For many areas, Life would be impossible without air conditioning.

 GEOGRAPHICAL TRENDS CHANGED DUE TO AIR CONDITIONING

MAKING LIFE POSSIBLE IN HOSTILE CLIMATES

Air conditioning was invented in 1902. It was huge, expensive and just an idea, but not available for consumers. This began to change in the early 1930's as technology began to make units smaller and soon affordable for the mass market. In 1947 43,000 units were sold, but it was in the 1970's that air conditioning began to become part of everyday life for everyone.

We see high temperatures in places like Phoenix and Houston that would be deadly without air conditioning. In fact, much of the south was not a comfortable place to live in the past, particularly in the summer. The native Americans often migrated south in the winter and north in the summer. Most did not live in place like Phoenix, if in Arizona, it was in the higher elevations. 

The history of these places is revealing, Phoenix had a population of 221,000 in 1950, some years after air conditioning became available, now 4.7 million. Houston 1950, 709,000, today 6.7 million. Tampa 1950, 300,000 today 3 million. Las Vegas 1950, 35,000, today 2.8 million. Miami 1950, 622,000 today 6.2 million. Then compare it with Chicago 1950, 5 million, today 8.9 million. I suspect the population in these southern areas was much lower in the 1930's.

Florida was a place were the wealthy spent the winter in the 1940's and 50s, but not too many retired there permanently. It was just too hot.  I remember in the 1950's when they sold lots in Florida through the mail, very low cost and often filled in swamp land. Without air conditioning the world would be a different place.

Today even large buildings in the north are now dependent on air conditioning as they often do not have windows that open. They would be deadly without electric and air conditioning.

Like many things today, most people just take it for granted that these inventions have always been available and will always be in the future. I sometimes suspect that nature will always revert back to its power sooner or later.

Russia shifts from defense to offense in Ukraine.

 HEAVY FIGHTING, MUCH LOSE OF LIFE AND EQUIPMENT

ACTUAL RISE IN INTENSITY IN MOST AREAS

Almost 2 months into the Ukrainian counter-offensive there is still no major breakthrough of the Russian defenses. While the Ukrainians have made some gains in the southern area, they have been at great cost and have not resulted in any major breakthrough. It is believed the Ukrainians have lost at least 30% of their tanks, artillery and other equipment and possibly the same percent of their personnel.

In recent days Russia, who has been massing large numbers of troops and equipment in the northern area has made significant advances. It seems this offensive is measured and calculated to advance, then set up defenses and then advance again. A tactic that may insure that they will not overextend and then be damaged. We will see if this Russia's real offensive or just an attempt to force Ukraine to make decisions to call troops from other areas. It does appear that Russia is now ready to take more area moving west.

There are reports that Poland and Latvia are being encouraged to take part in this crisis in support of Ukraine. It would be a major escalation that would place those counties troops in serious jeopardy. 

This conflict has without a doubt exceeded the casualties of any conflict since WW2. Both Ukraine and Russia have paid a high price and that investment in blood will not be easily negotiated away.

At present, there does not look like any solution is available to rescue Ukraine from serious defeat. It is expected that Russia will advance at least until they control completely those 4 districts that have been incorporated into Russia. Those areas will not be part of any negotiations.

After that is accomplished, Russia will probably extend their occupation to the distance of the longest range weapons that are provided to Ukraine. The longer range, the smaller Ukraine will become.

So far, Russia has not engaged in all out war with Ukraine, while they have recently embargoed traffic out of and into Odessa, they still have not taken out the bridges over the Dnieper river or destroyed government buildings in Kiev. Other than the front lines, they have continued to strike ammo supplies, air defenses and equipment. Most of the damage to civilian infrastructure have been the result of air defense rockets of Ukraine, that if not hitting incoming target, have to land somewhere and no one can control where.

There is dissent and pressure within Russia to up the intensity of this conflict and get it concluded.  It seems the present strategy is attrition of the Ukrainian defenses and the pressure that is being experienced both economically and politically in western Europe. Russia may feel that a long extended conflict will in the end benefit it both politically and in the strategic long game. 

It appears this conflict will continue into the fall, unless there is a major development, it will then see problem's with food and energy particularly in western Europe.  This conflict will have major consequences for the world for a long time. It could have been avoided, if not for hubris and delusion by the architects of this crisis. Everyone will suffer from the consequences.

Hunter Biden drama, smoke to cover real crimes.

 A CORRUPT SYSTEM OF MONEY LAUNDERING IS THE REAL ISSUE

DEEP, LONG LASTING CORRUPTION

Much is made of the holding up of the plea deal of Hunter Biden to misdemeanor charges in return for immunity for unnamed crimes. A misdemeanor charge of failure to file taxes, when in effect it was failure to report millions of dollars of money from foreign governments. Money that his father and cohorts would not want to explain why they were paid. Hunter Biden, sadly, was just a incompetent money launderer who was being used by his father as the bag man from money from Ukraine, China and others. Money that was just a percentage of the U.S. money they have received or other profitable policies.

Biden's predecessor, Bill Clinton used his Clinton global initiative to funnel foreign money into his charitable foundation. It then allowed them to hire influential family members and pay them well. It also allowed them to fly around the world to give speeches and influence policies. It also allowed them to funnel money into democrat political campaigns, that in effect were paid by foreigners who just kick-backed U.S. money gifted by politicians. I suspect this has been going on for decades and explains much of the money that has allowed the funding of many political campaigns. Of course, no one is going to complain about a system that is making their elite life possible.

Barack Obama also used the Justice department to bring charges against many big banks, blaming them for the housing crisis, then they allowed them to pay half the billions in fines to select, unnamed non-profits that funneled money to insure re-election and influence. Again, money that no one in government wants to stop. Money that no one in the Justice department or election regulators is willing to stop.

The Clinton global initiative closed up within one year of Hillary Clintons defeat, It no longer could deliver the money. 

Joe Biden is a third rate corrupt politician, but he still has many enjoying the largress made available by his being in office. It is no longer amazing as to what lengths government institutions will go to insure the money and influence gravy chain endures. It is now expected, just as this plea deal and immunity may be temporarily on hold,  one would expect it will be resurrected and save them all in the end.

Israel needs consistent judiciary and constitution.

 70 YEARS WITHOUT A CONSTITUTION

JUDICIAL DECISIONS BASED ON NOTHING

We see that Israel has finally passed judicial reform legislation. It has now resulted in more rioting and threats of unrest. It is a sad display for a modern democracy that they they have not yet been able to provide a written constitution, a body of law for the government, even when promised when the country was founded, over 70 years ago. Maybe the population has too many former western lawyers, who would rather have an ambiguous and flexible judiciary the can make things up as they go along.

Israel has a panel of judges that appoint their judges and they have a list of guidelines that are not law, but a list of good intentions. The judiciary is separate branch, but not appointed by elected official and not subject to any written law. I really don't understand how any such arrangement would work to ensure, rights, consistency or a stable environment.

So, while the reform measures have made it harder for the judiciary to overturn decisions made be the elected officials, it is not a real answer to this delima. They need a written constitution and an accountable judiciary to enforce the written law.

Maybe this reform will now encourage the country to actually provide a written constitution. This would provide more consistency and stability and hopefully remove much of the emotional decisions.

The legislator should take that step, come up with negotiations on forming a real constitution and make it the law of the land with a 2/3 majority. Make it also amendable with a similar 2/3 majority. Then real judicial reform could be made that would make judges accountable for their decisions.

They have put the future of their country at risk, by not doing what was promised 70 years ago.

Why Ukraine grain deal ended.

 WEST NEVER UPHELD ITS COMMITMENT TO DEAL

SEEMS LIKE THE POLITICS IS WORTH MORE THAN THE GRAIN

In July 2022, Erdogan of Turkey helped negotiate a deal between the UN,Turkey, Russia and Ukraine that would provide for a humanitarian shipping corridor that would insure the safe export of grain from Ukraine. This deal also allowed Russia to also export grain and fertilizer through the Black sea. This deal was not extended last week because the west failed to implement the necessary provisions that would allow Russian grain and fertilizer to be exported, most of it to the middle east and Africa.

Besides not allowing Russian grain and fertilizer, Ukraine used the port area of Odessa, where this grain is stored and loaded, as as a staging area to attack Crimea. These are undisputed facts.

The other accusations are that Ukraine also used these ships to transport military supplies into Ukraine.

It is also suspected that the latest attack on the Kerch bridge was assisted by one of these ships.

While the accusations of  the use of the ships for military purposes may not at this time be proven, the fact that the west never intended to live up to their part of the deal to allow Russian export of grain and fertilizer is clear.

Most of the Ukrainian grain in processed in Turkey and then exported to Europe. Most of the Russian grain and essential fertilizer was destined for the middle east and Africa. The loss of these grain exports will have serious consequences for food prices and political stability in many parts of the world.

Of course, the western press has made their coordinated statement that it is Russia, now using food as a weapon, just as when the U.S. insisted on stopping the European import of energy from Russia and then blamed Russia for using energy as a weapon.

So, it is clear again that political advantage and narrative is more important than the lives and well being of those not part of this conflict. The real losers will be the people of Europe, the middle east and Africa, just collateral damage in the global political conflict. 

Taliban ends opium production, West complains.

AFGHANISTAN  PRODUCES 90%  OF WORLD'S OPIUM

PRODUCTION SOARED UNDER U.S. OCCUPATION

The Taliban in Afghanistan have begun the elimination of the cultivation of Opium poppies in the country. When the Taliban was previously in power they had all but ended the cultivation and production of opium. All natural opioids, heroin, morphine etc. are produced from opium.

Afghanistan, now under Islamic rule, forbids drug use and enforces these rules with severe penalties. It is expected they will essentially end opium production in their country. Afghanistan also has a drug problem with an estimated 10% of the population addicted to opium. 

During the 20 year occupation of the country by the United States, opium production became very prevalent. It will now be a severe economic reality by ending the production quickly.

Western countries have all voiced their objections, claiming that a shortage of opiates will encourage users to use more Fentanyl and cause more overdose deaths. They also voice their concern about economic hardship placed on the poor farmers of Afghanistan.

While this may be a cyncial argument, the reality is this will cause serious repercussions in the western world, were opiate addiction is now at a high level. The rates of crime have been relatively low since the low priced availability of opiates. The availability will now decrease and the price will soar, this will lead to the increase in crime to maintain their drug use. It is also true that there seems to be an unlimited availability of fentanyl which is a cheap and powerful alterative.

Criticizing the Taliban for acting in the best interest of their country and population is not the remedy to western drug addiction. Maybe it is time that western leaders take another look at their own problem and begin dealing with the causes of drug addiction and consider what the future drug repercussions will be of the governments new policies of encouraging drug use. Drug use has been encouraged by Hollywood and other social media. Government now believes they can reap revenue by legalizing many drugs. It is an unproven experiment, and the danger to legalization, is in effect government endorsement. We no longer see much government action and messaging against drug use. No more, "just say no" or "this is your brain on drugs" adds. 

While the war on drugs has been a failure, much of it to do, I suspect, with the corruption of many officials with cartel money. The encouragement and lack of real science in the long term mental health of the country has not been a government priority. 

U.S. top focus is global government, not U.S. well being.

 GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX, ONE MORE STEP TO GLOBAL GOVERNMENT

FIRST PERSUASION, THEN PUNISHMENT

The effort to impose a minimum world tax rate is the first priority of Janet Yellen, U.S. secretary of treasury. The effort is for all nations to impose a minimum tax rate of 15% on international corporations and to tax companies that operate digitally. It is just another step in moving to a global government system. It will start as persuasion to adopt these rules, then when implemented, to punish those that do not cooperate, first economically then militarily

Individual countries have many different incentives to attract business to operate in their countries. Many developing countries often entice new investment with lowered ot delayed tax rates. For some it is an important lever to compensate for other less lucrative situations in their country. These plans all want to insure that high tax countries do not have to compete with less advantaged countries. It is just another form of control by the U.S. and western countries. Like state rights at home, the freedom to set tax rates is an important freedom that allows for competition, now a bad idea in global government.

Coupled with environmental regulation and pressure to delay industrialization in many developing countries it is a way to insure that other countries do not become more competitive to the countries with high taxes and high regulation. Rather than compete with countries, it is just another attempt to preserve the control over these other countries.

Sadly, the U.S. government is willing to spend tens of Billions of dollars to mettle in the internal affairs of other nations but is unwilling to control its own borders or deal with the rise in drug addiction, homelessness and a lawless and chaotic situation in its cities. 

It is clear that the priority of this government, often by both parties, is world government and control and not the well being of the United States citizens.

It is proved by its escalating unrestrained debt burden, that is near catastrophe, not to improve the lives of Americans but to control the world.