ballpoint

The "press service" of the President of Belarus (or "self proclaimed" President of Belarus, as the Ukrainians call him) made this statement: "Negotiations continued throughout the day. As a result, agreements were reached on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloody massacre in Russia. Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of armed men from the Wagner Group in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate the tension. At the moment, there is an absolutely profitable and acceptable option on the table for resolving the situation, with security guarantees for Wagner PMC fighters." Note the use of the words "absolutely profitable", maybe a translation slip, but I suspect it's absolutely true none the less. Perhaps Putin has given Belarus to Prigozhin? Or just maybe, Putin will launch one or more of the tactital nukes he sent there and blame Prigozhin for it? Lukashenko claims Head of Wagner PMC accepted his offer to ''de-escalate'' | Ukrainska Pravda

Looking at Prigozhin's videos, at no point have I seen him attacking Putin. Instead he is against the Russian military leadership, who he accuses of "deceiving the president", and putting "false reports on the president's desk". He goes so as far to say that there are "two agendas, one on the ground, the other on the president's desk". It's like he thinks that he is coming to Putin's rescue, to save him from his incompetent, agenda seeking, military leaders, maybe with the aim of himself taking over as supreme commander of all Russian armed forces. Putin isn't going along with this though, accusing Wagner of treason, which puts the kibosh on the whole operation, but I wonder what will happen if Prigozhin does get the support of the rank and file military (which, granted, may be a tough ask given Wagner used them as cannon fodder to probe the Ukrainian line in Bakhmut)? Would all be forgiven between them, and Putin carries on as a figurehead president? There would be very little trust between the two I guess - certainly, in their meetings, neither would take the window seat or drink the tea - so more likely, Putin flees and Prigozhin takes it all should that be the path things take. Many commentators are predicting the "coup" will be crushed though - especially with the Chechans declaring for Putin, and claiming to be headed to intercept Wagner's march to Moscow - likening it to the failed effort to depose Boris Yeltsin, but it will at least hopefully weaken the Russian military should that be the outcome. But then what? Putin goes back to business as usual in Ukraine, with his conscript army backed up by Chechan fighters instead of Wagner, or does Russia inexorably fall along the pathway to becoming another Afghanistan, with rival warlords fighting it out for control? (Maybe the EU and NATO should be putting feelers out to St Petersburg and surroundings to break away from the failed Federation, declare independence, and join their organisations?) A very interesting time to be alive.

10 minutes ago... "A Reuters journalist saw army helicopters open fire at an armed Wagner column that was advancing past the city of Voronezh with troop carriers and at least one tank on a flatbed truck. The city is more than half way along the 680-mile highway from Rostov to Moscow". Russia coup latest: Russian helicopter gunships open fire on Wagner forces (telegraph.co.uk)

For those saying "no way", how would you feel about getting a lab grown organ transplant, assuming a human one wasn't available?

But it would be far more humane to breed an animal that wants to be eaten, and tells you so.

So how bad is the economy really doing, you ask? Women are having sex with their husbands because they can't afford batteries. Jury duty is now considered a good-paying job. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail. African television stations are now showing 'Sponsor an American Child' commercials! I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?" CEO's are now playing miniature golf. Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen. My ATM gave me an IOU! A stripper was killed when her audience showered her with rolls of pennies while she danced. I saw a Mormon polygamist with only one wife. I bought a toaster and my free gift with the purchase was a bank. If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you have to call them and ask if they meant you or them. McDonald's is now selling the 1/4 ouncer. Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America . Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned the names of their children. My cousin had an exorcism but couldn't afford to pay for it, and they re-possessed her! A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico . Motel Six won't leave the light on for you anymore. A picture is now only worth 200 words. They renamed Wall Street " Wal-Mart Street ." When Donald and Melania travel together, they now have to share a room. One of the casinos in Las Vegas is now managed by Somali pirates.