One is left wondering about where the conclusions might lie. This long-winded, unfocussed, contradictory and in some places totally mindless piece, totals 4,200 words plus… but, hey, maybe someone gets paid by the word!

It is just unfortunate that stupid lapses should occur in the piece so often. Let’s go to a real gem. Bird-droppings writes: [i]Putin enjoys high approval ratings as the economy … booms … average monthly salaries increase from $80 to $640 – a 150% rise (source: MSNBC).[i]

Wow, $640 is 150% larger than $80! Well, let’s get a PhD in Arithmetic to explain this one.

[i]Dr. von Aritmetik: Jah! 100% increase means a doubling. i.e. 2-fold increase; a 150% increase means a 2.5x increase. In absolute numbers $80 x 2 = $160; $80 x 2.5 = $200.

Unt zoo, an increase to $640 iss an increase of what? I’d zay about 700%, not 150%, but Madame Bird-droppings vass just quoting MSNBC and not ehferybody is zoo gut at aritmetic. (Source: The University of the Moon)[i]

Constant $ vs Current? Not even hinted at.

But so much for that. As for the only conclusion I could find after an appalling and mindless repetition of “facts” (actually cut in half by disinformation and undisguised but disputable opinions) is a complete misreading of Edward Lucas. Madame Bird-droppings concludes Russia is not a military danger. So my conclusion is that the “droppings” part of the author’s name should be changed to “brain.”

I applaud you TM for having the guts to write your comments using your own name, however, I take exception to a personal remark levied against Hilary Bird. Ms. Bird has contributed many excellent columns to EE and to suggest "the "droppings" part of the author's column name be changed to "brain" is a comment most undeserved.

Thank you Eva V for your kind words! T. Merilo is referred to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V... so that he can work out the minutae of the increase in average salaries in Russia. With regard to the brains of birds, Professor Irene Pepperberg, University of Arizona, has done some interesting research that demonstrates that some bird have an ability to engage in complex, meaningful communication. For more information about this fascinating subject go to http://www.pbs.org/lifeofbirds....