A lot more happening in Brazil: On Sunday, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva beat Flavio Bolsonaro for the presidency, 51.79% to 48.21% Flavio was favored, and the victory of Lula for his fourth presidency, was a shock to the system. Flavio, who is a Senator, was immune from prosecution until February when his term  will expire.  So he left the country. His father, Jair Bolsonaro, also went after the loss of his 2022 presidential election.  But Jair eventually returned and was given a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup.  He is still serving this sentence, but currently at home because of "health" issues. Thus, it's no surprise that Flavio escaped, probably to the USA.  This story is just developing. The USA, so far, has been relatively peaceful about the fate of former presidents.  South Korea, for example, has tried and judged guilty 4 out the past 6 presidents.   Going back to Syngman Rhee in 1948, becoming president there has been an adventurous challenge...

There have been three stunning elections in the world this year, all won by pro-Democratic candidates: In April, then-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán suffered a lopsided defeat , ending his radically regressive 16-year reign, despite the White House’s intervention on his behalf . Incredibly enough, yesterday, the U.S. White House encouraged Orban to consider running for UN secretary-general, indicating that he will also be supported by Russian and China. New Prime Minister Péter Magyar, faced with significant challenges, seems to be moving ahead to uproot years and illiberalism and corruption to rebuild a Hungarian democracy. Then yesterday, the 14-year rein of Serbian strongman Aleksandar Vucic crashed, opposed by a progressive student movement . Also yesterday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a surprising fourth term, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro , son of Jair Bolsonaro, who four years ago attempted a Trump-type coup that failed and sent him to prison. In Is...

First of all, Hurrricane Nolo behaved as computer models predicted and only brought some heavy rain to Hawaii island and Maui.  It ( Nolo is a gender-neutral Hawaiian name ) will safely pass well west of Niihau and Kauai.  In Honolulu I got a little rain, some wind, but no problems. About those wars. President Donald Trump rejected Iran's bid for opening the Strait of Hormuz.   Not sure, really, why.  Kind of reminds me of Iran being Lucy and Trump as Charley Brown being the reason why. The Ukraine-Russia conflict has become a drone war. The U.S. midterm elections, could be held in a 5 weeks and 1 day.  Could, because there remains some concern that the President could postpone them....and never bring them back. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will know his fate the prior week, on October 27, when the national legislative elections will be held. Clearly, Iran is doing everything possible to prolong their war, hoping for the opposition party in the U.S....