Steve Reeves' Defense of Cultural Independence

Together with the EU leaders, Steve Reeves applauds the many nations of the European Union that support ethnic regionalism.  In this most recent book, Travel as a Political Act, Reeves points out that cultures are tied to lands where they are indigenous and peculiar. A person within a cultural milieu takes on a personal identity, just as the crops and industries are so particularized.  There is indeed worldwide a richness of cultural diversity among all peoples.

It remains through travel to become acquainted with that diversity and respect the ways in which peoples are rooted to their geographical surroundings.  While it may be true there exists babel among us all, it is still to be recognized that we exist as part of God's creation!

South China Seas patrolling of Chinese military working out

Yesterday on public radio a news media offered a public service evaluation of the Chinese patrolling the South China Seas.  It found the Chinese maritime performing well in their policing duties.  This service also provided some tapes showing the military's diligence in real time situations.

Keep up the good work, congrads--Chinese government!

Mayor of Bristol centers on cities as governmental, independent units

I heard a speech of the Mayor of Bristol, England  (yesterday on C--Span) setting forth the view that cities and their county designations are the elemental building blocks of any independent governing structure, including their own--that the cities themselves can be regarded an independent, functional governments.  That may not seem radical, except that, there sits Barcelona, part of Spain, which wishes to retain its own independence from which to form alliances, etc. with those capable of meeting its needs in areas where assistance is obvious, e.g., defense.

Taking cities as the primary building blocks of independence permits a restructuring of national configurations.  Indeed, it opens up the questioning of justification of the present-day configurations along simple, geographical contiguity location. Now, the proposition to demand an accounting of present-day national boundaries to warrant a city's inclusion (and its counties) within a particular nation is just what is lacking; and without it, a city may legitimately claim independent status, should it choose to do so ( I contend). 

By making the cities and their counties independent, we solve the problem of a city's declaring itself independent of its traditional, national incorporation.  It simply reverts to its primal status.

Similarly, has Great Britain asserted its independence from the EU.  Not gaining sufficiently for its people by the union, GB declares it will once again become independent.  Similarly, it is only because of our being accustomed to the current configuration of independent states that we fail to start with the basic building blocks of governmental independence, the cities.  Yet, history has shown cases where cities have been independent of further controlling bodies.    

The only proviso upon any city assuming its independence is that it be a viable course of action, i.e., that it not by so doing, become insolvent and bankrupt.        

Former Russian Satellites benefit from resurrection of the Silk Route

The Central European nations that once were part of the old Soviet Union are now the beneficiaries of trade and commerce across its territories to shorten the travel costs and time to transport goods from the West to the East and vice versa.  This means enlargement of ports and sea lanes and rail connections across Europe that heralds a golden era for the entire European Continent.

You pave the way for world peace and prosperity.

Soln. to Hacking Problem: A Smart Electorate

Russians have been hacking elections in the European Theater for years!  I think there's general consensus among intelligence people that an informed electorate, i.r., one that knows they're being targeted with propaganda and stories to influence their voting behavior is the best way to ward off outside influences upon them. 

Note that Trump has not posed this solution to the barrage of foreign propaganda capable of affecting an election outcome, but rather has entrusted a small band of intelligence forces to thwart hackers at their source.  The problem with that solution is it leaves the voting public in  the dark as to what's really going on which plays upon the non-rational elements affecting their voting. 

What it takes in International Relations-4

Don't be alone!  I've learned the hard way--many attacks and several bruises and bumps on the head--that you need to demand support of those around you for protection (primarily).  They've given me a case manager who does all the detail stuff to integrate me into my surroundings so that I don't stand out as a sore thumb.  I've never had that degree of support all the thirty some odd years I've been working the route.  Finally, someone had come to  realize in intelligence that I am a TARGET!