Russian lawmakers authorize Putin to use military force outside the country

[Labster]

We did talk about that before -- I even told a joke about going to the gulag.  We haven't been good about providing links -- honestly there is too much going on these days.  When Dartz posts something I haven't heard about yet, I look it up if I'm interested.  Netflix is leaving mostly because it (and no other streamers) would forced to be carried live broadcasts from the official state news, and also because the optics are bad.

-- UK Home Office clarifies that they haven't admitted only 50 Ukranians.  It's a whole 300 Ukrainians!
-- For perspective, this is three No.10 lockdown BYOB parties worth of Ukranians
-- For perspective, this is one Spartan army at Thermopylae, if you only count the Spartiates and not any of the multiple lower castes from Sparta
-- Moldovan oil tanker still on fire in the Black Sea.  It has been on fire since the first day of the invasion, after a Russian missile hit it.  Sad it will never again see the shores of Moldova.
-- Apparently the trade with Poland for fighter jets is not happening (yet?).  Poland presented it to the media as if it was a done deal; US DOD hears the offer for the first time in the media.
-- As an American, I think the Polish government are dicks (ask me about my airplane crash conspiracy), but it might be worth it.  Seems like the kind of complicated thing where we hire people to make decisions on our behalf, like say government officials.
-- Garry Kasperov thinks the planes should be sent over, though, and he's good at chess.
-- China issues "calm down guys" statement.  China proves it is mature, responsible leader of the world stage, then returns to oppressing Hong Kong and Uyghurs.
-- Saudi Arabia, UAE both tap "decline" on phone calls from Biden.
-- Biden cozying up to Venezuela.  Generalissimo Maduro may give us all the oil, by which we mean all the oil that his shitty infrastructure will provide before it breaks.
-- Russian government bonds degraded below "junk bond" status.
-- The Failing New York Times leaves Russia for the first time since 1921, after reporting facts is criminalized.
-- Army volunteers offered Ukranian citizenship after liberation.
-- Russian economy still smaller than Benelux, just like last month.