The Reading Junkie

I hear all the time about GDP. GDP this! GDP that! NATO trolls all seem to think GDP is a giant pile of free money but that’s not how it works. GDP is simply the sum of all economic activity that year. You can’t just say “No one is allowed to get a haircut this year and we’re sending all the haircut money to Ukraine,” that’s just not how it works.

The USSR was comprised of 15 (16 until 1956) allegedly equal and sovereign republics. Stalin used this logic to argue for 16 UN seats, to which the US replied they should get 50 seats. They compromised on the USSR getting three seats for Belarus, Ukraine and the USSR. Note that distinction. The other states could … Read more

Here are some photos I took of the local Victory Day observance in Theodosia. This is our last full day in Crimea. After our arrival in Moscow, updates to the blog will return to normal, and I will have some upcoming surprises to announce.

Hello everyone, I am still in Crimea. We left Kerch and are now in Theodosia. Here is a new blurb and select photos from the sites. As usual, image-heavy posts shared to the substack which you can view here.

I kept my travel plans private until after we left, but I am now writing from Crimea! I have uploaded some notes and photos from our stop in Kerch. I am typing all of this from my phone so won’t repeat myself, but you can view it on my substack here. I will now be … Read more