While we were out . . .

And
we're back. Some events since the beginning of July, when I took a breather
from daily blogging.

--The
Russians convicted the female punk band Pussy Riot of hooliganism (what a great
word). Apparently beating and killing journalists to stop unfavorable coverage of
those in power isn't a problem, but singing in the wrong place must be stopped.
I think Putin is the world's biggest shmuck, edging Robert Mugabe. The Financial Times says the
trial of the band should worry even investors. As one member of the band said
in her closing statement, "This
trial is highly typical and speaks volumes. The current government will have
occasion to feel shame and embarrassment because of it for a long time to come.
At each stage it has embodied a travesty of justice. As it turned out, our
performance, at first a small and somewhat absurd act, snowballed into an enormous
catastrophe. This would obviously not happen in a healthy
society. Russia, as a state, has long resembled an organism sick to the
core."

--The
son of a senior Communist Party official in China was involved in a deadly
crash in his Ferrari, perhaps whilst engaging in sex games. I am not sure this is what Marx and Lenin had in mind. More here about the Party's image.

--In the
Navy's continuing Command Sweepstakes, the skipper of the USS Pittsburgh was hurled overboard after a just a week in command. Apparently the officer, who is
married with a family, had gotten his 23-year-old girlfriend pregnant and then
tried to end the affair by pretending to be dead. Also a helicopter squadron
commander got the heave-ho, making 16 for the year.

--The
former inspector general of the Air
Force's 31st Fighter Wing in Italy was charged with sexual assault. Must be
something in the water: A major in the 173rd Airborne, which also is based in Italy, apparently
went down the same road with a female PFC.

--Wired's "Danger Room" had a thoughtful piece on Strator, which, according to the
article, used its role as an information provider to tout an intelligence
product in which it had a financial
interest.

--I
don't understand what happened in South Africa when the police killed 34 striking miners.

--McDonald's
is opening some vegetarian-only outlets in India. I'd love to try the McSpicy Paneer. But in the long run I think I'd prefer a
pizza Domino's sells in India, the "pizza keema do piazza," with spiced lamb.

--The
Duffel Blog. What can I say? Where else can you find such a
tribute to General Mattis? How in the world do we find such bloggers?