April 14, 2022

A quick lesson on despotism and authoritarianism from a historian's POV

These two ideas are two of the most successful theories and practices in the history of civilization.

All you need is someone with no remorse (psychopath), no empathy (narcissist), ego driven (megalomaniacal), who only sees two ways (binary) and sees enemies everywhere (paranoia). The authoritarian despot must also know how to charm and appeal to people (manipulative) and create a world where all that matters is the despot (cult of personality). Finally, the despot must have the ability to justify everything and regret nothing (Machiavellian), as well as convince the people that they are safer with the despot (gaslighting).

Creating this world is extremely easy. Maintaining it is also extreme easy. All one has to do is:

1) Appeal to nationalism and xenophobia
2) Scapegoat a popular boogeyman
3) Discredit than eliminate the opposition
4) Create an apparatus that is loyal to the despot more than the country
5) Terrify the people into submission
6) Give the spoils to your most loyal supporters

Every despot in history has done this. Murdering unarmed people is easy. Look at Papa Doc, Idi Amin, the Kims, Mao, Pol Pot, Rhee, Pinochet, and the others (I am leaving the big names out because it is too easy to point them).

Controlling a population is easy when they are defenseless.

It's just when they are trying to kill people that shoot back is where they begin to have their problems. And that usually leads to their downfall.

April 11, 2022

Film Festival awards show tonight. I'm best out of 2000 entrants

Won the best screenplay award tonight.

April 10, 2022

Film Festival awards show tonight. I'm top 5 out of 2000 entrants

Starts at 6:30 in LA.

DU, wish me luck. I'm going for my 15th award in 18 months and my eighth on this screenplay.

April 6, 2022

Look at the bright side of the anti-NATO, pro-Putin Representatives of the House GQP ilk

63/435 is 15%, which is about what this loud, annoying, anti-American, pro-nihilism voting block of the Repubiklan Party has.

This vote just showed us how much voting power the personality cult of Agent Orange has.

They really are a loud, angry-at-nothing, nativist, bigoted, self-serving block.

April 5, 2022

In Bucha, where Russian war crimes are suspected, civilians say they saw 'horrific things'

Source: AOL News

LVIV, Ukraine ⁠— Brothers-in-law Andrrii Lebeda and Nikolay Tkachov thought they'd be safe from Russian bombs and bullets when they first sheltered in the quiet town of Bucha outside of Kyiv. Instead, they found themselves in the midst of what some are saying became the scene of a vast war crime.

When Russian forces first targeted Bucha early on March 6 as part of their attempt to encircle and take the country’s capital, Kyiv, Lebeda, Tkachov and their families found themselves under near-constant attack.

“It was just luck to survive, just luck. No less, no more,” said Lebeda, 32, speaking of his days in Bucha, some 35 miles northwest of Kyiv, as it was ravaged by war.

At first, Lebeda, who had lived in Kyiv before the war, and Tkachov said they heard bombing only in the distance. But it soon came much closer.

“The bombing increased, like, hour by hour,” said Tkachov, 42.

Read more: https://www.aol.com/news/bucha-where-russian-war-crimes-112305719.html

---

Suspected? More like documented. Thank you, media, for giving Putin a reach-around in your word selection in coverage of his brutal, genocidal invasion. . .oops, I mean special military operation.

April 5, 2022

Pennsylvania high school student shot, person of interest at large, officials say

Source: AOL News

A student at Erie High School in Pennsylvania was injured during a shooting Monday morning, and a person of interest fled, according to officials.

Multiple shots were fired at the school shortly after 9:20 a.m., Erie’s Public Schools said in a statement. One student was injured but stable, the district said in the afternoon, adding that police were searching for a person of interest who fled the campus.

Counselors will be made available to students at a nearby arts center, and the school will be closed leading up to spring break, which begins next week, according to the district.

"We are devastated and angered by this senseless tragedy," Erie's Public Schools Superintendent Brian Polito said in a statement. "We are hoping for the full and speedy recovery for the student involved.

Read more: https://www.aol.com/news/pennsylvania-high-school-lockdown-shooting-142224339.html

---

It's getting to the point that this isn't even news anymore.