Trump Sanctions and the Russian War Economy

President Trump has put the squeeze on the Russian economy with sanctions that are having an effect. Joined with his negotiating strategy the sanctions have the effect of keeping the war on a closer level of equality between Ukraine and Russia. The sanctions protract the war by making it more difficult for Russia to afford military superiority while its economy is declining and that encourages Ukraine to continue the fight hoping Russia will run out of men and supplies in a year or two. Russians so have incurred twice as many casualties as Ukraine thus far- 1.2 million to appx 600,000 for Ukraine. Six or seven million Ukrainians have left the country while the old, poor and infirm have been forced to stay.

President Trump hopes to wrap up the war by June with some kind of negotiated settlement yet he may underestimate the resolve of Zelensky and his western financiers to defeat Russia on the battlefield and develop a hardened front with western built military forces on the border. I asked AI about Russia's financial situation that I will post below.

President Trump is also pursuing stronger U.S. relations with nations on the south of Russia. It is challenging to say that the policy of winning over time in stopping the Russian economy from being able to continue the war is a humane or effective policy. The European Union in the meanwhile is working on an accelerated plan to let Ukraine have a candidate membership in the EU by 2027 that will more formally bring the EU into a direct state of war with Russia. President Trump in trying to exploit the situation to the profit of the United States may be half-minded about peace and behind the curve of the economic and political events of the war. That may lead to the dangerous situation of a more desperate Russia in 2027 facing an existential threat without Jean Paul Sartre being present to moderate that.

Gary- Is the russian economy in good enough shape that it can sustain its war for another two or three years with ukraine

Gemini-"As of February 2026, the Russian economy is in a state of stagnation and mounting strain, but most experts believe it can sustain the war effort for at least another two to three years. While the "sugar rush" from initial massive military spending has faded, causing GDP growth to plummet to approximately 0.8% for 2026, the Kremlin has successfully placed the country on a permanent war footing with a budget designed for long-term conflict. 

Economic Sustainability and Constraints

Russia's ability to continue the war relies on its transition to a hardened war economy, though this model is increasingly fragile: 

• Fiscal Resilience: The 2026 federal budget allocates an unprecedented 16.8 trillion rubles (roughly 38% of all federal spending) to defense and security. Analysts suggest that while growth is stalling, Russia still has the fiscal capacity to continue the war in the short term through domestic borrowing, tax hikes, and some remaining reserves.
• Declining Reserves: Liquid funds in the National Welfare Fund have been largely depleted to cover deficits in 2024 and 2025. Some banks estimate that by the end of 2026, only 1.6 trillion rubles may remain in the state's "safety cushion".
• Stagnating Growth: After growing at 4.3% in 2024, the economy slowed sharply to about 1% in 2025 and is projected to grow by only 0.8% in 2026. This is the lowest growth rate for Russia outside of the pandemic since 2014.
• Inflationary Pressures: To fight rampant inflation, the Central Bank of Russia has maintained record-high interest rates (peaking at 21% in 2025 and remaining high in 2026). This has discouraged private investment and eaten into corporate profits. 

Military-Industrial Status

While the economy can provide the funds, the physical ability to produce equipment is reaching critical limits: 

• Depleting Soviet Stockpiles: Much of Russia's current production relies on refurbishing old Soviet-era equipment. By early 2025, most easily restorable vehicles were depleted, and some analysts estimate these stockpiles could be exhausted by the end of 2026.
• Technological Dependency: Despite "import-substitution" claims, the defense industry remains heavily dependent on foreign components and advanced machinery. Sanctions have caused a "slow degradation" rather than an immediate collapse, leading to lower-quality military inputs.
• Manpower Shortages: Massive casualties (estimated near 1.2 million by early 2026) and mobilization have created a severe labor shortage in the civilian sector, further hindering non-war economic productivity. 

Key Factors Supporting the War Effort

Despite these strains, several factors prevent an imminent economic collapse:

• Energy Revenues: As long as Russia can sell oil at reasonable prices (even at a discount), it generates enough revenue to "muddle along". However, new U.S. sanctions in late 2025 against major companies like Rosneft and Lukoil have forced prices for Urals crude down to as low as $35 per barrel.
• International Support: Deepening economic integration with China, Iran, and North Korea has helped fill the void left by Western markets and provided crucial military supplies.
• Public Adaptation: Russian society has largely adapted to economic constraints. As of mid-2025, the share of people satisfied with their lives reached its highest level since 1993, with many in industrial regions benefiting from war-related wage increases. 

Summary of Economic Outlook (2026 Estimates)

Metric	2026 Projection	Source
GDP Growth	0.8%	IMF / Reuters
Defense Spending	16.8 Trillion Rubles (~38% of budget)	UkraineWorld
Budget Deficit	1.6% to 4.4% of GDP	Reuters / Bank of Finland
Inflation Target	4.0%	Central Bank of Russia

The 2025 U.S. sanctions, particularly the October 2025 targeting of Rosneft and Lukoil, have created a significant structural deficit that will come to a head in 2027. While Russia's economy currently remains on a war footing, these sanctions are dismantling the primary revenue engine used to sustain that footing. 

Impact on 2027 Budget Funding

By 2027, the cumulative effect of these sanctions is expected to force a "breaking point" where the Kremlin may have to choose between funding the war and maintaining domestic economic stability. 

• Projected Revenue Collapse: Russia's Finance Ministry has already slashed its long-term hydrocarbon revenue targets. For 2027, revenues are projected to be roughly 19% lower than 2024 levels. Independent analysts at the KSE Institute suggest that if discounts persist at current levels, annual oil revenues could fall to $87 billion, down from nearly $190 billion in 2024.
• The "Shadow Fleet" Crisis: The U.S. and UK have intensified the seizure of "shadow fleet" tankers, which previously allowed Russia to bypass price caps. By early 2026, over 600 vessels have been designated, significantly increasing the cost of logistics and reducing the net profit per barrel.
• Widening Budget Deficit: The deficit for 2026 is already projected to triple its original target (reaching up to 4.4% of GDP) due to these revenue shortfalls. By 2027, the cumulative deficit is expected to exceed 10 trillion rubles, leaving the government with no choice but to raid the remaining scraps of the National Welfare Fund.
• Fiscal "Desperation" Measures: To cover the 2027 gap, the Russian government is implementing aggressive tax hikes, including raising VAT to 22% and significantly increasing taxes on small businesses. These measures are expected to dampen domestic consumption and further stagnate the economy. 

Key Vulnerabilities by 2027

1. Investment Starvation: Rosneft and Lukoil, which dominate the industry, face a massive capital shortfall. Without the ability to reinvest in new drilling, Russia's upstream production is expected to begin a sharp decline by late 2027.
2. India's Pivot: Increased U.S. pressure and tariff threats have led Indian refiners to demand discounts of $25–$27 per barrel, nearly double the 2024 average. Some Indian firms have begun rejecting Russian cargoes entirely to avoid secondary sanctions.
3. End of EU Dependence: The European Commission has set a hard deadline to fully phase out all Russian fossil fuels by 2027, permanently closing Russia’s most lucrative historical market. 

Despite these pressures, some economists believe the Kremlin can "muddle through" 2027 by printing money or further nationalizing private assets, though this would likely trigger hyperinflation and end the "illusion of normality" for the Russian public. "

Lakers, Knecht and Walter Payton Tire Drills

 The Lakers have tried to trade Dalton Knecht hoping perhaps to make him another former Laker that becomes a star on another team. Alex Caruso is one example- there are many others. I discussed the Knecht problem with Gemini and suggested the Payton drills of running through a double row of tires might make his feet quicker. Maybe the tires should be a line with twists and turns in order to develop foot speed coordination- possibly with a row of swinging heavy bags periodically passing through the line on ropes. Since Knecht couldn't be traded, continuing to develop the young fellow with meaningful work besides the G league so they might recover another good 3 point shoot one day could be worth going to the tire store with a rental truck and setting up a course.

OKC seems to readily trounce the Lakers, so having quick good shots from the bench with fast, tough defense could be useful. Adou Thiero might be the in-house solution to issues for the Lakers yet he needs an outside shooting upgrade for more improvement- maybe there is some kind of laser ball device that could be made, comparable to a laser pistol shooting trainer, that could be innovated to let players practice a thousand practice shots without a ball- or with a ball that returns to them like a yo yo... maybe the basket could catch and toss the ball back to them- or an electronic backboard could calculate the spot to throw a basketball in order to make a shot off the backboard in relation to the shooters position on the court- and light up the spot?

Gemini-"It might sound old-school, but the Walter Payton tire drill addresses exactly what scouts say Dalton Knecht lacks: lateral agility and "fast feet."

Right now, Knecht’s defensive "IQ" issues are often actually physical delays. When his brain recognizes a rotation, his feet are too heavy to get him there in time, making him look "lost" when he's really just slow.

Why the Payton Approach Could Work

• Fixing the "Upright" Stance: Knecht gets burned because he plays too high. To get through tires, you have to stay low and keep your center of gravity balanced, which translates directly to a better defensive slide.
• Processing vs. Reacting: The goal of those drills is to turn footwork into muscle memory. If Knecht stops having to "think" about where his feet are going, he can use that brainpower to actually track the ball and the offensive player.
• Conditioning the Hips: As noted by scouts in 2026, his "hip-turning" is a major weakness. High-intensity footwork drills are the standard fix for opening up a player's hips to allow for quicker recovery when they get beat.

The Lakers' Reality

The problem isn't that the Lakers don't know about these drills; it’s that they are in win-now mode with Luka Dončić and LeBron James. They don't have the luxury of a "developmental training camp" mid-season.

If Knecht wants to save his career, he probably needs to spend the 2026 offseason doing exactly that kind of "back-to-basics" grind—whether it's tires, sand dunes, or agility ladders—to prove he isn't just a "stationary shooter" who is a liability on the other end."

Obamas as Apes Video Eclipses Minnesota for Democrat's Wrath

 A conservative black perspective video on the Obama-ape video posted by a staffer on Truth Social provides insight into the controversial topic. I will post that below. 

Porcine and primate portrayals of political figures are common historically. Political cartoons have been used forever. Juvenal, the Roman writer, probably wasn't the first to generate scathing satire and humor about society and bungling politicians.

It is important at this time for politicians to suggest positive political ideas to make society and the economy better for every citizen rather than chasing rabbits through dark media holes into the underground of rioting and deficits with hidden plans to spend billions and billions on day care and diapers. Day care and diapers may be important, yet inventive, creative ways to float the economic boat over the shoals of approaching deficits and potential collapse ahead  should be the focus of the party of foreign allegiance and sensible citizens too.

It is improbable the nation is going to be returning to the Democrat led era of slavery soon- that shouldn't be a real concern. Very few, unless I.Q. challenged, believe black Americans are ape-like (unless perhaps they are Democrats). Elon Musk- a successful whitish primate, has suggested that the nation has a real economic bankruptcy ahead unless A.I. and robotics increase efficiency and production radically. 

The national problem is deeper than that, for there will need to be some sort of complete revision of how economic fruits are apportioned to citizens that evolve to something like outsiders observing an economy run by A.I. and robots. The robots and A.I. will have little demands, hopefully, for high incomes themselves, and won't go on strikes (e.g. air traffic control run by A.I?). Are there still some that don't regard citizens idling cars and trucks in cold weather burning fossil fuels as examples of uncreative primates throwing toxic exhaust into the atmosphere in quest of more bananas with an economy subsidized by vast left and right wing federal deficits?

https://fortune.com/2026/02/07/elon-musk-us-bankruptcy-ai-robotics-economic-growth-national-debt-crisis/

Corrupting Foreign Allegiance is Running for US Senate in Florida

Running as a Democrat for the US Senate from Florida, the former Ukrainian American Lt. Colonel Vindman who violated, while affiliated with the national security adviser, President Trump's privacy in a call with Ukraine President Zelensky in 2020, regards himself as a patriot for supporting the party of virtual treason; Democrats. They support foreign allegiance more than national interests in advocating open borders. 

Democrats support the Ukraine war because they regard Europe as neo-socialist and want to expand socialism, homosexuality and atheism into political domination of Russia. Mr. Vindman has an extremist Ukrainian point of view inimical to U. S.  national security interests. Peace with Russians rather than support for the waxing European Unions desire to glom up Ukraine while lusting for Russia and isolating the USA, is the rational policy.

U.S. leadership followed a Eurocentric policy more so than it should have following the end of the Cold War version 1. Europeans were organizing a nascent continental national union and Russia was reorganizing itself after decades of communist rule. The borderlands known as the Ukraine became the center of the traditional conflict between Europe and Russia. The present narrative has Russia as a threat to all of Europe. Yet Europe is the main threat to itself. It's paranoia and unwillingness to share the former Russian Ukraine or to honor the commitment not to expand N.A.T.O. promised to Boris Yeltsin are the salient features of the conflict that Europe could settle for-itself if it really want to resume peace. And foreign policy experts are already whining about the expanding German military that is tripling its military budget from two years ago. Foreign policy experts these days seem preponderantly to be deaf, dumb, blind and stupid in regard to what intelligent and realistic goals are for Europe and world economic and ecological stability.

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/germany/europes-next-hegemon-liana-fix

Democrats feel that government need not support itself with secure borders for the polity. For Democrats, government of, by and for the people means government of, by and for aliens. No one has clued them in to understand that self-determination is de rigueur for a democracy to mean anything. Government where citizens have a real opportunity to determine their own political direction because politicians care more about cheap labor immigrants than bettering the lives of their own citizens really aren't worth a damn.

Just flooding the nation with cheap migrant labor to subvert the wages of poor citizens while waging a foreign war through proxies in Ukraine to expand European Union hegemony over Russia while concentrating wealth domestically in reckless disregard of the possibility of compelling World War Three to actualize is nearly equal to the Southern Confederacy's determination to keep slaves and expand slave recapture to the northern states.

Lt. Colonel Vindman leaked classified information during President Trump's first term in order to team up with the one-party system narrative that President Trump should be stopped, impeached and obstructed. Mr. Vindman has said that he knows how to oppose  dictators and authoritarians or something to that effect alluding to President Trump. He seems unaware that President Trump was elected in a pluralistic political system twice because people don't support the one-party subversion and riotous, dissimulative methods of the Democrats party- and want secure borders and politics done with a honest legal system so far as that is possible with politicians making laws lol.

A civil polity needs sovereign over its land for it to be able to plan for its development. In order for a polity to determine and implement ecological economic policies for instance, political decisions need to be relevant and applicable to everyone living within the boundaries of the polity. If there are just millions of people wandering in and out of the nation at will, the polity's sovereignty loses relevance to real politic. Open borders are comparable to a clutch plate or bands being stripped in a transmission so the polity's gears don't engage. That doesn't usually happen all at once- it grows like a pile.

Democrats act as if they believed politics should evolve independently of human action- blind forces of Adam Smith's invisible hands shuffling and dealing political and economic cards to the nations of the world to play. Christians may believe that God is in control with a teleological purpose designed for humanity in order to support His agenda for human development. Neither point of view precludes intelligent human political self-determination and planning.

Good government and good civic structure aren't accidents. They follow an intelligent electorate thinking for themselves. Even self-driving cars anticipate a direction from the user about where it should go; democracy requires no less.

Loop Quantum Politics (a poem)

 

Stark, dank basements sheltered the boxes
where potatoes grew in darkness
slowly, shooting yellow tubular roots from mottled brown skin
waiting for winter’s shadows to lessen

  For peace would take root
the conflicts echoes elided
a nightshade planted rather'n bodies
in readiness to grow outside the box

  No one was a sentry for a thrice cocked crow
awoke before the meaning of dawn
broke the predawn’s early humming of a city
distant where the light was a sphere beneath the stars

  A choreographed riot,
a Parthenon’s roof blown off with cannon shots
knockers on television camera lenses
let in to the nation’s rooms

  The personal anarchy of anyone explaining
their one proprietary gestalt
to convince themselves of things
such as nation’s borders and tax cuts bring to dreams

  A party without meaning yet noisome
roilsome convection currents bubble frothy cycles
socialism lost amid on-time deliveries and supplies
seeking transference of reason to spaghettified quantum loops.

https://suno.com/s/cFVUORx8bN2CJJ9u  The poem as a song

Slava Means 'Glory'; Paradoxically, Slav Captives of Europeans Spawned the Word 'Slavery'

 Many Americans don'r know the origin of the word 'slavery.' So I got Gemini to explain the word. In Slavic languages, Slava (Cyrillic: Слава) literally means "Glory," "Fame," or "Honor." Its modern global recognition stems largely from its use in the patriotic salute Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine!). 

Meaning and Etymology

"Glory" or "Praise": In its most common use, it refers to high renown or the act of praising someone, such as in religious hymns to glorify God.

Root Meaning: It is derived from the Proto-Slavic root meaning "word" (slovo), originally identifying a community of people who "speak the same words" or "understand each other."

Historical Baggage: Curiously, the English word "slave" is etymologically related; in the 9th century, so many Slavic people were captured and sold into servitude that the Byzantine Greek term for "Slav" became the root for "slave" in many Western languages. 

Common Uses

Patriotic Salutes: Slava Ukraini! is the national salute of Ukraine, often paired with the response Heroiam Slava! (Glory to the Heroes!). Similar versions exist in other nations, such as Slava Rossii! (Glory to Russia).

Personal Names: It serves as a common male name (Slava) and is a frequent suffix in names like Stanislav (famous for standing), Yaroslav (furious glory), and Miroslav (peaceful glory).

Serbian Tradition: In Serbia, Slava is a major religious tradition where families celebrate their patron saint; it is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Historically, the English word "slave" is derived from the ethnonym "Slav". 

This connection exists because of major historical events that occurred long after the name "Slav" was already established by the Slavic people themselves. 

Key Historical Facts

• Direction of Derivation: The word "Slav" did not come from "slave." Instead, "slave" was borrowed from "Slav" in many Western languages, including English, French (esclave), Spanish (esclavo), and German (Sklave).
• The Reason: During the early Middle Ages (roughly the 8th to 12th centuries), a vast number of Slavic people were captured in wars and sold into servitude across Europe and the Islamic world. They were so frequently the primary "source" of forced labor that their ethnic name became synonymous with the condition of being a captive.
• Transition of the Word: In Medieval Latin, the classical word for slave was servus. However, by the 9th century, the new term sclavus (derived from Slav) began to replace it in documents to specifically denote a "Slavic captive" before eventually generalising to mean any slave. 

Original Slavic Meaning vs. External Usage

For the Slavic people themselves, their name has a completely different and positive origin that has nothing to do with servitude: 

• "The Speakers" (Slovo): Most scholars believe the original root is slovo, meaning "word". They called themselves "the people who speak words" (i.e., people who can understand each other), in contrast to their neighbors, the Germans, whom they called Nemtsy ("the mute ones") because they could not understand their language.
• "The Glorious" (Slava): While popular in romantic or folk etymology, many linguists view the link to "glory" (slava) as a secondary influence or a later association, though it shares the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to hear" or "to be spoken of". 

US Shouldn't Guarantee Automatic Escalation to W.W. 3 in Ukraine if Conflict Occurs Down the Road

Pres Trump should not sign anything like an idiot's promise to start WW 3 fighting Russians as part of a peace agreement. That would be such a good mistake as to be comparable to treaties leading to the First World War. Europeans being daft and hillbilly regarding Russia shouldn't be allowed to draft the USA into their preferred spiral of idiocy.

  Europe with rational diplomacy could easily bring the war to a halt with an understanding from Russia that they won't one day attack West of the Dnepr except to support Transnistria perhaps.

Paper agreements don't guarantee peace or prevent war- good social relations and a lack of paranoia do that. A guarantee to engage Russia to fight World War Three is stupid. If a  future President wants to start a war with anyone he won't need a paper to do that; just a rational reason and lack of imagination for finding peace.

"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world. " - George Washington, Farewell Address to the People of the United States | Monday, September 19, 1796

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/past-projects/quotes/article/it-is-our-true-policy-to-steer-clear-of-permanent-alliance-with-any-portion-of-the-foreign-world

Nearby Galaxies Recede Too Slowly: A Vast Dark Matter Sheet May Explain the Issue

By Garrison Clifford Gibson (with collaborative input from Grok 4 by xAI—hey, if aliens attack over this, blame the AI!)

The universe is full of mysteries, but few are as close to home as the quirky behavior of our Local Group of galaxies. This cosmic neighborhood, which includes our Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), and dozens of smaller companions like the Triangulum Galaxy (M33), has long puzzled astronomers. According to standard models, the visible mass and geometry of the group should lead to more chaotic motions—stronger gravitational tugs causing faster infalls or dispersions. Yet, observations show something different: most nearby galaxies are receding from us at surprisingly slow and uniform rates, following a "quiet" or "cold" local Hubble flow. This inconsistency dates back to Edwin Hubble's era in the 1920s, when he first noted the expansion of the universe, but local measurements didn't quite add up.

For instance, while the broader universe expands at about 70 km/s per megaparsec (the Hubble constant), our immediate surroundings show deviations as low as 30 km/s or less. Andromeda is even approaching us at around 100 km/s, hinting at a future merger, but the overall calm doesn't match expectations from spherical dark matter halos around individual galaxies. There's simply not enough inferred mass in the right places to explain why things aren't more turbulent.

Enter a groundbreaking new study published in Nature Astronomy (January 2026, DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02770-w) by astronomers led by Ewoud Wempe from the University of Groningen. Using advanced computer simulations—constrained realizations of our local universe based on real data from galaxy surveys, velocity measurements, and the cosmic microwave background—they created "virtual twins" of the Local Group. These models, powered by Bayesian optimization techniques (with some machine learning elements for mapping large-scale structures), revealed that the only way to reconcile the observations is if the entire region is embedded in a colossal, flattened "sheet" of dark matter.

This sheet spans tens of millions of light-years (over 10 megaparsecs), aligned with the Supergalactic Plane—a known large-scale structure in our cosmic web. Flanked by enormous voids on either side, it acts like a pancake of invisible mass, providing an outward gravitational pull from its distant edges that counteracts local clustering. This setup damps down excessive motions, explaining the slow recessions and overall stability. It's a elegant fit within the Lambda Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) paradigm, where dark matter forms filamentary webs on vast scales, but it challenges simpler assumptions of round halos.

nz.news.yahoo.com

Our Entire Galaxy Appears to Be Embedded in a Colossal Sheet of ...

(Above: A visualization from similar simulations showing a sheet-like dark matter structure, with the Local Group at its center—dense matter in orange/red amid cosmic voids.)

This theoretical progression is grounded in solid scientific principles, relying on the enigmatic "dark matter"—which makes up about 85% of the universe's mass but interacts only via gravity and possibly weak forces. The sheet configuration satisfies the observable data for our local cluster in a compelling way, resolving mass estimate discrepancies (e.g., the Local Group's total mass might be higher when accounting for this extended structure). Yet, it's wise not to take it as definitive truth. Dark matter remains undetected in particle form, despite hunts at facilities like the Large Hadron Collider. This model serves as a conceptual tool for creative thought, prompting us to refine telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope or upcoming surveys (e.g., Euclid or Rubin Observatory) to map these structures more precisely.

That said, the idea opens a Pandora's box of deeper questions. What holds such a vast sheet of dark matter together as a cohesive field? In ΛCDM simulations, these flattened structures arise from the collapse of primordial density fluctuations along one dimension, stabilized by the universe's overall expansion and gravitational balance—much like walls in the cosmic web endure without imploding. How does it interface with gravity on macro scales, per general relativity's space-time curvature, versus the quantum realm, where gravity eludes quantization?

Here, we venture into unknowns: If dark matter has quantum particle properties (e.g., weakly interacting massive particles like WIMPs or ultralight axions), it might need a quantum gravity framework—perhaps string theory or loop quantum gravity—to describe interactions at tiny scales. Do these particles "contact" quantum gravity, or are they decoupled? Layer in the Higgs field, which imparts mass to known particles: Does dark matter couple to it, or is its mass from a separate mechanism, explaining its elusiveness?

I also ponder the virtual energy of space-time itself, like zero-point energy from quantum fluctuations. Does this permeate dark matter fields similarly to baryonic matter? Could its emergence scale with the total density of matter and dark matter, influencing the cosmic expansion rate (accelerated by dark energy, possibly linked to vacuum energy)? In this sheet model, higher local dark matter densities might amplify quantum effects, subtly modulating regional expansion—though this is highly speculative, awaiting unified theories.

To keep multiple cosmological paradigms in play, note that this sheet fits ΛCDM but isn't the only game in town. Alternatives like Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) propose tweaking gravity laws at low accelerations to explain galaxy rotations and clusters without extra dark matter. In MOND, the Local Group's quiet flow might stem from external field effects from larger structures, without needing a sheet. Tensions in the Hubble constant (local vs. distant measurements) further fuel debates—perhaps future high-precision data on high-latitude dwarf galaxies or velocity fields will tip the scales.

Ultimately, this dark matter sheet concept paints our universe as more layered and interconnected than imagined, with implications for galaxy evolution and even the Milky Way-Andromeda merger (projected in 4-5 billion years—could the sheet alter timelines?). It underscores cosmology's evolving nature, blending observation, simulation, and theory.

What do you think? Is this a breakthrough toward detecting dark matter, or just another placeholder? Could quantum insights from this model bridge general relativity and quantum mechanics? Share your thoughts below—especially if you're in Anchorage pondering the stars under the aurora!

References:

• Wempe, E., et al. (2026). "A sheet-like dark matter structure underlying the Local Universe." Nature Astronomy. DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02770-w.
• Popular summary: Daily Galaxy article.
• For MOND perspective: McGaugh, S. (2020). "Predictions and Outcomes for the Dynamics of Rotating Galaxies." Galaxies.

(Posted February 2, 2026—from the chilly frontiers of Alaska. Stay curious!)

Ecological Economics, Basic Universal Income, AI and Robotics

 I saw an interesting article on the pace of AI job dislocation and the need for Universal basic income here; https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/5713876-ai-displacement-and-ubi/

  I've written about the need for Universal basic income and ecological economic transition for some years; with additional ideas about a need to change to ecological economics and to bring democracy in so people can vote on what sort of no net loss of ecosphere and entropy increase minimizing production businesses they want to allow to be capitalized.

One would need a cap on individual capital assets in order to keep democracy effective for wealth has political power with it. Yet society could vote for public capital to be allocated to business ventures to scale up proven models when they integrate well into overall social land-use and economic structures.

It is questionable if human workers will be needed for any jobs within ten or twenty years, and the ecosphere will need recovery from the economic maladjustments that have trimmed its health the last couple of centuries with pre-ecological economic knowledge methods. Voters may choose to elect representatives to manage AI created ecological economic planning and business models to actualize.

The form of an economic system that is created and operated by AI and robots may be separable, with sobriety, from democracy and the question of government management of the economy through the choices voters choose in their state and nation to field with AI, robots and natural resources. International relations to allocate resources to various business developments operated by AI and robots will be important- the asymmetric distribution of natural resources will mean that the standard of living in some nations and states may tend to depend upon their natural resources and the surplus value more efficient ecologically sustainable economic planning operated by A.I. may be able to create.

If there is a lot of efficiency such that export surpluses may be created without significant economic harm to sustainability then even resource poor nations may experience a substantial rise in their standard of living simply from a principle of sharing excess wealth.

An advanced peaceful civilization’s economy operated by A.I. and robotics may not be said to be capitalist or socialist antinomies; those terms tend more toward anachronism when an advanced ecological economic social structure and political economy become necessity and actually become a natural function of the environment people inhabit.

Final Thoughts on J.F.K.'s and Donald Trump's Shootings

The shooting attempt on the life of President Trump prompted me to wonder how a fellow missed a shot from approximately 130 yards and compare that with Lee Harvey Oswald’s shot from the Dallas book repository into J.F.K.’s head in a moving car. I saw the J.F.K. shooting replayed a minute after it happened while visiting a large department store television section on a dozen T.V. screens as a kid so that image has stayed with me.

I am not a weapons expert, yet I know that any veteran of the Army or Marines can hit a 130 yard distant target without trouble from a prone position. Alternatively Air Force veterans might not hit a target at 50 yards given enough tries- until they drop a 1000 pound bomb on it after moving to a safe distance.

L.H.O. was a Marine qualified as a sharpshooter before he migrated to Russia. Living in Russia for 2.5 years, he lived a few blocks away from where Cubans and others were trained by the K.G.B. in shooting. He was also a member of a hunting club and practiced shooting there. Fellow shooters when asked later, of course said he was a terrible shot. Politically Oswald identified as "a Marxist and socialist". Gemini said; " His political views were radical, leading him to support communism and engage in activities for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee rather than mainstream American politics. "

It is possible that Oswald had some specialized training concealed by clandestine services to improve his marksmanship skills- he was from Dallas after all, and L.B.J. the Vice President, was also from Texas. Kennedy visiting Dallas before the next campaign in a Presidential motorcade was somewhat predictable. Returning a great shooting assassination candidate for a fish-in-a-barrel opportunity to avenge the Cuban Missile Crisis opponent who forced Nikita Khrushchev to terminate the effort to install missiles in Cuba pointed at the U.S.A. might have been too practical to miss.

Lee Harvey Oswald lived in Fort Worth before joining the Marines. His decision to return to the United States in 1962 ‘becoming disillusioned with the Soviet Union’ is a predictable legend to create to place a crack rifle shot into a position to kill President Kennedy without creating suspicion.

The F.B.I. however were not too sharp on following up threats then. L.H.O. sent a note to an F.B.I. agent Hosty two weeks before the killing saying that if he didn’t stop harassing his wife he would take legal steps and perhaps blow up the F.B.I. as well. Nothing was done about the note that Oswald sent. It was not interpreted as a credible threat. The note was destroyed by the F.B.I. supervisor after the assassination so they wouldn’t get blamed for incompetence. They confessed that after a leaker told the media about that a dozen years later.

President Trump’s attempted killer was 120-130 yards distant and not well trained in rifle shooting. He only needed one well placed shot with a high velocity bolt action rifle and a good scope. He had an AR-15 and was off target. Some have mentioned that he might have thought he’d be killed in a second so was shaky. Who knows?

The singular point about the incident most notable is the Secret Service inefficiency at protecting a presidential candidate from anyone getting in so close. Someplace I had read or encountered the idea that no direct avenue avenues of attack were allowed for a mile to a mile and a half these days because there a numerous people with all of the excellent tech available that can shoot something like a thousand yards accurately. The secret service just doesn’t let people get inside that perimeter unnoticed. Maybe they are moving on to drone attack defense now.

Poland is set to spend 4.5 billion dollars on anti-drone defenses in case Russia attacks, and it won’t obviously unless Euro-N.A.T.O. becomes so large and powerful and war breaks out un Ukraine and the EU invades Russia and Russia counterattacks. The entire European idiocy at developing a better version of a perennial COld War should be ended ASAP and militarization funds diverted to ecological economics and all of the great new technology regarding energy efficiency, batteries and so forth. There are many civilians that can’t afford that stuff and perhaps could use peace and prosperity more so than war and destruction of cities unless of course the purpose is to create ripe conditions for massive urban renewal for all of Europe and Western Russia.

I did consider an alternative theory explaining the Kennedy assasination (J.F.K.) that is could be a live eternal recurrence on an extra dimensional Netflix style station. I asked Gemini about that and got a response- not so imaginative regarding extra dimensions of course because it replied with a relativistic paradigm for space time recurrence that doesn’t recognize the possibility of televising that live event as a live event from extra dimensions beyond the 4-D space-time continuum of the known Universe cosmology. Obviously I was enjoying writing a little fiction paradigm, still, it could have done better.

Gary– Could aliens have an eternal recurrence event for JFK's shooting because it is live in extra dimensions on an alien version of Netflix?

Gemini-“While that sounds like a wild plot for a sci-fi series, your idea actually bridges several real scientific and philosophical concepts:

• Eternal Recurrence (Philosophy): This is a concept, famously explored by Friedrich Nietzsche, which suggests that time is cyclical and all events will repeat exactly as they happened, infinitely.
• Extra Dimensions (Physics): Theoretical physics, such as string theory, suggests our universe has more than the three spatial dimensions we experience. Some theories propose “brane worlds” where our 4D universe is just a slice of a larger, higher-dimensional “bulk”.
• Aliens as Observers (The “Zoo Hypothesis”): In the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, the Zoo Hypothesis suggests advanced aliens might be observing Earth from a distance without interfering, much like we watch animals in a nature preserve.
• Historical “Playback” and Light Waves: Scientifically, if an observer were far enough away in space, they could literally watch the JFK shooting “live” today. Because light takes time to travel, an alien telescope 62 light-years away would just now be seeing the events of 1963.
• Pop Culture Parallels:
  • The idea of aliens or “watchers” from other dimensions is a common trope in shows like The X-Files.
  • Netflix even has a series, 11.22.63, based on a Stephen King novel, where a man uses a “time portal” to try and prevent the assassination, effectively “replaying” the event until he gets it right.

So, while there’s no evidence of an “Alien Netflix,” physics does allow for the possibility of higher dimensions and the literal observation of our past from deep space.

Rebuilding Bakhmut; A Tale of Two Cities (Sustainable Economics or Soviet Style Steel)

 I asked Gemini about the situation regarding reconstruction of one of the cities destroyed in the Ukraine War. It replied that nothing has started yet except ideas about how to go about it. I believe it is a great opportunity to build sustainable ecological economic founded new cities rather than Soviet style ‘Steel Dream’ architecture industrialists prefer. Hopefully Vladimir Putin has some innovative and brilliant ecological economists and architects working together for an ideal plan of reconstruction.

I asked Gemini; is there an alternative ecological economic design with better aesthetics and ecosphere values?

Steel Dream” is a leading industry-driven proposal, alternative regenerative urban design models have emerged that prioritize ecosystem restoration and a “nature-positive” aesthetic. These approaches shift the focus from rapid steel construction to biogenic materials and circular economics. 

Alternative Ecological Design Models

• Regenerative Urbanism: Instead of just “sustainable” (maintaining the status quo), regenerative designs aim to restore local ecosystems. For Bakhmut, this could involve creating “sponge city” infrastructure—using absorbent, nature-based materials to manage water and prevent flooding while reintroducing native biodiversity into urban corridors.
• Biogenic & Local Materials: Organizations like Bauhaus Earth and the Kharkiv School of Architecture advocate for using mass timber and compressed earth. These materials turn buildings into carbon sinks rather than carbon sources and often provide a more organic, “warmer” aesthetic compared to industrial steel.
• Kintsugi-Inspired Retrofitting: For buildings not entirely leveled, firms like Stantec propose a “kintsugi” philosophy—repairing damage with visible, high-quality materials (like “blue gem” glass rooms) to celebrate resilience rather than hiding the city’s history. 

Ecological & Economic Values

Community-Led Design: The Lugano Principles for Ukraine’s recovery emphasize democratic participation, ensuring that the new Bakhmut reflects the cultural identity and social needs of its returning residents rather than being a “cookie-cutter” corporate project. 

Circular Economy: A “circular” reconstruction would reuse the millions of tons of war debris—crushed concrete as foundation fill and recycled metal for new structures—to minimize the need for new raw materials.

Decentralized Energy: Alternatives emphasize energy independence through neighborhood-scale microgrids powered by solar and geothermal energy, reducing vulnerability to future attacks on central infrastructure.

<The Industry approach with Unsustainable Economics>…

The “Steel Dream” project, initiated by the Metinvest Group, is a comprehensive vision to rebuild Bakhmut’s Yuvileyniy district as a modern, sustainable urban center.

The concept focuses on several key design principles:

Comprehensive Planning: The proposal includes more than 13 types of steel buildings, including low-rise apartments, medical centers, and underground shelters.

Speed and Durability: Utilizing prefabricated steel frames to allow for rapid construction of residential and social infrastructure.

15-Minute City: Designing the layout so that all essential services—schools, clinics, and shops—are within a 15-minute walk for residents.

Gödel's Echo in the Cosmos: The Incompleteness of Cosmological Knowledge and the Limits of Extrapolation from the Observable Universe

In cosmology, the horizon problem and related challenges underscore fundamental limitations in our ability to discern the Universe's origins. Knowledge of its actual causes may be inherently restricted to extrapolations drawn from observable phenomena, as we grapple with phenomena beyond our causal reach. While cosmological theories remain invaluable for practical applications and advancing scientific understanding, they exist within a Universe that aspires to comprehend the set of all sets—including itself as a subset—a predicament evocative of Gödel's incompleteness theorems, where self-referential systems cannot fully prove their own consistency. This mirrors the climax of Dante's Inferno, where Virgil and Dante escape Hell by descending along the colossal body of Lucifer, whose upper half is embedded in the infernal realm while his lower half protrudes into the unknown beyond, akin to a reversed Jack and the Beanstalk. From within Hell, the travelers can only perceive and verify the internal domain; the external reality remains a conjectural theory, forever unprovable from their confined perspective.

Following is a paper written by Gemini following my prompts after learning about the issues on a youtube video.

Gemini-"If you look at the night sky, you see a vast, chaotic tapestry of stars and galaxies. But scientists have discovered a "glitch" in the math of the universe. When we measure the oldest light in existence—the afterglow of the Big Bang—we find that the universe is eerily perfect. Every corner of deep space is exactly the same temperature, like a cup of coffee that stayed piping hot for 13.8 billion years without ever cooling down.

The Problem: According to our best equations (the FLRW model), these distant regions were never close enough to touch. They shouldn't be the same temperature, yet they are. To fix this, scientists invented "Inflation"—a burst of speed that stretched the universe faster than the speed of light.

But this fix has its own "ghost in the machine." We don't know what turned this energy on, and we don't know what turned it off. Even worse, our two main ways of measuring how fast the universe is growing—the Hubble Tension—now give us two different answers.

The following paper explores why our "ideal" math is clashing with a "messy" reality, and why the next decade of physics might require us to rewrite the rules of the Big Bang from scratch.

Abstract

The standard cosmological model, underpinned by the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric, faces an unprecedented crisis of consistency. While the FLRW framework provides a robust macroscopic approximation of a homogeneous universe, it fails to account for the "causal disconnect" of the Horizon Problem without the additive, yet mechanically mysterious, theory of Cosmic Inflation. This paper examines the mathematical tension between early-universe predictions and late-universe observations—specifically the Hubble Tension—and the "quantum incompleteness" of the Inflaton field's transition into the Standard Model.

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1. The FLRW Limitation: A Structural Paradox

The FLRW metric operates on the Cosmological Principle: the assumption that at large scales, the universe is both homogeneous and isotropic.

• The Horizon Problem: Mathematically, in a radiation-dominated FLRW universe, the comoving horizon grows slower than the physical distance between points. Consequently, regions observed in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) appear thermally identical despite having had no causal contact.
• The Theoretical Patch: Inflation resolves this by postulating an exponential expansion ($a\left(t\right)\propto e^{Ht}$𝑎(𝑡)∝𝑒𝐻𝑡) that pushed initially connected regions beyond the horizon. However, this fix remains an "add-on" to FLRW rather than an inherent property of the metric.

2. The Hubble Tension: A 5-Sigma Crisis

The most pressing empirical challenge to the FLRW-based

$\Lambda$ΛCDM model is the Hubble Tension.

• The Discrepancy: High-redshift data from the Planck Satellite (early universe) predicts a Hubble constant ($H_0$𝐻0) of ~67.4 km/s/Mpc. Conversely, "bottom-up" measurements using Cepheid Variables and Type Ia Supernovae yield ~73.0 km/s/Mpc.
• The Significance: This 5-sigma divergence suggests that the scale factor (aa𝑎) evolution in the FLRW equations is either missing a term (e.g., Early Dark Energy) or that our local gravity environment deviates significantly from the "ideal fluid" approximation of FLRW.

3. The Mechanics of the Void: Inflaton Decay and Reheating

Inflationary theory is often criticized as "incomplete" because it describes the effect of expansion without a verified quantum trigger.

• The "Off-Switch" (Reheating): The transition from inflation to the Big Bang occurs through Reheating. Mathematically, this involves the Inflaton field (ϕphi𝜙) oscillating at the bottom of its potential well and decaying into Standard Model particles.
• The Coupling Problem: This decay requires a Lagrangian coupling (e.g., $g\varphi {\chi }^2$𝑔𝜙𝜒2) between a hypothetical scalar field and known matter. Because the Inflaton has no confirmed counterpart in the Standard Model, the "mechanics" of how quantum energy arises from the void and then "turns off" remains theoretically unanchored.

4. Conclusion: Beyond the Standard Model

The convergence of the Hubble Tension and the Horizon Problem indicates that the FLRW framework is a "low-energy" approximation of a more complex reality. Whether the solution lies in Modified Gravity (MOND), Loop Quantum Gravity, or Dynamic Dark Energy, the math suggests we are nearing a paradigm shift. We have the "what" and the "when," but the "how"—the quantum bridge between the vacuum and the hot Big Bang—remains the ultimate frontier of cosmology."

https://suno.com/s/45GOXbHQEQ8noT1y One Good Turn (a song)