How long should it take to conquer and subdue a country the size of Texas

 So far the Russians have been at it for three days. According to the TV, the Ukrainians have put up a stout defense and slowed the Russians down.  I'm not an experienced Army guy (my service was in USAF), but I would have expected conquering a piece of real estate the size of Texas would take three weeks (or more).   I wish the Ukrainians well and I love hearing about Russians getting shot down by little old grandmothers wielding AK47s. I am not really convinced that the Russians have been repelled, yet.   Some video of Stingers taking down Russian choppers would be nice.  Some video of Javelin anti tank missiles taking out tanks, or armored personnel carriers, or just plain army trucks, would also be nice. 

Biden nominates new Supreme Court Justice

 She is a woman.  She is black.  I never heard of her before.  It would be nice to have someone tell what her judicial philosophy might be, or some important cases that she has ruled upon.  I am OK with black women, but it would be nice to hear where she are coming from.

Cannon Moun tain ski weather

 It started snowing around 6 AM today and it is still coming down.  We have at least four inches now, and more to come.  Skiing ought to be great tomorrow.  

Ask of 6 PM Friday, I have 8 inches of fresh fluffy powder snow on my deck.  Skiing will be first rate tomorrow at Cannon.

Sanctions against Putin?? Do any of Biden's sanctions hurt much??

 You want some good sanctions?  How about a 25% tariff on everything made in Russia?  How about blocking ALL Russian banks from any kind of support from western banks?  How about requiring all Russian visitors to the US to show vaccination cards, submit to covid testing and do a 10 day quarantine in a facility of our choosing.  How about refusing to accept Rubles in payment for anything?  How about turning US oil production back on, like it was under Trump, and supplying European fuel needs.  Greenies would freak out, but there are not enough greenies to matter in the November elections. 

Putin finally did it.

 US intelligence sources had been predicting the Russians would invade Ukraine.  Looks like they got that right. if a little late.  I haven't seen much video of the invasion yet.  

How much resistance will the Ukrainians put up?  So far, the video of traffic jams of people fleeing Kiev are not encouraging.  I am thinking of the British back in WWII where the Germans bombed them heavily.  The Brits had bomb shelters and used them.  There are period photos showing London subway stations (tube stations the Brits call them) turned in to dormitories.   No stories or photos of the Brits fleeing German bombing.  

   We could use some video of Ukraine troops (or anyone) using American Stinger missiles on Russian warplanes.  Years ago in Afghanistan the Stingers were good enough to drive the Russians out of the place. Stinger is a shoulder fired missile which means it can be anywhere, no need for fancy tracked launch vehicles.  Despite being light enough to be man carried, Stinger had enough punch to bring down anything the Russians were flying in Afghanistan.  

  We could also use some video of American Javelin anti tank missiles on Russian tanks.  Javelin is "man portable" although at 50 pounds, it ain't light.  It is said to have a tricky warhead than can defeat reactive armor on tanks.  And it can do a pop up maneuver in which it comes in low, shoots up high and dives on the tank striking the tank's roof where the armor is thinnest.  It has range of like 1000 meters, which means it can be fired at the enemy without risking your life.  

Both Stinger and Javelin are simple enough to handle that anyone can work them after the sketchiest of training. 

Biden blows another one

 TV is telling me that Biden gave Putin a list of cyber targets that he wasn't supposed to attack.  Dumb and dumber.  He just told Putin where to attack our cyber infrastructure.  You never tell adversaries where you are vulnerable. 

The Rhinelands vs nibbling on Ukraine

 In the early 1930's the Germans, who had been forbidden to militarize the Rhineland by the Versailles treaty, went ahead and militarized the Rhineland.  The other two great powers, the British and the French, stood by and let it happen.  Everyone had so many horrible memories of WWI that nobody dared risk any sort of military effort.  In actual fact, that year, the British and the French had plenty of military power, they could have intervened, deposed Hitler, and prevented WWII.

Putin just sent the Russian army into a couple of bits of Ukraine that had been on his side for years.  It's less than the MSM had be talking up, but it is still an invasion of Ukrainian soil.  It is not a straight drive of Russian tanks for Kiev, but it is certainly against international law.  Does Biden have the stones to oppose it?  Or who ever it is writing Biden's speeches and putting them on the Teleprompter.  We never have heard who is really running Biden, and what sort of backbone they might possess (if any).