Interesting Links for 27-06-2023

[andrewducker]

1. Wagner Group: New clues over why Prigozhin abandoned coup emerge, after reports of threats to his family

(tags:russia civilwar )

2. The Nimona trailer looks amazing. (Been looking forward to this since I read the comic a loooong time ago)

(tags:comics movies animation trailer video )

3. Starbucks workers at 150 stores plan strike over not being allowed Pride decor

(tags:LGBT USA coffee business )

4. Reminder that Google's automated systems will tell you any old nonsense

(tags:Google lies )

Comments

Re: The whole Wagner thing is so weird.

[agoodwinsmith]

Here is one of the people I follow about all things Russia/Ukraine:
https://medium.com/@nadinbrzezinski/wagner-developments-2f994647013c

I don't always follow everything because most of the Russian translations are done quickly, so metaphors and whatnot don't always make it over the fence. But it is always interesting, such as the picture of Prigozhin down the page.

Re: The whole Wagner thing is so weird.

[andrewducker]

That one pretty much tallies with my understanding. Putin rules while he keeps money and power flowing to Russian elites. Russia is basically lots of warlords and mafia types held together by wanting money. And it's starting to show.

Re: The whole Wagner thing is so weird.

[hairyears]

That tallies with my own understanding, too: but there's more to the flow of money, when Putin is Russia (and the wider World's) pre-eminent money launderer.

Dividing up the spoils in a contracting and restricted economy is a way of making his supporters even richer: but Putin's ability to close or blow open the secret accounts and property holdings is the threat that keeps oligarchs in line.

That, and the fact that he can and will arrest them if they show the slightest hint of opposition.

Re: The whole Wagner thing is so weird.

[andrewducker]

He can arrest a couple. If he loses the trust of a lot of them then he's in trouble.