Putin & Trump vs. Ukraine

 Honorable Senator Durbin,

I am writing to you today with a profound sense of urgency and alarm regarding the reported draft agreement, the so-called "28-Point Plan", that is being negotiated through private channels between U.S. and Russian envoys without the participation or consent of the sovereign government of Ukraine.

If the details of this leaked plan are accurate, this is not a path to peace; it is a thinly veiled blueprint for surrender and an egregious act of geopolitical betrayal. I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to use every tool at your disposal to vehemently oppose this plan and prevent it from gaining any traction within the U.S. government or becoming official policy.

The reported demands of this draft are staggering and completely unacceptable:

Territorial Surrender: Forcing Ukraine to cede control over the eastern Donbas region is a clear violation of international law and rewards Russia’s aggression. It is an amputation of a sovereign state's territory.

Military Disarmament: The demand to halve Ukraine’s Armed Forces and severely restrict its key weapons systems is a catastrophic security risk. It would deliberately gut the military that has successfully prevented a complete Russian takeover, leaving the nation permanently vulnerable to future, inevitable Russian attacks.

Internal Subversion: Mandating the official status of the Moscow-aligned Orthodox Church and Russian as a state language embeds Moscow's influence directly into Ukraine's most sensitive cultural and institutional structures. These are not peace terms; they are demands for political and cultural subordination.

Cutting Off Lifelines: A sharp reduction in U.S. military aid, coupled with a weakened Ukrainian military, is the definition of setting a former ally up for failure and future conquest.

Senator, this plan, negotiated in backrooms and absent of Ukrainian representation, does not serve U.S. interests in global stability or the rule of law. It sacrifices a brave, democratic ally and sends a chilling message to every nation that relies on American commitment: that their sovereignty is merely a bargaining chip to be traded away for political expediency.

To coerce President Zelensky into accepting terms that amputate his country, disarm its defense, and embed the aggressor's influence is morally indefensible. We must not allow Ukraine to be treated as a hostage whose life is negotiated by its captor and a third party.

I implore you, as a principled leader in the Senate, to:

 Publicly denounce this 28-Point Plan and the use of private, unauthorized back-channels to conduct   foreign policy.

 Actively investigate the source and motivation behind these negotiations, and ensure all U.S.               diplomacy is conducted transparently and directly with Kyiv.

Mobilize Senate opposition to any proposal that would coerce Ukraine into territorial concession, military disarmament, or political submission to the Kremlin.

The future of Ukraine’s freedom and the credibility of U.S. global leadership are at stake. Please do everything in your power to stop this plan.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical matter.

Respectfully,

David Piekarczyk

Shopping.

Yesterday was shopping day. I spent  160 PLN($44) for the week of food.

Today was a free day. That means nobody was coming for Joan. Gabriela will come tomorrow and Karolina on Friday.

For the last few months, I have been staying up until 2 or 2:30 in the morning. Mainly because of my work with resistance groups in the U.S. I know, it'seems a little crazy that I am involved in that, living where we live now. However, we do have adult children and grandkids there and are concerned for their welfare.

Poland is now following the U.S. in TV commercials. Already there are Christmas ads on TV and the  stores are filled with Christmas items for sale. 

You may be wondering why I am always adding news about the war in Ukraine to my blog. It is because there is so little of it now in the daily news outlets. EVERY day it's the same old shit, Trump, Trump, Trump. I am so tired of it.

Monster of War.

A Russian ballistic missile attack killed 17-year-old Ukrainian kickboxing champion Karina Bakhur. She lived in a town of Berestyn, Kharkiv region, which came under heavy shelling last night. Karina was at home and reportedly running toward the basement when the blast hit. She died in the hospital from her wounds.

 

Karina was both World and European medalist in kickboxing, Master of Sports of Ukraine and current champion of Ukraine in both Cossack duel and kickboxing. A life of talent, discipline, and dreams ended by a Russian missile.

Interesting?

An interesting story. When I was in third grade in a one-room schoolhouse of grades 1-6, every row was a higher grade. There was one teacher for all. Where we lived was so small it wasn't named a village, town, or city. It was Clark Station near Gary, Indiana, even though there was no bus or train service. 

One day, 3 men and a nurse came in and said they were going to tattoo our blood types on our bodies. They had what looked like a drill with a box full of different blood type medal markers. A desk was set up in the entrance way where the "nurse" sat. One man was in our room calling out a row number. 

The children would line up in front of the nurse, she would prick the index finger, determine the blood type, we would be separated by type, and each row would be added. When all was done, another man fixed a marker on the "drill" and drilled it into our side. I don't remember if it hurt or not. Just remember being scared. 

My mother was told it was the government's idea to protect the children in case of an atomic bomb attack. It was in the early 50s. 

So, since third grade, I knew my blood type, B+. The mark only faded away after 50+ years. The strange thing for me was that no other school had done it.

Yesterday, a reader sent me this:

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/04/operation-tat-type-why-some-american.html

Operation Tat-Type: Why Some American Kids Got Tattooed With Blood-Type

If you're curious.

Friday-Saturday

Yesterday, I had a little break time while Karolina was here, so I went to Solacki Park, and I sat down to listen to my book, Big Sir, written by Jack Kerouac. I've been reading and listening to Jack Kerouac since I was 16. My brother Walter, or Wally as we called him, turned me on to Jack many, many years ago. I still find comfort in the words that he wrote. Of course, the first book I read by him was On the Road, probably his most famous book. His style was so unusual back in the 1950s, and I think that's what brought him a lot of interest.

After I was done in the park, I went to the Apteka, because it was time to buy another vitamin for Joan.

Back at home, Karolina was just finishing up giving Joanh a shower, and when she was done, we talked for about 20 minutes.

Last night. I stayed up until about 2:00 in the morning answering emails and doing some postings to various resistance groups I belong to. Today I didn't wake up until 11:00. That's 9 hours, a lot of time for me to sleep.

In the afternoon, John and I listened to various classical guitar players on YouTube.

When it was time to make dinner, I chose the easy way out and defrosted some frozen chili I still had left over.

Ukraine.

Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) forces overnight Sunday to Monday launched amphibious and airborne kamikaze drone strikes against targets in southwest Russia, with the main effort concentrating on a Black Sea oil tanker loading terminal critical to the Kremlin for export.

Sea-launched robot boats hit the Russian port city of Tuapse, one of Russia’s two main terminals for oil export via the Black Sea. Initial reports of an attack in progress reached local news platforms shortly after 1 AM on Monday. Video uploaded from viewpoints inside the city documented two explosions in the central port area, and fires.

With a capacity to trans-ship around 17 million metric tons of oil products/year, Tuapse is Russia’s second-biggest oil products export transshipment facility on the Black Sea.

Ukrainian robot boats had previously attacked Tuapse on Sept. 24 and overnight on Nov. 1-2. The latter raid damaged two tankers, halted fuel exports and refinery operations for days, caused an oil spill and forced tankers to abandon the port.

[UPDATED: Nov. 11, 12:37 pm , Kyiv time. Updated with reports from the General Staff of Ukraine and the Forces of Unmanned Systems confirming their involvement in the attack.]

A series of explosions rocked the Russian cities of Saratov and Engels early on Tuesday, Nov. 11, with social media reporting a fire at the Saratov oil refinery.

According to Russian Telegram channels, air defenses were on high alert in both cities amid the threat of drone attacks. Local residents reported hearing between five and seven loud explosions after 1 AM.

Independence?

The annual march organized in Warsaw by nationalist groups to celebrate Polish Independence Day passed peacefully through the city.

Among the participants, whose number is estimated at around 150,000, was recently elected right-wing President Karol Nawrocki, whose conservative predecessor, Andrzej Duda, had avoided attending the event.

However, members of Poland’s more liberal government stayed away from the march. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, attending a separate Independence Day celebration in his hometown of Gdańsk, declared that “no one has a monopoly on patriotism” and called “diversity a source of our strength”.

Joan and I stayed at home and celebrated the day by eating four of the famous Rogala pastries.

It seemed odd that Poland is celebrating its independence while in the United States there is a struggle to keep its independence from becoming a dictatorship, and Ukraine is fighting a war to save its country.

NOV. 25 to DEC. 2.

What exactly am I supposed to stop doing? 

 

During the Mass Blackout (Nov. 25–Dec. 2), we’re asking participants to:

– Stop working (see below)

– Stop spending at corporations

– Cancel streaming/digital subscriptions

– Avoid travel, restaurants, and normal consumer behavior

– Stay off ad-driven platforms unless organizing

If you must spend, use cash at small local businesses. Small Business Saturday is exempted.

 

What if I can’t take off work?

Not everyone can. You can still:

– Cancel subscriptions

– Halt spending

– Log off entertainment platforms

– Share the campaign

– Donate to Feeding America to support those walking out

Choose the form of resistance that’s possible for you — and do it proudly.

 

Should I support small businesses during the blackout?

Yes. This action exempts small businesses. If you need to spend, use cash at locally owned or worker-led shops. Avoid corporate chains and mega-platforms.

 

Does this mean I shouldn’t use social media?

Use social media intentionally. Don’t scroll for entertainment — organize, agitate, spread the message. Use hashtags. Share visuals. Mobilize your people.

 

How can I help spread the word?

– Use campaign hashtags:

#MBO #MB #BlockParty #MassBlackout #BlackoutForDemocracy

– Send this campaign to 5 people

– Organize your network — online or off

Independence Day.

Poland will mark Independence Day today with wreath-layings, a state mass, presidential honors and an Independence March in Warsaw, with parliament buildings open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

President Karol Nawrocki and his wife will lead the main ceremony at Piłsudski Square, where the president will also present state decorations and deliver remarks.

Earlier, top officials will lay wreaths at Warsaw monuments to Wincenty Witos, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Ignacy Daszyński, Roman Dmowski, Wojciech Korfanty, and Józef Piłsudski, all key figures in the country’s struggle for independence.

Nawrocki and First Lady Marta Nawrocka, joined by Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, will attend a mass for the homeland at the Temple of Divine Providence. At noon, senior officials will take part in a ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Piłsudski Square.

Later in the day, wreaths are planned at monuments to the victims of the 2010 Smolensk tragedy, President Lech Kaczyński and Marshal Józef Piłsudski, near Piłsudski Square.

On Monday evening, the eve of the holiday, a Capstrzyk Niepodległości (“Independence Tattoo”) ceremony took place at the Józef Piłsudski monument, with Kosiniak-Kamysz and military commanders laying wreaths at memorials to the Fathers of Independence.

The Sejm and Senate will open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering access to normally restricted areas such as the Sejm chamber and corridors. Around 10:50 a.m., visitors can meet Senate Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska on the Senate’s first floor.

Why?

 If you've been a reader of my blog for some time, maybe wondering why I've had so many one-day or two-day breaks, I'll tell you. Due to the situation in the United States with the current president and his bogus Administration, I've been involved with a movement in the United States promoting a general strike. The organization has the idea that if 3.5% of the population goes on strike, it will severely affect the economy and therefore affect the administration and its oligarchs who support it.

Much of my evening now is spent communicating with them because, being far away as I am, it's the only form of resistance that I can offer. I know this blog started out as a research blog, and for many years, I've been telling our tales of living in Poland.

However, I feel it's important for me to at least try to do what I can to help stop some of the damage that is being done to democracy in the country where I was born. So, after Joan goes to bed in the evenings, I spend much of my time communicating with them and doing what I can to support and help them progress.

I feel the goal of 3.5% while it may be effective in small countries, in the United States, it is going to take a long time to accomplish that, and I don't feel we have that much time before the dictatorship is complete.

So that's what's been happening at these times when I don't write anything or say anything about life in Poland, because I'm busy trying to do whatever I can to help recover the United States from this catastrophe of a presidency.

Because I have a deadline on this blog of midnight to publish by the day and I don't always see it because I'm too busy talking with someone, writing to someone, emailing to someone, writing to a Senator or House Representatives for various things that I think may help somewhat and that's the reason I've been absent on those days when I don't write.

Break day.

Gabriel arrived at 1:30 today. So, after she got here, I picked up my bags, got the keys to the car, and drove off on my way to the Apteka. I needed to buy some vitamin D and vitamin C for Joan. Fortunately, we have an Apteca very close to the house, about three blocks away, actually, so it doesn't take long to get there.

After I left yet I drove to care for because I needed to pick up some bacon for the potato and baking soup that I was going to make for dinner. It's a good, tasty soup. 

Meanwhile in Ukraine:

Ukraine is targeted brush and oil strikes throughout the war but it has sharply intensified attacks in the recent months driving up fuel prices. 

Ukraine has carried out nearly 160 strikes on rational facilities at the start of 2025 significantly, cutting into the kremlin's energy revenues used for. 

The head of the security service of Ukraine also known as SBU, told Zielinsky that drone and missile operations had successfully targeted refineries, depots and pumping stations deep inside of Russia.

The Kremlin seems to be visibly panicking because of Ukraine's Precision drone strikes as they are overwhelmed. 

Russian insiders report evacuation plans are forming is fear spreads through the Russian President Putin's Inner circle. 

Ukrainian soldiers confirmed that drones are now giving Kyiv an undeniable strategic edge and fundamentally changing the way wars are fought. The Kyiv Post reports exclusive first-hand evidence that Putin's regime is in a deep crisis. They are failing to defend Moscow's airspace against Ukrainian strategic strikes, and despite waves of Russian counter-attacks, they are unable to slow down Ukraine's offensive capability.

Shopping day.

Okay, today was shopping day, so I got up at 6:30 this morning, dressed, took my list, and then I was off to the store at Carrefour. I needed to buy enough food for the next week, and I had my list with me. It only takes 15 minutes to get to the store.

I didn't have a lot to buy because I planned on having soup during the week, so that takes care of two days, and then there's always Pizza as a backup in case I don't feel like cooking. The total cost was $39. However, the vegetables at care for are not the best because it's so early in the morning because it is so early in the morning they don't have time. So, I had to make another stop on the way home at Lidl. That is the supermarket closest to our flat. There, I had to pick up four different vegetables and some baking soda. I needed the soda because I was going to make blueberry pancakes today for breakfast. So, adding the cost at both stores, my total was $45 for food next week.

I got back home by 8:30, put everything away, and then it was time to get Joan out of bed. Today, being Tuesday, Gabriella was scheduled to come over at 11:30 and sit with Joan while I took a 3-hour break.

I was back at home by 2:30, Gabrielle stayed until about 3:00, and then she left.

For dinner, I prepared chicken with rice, red peppers, onions, tomatoes, salt, and pepper. I have used this recipe before and assumed dinner was going to be good. However, neither Joan nor I liked the taste, and it wasn't that good. We were both disappointed. Oh well, what are you going to do?

The weekend is over?

For some unknown reason, this was the longest two-day weekend ever. Finally, it's Monday, not that it matters.

I made strawberry pancakes for breakfast, and Joan was happy. Actually, I made too much batter, so tomorrow I will buy blueberries and have those for breakfast. 

We watched the NFL highlights and returned to the series, Lincoln Lawyer, that we started watching yesterday.

It was a lazy day for us.

Lately, I have been having trouble with Grammarly connecting to websites for corrections. A human could correct whatever the problem is, but a Bot cannot. I'm now using another program, LT, to check for mistakes. I'm also considering using a Voice to Text program, Wsprflow AI.

 Okay, I typed in WhisperFlo AI, downloaded it, but then after trying it out, it doesn't work in Blogger, so the only thing I can do is try another program. I went to Google Docs Voice-in. It seems to be working fairly well, but it doesn't have any punctuation or grammar checking. Still, now I see my Google application for Grammarly is working, so at least I can get my punctuation and grammar checked, and I can do this all while I'm just speaking what I want to write about. It's much easier that way for me.

 

Sunday?

The last two days have seemed like Sunday and now, Sunday seems like Monday. How crazy is that?

I had a problem with Joan earlier, but now she is fine.

Meanwhile: Ukraine

The Pentagon has approved the potential delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, determining that the move would not harm U.S. defense readiness.

According to CNN, the final decision now rests with President Donald Trump.Sources told the network that the Joint Chiefs of Staff informed the White House in early October that a limited transfer of Tomahawks would not weaken America’s military capabilities.

The assessment was presented just before Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.While Trump initially supported the idea, officials say his sudden hesitation surprised both American and European partners.

Nonetheless, the Tomahawk transfer remains under active consideration.Administration officials have already prepared plans for rapid delivery to Ukraine should President Trump authorize the move, marking a potential escalation in U.S. military assistance to Kyiv.

Oct.31 & Nov. 1st.

Compared to the Divided States of America, Poland has more Holidays. No doubt, Christmas and Easter are the most important. However, for me, the most beautiful one is tomorrow

All Saint's Day is an annual national holiday in Poland to celebrate the saints on November 1. It is also known as the Day of the Dead, as many people remember dead family and friends on this day. It is normal for families to travel back to the village, town, or city of their families history. 

The preparation for this day begins several days before it. Cleaning materials are brought to clean the headstones, and rakes to take away the leaves. Each family member brings beautiful flowers, and candles to illuminate the graves at night. The cemeteries everywhere are a beautiful scene of a myriad of color.

Usually, it is a time for families to meet again with other relatives they may not have seen in months, or even years. When the visitation at the cemetery is over, it is also a good time to gather in a relatives house to continue conversations.

Joan and I would make a trip each Nov.1st for that event. Unfortunately, since her stroke in 2025, we haven't made a return.

For us, it was also a time to visit with dear cousin Kazia, and her son Andrzej. I miss seeing and talking with them in person. 

All Saint's Day>> I waited until late in the day until I went to the cemetery. I wanted to make sure the lighting was dark enough to see the candles bit light enough to see the sky in the background. I only stayed 30 minutes because Joan was home alone and that worried me. The pictures turned out good.

Solacki Park at night.

Karolina came late today, but it allowed me the time to something I have wanted to do, tale pictures of Solacki Park at nightfall. The park is only 15 minutes from our flat.

Very  few people were in the park so I was able to mainly take pictures with no people. I didn't need 20-30 pictures, so I took about ten and then selected the best ones to post. The building you see see is the church in the round.

My dear friend, Joanna has/had a house on the left side of the street. It will be three year next month since she departed this world. I really miss her. 

Break Time

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uu12zY01ts   Use stereo headphones if you have them.

What day is it?

Another typical day of chilly weather with off and on showers of rain. Not a good day to be outside, so we went nowhere. It seemed like Sunday. Especially since we watched highlights of yesterday's football games and Sunday back in the states was normally football day for us.

Tomorrow is shopping day, so it's off to bed before midnight in order to woke up at 06:30. Gabriela won't be here until 2:30, and then I go to Radek's for another English/Spanish meeting. He will be gone for two weeks to Spain, lucky guy, so I will miss two weeks without his help.

I made a nice potato soup for dinner with a salad and some good bread from the bakery. Breakfast was lemon-rricotta pancake with blueberry syrup. Yummy.

Ukraine

The past two days has been cloudy with rain, and in general, rather boring. 

I did take Joan out today for a little while just for coffee. 

Meanwhile in Ukraine,

Russian soldiers executed five civilians in the village of Zvanivka, Donetsk region, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported Thursday, referencing a Gestapo-like family massacre by Moscow’s occupiers on Oct. 20.

A married couple and their elder son were hiding in the basement of a private house, state-media Ukrinform elaborated, while their younger son had gone to a neighbor’s house to fetch water. Russian soldiers stormed the home and found where the family was hiding and then began interrogating them about the whereabouts of Ukrainian defenders in the village.

After receiving no information, they left, prosecutors described.

Later, one of the occupiers returned to the home and opened fire on the family with an automatic weapon. Believing all three to be dead, he left the scene.

In fact, one person – the mother – survived with a gunshot wound to the jaw.

Worried about her younger son, the official account continued, the wounded mother went to a neighboring basement, where she found his body alongside those of their neighbors – a 62-year-old woman and her 30-year-old son.

The injured woman managed to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory, where she was hospitalized and provided testimony about the war crime committed by Russian forces. Source Kyiv Post

Autumn in the Botanical Gardens

 Karolina

Poland warns Russia.

 

Ok, today, was shopping day. Gabriela was coming to sit with Joan at 2:30 so I didn't have to wake up at 06:30 to do the shopping. That was good for me. Total cost for next weeks for was $36. NO, the prices haven't come down, I'm just making 2 of my dinners that will be good for 2 days each. Joan doesn't mind because she can't remember what she had for dinner yesterday/ Sad, but true.

Radek came at 11:00, bring a cheesecake with him. The English conversation was about his time spent in Warsaw and what is happening now in the U.S. 

After that, we spent another hour going over a Spanish lesson.

There is this news about Poland.

Poland Cannot Guarantee It Won’t Ground Putin’s Plane for ICC Arrest — Sikorski

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, in an interview with Radio Rodzina, commented on whether Warsaw should allow a plane carrying Vladimir Putin to fly to Budapest for a potential summit with Donald Trump:

 

“We cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court would not order the landing of a hypothetical plane carrying Putin in order to hand the suspect over to The Hague.”

Sikorski added that “the fact that an EU member bound by the International Criminal Court invites Putin is disgusting. It also shows that Hungary positions itself not as part of the West, but somewhere between the West and Russia.”

 

“There are those who would like Ukraine to surrender. Ukraine has no reason to do so,” he emphasized.

 

Background: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has expressed readiness to host a Putin–Trump meeting in Budapest, despite Hungary’s obligations under the Rome Statute to arrest the Russian dictator under an ICC warrant.

Protest or party?

This protest against the Trump Administration was not confined to the United States. It also took place in London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Tokyo, Melbourne, Copenhagen, Brussels, and in cities in Sweden, Ireland, and South Korea. They all marched to show their solidarity with anti-Trump Americans.

  

The No Kings 2.0 march drew an enormous turnout last Saturday, with nearly seven million Americans taking part across the country. That is about two million more than the first one, a clear signal that the momentum is building as people are getting fed up with Trump’s draconian deportation program, and sending our own military into our cities to police American citizens. And this movement will grow every day that this sniveling loser of a man tries to anoint himself America’s new king. 

Speaker Mike Johnson tried to dismiss the event, calling it a “hate America rally,” but he couldn’t be more wrong. The crowds were filled with regular people who work hard, pay taxes, and genuinely love their country as much as they hate what Trump is doing to our country. 

 

In Washington, DC alone, the turnout was a staggering 200,000 people. That’s twice as many people as attended Trump’s second inauguration if anyone happens to be keeping score. The day remained entirely peaceful, despite Republicans spending all week painting it as a hotbed for “pro-Hamas and radical left violent extremism,” but there was no violence today. There was no unrest. Just actual American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights, but I guess that is something today’s MAGA movement can’t understand. Today was empowering, and hopefully this will build to something bigger! Keep on. You are not alone. There are millions of us.

 

For me, the biggest surprise came during the speech of Chicago's Mayor, Brandon Johnson. Close to the end of it, he called upon Chicagoans to participate in a General Strike. 

 

As a member of The General Strike US, that is exactly why we have gained 386,426 committed members.

Be on Guard!

 

Oct 18th--BE SAFE

Tomorrow is OUR D(Dissent) Day. 2,500+protests against Donnie Trump and his band of thugs, cowards, traitors to the Constitution, and ALL Americans, including the majority of Trump voters.

Be safe out there, and above all, non-violent!

Only politics.

The Trump administration has a plan to disrupt the protests this Saturday in California involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It is to shut down the major transportation highway in southern California and shoot missiles from the ships into Camp Pendleton, a major Marine base.

It is to demonstrate to Americans the power of our own military. Like we don't know already! Only dictators like Putin from Russia or Kim Jung Un from North Korea does that. Even loyal trump supporters know that. Its main reason is to instill even more fear in us, the anti-Trumpers. Maybe it will work. It will if you let it, but then they will have won.

His own private army, ICE and Homeland Security, no doubt will be at different protests around the country to abduct any “domestic terrorists” as protestors are now being called. Will it stop you from participating this Saturday and let them crush the opposition to having a dictator?

This major No Kings Day-2 should have 20-30 million people showing the world we are vehemently opposed to Trump and his gang of thugs, Republican congressmen, unqualified cabinet members, and followers. There are 2,500 registered protests planned so far. We need every village, town, and city this time. It won't stop the carnage or change their direction.

We told you about their plan last year, Project 2025. Far too many ignored it, didn't read it, or said, “Oh, that can't happen in America”. Well, my friends, it has happened in only 8 months. There isn't much time left before the takeover is completed and our great country no longer exists as a Republic. Now, there is only a 3-fold way to stop it. Protest, boycott, and strike all at the same time. Take away the money going into the administration, Trump, and the oligarchs. They will pay attention to that.

If you have read this far and you agree, take a real action to stop it. Just protesting won't do it. Either join a boycott group or a strike organization. I think you know I am with the General Strike US(GSUS) organization. So far, we have 383,860 committed members. It is not nearly enough to be a success. You can be a member of this org. without having to stay home from work if you can't. That is your option

We are organized, have a plan, a list of demands to be met, and partner with 27+ other groups. If you want to know more, type https://generalstrikeus.com. 

Thank you.

Joan's day.

Karolina was coming today at 12:00, so I had to get Joan prepared for her. She didn't remember meeting her last week or why she was coming. I had to explain that Karolina was coming to help her shower, wash her hair, and cut her finger and toe nails. I said it was just a test to see if she liked Karolina and was happy when it was all done. I told Joan it was her final decision whether or not Karolina would return.

Karolina arrived and I showed her how I got Joan into and out during a shower. Two of those handles were still holding on to the walls and were helpful for Joan. However, during the shower, one just fell down again. Out of the four I purchased, only one still worked. I knew I would be returning all four back to the seller for refund.

After the shower and her hair was washed, I showed Karolina how I get Joan onto he bed to apply her diaper and put on a pair of pants. 

Karolina was not aware that Joan could raise her body up so she proceeded to apply the diaper by rolling on her right side, push half of the diaper under neath her, rolling her to the left side and drawing it up to close. I told her there was a better to put on the diaper and showed her how.

After Joan was dressed, Karolina took Joan into the living room proceeded to cut her finger and toe nails.  

When all was finished, I asked Joan how she felt about the experience, not knowing her answer, She said she felt great, clean, and very happy about it.

The question her then was, do you want Karolina to come back? Absolutely, yes, was her answer, and so it will be now on Wednesdays. 

Wednesday shower+

The picture above is one of my favorites. We went back to the United States many years ago, and one night we had dinner with two friends. As we were walking away, one of them took the picture.

Tomorrow is a big test day for Joan. Karolina will come for the first time to shower, wash her hair, and cut her nails. She will be here for two hours starting at 12:00. To make it easier for Joan, I installed two handlebars on the walls of the show for her stability getting to and from the seat there. Karolina said I could leave when she arrives, but since it will be the first time with Joan, I want to make sure everything goes well in the shower. If it does, maybe in the time left I will go locally for a coffee and return by 2:00. I hope it does.

Today was an early morning food shopping day. I went to Carrefour and spent 200 PLN($54), but it wasn't everything I needed. I had to make a second stop at Lidl for mushrooms, 4 potatoes, fresh spinach, and garlic. They have much bigger selections of fruits and vegetables. Cost 20 PLN($5). So, in total, I spent 220 PLN($59)

I was back home by 8:30, put all the groceries away, and washed the dishes from last night.

I checked my emails; I had four to answer, so I did. I was tempted to lie back down, but it was 10:00 and I thought Joan would be awake soon, so I did a preparation for breakfast. Joan didn't wake up until 13:00(1 PM)

After breakfast, we watched highlights of 3 football games, and then Joan said she wanted to go outside. Even though it was a damp day outside, I took her to our favorite cafe, indoors. We had coffee and she had a cherry tart.

Back at home, I had a nice conversation with our friend from Bydgoscz and then prepared dinner, Spaghetti with a side dish of bread and cottage cheese.

Quiet & Ukraine/Europe

 A quiet day at home. We watched vie.a documetary on Diane Keaton, listened to some music, and then watched an old movie of hers, Annie Hall. It was a Woody Allen movie. I have never been a big fan of his older movies, this one included. I wanted to see if we still didn't care for it much after 48 years. The answer was we still didn't.

Meanwhile: Ukraine/Europe.

Perhaps the biggest risk to Europe’s security comes from the United States, where President Donald Trump’s administration is adopting a foreign-policy posture that combines insularity and confrontation.

The Trump administration has made no secret of its disdain for America’s security commitments, including those to its NATO allies.

While the Trump administration claims that it is merely demanding that NATO countries uphold their own commitments, particularly concerning defense spending, it would be foolhardy for Europe to count on the US to uphold its end of any bargain.

But it is not actually “America” that comes first; it is Trump and his inner circle, who have raked in staggering riches since his return to the White House.

Trump’s new executive order providing a full security guarantee to Qatar – which recently gave the US a $400 million jet that Trump is now modifying to serve as a new Air Force One – underscores just how erratic and opportunistic US foreign policy has become.

Nonetheless, recent US moves herald a harsher world, in which skies and sea lanes are contested, supply chains are increasingly fragile, alliances are in flux, forceful power projection eclipses diplomacy, and the country that long underwrote global stability is nowhere to be found.

Even if major withdrawals of US forces from Europe are avoided, a troop realignment is all but inevitable.

So, if a security crisis does erupt – not a farfetched scenario, given Russia’s hybrid warfare – the EU must be prepared to meet it.

But while Poland, the Baltics, and the Nordic countries are racing ahead with rearmament, other countries are lagging.

Overpricing resolved.

At the Apteka today, the problem was resolved. I assumed Joan's medicine was free. Pendil is one you pay full price, 94 PLN($25) for 4 boxes. That is a 3 month supply. It is one of the few we pay for. The Vitaman C was only 6 PLN.

Somehow, I caught a cold yesterday and woke up with a heavy cough, and a deeper than normal sounding voice. I like the voice but not the cough. I'm overdosing on vitamin C now.

I wanted to go to bed early tonight, but I have a meeting at 23:00(11 PM) with a resistance organization. 

Angry.

 I'm angry at myself first because I didn't do anything when it happened.

I went to the Apteka I've been going to for the last 16 years. I needed to pickup the Pendil medicine for Joan. They had all 4 boxes, and because of our age, there was no cost.

The pharmacist asked if I need anything else. I have a cold now, so I asked her for Vitaman C, 1000 mg. She gave me a ox of 15 tablets. When I asked the cost, she said 101 PLN. My reply was, "Are you kidding?" She said no. I told her I have never paid such a high price for Vitamin C. She said she was sorry but that was the price in her book. Grudgingly. I paid and left.

On the way home, I couldn't stop thinking about it. What a ripoff.

At home, I went to the internet and search for Apteo(brand) Witaman C Forte 15 Capsules. On one website, Ceneo, the price was 5PLN. On a second website, OLMED, the price was 36PLN. Nowhere was there a price of 100 PLN. I printed out both of those websites, and tomorrow morning I am going back to the same Apteka to get this overpricing rectified. I will still be angry until it is settled. 

Help.

Paige was here while I went to the Apteka to fill a prescription for Joan. They didn't have the medicine, so I have to go back tomorrow.

From there, I went to Diagnostka to drop off Joan's urine sample. It is to have her levels checked in her kidneys.

My next stop was at Auchan. We were there two days ago to buy dried cranberries, sesame seeds, dates, and nuts that I use in smoothies. I buy them in 1 kg bags, but the shelves were completely empty and being dismantled. I kind of freaked out because it is the only place I know that sells 1 kg bags of each. I saw a sign that told me they had all been moved to the back wall behind the 5 rows of different alcohol. I thought that was rather a strange place to move them to, but I went to look. I filled my shopping bag with what I needed and paid 71 PLN($19).

My last stop was at Cafe Lokum to buy two cinnamon muffins to take home. I promised Joan I would

Paige left about 2:20, and at 2:40 Karolina arrived. She owns a firm that has people who will come to your home to help me. It has become too dangerous for me to get Joan in and out of the shower, so that was the kind of help I needed. She only came to meet us and look at the conditions around the flat. She talked about a woman coming 3 days a week for 4 hours each time, but that is not what I need. In the end, we settled on one day, Wednesday at 12:00 for 2 hours.  The woman will shower Joan and cut her fingernails and toenails. That is all. 

Meanwhile, Ukraine

Russian attacks have destroyed more than half of Ukraine’s domestic natural gas production, forcing Kyiv to spend about €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion) on fuel imports as it aims to get through the winter, Bloomberg reports.

Ukraine projections suggest it will need about 4.4 billion cubic meters of gas to take it through to the end of March according to Bloomberg’s sources – equivalent to nearly 20% of the country’s annual consumption. The report adds that Oct. 3 strikes on Kharkiv and Poltava regions took out roughly 60% of gas production.

Ukraine’s government asked its G7 partners for equipment to repair damaged facilities. It also renewed requests for air defense systems to protect energy infrastructure and sought financial support for imports, Bloomberg writes.

Heat?

I sent an email to the administrator of our building about the heating problem. With the help of Renata, our flat owner, I now know what is happening.

It seems they have contracted with a larger heating company that is in major cities in Poland. They have a set policy to turn on the heat, partially, when it is cold for some consecutive. They won't turn it on in-full until it is 14 C. the reason of course, I believe, is to save money. The suggestion was to buy electric blankets. Of course, using electric blankets to stay warm during the day would raise the already too high cost for electricity.

So, for now, the above picture shows you how Joan is dealing, unhappily, with our new problem, 

Heat & Ukraine

It's cold enough that the heat has finally been turned on.

The only problem is that our radiators are not putting out enough heat to warm our flat. I thought maybe there was air trapped inside our 5 radiators so I "bled" each one. That made no improvement. Now, my only recourse was to email the administrator of our building and tell her the problem. I did that just before I started writing this blog. I hope there is an answer tomorrow. 

Meanwhile:

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have eliminated Batal Bigvava, known by the call sign “Balu,” commander of the Russian-backed “Pyatnashka” brigade.

Bigvava, accused of multiple war crimes, was killed during fighting in Ukraine.His funeral took place on October 1 in unrecognized Abkhazia, attended by “president” Badra Gunba.

The “Pyatnashka” brigade has been active since 2014, notorious for crimes such as looting, kidnapping, and torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war. Source-Ukraine News(Euroasia)

News in Ukraine

For the past twenty years I have participated in the excellent annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) conferences, but this year I felt a certain trepidation. How depressed would Ukrainians be after three and a half years of war?

To my happy surprise, I found that Ukraine has turned the tables not only on Russia but also on the Western world. Militarily, the Ukrainians think they have virtually stopped the Russian summer offensive, with Moscow’s forces gaining minimal territory at tremendous cost.

The talk of town was the innovative Ukrainian armaments industry, especially the many drone producers. Prominent participants Anne Appelbaum, Thomas Friedman and Chrystia Freeland have reported similar observations.

For years, Ukraine has relied on Western arms supplies, but now Ukraine has become almost self-sufficient in some weapons systems.

I talk regularly to Oleksandr Kamyshin, President Zelensky’s advisor on arms production. A year ago, he told me that Ukraine could produce 1.5 million drones in 2024. In January he said it would be 4.5 million this year. Now, Ukraine has the capacity to produce 10 million with sufficient financing, but quality is more relevant than the number. Kyiv now has the ability to export some drones. Source-Kyiv Post-Anders Aslund

All about Joan

I spent the last two days taking care of Joan, and she is getting better. 

She felt well enough to go outside, so I took her to Cafe Lokum, inside for a Caffe Latte. We sat for about an hour and then made our way back home. It was time to start preparing dinner for tonight, Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya.

I did the food shopping on Wednesday this time because I was so tired from the night before, and I slept right through the alarm on Tuesday.

My friend, Alina, found an organization here that has people who can help disabled people with things that they have trouble with. My problem with Joan is now getting her into the shower and out. The opening is big enough, but right next to it is a glass panel to catch excess water from spilling onto the floor. However, the problem is the little raised border at the opening. It feels a little dangerous trying to get in and out. I'm always concerned because of Joan's lack of balance. There will be a lady coming this Thursday to see if she can help.

Sunday-rest?

Well, it didn't start out that way. Joan had a problem just walking the 5 steps from the bedroom to the bathroom. When it was time to return, her legs were too weak to hold her up, and I had to carefully retrieve the wheelchair to take her back.

Yesterday, she slipped out of bed onto the floor, and I was unable to lift her up alone. I had to knock on three neighbors' doors before I found someone to help me. He was a young man of thin body, so i wasn't sure he could help. Fortunately, we did manage to get her back on the bed when I could change her and get her back into the wheelchair. 

The rest of Sunday was mainly sitting with Joan while she watched some programs, and I did some work on my laptop. 

For dinner, I made a meatloaf, boiled potatoes, and green beans.

Meanwhile,

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that NATO and the European Union have declared war on Russia through Ukraine at a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday.

“A clear example is the crisis in Ukraine, provoked by the collective West, through which NATO and the European Union want to declare, have already declared, a real war on my country and are directly participating in it,” Lavrov said, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.

It came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lavrov on Wednesday to reiterate US President Donald Trump’s “call for the killing to stop and the need for Moscow to take meaningful steps toward a durable resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war,” according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

Doctor & Ukraine

The only reason we went out today was a doctor appointment for Joan. She has had a cold since last Tuesday, so I made the appointment. The newest "doctor" prescribed antibiotics, probiotics and cough medicine. She has bronchitis.

A Russian senator from occupied Ukraine has admitted that Moscow is losing ground in drone warfare and that its war against Kyiv has reached a deadlock, contrasting with earlier warnings from Ukraine’s former top general that the conflict has bogged down into a costly positional struggle that would lead to Ukraine’s ultimate failure.

 

Dmitry Rogozin, a member of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party and senator representing the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region, said Russian forces are advancing only “with enormous difficulty and at a colossal cost.”

 

He described the situation along the front line as a positional war, where equipment “is destroyed before it even reaches the front” and small assault groups push forward with little success. Source-Kyiv Post

Gdansk-Final part

 Saturday, we spent most of the day in Gdansk. We picked up Garrett around 11:30 and went to a restaurant by the river for breakfast. The weather was perfect and made to day so enjoyable.

After breakfast, we strolled on a bridge over the river to where the Maritime Museum was and learned about the history of how boats and ships played a big part of the development of the city.

When we were done, we drove back to our hotel in Brzeno and went for a long walk to the pier. Unfortunately,it was already closed for the winter.

On our way back, Garrett found one of the entrances to the beach had wooden pallets set up so that a person in a wheelchair could get very close to the beach. We took advantage of that and also the restaurant at the end of the passage. It was too early for dinner so we just had a drink and watched all the people on the beach. 

Garrett took the opportunity to put on his swimsuit and go for a 10 minute swim in the cold water. 

By the time we got back to the hotel, it was time for dinner so we walked to the end of the boardwalk for a fish dinner.

About 9 PM, we drove Garrett back to his flat, said our good byes and returned to the hotel to sleep.

Sunday morning, we took advantage of the free buffet breakfast, Packed our suitcase and made the 3 1/2 hour drive back home.

It was a good weekend. 

Gdansk Part 2 & Draft

So, there I was with no medicines. Not a good position to be in for two days. I didn't have the necessary codes to get a refill and no Apteka would do it without the codes. The Gemini Apteka said there was a service available for a doctor of foreigners and tourist in the evenings. It was in a nearby hospital and opened at 6 PM. We arrived there at 5:30 and waited. There was already one person waiting. 6 o'clock came and passed. No doctor. Now there were 10 people waiting.

One last person arrived, talked with the receptionist, they seemed to know each other. 

The doctor arrived at 6:15 and the last person arriving was called in first.Obviously, it was good to know the receptionist. About 6:30, the first arrival was called in, stayed about 10 minutes and then I was called.

I explained my situation, the doctor wrote the prescription, and I went to the pharmacy to get the meds. Problem solved.

By then, it was time for dinner so we went to a restaurant by the beach.  Part 3 Tomorrow.

======================================================================  

More than half of Poles support reinstating mandatory military service, a new survey has shown, as war in neighboring Ukraine keeps defense high on the public agenda.

The poll by United Surveys for news portal Wirtualna Polska found 50.5% of respondents were in favor of bringing back conscription, while 40.6% opposed it and 8.9% were undecided.  

Of those in support, 21% answered “definitely yes” and 29.5% “rather yes.” Among opponents, 28.2% said “rather no” and 12.4% “definitely no.”  

The survey was conducted Sept. 13–15 on a representative sample of 1,000 adult residents of Poland. 

Gdansk trip. Part 1

It was an arduous trip, but all in all, I'm glad we made it.

However, in the beginning, it was a disappointment. Not with the 3 1/2 hour drive because the road from Poznan is much better than it was 10 years ago. The frustration was seeing our rented room.

When I first visited the Hotel Lival website, it featured a stunning view of the Baltic Sea from the balcony. I thought this may be the last trip Joan and I make, and I wanted it to be special with the view. That is why I paid the higher price. My confirmation had NO indication it would be different.

When we checked in and went to our room, it turned out that the room was on the side of the hotel facing another building, and the only way to actually have a look at the sea was by opening the door to the balcony and looking north for a partial view. On top of that, there was no balcony to step out on. There was just a guardrail around the door. I was pissed.

I went back to the receptionist's desk and told her she had given me the wrong room. She checked and said it was the right room. I told her about the view, and she took out her reservation. She pointed to her copy and said that it stated a side view of the sea. I showed her the confirmation email they sent to me, and there NO mention of a side view. I told her if I knew that, I would not have booked the room. I asked to speak to the manager, but of course, he/she was on vacation. So, we got screwed.

Ok, I was in a bad mood and trying to shield Joan from it.

Then, after unpacking everything, although I brought all of Joan's medicines, I forgot my own.

I will tell you that story tomorrow. I need to sleep now. Pictures of our trip are on the right.

Off to Gdansk

 Not quite yet, but tomorrow morning we are off to Gdansk at 11:00 to visit with our friend, Garrett.

Haircut Day.

Today was the day of haircuts for Joan and I. I always have a little problem with the cost. It's not exactly the cost. Joan's haircut lasts about 40 minutes. My haircut and beard trim takes 80 minutes. So, it takes twice a long for me and yet Joan's haircut costs more than mine. I told the stylist about it, but he doesn't set the price. 

Usually, Joan goes first to have her hair washed and then the haircut begins. While it's going on, I use that time to go over a Spanish lesson on my phone or one from the book I take.

We were close to Cafe Lokum so, we were done, we stopped for a coffee. It was too chilly outside in the court yard so, we had it inside. It was the first time was inside the cafe.

We normally have an 11:00 AM appointment, but we had to cancel our last August meeting and reschedule for 3 PM today. Not the best time because of traffic rush hour for the workers to get home. We didn't get home until 6 PM.

Shopping & Ukraine.

Because my Spanish teacher is in Wroclaw today and Paige was coming to sit with Joan at 1 PM, I didn't have to wake up at 06:30 to go food shopping. That was nice. I went at 1 PM and spent 160 PLN($44). That was also nice. Any time I can keep it below 200 PLN  is good. However, I did have to go to three different stores to get what I needed.

Joan was safe at home watching A Fish Called Wanda with Paige, so I had time to stop at Cafe Lokum for a cafe latte and listen to last week's Spanish lesson with Radek. I record all of them and listen to them again during the week. I always learn a little more every time I listen, especially pronunciation.

Meanwhile:

The Trump administration has approved its first US weapons aid packages for Ukraine, which could soon be shipped as Washington resumes arms deliveries to Kyiv under a new cost-sharing deal with allies, according to Reuters citing two sources.

This would mark the first use of a new mechanism created by the US and its allies to provide Ukraine with weapons from US stockpiles, funded by contributions from NATO member states.

The sources said that Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has authorized up to two shipments each valued at $500 million under the program, which is known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).

The new transatlantic effort is reportedly set to bolster Kyiv’s military capabilities with up to $10 billion in arms, according to Reuters.

Rest Day!

Good weather + Ukraine.

70 F, sunny, made another consecutive day of excellent weather. It was only natural to take Joan outside while the weather was good.

This time we went to the largest park, Citadela. It is the largest park in Poznan. Fortunately, it has easy, flat walkways for wheelchairs which makes my life a little easier. We spent about 2 hours there and then stopped for a coffee on the way home. It was another way to sit outside. 

Back at home, it was time to prepare the pasta, blue cheese, and cashews dinner for tonight. It calls for walnuts but cashews, today, were cheaper..

I had a nice video call with the oldest son of my departed cousin, Leon. Leon was one of four siblings, and my favorite of them. Unfortunately, he died in a boating accident saving the life of a young nephew.  

 Meanwhile, Ukraine: 

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) carried out a drone strike on a major oil refinery in Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan, sparking explosions and a large-scale fire, according to the intelligence sources.

The attack reportedly targeted the Bashneft-Novoyl refinery located in Ufa, the capital of the republic, roughly 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from Ukraine’s border. The facility is one of Russia’s key oil processing plants.

Sources said that after kamikaze drones struck the site, multiple powerful explosions erupted, followed by a massive blaze. Preliminary assessments suggest that critical infrastructure, including a vacuum column used for primary oil processing, sustained significant damage. Source-Kyiv Independent.======================================

Support among Russians for continuing the war in Ukraine has dropped to its lowest point since the full-scale invasion began, according to a survey published by the independent Levada Center in September.

In August 2025, just 27% of respondents said they want Russia to keep fighting in Ukraine. By contrast, a record 66% said they favor peace negotiations with Kyiv. This is the highest share of support for talks recorded since February 2022. Source-Kyiv Post

 

 

New friend + NATO

Today we met another American at Cafe Lokum. He has been living in Pozna for 9 years, coming from Baltimore, Maryland. When I asked why he was here, he said it was because of his Polish fiance.

It was another nice day, so we stayed outdoors most of the day and then returned home. We watched an interesting "flash mob" event taking place somewhere in America. A group of singers and musicians performed Queen's, Bohemian Rhapsody spread out in different building windows in the center of a mall. It was very good.

Concerning Ukraine;

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the launch of NATO Operation “Eastern Sentry” at a press conference in Belgium on Friday, in response to the incursion of at least 19 Russian drones into Polish airspace in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

According to a NATO press release, the operation will be executed by NATO’s Allied Command Operations. General Alexus G. Grynkewich, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, described the violation of Poland’s airspace as “not an isolated incident” and said that it impacts all of NATO.

 “While a full assessment of the incident is ongoing, NATO is not waiting, we are acting,” Grynkewich said.

Rutte added that Eastern Sentry will commence “in the coming days,” with the involvement of several NATO countries – including Denmark, France, Britain, and Germany.

Several of Poland’s allies have already committed military support to the defense of Polish airspace since Russia’s drone incursion on Wednesday. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that three Rafale fighter jets will be deployed to Poland, while Czechia will deploy troops and a specially modified drone interceptor helicopter to defend its neighbour.

 Asked to be specific about what new military resources would be committed to the operation, Grynkewich cited the French Rafales as well as Danish F-16 fighter jets. He also said that a frigate and “some ground-based air defence capabilities” had been offered, though he did not specify by which countries.

 “In the end, it’s up to Russia how far they will take this,” Grynkewich said.

“We will defend ourselves. We are a defensive Alliance, not an offensive Alliance. We will defend this beautiful 32 Alliance, established in 1949 and will make sure that our one billion people stay safe and stay free,” the NATO leader said.

TPSD

 My fellow Americans. You chose to participate in protests locally or nationally. Congratulations! You might also be a member of large groups like 50501, or Indivisible. I am also a member.

However, clicking “Like, Love, or Care” on a post you agree with means nothing to this administration. Protests mean nothing to them.

Now, our own military is being used against us in D.C., Chicago, and soon in Portland. It means nothing to this administration that is against the Constitution they swore an oath to uphold, or against the law. This is just the beginning. The Supreme Court just ruled that ICE can continue targeting people in Los Angeles based on looks, language, and job type.

This is legalized racial profiling, approved at the highest level.

The wolf is at the door, folks, and we are letting him in through complacency. Isn't it past the time for real action against them? I know you are as angry as I am.

There is a movement growing for real action, but it takes many, many people to be involved for it to be successful. This is for the working class, the ones who fuel the economy:Service workers, Warehouse employees, Truck/Uber/Lift/Delivery drivers, Hotel staff, Retail workers, or anyone overworked, underpaid, and just tired of being ignored.

It is organizing a 3-day national sick-out and economic blackout. It will only succeed if the population joins in during those three days.

You can join the movement on either Facebook or the Discord server. They do NOT ask for money, you don't have to register, sign anything, or share personal information. You can either be an active or a passive member.

If you are passive, all they ask is that you refrain from shopping, eating out, or ordering anything online. Wear black clothing and do the bare minimum at work. No unpaid overtime. No extra favors.

You will be notified 48 hours before the shutdown occurs. The goal is to build momentum before the corporations catch on.

On the Discord server, you will be asked to create a different name which will be used for your security when you use it. Mine is Resistant Warrior.

Every shutdown or strike that has succeeded has a goal. The movement has a list of 23 demands that reflects the real concerns of Americans. Because, at the end of the day, it is asking for BASIC HUMAN DECENCY.

If this is something you can commit to doing, please reply either YES-active, or Yes-passive, or NO. Please, NO “Likes, Love, or Care replies.

America, as we knew it, is in serious trouble. It is time for all of us to be its protector.

The phrase "Live Free or Die" is most famously attributed to General John Stark, a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War. I think now it applies to our country. It is time to show the courage of our Founding Fathers.

“And then they came for me, and there was no one left to defend me.”

WE are COMING! The People's Sick Day movement.

Drone attack.

The Polish military announced that for the first time it had shot down Russian drones that had violated its airspace, saying that it caused a “real threat to the safety of our citizens.” .

Polish officials said this morning that 19 Russian drones entered the country’s airspace overnight.

Justin Crump, CEO of the risk and intelligence company Sibylline, says the Gerbera is “a cheap way to increase the capability of other drones”.

He says that Moscow typically uses it in conjunction with Shahed/Geran-2 drones when launching attacks on Ukrainian troops and cities.

Meanwhile, Justin Bronk - an analyst with the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) think-tank - tells BBC Verify that the drones remained largely intact as they likely ran out of fuel having flown a significant distance rather than being shot down by Polish air defences or Nato jets.

Both analysts say that the scale of the incursion suggests it was almost certainly a deliberate act on Russia’s part. 

 Crump suggests that Moscow hoped to conduct “reconnaissance for weak points in Nato/Polish air defences” or to “generate intelligence” on how European powers would react to the breach of Polish airspace.

Monday, Monday.

 Not much happened today.

I woke up about 8 AM, sat outside on the balcony for about half an hour listening to Chopin, and then answered three emails.

Joan woke up around to AM. I helped her out of bed, to and from the bathroom, dressed her, and gave her Granola for breakfast. 

Heard the disgusting news that Trump's Unsupreme Court ruled that ICE can continue targeting people in Los Angeles based on looks, language, and job type.

This is legalized racial profiling, approved at the highest level.

I know the Republicans are terrified to speak against him because they might lose their positions in the Senate or the House. However, Supreme Court Justices are given a lifetime position. They do not get voted out of office. They are just traitors to their oath of office. The Trump 6 should all be disbarred.

Meanwhile:

Last week it was announced that the White House approved the sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles to Ukraine. This is in addition to a $330 million package of satellite communications services for its Starlink terminals and equipment and services to sustain its Patriot air defense systems. In early August, four European countries agreed to buy $1 billion worth of US weapons to send to Ukraine.

It is time for Trump to get beyond his disappointment with Putin and accept the Russian president’s end state for Ukraine: its complete destruction, the eradication of its culture, and subjugation under Russian rule. Source-Kyiv Post

WASHINGTON D.C. – From the opulent halls of Imperial Russia to a defiant act of wartime philanthropy, a set of dinner plates once owned by Tsar Alexander I is now at the heart of an unconventional fundraising campaign for Ukraine.
Mitzi Perdue, the American heiress to the Perdue chicken fortune, is planning to auction the plates and direct the proceeds to aid Ukrainian soldiers and their families.
Perdue, a philanthropist and author, says the act is a form of cultural warfare.

Hydrogen Train

Poland’s first hydrogen-powered train has entered regular service in the southwestern region of Silesia, marking a milestone in the country’s push toward greener transportation.

After completing test runs in August, the SM42-6Dn locomotive, built by Bydgoszcz-based manufacturer PESA, finally hit the tracks for passenger journeys on Wednesday. 

Operated by the regional rail company Koleje Dolnośląskie, the train will run on the scenic route from Jelenia Góra to Karpacz, near the Czech border.  

The train is powered by hydrogen fuel cells and batteries, offering a climate-friendly and cost-effective alternative to building new overhead electric lines.  

Its first scheduled service departed Jelenia Góra at 11:33 a.m. and will arrive in Karpacz just before noon. 

Further trials are scheduled for September 4 and 7 with other train operators in western Poland.  

The locomotive will also be featured at several upcoming conferences, including the annual Economic Forum in Karpacz and, later this year, the Pomeranian Intermodal Transport Congress.  

Light bulb & National Guard.

Once again, I had to have the bulb replaced in one of the running lights. It seems like every three months, either the right or the left one burns out. Each time it happens, the price has risen. This time, 80 PLN($22), for a small light bulb. I have to find an auto parts store where I can buy the bulb and replace it myself. I miss the days when you could repair minor things yourself.

Now, orange head is ordering the Texas National Guard to the state of Illinois. It's not the Illinois National Guard, but the Guard from Texas, one of the most RED states who love all things Trump. Think about it. Before the first Civil War, there were Gray states and Blue states. Now, we have Red states and Blue states. See any similarity? IMHO, I think he is hoping to develop a crisis so he can cement his position as dictator. 

Years ago, when I was much younger, The National Guard in Ohio were activated against protestors. In the heat of the moment, they fired into the crowd. The result, 4 dead in Ohio. Students protesting.

 Adaptation of Neil Young's, "4 Dead in Ohio"

Tin soldiers and Trump is comin' 

We're finally on our own.

This summer I hear the drummin'

Four dead in Chicago.

Gotta get down to it

Soldiers are gunning us down

Should have been done long ago

What if you knew them and 

Found them dead on the ground? 

How can you run when you know?

Progess.

I stopped at the Nowe Lokum cafe today after food shopping. My purpose was to follow up on the request I made to the owner. The request was for them to build a small ramp inside that would allow wheelchair bound disabled people to be able to come inside during the winter months when it is too cold to sit outside.

I pointed out the possibility of increasing his/her profits during winter when business is slower.

I was surprised to hear that the owner thought it was a good idea and that they had contacted a firm that could do such a project. Now, he/she is waiting for a cost analysis. If the cost is prohibitive, I will ask how much and try to arrange a way to pay half of the cost.

This is my idea if the cost is high, a poster in the cafe.

Dear Patron

Some of our valued customers are wheelchair-bound. Unfortunately, it is impossible for them to access our second-level seating.

During cold weather, they cannot sit outside, and this limits their ability to enjoy our space comfortably.

We would like to build a ramp to make our venue more accessible to everyone.

The cost is high, and we kindly ask for your support.

Please consider making a contribution at the counter to help us help them.

Thank you for your generosity and kindness.