Manching

It seems to have been a professional job. They broke into a telecommunications sub-station, and cut off the out-going fibre optic cables, what effectively stopped all internet (and communications in general) traffic in the community (Ger., Eng.) : No internet, no phone.
Then they broke into the museum (Ger.), and grabbed the gold (pic). They left with nearly five hundred gold coins (Ger., Eng.). The ongoing coverage reports nothing new. The police showed up only late in the morning (around 9:45), so the thieves had effectively some hours to transport die Sore (rotwelsch for stolen goods) away. And given the amount of criminal energy shown – this was no impulsive smash & grab action – one can be sure that they did use their time.
Mad collector, who ordered the heist ? Possible, but not that probable. Blackmail ? Possible. I think the more belike state of the affaire is that the coins will be melted down.
It is a cultural crime, a crime against the European culture, executed by barbarians. I hope they left a trace, will be caught and punished. Bastards.

Sunday Music

Yes, it is true, in a distant corner of the interwebs far, far away, I was mistaken for a guy called TURNER, Aidan TURNER. Especially poor MsScarlet was shocked when she realised her – all too understandable, I may remark – mistake. I must admit that Mr Inexplicable DeVice lead me astray, and made me take part in his shenanigans – all because of a certain bottle … ah, in the end we have Mogwash ! A part of mine is still buried there, may be a Gummistiefel.
Astoundingly not Mogwash, but Sonora did Mr Hampton HAWES (1928-1977 ) (Ger., Eng.) call today’s Sunday Music. This quite elegant samba was released on the 1967 lp Hamp’s Piano, not to be confused with a waltz of the same name (here), published in 1968 on Spanish Steps (here a nice version by Ryo FUKUI (1948-2016) (Ger., Eng.)).
I hope you like the music.
The road to Mogwash is muddy – now let’s waft ‘n wisp over the puddles easily like ghostly conglombulations of purest Dartmoor fog.
Have a nice week.

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No Escape

I am sorry. I can not help, I have to put in my two pennies worth. The more I watch this damn war, the more I wonder. I try to use European news outlets, and verified news, simply because there is a lot of propaganda and plain disinformation around.
Putin’s war does not go according to plan. If it is correct what I read in a German news outlet (n-tv) that the Russians already lost close to 200 tanks, then this is a frightening number. I saw pictures of Russian tanks with self made, improvised constructions over the turret. This indicates that they faced Javelin anti tank rockets, pretty modern, sophisticated, and, well, useful. (The idea of this weapon is not to hit a tank frontal, but from above, preferably into the turret, where the fortification is notably weaker.)
Then I saw (and read) about difficulties of the advancing army regarding fuel, and lousy communications.
The fact that Russia agreed to some kind of negotiations implies imho that they need time to regroup, time to pump more weapons and troops into the country. It seems to me that they simply miscalculated how fast they could advance, and – what is more important – did not care in foresight.
They either really thought this would be a kind of promenade to Kiew, or it was simply very bad planning. The Ukrainian forces (I have no idea how large this force is, what they actually have) is basically a remnant of the old Red Army. So these officers know exactly what they face. They should know their enemy very well, and I do not believe that they simply sad idle since 2014, when Vlad grabbed a part of Ukraine. And it is their land. All in all they do a formidable job, and they have a good chance to, at least, stop the invasion. To throw the invaders out is another thing.
The longer this whole stupid war lasts, the worse Vlad’s inner-Russian situation. If what is left of the Russian civil society fully understands what is going on, there may be a chance. Even Vlad can not turn the whole of Russia into a graveyard, he is no Stalin – despite the fact that this is what he craves to be.

There is a right side, and a wrong side – and in few situations in history it was so clear. And those people who cheer for Vlad, be it Serbian nationalists who demonstrated today and yelled support for their hero, be it members of the German parliament (of the fascist party, who else ?, who had the nerve to say that our chancellor would “herbeireden” a new “cold war”, goodness !), or “politicians” of the “Republican” party in the US (who blab about “Biden’s weakness enabling this war”) – those right-wing, and in part openly fascist people, are scum.
And again, I already said it here, I am glad that the former “president” of the US is not at the helm, the guy who said NATO must be abandoned, the guy who kissed Putin’s arse openly, the guy whose election was helped by Russian interference, comrade Trumpsky.
We Europeans have two years to built an European force. We must do this, because the chance is very likely that in two years either the swine returns, or a younger version of the traitor sits in the White House. It is still absolutely correct what MERKEL said – the US are no reliable partner any more. We need a European army that protects our Eastern (and Northern) border. We must make clear to an aggressive Eastern neighbour that any kind of invasion is suicide.
There is no way back, there is no escape.

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And You Thought This Could Not Happen Here

When I left in the ddm today to see my eye doctor (all is well, basically), I had not used my computer. Shortly after my return home in the late morning a neighbour called me, very excited, and said “the basted did it !” I did not understand what he was talking about, until it dawned on me that Vlad attacked Ukraine for real.
I never imagined that I would have to witness a war in Europe in my lifetime. But there it is, and all of a sudden all is different. I only hope that this will end soon, so that the number of “casualties” – dead humans ! – is as low as possible. You can not send out untrained civilians with machine pistols to fight against an army of trained soldiers with state-of-the-art weapons of any thinkable kind. This is a crime, a crime within a crime.
I did not believe that Vlad would pull it off. All of a sudden we are catapulted back in a time when a tank division was a means of politics. We are back in an age of brute force, like before WWI, a terrible step back in history. And “history” is used as weapon, like any other gun, by the chief “historian” in Moscow.
The Eastern border of Europe is now a frontier again. Russia came back with bombs and grenades. All of a sudden the full members of the European Union, Poland, Slowakia, Hungary, and Romania have a border with an aggressive neighbour. Add the Baltic States too.
All I know right now is that this must be contained, before this regional war can become a global one. On the other hand, Vlad must be stopped. This guy and his oligarchic camarilla must be held accountable – I have no idea how.
All I know is that Germany has not even one effing tank division ready, and that Europe has no military means. This must change fast, because it seems that our new Eastern neighbour understands only retaliation : Do we really have to go back to the ius talionis (2.Mose 21, 23-25), “Eye for eye” ? This can not be possible, this is not the way.
Sadly, the only one with a plan, is Vlad, in his incredible recklessness : He has earned his special place in the history books, the new czar. It must be very satisfying for him. “The West”, Europe & the US, we stand there like impotent idiots.
Now let’s brace for the wave of refugees.