February 25, 2014

Ukraine and the Olympics. This past Thursday, one alpine skier withdrew from competition to protest what she and her father/coach saw as unnecessary violence in Kiev, the nation's capital. Two summers ago my wife and I took a very enjoyable cruise through Ukraine. On our first day, it was made very clear that we were in “Ukraine,” not “the Ukraine,” the latter harkened the “bad old days” of domination by the now non-existent USSR.

     Kiev, while an historic and picturesque city, had obviously been hit hard by the recent world-wide economic recession. Clearly, planned expansion had suddenly and dramatically ceased. Along the city's major thoroughfares more than a few buildings drew a second look: generally four floors of fully occupied offices and stores, but with eerie open steel skeletons above.

    News coverage of the recent violence has given most Americans are a quick education about the pivotal position of a country few even know exists. No doubt Ukraine's geographic location – just west of Russia – plus the Olympic games magnified news coverage. 

Ukraine and separatism. Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen writes, “[Ukraine] is, in fact, just another place on the globe where nationalism joins separatism to create instability. In September, Scotland will vote on secession from the United Kingdom, and while an independent Scotland is a threat to no one but the Scots ...it is part of a trend.”

As noted previously, Ukraine is a country divided physically east and west by the Dnieper river, which has also provided psychological and ideological divides between Europe to the west and Russia to the east. Turmoil there is likely to continue, with powder-keg potential between Russia and Europe/NATO/US.

Climate change. President Obama recently made a trip to CA and, as could have been predicted, blamed climate change for the state's drought problems. But, as columnist Charles Krauthammer pointed out, there is no “settled science” regarding climate change. Yes, he notes, carbon emissions are increasing and that is not good, but to what effect? That remains an open question.

A moose in passing. Several of these largest denizens of the deer family have migrated into the Breckenridge area and are frequently sighted by skiers riding one of the area ski lifts. Last Wednesday, my wife was driving home and was within 400 yards of our condo near the base of Peak 8, when a lone moose loomed around a blind corner from behind an eight foot-high snow bank. A woman walking along the road beat a hasty retreat into a driveway and waited as the moose continued on its way. Be forewarned: it is not without reason that one CO high school has as its mascot “The Mean Moose.” These ungainly-looking beasts are often bad tempered, not to be trifled with, and have amazing speed, even in knee-deep snow.

Infrastructure spending. To follow up on a recent blog item about downed power lines. A commentary in Roll Call (February 21^st) notes that when a business experiences a problem with its essential equipment, it either fixes or replaces the problem; it does not respond by cutting its maintenance budget. Yet federal spending on the nation's infrastructure has been cut 14% this year. http://www.rollcall.com/news/close_corporate_tax_loopholes_to_fix_holes_in_our_infrastructure_commentary-230974-1.html?ET=rollcall:e17210:154326a:&st=email&pos=eam

Pete Seger (sadly recently deceased) wrote the lyrics for the beloved song, “Where have all the flowers gone.” A recent article in the Nation magazine might well have used these words to open its story on the apparent decline in the business of lobbying in Washington. However, K Street's influence is not lessening, rather its simply relocating, becoming less visible. Sadly, Lincoln's words ring ever more hollow: “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” http://www.thenation.com/article/178460/shadow-lobbying-complex

News, yes, but from where and how? Now the US Justice Department will have to decide on whether or not to approve the planned buy out/merger of Comcast and Times Warner. The question, then: who will deliver your cable programming (news included) and internet access (hopefully broadband)? Even though many have forsaken “normal” TV programming for net-streaming, for now normal programming remains a viable business and internet access is now part of the way of life in most households. A quick “over the shoulder” look among those using free access points (e.g. the local library) reveals how much we depend on the internet.

As for our news, though, an article from Politico (February 24^th) belies the idea that “live video” might save the news business. The article begins,

Last July, The Washington Post launched a live video channel that its president proclaimed would be “the ESPN of politics.”

Instead, PostTV turned out to be more like a public access show. Within five months, the live content had vanished and the “channel” became little more than a clearinghouse for pre-taped video packages and recycled press briefing footage, along with the occasional original report. [The Post learned, as had others before that] creating quality live television is expensive... and much harder than it looks. The end result didn’t interest readers — or advertisers.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/live-video-wont-save-news-business-103819.html#ixzz2uGAr3tRw

“They're back” – the “do nothing” 113^th Congress, that is. As seen so many times in those damnable TV ads, “But, wait.........” So, is there now hope? Really?

     Senator Harry Reid (D, NV) is said to be angling for a new found measure of bipartisanship. It is a fair bet, though, that he will not get much traction from this latest pre-election maneuvering ploy. Tough hope springs eternal, the waiting is not unlike trying to predict the next San Andreas-fault earthquake.

     Reid, whom I refer to as “The Putz,” has to be one of the most lackluster, mumbling, Caspar Milquetoast power-players on the American political stage. He is, of course, the perfect bookend for Senator Mitch McConnell (KY), his Republican counterpart. Their continuance in office stands as mute testimony to how little some voters are willing to accept in a candidate in exchange for mere seniority. Kentuckians have a chance to send McConnell packing this coming November, leaving Harry on his own. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/harry-reid-bipartisanship-103823.html

Thank you for reading.  Feel free to post a comment or send a note to davidvito@comcast.net