Our happy, peaceful world

There's been a lot of news on terrorism recently, and as usual, a lot of hot air and not much facts.

For instance, when the IRA was in a more active phase some years ago, most people were under the impression that the goals were fairly clear: 1) A united Ireland and 2) Brits out of Northern Ireland. The goal seemed relatively simple and realistic on paper and amongst most of the British populace there was probably some sympathy with the idea (even if they didn't agree with their methods). The rules seemed to be a campaign to be directed against the British govt with high-ranking politicians and members of the Royal Family legitimate targets. Every so often people would get caught in the crossfire or a splinter group outside of the main wing would commit an atrocity, but in general the ordinary population was not a target.

With Al-Queida however, nobody seems to know what their objectives are - world Islam? Total destruction of western civilisation? Which seem totally ridiculous aims. And now the civilian population is the target. Then there are people who say that ‘they’ mustn’t change our way of living (whatever that’s supposed to mean). The Industrial Revolution drastically changed our way of life, as did the invention of the railways, WW2, email and mobile phones, the motor car…so of course crime and terrorism is going to change our way of life. The only realistic solution is more security, more police and more police powers.

The Baltika invasion

So Heineken is Europe’s most drunk beer and followed in 2nd place by the Russian beer, Baltika. I’m not sure whether I trust these figures as I thought Heineken was a bit of a yesterday’s drink (you don’t see their cans in supermarkets as often as you used to do) and Baltika seems to be a relatively rare sight outside of the former Soviet Union.

Beer doesn’t yet have a good reputation in Russia (with peak consumption 6-8am) and it’s scoffed at by most men, who consider it to be a homosexuals drink (with it’s weedy 4-5% alcohol). But Baltika is supposedly taking Europe by storm, so have a look at what you larger drinkers will be supping in a few years time!

http://baltikabeer.com/brands1-5.php

I’ve not had nos. 2, 7, 8, or 9, though Tesco’s have recently started stocking number 3. No. 7 looks interesting, 8 looks inviting and 9 with it’s 8% alcohol content looks more like a Russian’s drink than an effeminate westerner’s drink.

Or will it go the way of the poor old Lada (who had 2% of the British Market in 1988) and now must be nearly extinct on Britain’s roads.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada

Darkness at Dawn:The Rise of the Russian Criminal State

That's the title of a book I'm currently reading. And very depressing it is too. I didn't think there were many books that could be a whole lot more cynical than me!

But in a nutshell Russia is totally knackered - controlled at every level by criminals. It does give a good explanation of how the pyramid schemes worked to cheat people out of their life savings, why workers were never paid, why even after 10+ years of 'capitalism' service is still bloody awful, and why Yelsin wanted Putin to take over (and why if you're Russian your best bet is to go and live abroad, preferably somewhere like the UK or Ireland - I knew my Russian would come in handy one day!!).