
A slightly cyberpunk twist on the familiar story sees you play as Passepartout in an effort to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days or less. After aborting an initial Russia route I have just completed my first game. From the title of the post you can probably guess that Fogg lost his wager this time round.
The main delays in my journey were an arrest in Vladivostok, a sad lack of funds that left Passepartout and Fogg sleeping rough for two nights in Hong Kong and two diversions when ships/aircraft decided to head off in the wrong direction (I eventually countered the first by masterminding a mutiny among the sailors).
High points were escaping from the Sultan's haram dressed as a dancing girl, meeting James Montgomery in his countervailing journey around the world and breezing up the African coast flush with trade cash while being informed about the activities of the anti-slaver West Africa Squadron of the Royal Navy.
In short this is a masterpiece. I suspect I bypassed at least half of the available cities and left mysteries behind in a number that I did visit (what the hell were all those opticians and gun-makers in Dubrovnik on about?). The tone is pitch perfect throughout allowing you to develop a real character for Passepartout and enjoy the ride even if victory seems unlikely.
A slightly cyberpunk twist on the familiar story sees you play as Passepartout in an effort to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days or less. After aborting an initial Russia route I have just completed my first game. From the title of the post you can probably guess that Fogg lost his wager this time round.
The main delays in my journey were an arrest in Vladivostok, a sad lack of funds that left Passepartout and Fogg sleeping rough for two nights in Hong Kong and two diversions when ships/aircraft decided to head off in the wrong direction (I eventually countered the first by masterminding a mutiny among the sailors).
High points were escaping from the Sultan's haram dressed as a dancing girl, meeting James Montgomery in his countervailing journey around the world and breezing up the African coast flush with trade cash while being informed about the activities of the anti-slaver West Africa Squadron of the Royal Navy.
In short this is a masterpiece. I suspect I bypassed at least half of the available cities and left mysteries behind in a number that I did visit (what the hell were all those opticians and gun-makers in Dubrovnik on about?). The tone is pitch perfect throughout allowing you to develop a real character for Passepartout and enjoy the ride even if victory seems unlikely.
Sunday, 15 February 2015
The End is Nigh
http://rt.com/news/232591-12-causes-apocalypses-scientists/
Good old Russia Today - returning to form with a hilarious list of the ways in which the World might end.
It's got all of the actual favourites (asteroid strike, supervolcano) in there but rates them as least likely when they probably should be most likely (along with the mid-ranking nuclear holocaust). AI gets ranked as the most likely apocalypse which is frankly laughable. Whatever Hawking may think I'll be more worried when robots can walk and think at the same time without collapsing or getting stuck in an infinite loop.
The high point, however, has to be the extremely highly rated 'Future bad governance' with a picture of the White House underneath.
Who said propaganda had to be subtle?
Good old Russia Today - returning to form with a hilarious list of the ways in which the World might end.
It's got all of the actual favourites (asteroid strike, supervolcano) in there but rates them as least likely when they probably should be most likely (along with the mid-ranking nuclear holocaust). AI gets ranked as the most likely apocalypse which is frankly laughable. Whatever Hawking may think I'll be more worried when robots can walk and think at the same time without collapsing or getting stuck in an infinite loop.
The high point, however, has to be the extremely highly rated 'Future bad governance' with a picture of the White House underneath.
Who said propaganda had to be subtle?
The Economist vs the socialists
Having picked up this week's Economist I have made an amazing discovery. A disinterested observer might be tempted to think that oil-producing countries are nearly certain to struggle during an oil glut especially following OPEC's decision to not curtail production.
This is evident in the cases of Russia, Venezuala, Brazil and even Nigeria. America should be treated as something of a special case. The shale gas producers are certainly being squeezed be low oil prices but the size of the US economy and its central position in world investment means that the boost to economic endeavour given by the low prices helps to offset damage to the exporting energy industry.
However, if you read the Economist it becomes clear that these failings are due to the number one suspect. Venezuala is suffering for decades of, unfathomably, attempting to fund social progress with oil profits rather than stakeholder dividends. Brazil could have avoided this crisis entirely if it had nipped corruption and state control in the bud with a healthy dose of market forces.
I'm not saying that this is entirely a fabrication. The corruption in Brazil's Petrobras company is abominable (although it wouldn't look out of place in the modern state capitalist China). What seems unfair is the special pleading that the same journalists would apply in analogous cases for devout capitalists. The Coalition are heaped with praise for staying the course with austerity even though it is clear that low oil prices (over which they had little control) are responsible for much of the recent upturn in economic growth.
This is evident in the cases of Russia, Venezuala, Brazil and even Nigeria. America should be treated as something of a special case. The shale gas producers are certainly being squeezed be low oil prices but the size of the US economy and its central position in world investment means that the boost to economic endeavour given by the low prices helps to offset damage to the exporting energy industry.
However, if you read the Economist it becomes clear that these failings are due to the number one suspect. Venezuala is suffering for decades of, unfathomably, attempting to fund social progress with oil profits rather than stakeholder dividends. Brazil could have avoided this crisis entirely if it had nipped corruption and state control in the bud with a healthy dose of market forces.
I'm not saying that this is entirely a fabrication. The corruption in Brazil's Petrobras company is abominable (although it wouldn't look out of place in the modern state capitalist China). What seems unfair is the special pleading that the same journalists would apply in analogous cases for devout capitalists. The Coalition are heaped with praise for staying the course with austerity even though it is clear that low oil prices (over which they had little control) are responsible for much of the recent upturn in economic growth.
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Russia today, Britain tomorrow
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30326253
Putin's economy is in a mess due mainly to his alienation of key trading partners in America and Europe (unless you subscribe to the fantasy that OPEC are keeping oil prices down as an early Christmas present to all the motorists and industrialists out there).
The British coalition government should be carefully taking notes. A departure from Europe would not piss the international community off as much as Russia's annexation of Crimea and blatant intervention in Ukraine but no amount of austerity scrimping will suffice if we too succeed in annoying our main trading partners.
Putin's economy is in a mess due mainly to his alienation of key trading partners in America and Europe (unless you subscribe to the fantasy that OPEC are keeping oil prices down as an early Christmas present to all the motorists and industrialists out there).
The British coalition government should be carefully taking notes. A departure from Europe would not piss the international community off as much as Russia's annexation of Crimea and blatant intervention in Ukraine but no amount of austerity scrimping will suffice if we too succeed in annoying our main trading partners.
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Light at the end of the tunnel for Ukraine (Caution: May be a flamethrower)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27072351
Well this is good news to start a long bank holiday weekend! I was seriously worrying that Ukraine was teetering towards a messy Post-Soviet civil war.
Of course such an agreement relies on a certain amount of good will on all sides. Kiev has little incentive to decentralise or accommodate the desires of Easterners except to keep the Russians at bay while Putin is hardly the most straight-talking world leader (although he doesn't achieve the wide-ranging duplicity of certain American and British premiers).
However, behind the scenes there is going to be a huge amount of pressure to make a deal soon. Ukraine is a huge chunk of Europe and occupies a strategic position on the path of Russian gas and oil into the West. A civil war serves nobody's purposes even if it allows Russia to shows its nationalistic disapproval of the seeming unstoppable expansion of NATO and the EU into its territorial backyard.
Well this is good news to start a long bank holiday weekend! I was seriously worrying that Ukraine was teetering towards a messy Post-Soviet civil war.
Of course such an agreement relies on a certain amount of good will on all sides. Kiev has little incentive to decentralise or accommodate the desires of Easterners except to keep the Russians at bay while Putin is hardly the most straight-talking world leader (although he doesn't achieve the wide-ranging duplicity of certain American and British premiers).
However, behind the scenes there is going to be a huge amount of pressure to make a deal soon. Ukraine is a huge chunk of Europe and occupies a strategic position on the path of Russian gas and oil into the West. A civil war serves nobody's purposes even if it allows Russia to shows its nationalistic disapproval of the seeming unstoppable expansion of NATO and the EU into its territorial backyard.
Saturday, 15 February 2014
25 years since the Soviets abandoned Afghanistan
http://rt.com/news/soviet-us-afghanistan-anniversary-130/
An interesting article on Russia Today about the anniversary of this neglected (in the West) conflict. Some interesting statistics and a general absence of pro-Russia jingoism.
As usual however do not, for the love of Pete, go near the comment section.
An interesting article on Russia Today about the anniversary of this neglected (in the West) conflict. Some interesting statistics and a general absence of pro-Russia jingoism.
As usual however do not, for the love of Pete, go near the comment section.
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Space Cthulu wants you!
http://rt.com/usa/nro-satellite-octopus-emblem-854/
Typical Russia Today paranoia exhibited in their article reacting to the logo adopted by the Americans for their reconnaissance satellite launch of 8 December 2013.
However, it does seem an odd decision for the NRO to have used such a Machiavellian-looking Cephalopod. They must know that their public image is not at a peak right now!
Typical Russia Today paranoia exhibited in their article reacting to the logo adopted by the Americans for their reconnaissance satellite launch of 8 December 2013.
However, it does seem an odd decision for the NRO to have used such a Machiavellian-looking Cephalopod. They must know that their public image is not at a peak right now!
Saturday, 16 November 2013
Greenpeace fights back
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/16/arctic-30-greenpeace-petrol-stations-protests
Well done Greenpeace! The travesty of Russian attacks on legitimate protestors against Arctic exploitation just shows how out of control the energy giants are in a world that urgently needs to wean itself off fossil fuels.
As for Shell's reponse, it is beyond contemptuous. If they should have learned one thing from the recent fuss over price hikes it is that they cannot hide behind secrecy and obfuscation any more. A debate over potential Arctic resources is preferable to allowing the grasping opportunism and cowboy behaviour that prospecting firms have exhibited elsewhere on the globe.
Well done Greenpeace! The travesty of Russian attacks on legitimate protestors against Arctic exploitation just shows how out of control the energy giants are in a world that urgently needs to wean itself off fossil fuels.
As for Shell's reponse, it is beyond contemptuous. If they should have learned one thing from the recent fuss over price hikes it is that they cannot hide behind secrecy and obfuscation any more. A debate over potential Arctic resources is preferable to allowing the grasping opportunism and cowboy behaviour that prospecting firms have exhibited elsewhere on the globe.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Russians vs Aliens
http://rt.com/news/russian-space-troops-aliens-631/
Well now we know. The Russian military do not yet think they can combat extraterrestrials. I wonder if anyone has asked the Americans the same question. They do have a larger budget.
[Edit] Although since Russia Today is also leading with this article about the perils of jellyfish causing nuclear power plants to temporarily shut down.
http://rt.com/news/jellyfish-nuclear-plant-shutdown-626/
I believe they may simply be trying to distract reader's attention from the real story about Russia this week:
http://rt.com/news/greenpeace-piracy-activists-624/
Well now we know. The Russian military do not yet think they can combat extraterrestrials. I wonder if anyone has asked the Americans the same question. They do have a larger budget.
[Edit] Although since Russia Today is also leading with this article about the perils of jellyfish causing nuclear power plants to temporarily shut down.
http://rt.com/news/jellyfish-nuclear-plant-shutdown-626/
I believe they may simply be trying to distract reader's attention from the real story about Russia this week:
http://rt.com/news/greenpeace-piracy-activists-624/
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Taking a look in the mirror...
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/edward-snowden-whistleblower-still-missing-at-moscow-airport-a-908023.html
Bravo, Der Spiegel! Clearly the only mature response to the mystery of Snowden's current location is to join in with some vaguely Russo-phobic speculation about what dirty reasons Putin's secret services might have for harbouring/kidnapping/interrogating him. A little evidence would be nice.
Bravo, Der Spiegel! Clearly the only mature response to the mystery of Snowden's current location is to join in with some vaguely Russo-phobic speculation about what dirty reasons Putin's secret services might have for harbouring/kidnapping/interrogating him. A little evidence would be nice.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
American hypocrisy in action
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23053915
The Chinese raise a good point here.
How can the USA complain about Russia's or Hong Kong's disinclination to extradite Snowden (bearing in mind that no extradition treaty exists between Russia and America) when it has just been revealed that they have been running a secret program designed exclusively to spy on the internet activity of foreign nationals?
As with Bradley Manning there has been no suggestion that whistle blowing was inspired by any foreign intervention. Those involved simply did not share the government's steadfast belief that it is acceptable for the state to breach privacy and keep vast amounts of data confidential in order to better protect the American people from those nebulously defined terrorists.
Maybe America should take a break from its rabid pursuit of those who challenge the interests of its surveillance state and instead consider what effect such revelations are having on its already tarnished global image.
The Chinese raise a good point here.
How can the USA complain about Russia's or Hong Kong's disinclination to extradite Snowden (bearing in mind that no extradition treaty exists between Russia and America) when it has just been revealed that they have been running a secret program designed exclusively to spy on the internet activity of foreign nationals?
As with Bradley Manning there has been no suggestion that whistle blowing was inspired by any foreign intervention. Those involved simply did not share the government's steadfast belief that it is acceptable for the state to breach privacy and keep vast amounts of data confidential in order to better protect the American people from those nebulously defined terrorists.
Maybe America should take a break from its rabid pursuit of those who challenge the interests of its surveillance state and instead consider what effect such revelations are having on its already tarnished global image.
Sunday, 14 April 2013
War within a war (within a submarine)
So 'The Cold War' is the first Doctor Who episode of the new series that I have unequivocally enjoyed. Kalashnikovs, a ruthless and implacable villain and (excuse the misogyny) Oswin on a flooded submarine in a fairly skimpy dress made for great viewing.
It was tightly scripted and there were no jarring deus ex machines or especially noticeable logic errors. The lack of Russian accents was a shame but was suitably lampshaded by the usual appeal to Tardis translation. If only they could have resisted the temptation to give a covert Western agent on a Russian submarine an obviously American revolver (exposure risk anyone?) it would have been perfect.
Having not watched old Doctor Who I had no nostalgia for the Ice Warrior concept but it fitted well into the wider view of how war and the potential for mutually assured destruction fits into our ethical philosophies and can end up determining our behaviour. It was also interesting to see the series return to a perhaps less well known period of history even if it did require a bit more exposition than usual.
All in all, a definite return to form after the disappointing 'Rings of Akhaten' and the unremarkable 'Bells of Saint John'.
It was tightly scripted and there were no jarring deus ex machines or especially noticeable logic errors. The lack of Russian accents was a shame but was suitably lampshaded by the usual appeal to Tardis translation. If only they could have resisted the temptation to give a covert Western agent on a Russian submarine an obviously American revolver (exposure risk anyone?) it would have been perfect.
Having not watched old Doctor Who I had no nostalgia for the Ice Warrior concept but it fitted well into the wider view of how war and the potential for mutually assured destruction fits into our ethical philosophies and can end up determining our behaviour. It was also interesting to see the series return to a perhaps less well known period of history even if it did require a bit more exposition than usual.
All in all, a definite return to form after the disappointing 'Rings of Akhaten' and the unremarkable 'Bells of Saint John'.
Friday, 2 December 2011
FU Russia Today
http://rt.com/news/merkel-european-crisis-869/
Headline from Russia Today: Merkel gives EU the FU
FU apparently being a recognised abbreviation for Fiscal Union.
Might just be me but this wasn't my first thought.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Update on Libya
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14739743
Saif al-Islam seems to have a different definition of 'victory' to that shared by most people. I'm surprised he hasn't retreated to Algeria along with other members of his family
Russia has been finally forced to recognise the National Transitional Council. That has got to be painful after his earlier criticisms of NATO's actions. (http://stochasticreview.blogspot.com/2011/03/god-save-us-from-politicians-and-their.html)
Elsewhere the Germans seem to be doing a lot of hand-wrangling over their foreign minister's decision to stay out of Libya. (http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,783368,00.html). Most papers are criticising Westerwelle of the FDP for his choice to abstain on the UN decision to allow intervention in Libya. Of the papers quoted only the Berlin daily, der Tagesspiegel, refrains from such criticism. In fact it pushes a stronger line that not only was it the right decision in the circumstances but that the NATO intervention was one sided and unjustified. It even seems to suggest that Russia, China or Germany should have vetoed the resolution. Controversial stuff!
Saif al-Islam seems to have a different definition of 'victory' to that shared by most people. I'm surprised he hasn't retreated to Algeria along with other members of his family
Russia has been finally forced to recognise the National Transitional Council. That has got to be painful after his earlier criticisms of NATO's actions. (http://stochasticreview.blogspot.com/2011/03/god-save-us-from-politicians-and-their.html)
Elsewhere the Germans seem to be doing a lot of hand-wrangling over their foreign minister's decision to stay out of Libya. (http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,783368,00.html). Most papers are criticising Westerwelle of the FDP for his choice to abstain on the UN decision to allow intervention in Libya. Of the papers quoted only the Berlin daily, der Tagesspiegel, refrains from such criticism. In fact it pushes a stronger line that not only was it the right decision in the circumstances but that the NATO intervention was one sided and unjustified. It even seems to suggest that Russia, China or Germany should have vetoed the resolution. Controversial stuff!
Monday, 1 August 2011
Poppies
This picture makes me happy:
It was taken during the Soviet-Afghan war (1979-1989) and I suspect that the soldier is Russian from appearance and armament. Beyond that I don't know much about it but it has a bit of a Francis Ford Coppola surreality to it. If you look closely - the poppy in the end of the soldier's AK47 is an especially neat touch :)
It was taken during the Soviet-Afghan war (1979-1989) and I suspect that the soldier is Russian from appearance and armament. Beyond that I don't know much about it but it has a bit of a Francis Ford Coppola surreality to it. If you look closely - the poppy in the end of the soldier's AK47 is an especially neat touch :)
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Sign up for Socialism....
30 seconds on the 'Pravda' website and I'm confronted with the delightfully phrased, 'Will be connected to the Social Web?' banner, asking me to support their site on Facebook.
Skim reading this I, of course, read 'Social Web' as 'Socialist Web'.
Skim reading this I, of course, read 'Social Web' as 'Socialist Web'.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Fulfilling your class destiny
"The Forty-First by Lavrenyov, Boris (1924). A female sniper with [the] Red partisans misses her 41st victim (a White [Russian] officer), then winds up stranded with him on a desert island, where they fall in love. However, the White's essentially selfish, bourgeois nature becomes apparent and she shoots him, fulfilling her mission and her class destiny."
- Blurb from sovlit.com
Don't you just love a rom-com with a happy ending?
- Blurb from sovlit.com
Don't you just love a rom-com with a happy ending?
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
God save us from authoritarian politicians and their historical pretensions.
It was a miracle that the UN security council resolution 1973 on Libya was passed. Only 10 of 15 countries voted for the resolution when nine were needed to push it through. Neither Russia or China vetoed despite the widespread prediction beforehand that they wouldn't want to set any precedent for foreign intervention in countries with oppressive regimes.
Of course like most miracles it starts to tarnish a bit once you look closer. The Arab League seemed to want to have their cake and eat it - their chairman didn't wait long after the resolution was passed to start voicing worries about it. However, this at least was fairly understandable. Those with long memories will know that the subject of western countries bombing Libya is a bit of a touchy one in the Middle East.
Then, out of the blue, Putin takes on Gadaffi's rhetoric and starts referring to the resolution as a 'call to crusade'. I'm not entirely sure why this stock phrase always gets dragged out. Yes this is a coalition of broadly Christian states carrying out military operations in an Arab country. However, as far as I can see they haven't made any move to occupy Jerusalem yet and the Pope isn't signing the jet pilot's shirts before they fly out. The intervention in Libya is humanitarian and sanctioned by international law. Any attempt to try and muddy the waters with reference to religious or (supposed) culture clashes is the act of a fantasist or arch deceiver.
Also in historical terms it is completely absurd. Do we call the German occupation of Northern Italy in WW2 the second Gothic invasion? No, because over a millenia has passed and 20th century Germans had as little cultural and ethnic relation to the Visigoths as a modern Briton has to a Celtic tribesman. What is it that is so special about the Crusades which means that so many political commentators and politicians believe they can be used as a catch all description of any conflict between European/North American and Arab states?
Medvedev's surly 'criticism' of Putin, which nevertheless expressed his reservations about international intervention in Libya, showed a far greater grip of 'realpolitik' than Putin's absurd comparisons. Nobody is expecting Russia to be happy about allowing UN intervention in Libyan affairs but Putin could at least have tried not to play into the hands of Gadaffi's propaganda mill.
Of course like most miracles it starts to tarnish a bit once you look closer. The Arab League seemed to want to have their cake and eat it - their chairman didn't wait long after the resolution was passed to start voicing worries about it. However, this at least was fairly understandable. Those with long memories will know that the subject of western countries bombing Libya is a bit of a touchy one in the Middle East.
Then, out of the blue, Putin takes on Gadaffi's rhetoric and starts referring to the resolution as a 'call to crusade'. I'm not entirely sure why this stock phrase always gets dragged out. Yes this is a coalition of broadly Christian states carrying out military operations in an Arab country. However, as far as I can see they haven't made any move to occupy Jerusalem yet and the Pope isn't signing the jet pilot's shirts before they fly out. The intervention in Libya is humanitarian and sanctioned by international law. Any attempt to try and muddy the waters with reference to religious or (supposed) culture clashes is the act of a fantasist or arch deceiver.
Also in historical terms it is completely absurd. Do we call the German occupation of Northern Italy in WW2 the second Gothic invasion? No, because over a millenia has passed and 20th century Germans had as little cultural and ethnic relation to the Visigoths as a modern Briton has to a Celtic tribesman. What is it that is so special about the Crusades which means that so many political commentators and politicians believe they can be used as a catch all description of any conflict between European/North American and Arab states?
Medvedev's surly 'criticism' of Putin, which nevertheless expressed his reservations about international intervention in Libya, showed a far greater grip of 'realpolitik' than Putin's absurd comparisons. Nobody is expecting Russia to be happy about allowing UN intervention in Libyan affairs but Putin could at least have tried not to play into the hands of Gadaffi's propaganda mill.
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