is the blog of an Orthodox Christian and is published under the spiritual patronage of St. John of San Francisco. Topics likely to be discussed include matters relating to Orthodoxy as well as other religious confessions, politics, economics, social issues, current events or anything else which interests me. © 2006-2024
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Vacation
Russian Orthodox Church Opposes Abortion in All Circumstances
Thursday, June 24, 2021
The NY Times asks why police are quitting in droves (really)
Just the latest sign that the left is starting to worry about the effects, political and otherwise, of the harsh anti-police rhetoric emanating from their more strident members. With rising crime and civil disorder there are increasing fears of a backlash at the polls against Democrats.
Read it here.
Rudy Giuliani is suspended from practicing law
Rudy Giuliani has been suspended with immediate effect from the practice of law in New York State for making false and misleading statements about the general election while representing then President Donald Trump.
Read the court order here.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Seven Greek Orthodox bishops injured in acid attack by priest
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Supreme Court Backs Catholic Foster Care Agency in Gay Rights Case
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Two Cheers For The New Navalism
Hungary bans the promotion of homosexuality in schools- effects seen as far reaching
Monday, June 14, 2021
The liberal argument against NATO
Read it here.
I have had decidedly mixed views of NATO post Cold War and the author makes some solid points here. But it is also dangerous to think that history stopped in 1991 and that NATO is the bad guy in the world today. Both China and Russia represent serious threats to their neighbors and the broader international community. Contrary to shop worn clichés, history rarely repeats itself. But it does contain warnings. Allowing bullies to push people around indefinitely usually ends badly for everybody.
Friday, June 11, 2021
In Congress a Bipartisan Push to Rein in Big Tech
Tuesday, June 08, 2021
James Carville's Warning to Democrats on Crime: "Own the issue or it will own you."
Coincidence?
Last night it was announced that the Feds had managed to seize a large chunk of the roughly $5 million paid to a Russian ransomware crime gang in order to release a major east coast pipeline that they had managed to shut down. That ransom was paid in the de facto currency of organized crime, Bitcoin. Cryptocurrencies, and especially Bitcoin, have become the go to venue for largely anonymous financial transactions. In this respect they have replaced the now illegal practice of anonymous banking such as the legendary numbered bank accounts that once upon a time every narco kingpin, terrorist and dictator used to stash their money untraceably in places like Switzerland. Its pretty common knowledge that BTC's wild swings are being partly driven by naked price manipulation on the part of celebrity endorsements and criminal syndicates who use it both for money laundering and as a high tech ponzi scheme believing that its relative anonymity makes them near invulnerable.
Today Bitcoin took a dive, at one point losing more than 8% of its value. Hmmm...