If Putin's generals are moving troops away from cities...

 ...there is a good reason to believe they are preparing to use illegal weapons or worse. There is absolutely no reason to believe Putin. He carried out an invasion in what seems an impulse of his own desires and fears.

NATO needs to prepare for the worst case scenario.

China and North Korea need to be evaluated for aggression as Russia carries out war with Ukraine. Both those countries as well as Iran have proven to be interested parties in Russia's war.

I think assessments of Venezuela would be prudent.

NATO isn't policing their own members. Orban is beginning propaganda stating Ukraine is interfering in it's elections. Why does NATO allow such propaganda? Either validate it or discipline it. Orban is a member of NATO, but, he is also in Putin's back pocket. There is no reason to trust the liars in the world and Orban is one of them.

29 March 2022
By Stephen Pogany

Hungary's Viktor Orban (click here) (right) will have to balance business interests with geopolitical tensions in his talks with Putin

Viktor Orban should be asking his business interests to leave Russia.

...Hungary’s long-serving ‘strongman’, (click here) Viktor Orbán, has dominated his country’s politics since 2010. According to Mary Kaldor, Orbán and Putin—as with Narendra Modi in India and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil—expertly combine crony capitalism, ethnic nationalism and authoritarianism.

Orbán, who quickly established cordial relations with Putin after returning to office (he was previously prime minister between 1998 and 2002), has bestowed lavish patronage on relatives, friends and a clutch of compliant oligarchs. He has also expended considerable time and effort stoking the fires of ethnic nationalism, warning his countrymen of the supposed threat to Hungary and its ‘Christian culture’ from Muslim migrants, international financiers (ie Jews) and members of ‘deviant’ sexual minorities. The strategy proved effective in bolstering support for Fidesz, particularly in the provinces and among the less educated, as well as among members of ethnic Hungarian minorities in neighbouring states (many hold Hungarian citizenship and vote in Hungarian elections)....

Russia is an enemy of NATO. What has Orban done to contribute to sanctions? Is he working behind the scenes to assist Russia in disregarding the sanctions?

I don't listen to Trump. He is a traitor and I can say that legally as a judge has already made judgement about him. He is at least as much a liar as Putin. The mayor of Moscow's wife? Why the money, IF the money? Why? Just so Trump can say what is saying now. The facts are known about the right wings conflagration of Hunter Biden. There isn't anything else to know and it is harassment to revisit it. End of discussion.

Missing White House phone logs? Ask the plumber. The January 6th committee needs to go forward realizing records have been removed from the White House to Mar-a-lago. There is no finding those records. They have been destroyed. We know from information already available that records were regularly flushed down the toilets in the White House. 

continued...

This occured on the first day of the invasion by Russia.

This is a Russian jet that deliberately targeted a home. Luckily, the family was already taking cover. The jet came in at tree level in order to avoid radar. That pilot deliberately set out to kill civilians. There is no mistake. There is absolutely no weapons plainly in sight. This is a farm with farm equipment. The farm looks to be very poor people that eek out a life by growing crops. The baby's scream was most likely from the concussion he felt that was foreign to him.

There is no way to misunderstand the threat. There was no threat at this farm, yet, the Russian pilot attempted to be UNDETECTABLE to radar. UNDETECTABLE. He did that for a reason. He wanted to kill Ukranians and not be caught doing so. We were lucky to have this video. It is very telling to Russia's intent. 

The first day. From the instant Russia moved into Ukraine it was going to kill any Ukrainian it could. There is reason for that. If you kill the civilians and call it sad events in war, there is no insurgency either during or after the war.

These deaths of Ukrainians were from the one man that ordered the invasion as the war games were ended. There was only one man that decided that invasion and it was Vladimir Putin. That pilot knew what he was doing. He received his orders from someone.

 

These are all lies. Putin lied about the invasion into Ukraine right up to the point where a Russian tank crossed the border into Ukraine.

Both Joes are absolutely correct. Putin is not important. He committed genocide. End of discussion.

Now, this is what I'm talking about!

This is more of the DEFENSIVE war that Ukraine is waging. This is a military instillation whereby munitions that could kill Ukrainians was destroyed. It is all legal under international law. The destruction of these munitions will save Ukrainian lives from further genocide.

There was a report a few days ago that a Russian general took his own life when he discovered the tanks in reserve for the war, were primarily cannibalized for part. There were no more tanks for him to use when his were captured or destroyed. For him, the war, was over as he had no recourse for his soldiers. That is why generals are included in war plans before the invasion.

29 March 2022
By David Averre

Footage has emerged of a huge explosion in Belgorod, (click here) western Russia, at the site of a suspected arms depot which is believed to have been hit by a Ukrainian missile.

The blast, which took place a mere 12 miles from the Russian-Ukrainian border near the village of Krasniy Oktyabr just outside the city of Belgorod, triggered a series of firework-like explosions which could be seen from Ukraine tonight.

Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov claimed that the depot was destroyed by an OTR-21 Tochka-U ballistic missile fired by the Ukrainian 19th missile brigade, though this has not yet been confirmed by Ukrainian officials....

Video

The video supposedly showing Ukrainian soldiers shooting Russian prisoners in the legs could well be propaganda by Russia.

Ukraine commanders simply have to remind their soldiers that Russians have and should be taken prisoners for reasons of intelligence gathering. 

Ukraine soldiers in the field have a right to live. If at any time the Ukraine soldiers may have believed they were being attacked by Russian prisoners, they have a right to protect themselves. I did not see any restraints on the Russian soldiers. I also could not see their faces. The involved have to be identified as well as the Ukraine soldiers. 

Personally, I believe this is Russian propaganda until all the facts are gathered.

In Vietnam a USA lieutenant killed needlessly and he was tried and sentenced.

By the way, who made the video and why and not any other scene in the war? The videographer will be a witness along with identification of the men involved.

I am tired of people dying because Russia can't accept defeat.

27 March 2022

By Nick Fagge

Defiant residents (click here) living on the front line in Odesa are refusing to leave their homes and digging in to protect themselves from an imminent Russian invasion. 

While Kremlin warships test the port’s defences with regular bombardments volunteers are gathering supplies for Ukraine’s armed forces and old people are keeping calm and carrying on.

In normal times the 72-year-old Igor Igorovych lives in one of the most sought-after streets in Odesa, a stone’s throw from the famous Opera Theatre and with views of the Black Sea....

I don't believe neurtrality is going to work. The ONLY thing Russia understands is overwhelming power to prevent still yet another invasion. Turkey wants peace talks to end the genocide, but, will NATO become an ally to Ukraine? There would be no Ukraine today, if the USA lead by President Biden weren't "available" to protect NATO's interests.

The solutions at any peace summit need to identify and recognize the genocide decided by the World Court. In that lies the reason why Ukraine MUST be able to protect from still more coveting by Russia in the future. Currently, Russia will not admit defeat and continues to covert the coastline that belongs to Ukraine.

There is a genocide that has been declared of Russia. Where in peace talks is there room for Russia to do anything but admit it's guilt and leave Ukraine?

There is too much opportunity for Russia to plan another attack and carry it out. The next time will be far more deadly. 

We in the USA witnessed a former president that during his administration was denying Ukraine it's request for weapons. That was because he favored a victory by Russia. Trump never considered Ukraine or it's people important enough to defend. Trump assaulted NATO. If there is another term like that one, where does the free world stand, including Ukriane? Every country needs to be prepared to defend itself and not because the elections were won by the right persons. 

Ukraine had a missile production plant and yet never produced one missile to fire at Russia. It did that because it wanted neutrality. That turn and walk away from war as an expression of the desire for peace and prosperity was considered a weakness by Russia and the reason why Putin deployed his military into a sovereign country. He not only deployed his military, but, called on Belarus and the Chechens to kill at will. That is not an INDICATION it will never happen again. 

There is only one thing communists understand and that is the power of it's opposition. Putin vastly underestimated the resolve of Ukraine. 

Peace negotiations for Ukraine, in the face of genocide, demands Russia to leave and it's leadership surrender to the World Court. That is the dialogue of peace proceedings that provides a viable sovereignty to the remaining Ukraine people with the right to protect it. Would Israel see things any differently?

The military budget is again an issue, but, look where we are. Can we afford not to invest?

March 28, 2022

As part of his proposed budget (click here) for the upcoming fiscal year, President Joe Biden on Monday released a proposed minimum income tax rate applying to the highest-earning Americans, marking the first time the White House has ever directly targeted billionaire wealth after a similar Democrat-proposed measure failed to move forward last fall....

Of course, the tax proposed is appropriate, but, is it loophole proof?

March 28, 2022

The president’s proposed budget (click here) would raise taxes on billionaires and corporations as well as increase spending on the military and domestic priorities like affordable housing and supply chain issues....

As the wealthy find joy in housing that is ridiculously priced higher, the need for affordable housing will be heard more and more. This entire paradigm is wrong. Are there workers living where they work? That is the responsible approach in the time of the Climate Crisis. Are there homes affordable based on payrates?

Anyone that understands a supply chain whereby the physical presences of workers are needed in producing goods, knows there has to be housing, schools and opportunity. The idea the wealthy can get away with scoffing up hideously outrageous profits while asking workers to be existing on low pay rates and poor benefits aren't serious about the company's product or profit.

American companies enjoy a great deal of security and need to contribute their fair share for the services they receive in producing their product.

Russia's social fabric is impoverished, not it's wealthy. Reparations to Ukraine need to begin.

March 27, 2022

Investors breathed a sigh of relief last week (click here) after the Russian government made a $ 117 million interest payment on its foreign debt. But a much bigger payment comes due April 4 – to the tune of $ 2.2 billion – and creditors are far less optimistic Russia will pony up this time.

“The last payment was a small investment in credibility, but when Russia has to start writing billion dollar checks it’s a different calculation,” Jay Newman, former Elliott Management portfolio manager and author of “Undermoney,” told The Post. “I do not think it’s realistic that Russia comes up with the $ 2.2 billion.

The bond payment last week panicked investors because it was unclear whether Russia’s central bank would be able to use its frozen reserve of US dollars to make the payment – and whether US banks would work with the country to transfer the money. There was also a dispute about whether Russia could pay the debt in its own currency. The Russian Finance Ministry insisted the country could pay in rubles RUBUSD,
-1.68%
but people with knowledge of the contract say it’s required to be paid in dollars....

There is enormous damage to the infrastructure in Ukraine. Among that infrastructure are building collapsed on top of dead Ukrainians. A lesson from September 11, 2001 can be learned how to treat remains that simply can't be examined for forensics to determine an identity. The survivors and families of those that are dead were provided ashes and soil from the site where a chronic fire burned in a container. The containers provided a way for those left behind to bury their loved ones. There are ongoing forensics being conducted even today though as the search for proven identity goes on (click here). Ukriane will need dedicated forensic experts to sort through any remains to discover the dead so loved ones can bury them and the record of the dead at the World Court grows lengthy.

27 March 2022
By James Phillipe

The streets of Mariupol (click here) are being turned into cemeteries with makeshift graves appearing across the besieged port city.

Bodies of both civilians and soldiers are becoming buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings or left out on the streets with rescuers unable to retrieve victims and give them a proper burial due to the incessant bombing.

It comes as the UN said on Friday that it had received more information regarding mass graves in the city - one of which is thought to hold up to 200 bodies....

Russia must end its occupation of Ukraine.

Protesters in Slavutych were successful against Russian soldiers/occupiers. The people have made their position clear and the occupiers need to leave. NATO needs to organize and send qualified persons to assess not just the nuclear plant and return it to a stable and functioning state, but, also the people need to be assessed for any potential radiation poisoning as well as the water and air. 

26 March 2022
By Nick Enoch

...Yuri Fomichev, (click here) mayor of Slavutych, was briefly detained by Russian soldiers after they took control of the town, which is home to staff who work at the Chernobyl nuclear site.

'I have been released. Everything is fine, as far as it is possible under occupation,' he said, after officials in the Ukraine capital Kyiv earlier announced he had been detained....

India is not purchasing oil from Russia, but, is India considering purchases of coal from China? It should do neither. India needs advisors to develop a new electric grid and incorporate solar and wind power.

28 March 2022

Rameswar Teli, (click here) the junior oil minister, on Monday said that India is not considering buying oil from Russia using Indian rupees, after Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine....

Russia is corrupt. It is carrying out a propaganda campaign to hide the genocide. Those that lie and hide the genocide are as guilty as those that committed it.

Their reality is profound and very real. Their lives have been destroyed.

And Putin is disturbed by President Biden's words? It is about time. Putin rather complain about his bruised ego rather than answer for his crimes.

''   

Trump is a Putin loyalist.

March 29, 2022

A federal judge said Monday (click here) former President Donald Trump intentionally tried to subvert the democratic process and probably committed felony obstruction by attempting to overturn the result of the 2020 election, in a ruling that allowed a House committee investigating the Capitol riot to receive sensitive emails from former Trump legal adviser John Eastman....

Fortenberry is a bozo, too. He invoked Mother Teresa in his resignation statement. He broke the law and invokes Mother Teresa for his lawlessness. Amazing. Perhaps Fortenberry would like to donate his ill gotten monies to Mother Teresa or perhaps join her ministry to carry the word of God forward anyway.

March 26, 2022

Omaha, Nebraska - Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska (click here) on Saturday resigned from office after a California jury convicted him of lying to federal authorities about an illegal campaign donation from a foreign national.

In a letter to the House, Fortenberry said he was resigning from Congress, effective March 31....

It was probably sea sickness from attempting to hide his yacht.

How dare he come forward with such outrageous allocations of poisoning. Abramovich should be at the front lines and then he will know what suffering actually is. Who dare he try to win sympathy when his country is committing genocide.

I don't care who did it. What I care about is Russia leaving Ukraine.

Below is one of three yachts (click here) owned by Abramovich, one bigger than the next. They should all be seized and sold to establish the trust to rebuild Ukraine from Russia's genocide of the Ukraine people.

March 28, 2022

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich (click here) suffered symptoms of suspected poisoning at talks in Kyiv earlier this month, sources close to him say.

The Chelsea FC owner - who has now recovered - reportedly suffered sore eyes and skin peeling.

Two Ukrainian peace negotiators were also said to have been affected.

The Wall Street Journal reported claims the alleged poisoning was orchestrated by hardliners in Russia who wanted to sabotage the talks.

The condition of Mr Abramovich and the Ukrainian negotiators, who include Ukrainian MP Rustem Umerov, has improved since the incident on 3 March, the paper quoted sources as saying.

A source close to Mr Abramovich told the BBC he had suffered symptoms of suspected poisoning. They said he had now recovered and was continuing with negotiations to try and end the war in Ukraine....

Russia states President Biden's speech is alarming. I would hope so.

March 28, 2022
By Guy Faulconbridge

London - The Kremlin said on Monday (click here) that U.S. President Joe Biden's remark that Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power" was a cause for alarm, a guarded response to the first public call from the United States for an end to Putin's 22-year rule.

"For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power," Biden said on Saturday at the end of a speech to a crowd in Warsaw. He cast Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a battle in a much broader conflict between democracy and autocracy....

It is wonderful Russia has noticed President Biden's speech. I hope the speech, which is intended to bring peace, makes it to the Russian people who are losing sons at an incredible rate. That doesn't even count the Russian generals dying with one even commiting suicide at the reality Russian tanks not in the battlefield were cannibalized for part. There is no backup for the Russian tanks lost in the war with Ukraine. That is an amazing reality that Russia needs to embrace as it faces the truth about it's wayward military endeavors.

It is legal to kill generals, they aren't civilians. So, how many civilians in Russia has died by the illegal genocide? 

March 26, 2022
By William Booth, Robyn Dixon and David L. Stern

The war in Ukraine (click here) is proving extraordinarily lethal for Russian generals, the gray men bedecked in service medals, who are being aggressively targeted by Ukrainian forces and killed at a rate not seen since World War II.

Ukrainian officials say their forces have killed seven generals on the battlefield, felled by snipers, close combat and bombings.

If true, the deaths of so many generals, alongside more senior Russian army and naval commanders — in just four weeks of combat — exceeds the attrition rate seen in the worst months of fighting in the bloody nine-year war fought by Russia in Chechnya, as well as Russian and Soviet-era campaigns in Afghanistan, Georgia and Syria.

“It is highly unusual,” said a senior Western official, briefing reporters on the topic, who confirmed the names, ranks and “killed in action” status of the seven....

From article at top of page. The White House staff is being stupid for apologizing for one of the greatest speeches in history. 

...The White House tried to clarify Biden's remarks and the U.S. president said on Sunday he had not been publicly calling for regime change in Russia, which has more nuclear warheads than any other power.

Asked about Biden's comment, which received little coverage on Russian state television, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "This is a statement that is certainly alarming."

"We will continue to track the statements of the U.S. president in the most attentive way," Peskov told reporters....

Even after pinning metals on broken Russian soldiers in wheelchairs that will never fight again; Putin's genocide is being hidden from the Russian people. Even the parents of the dead are still wondering where their sons are.

It is biological warfare. Allow the dead to create health problems. Just put them in mass graves. Let the families cry alone and pick through the rubble that the Russian people sanctioned in their lack of ability to control the tyrant in Moscow. I have no sympathy for a nation of people to allow Putin to carry on with completely unrelenting hatred of good and decent people in the Ukrainians.

When Bush diverted the war in Afghanistan to that of Iraq no one gave him a moment of peace. As a country, those that abhor war, fought propaganda, demonstrated and sought to change outcomes of future elections. And we did. By 2006 the legislative body of the USA was changed to Democratic majorities and we stopped Bush's free reign of terror both at home and abroad. This entire episode with Putin is Satan and nothing short of it and yet the Russian people don't question. I have no sympathies for a nation of people so ignorant to their own realities they passively go about life as if it is perfect.

Remember the Kursk? They laid at the bottom of the sea until sea predators picked their bones dry. This is Putin. 

March 28, 2022

By Shaun Walker

Kyiv - The Ukrainian president, (click here) Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has accused Russian authorities of disrespect towards the families of their own dead soldiers, criticising Moscow for not agreeing on a scheme to have the remains of those killed in action returned to Russia.

Zelenskiy claimed the Kremlin was affording less respect to those killed during its invasion of Ukraine than is usually given to dead pets.

“We’ve all had a moment in our lives when someone has passed away, maybe not even close people or relatives. Listen: even when a dog or a cat dies, that’s just not how to behave,” Zelenskiy said in an online interview with Russian journalists on Sunday evening. “I’m saying this to you as the president of a country that is fighting with Russian soldiers … It’s a war, but they are not animals.”...

Since his election, President Zelenskyy's leadership has been anti-corruption and peace.

Russia's compromise in the face of defeat is nowhere to be found. In that is an unspoken truth that can only be defined as an approach by Russia and allies of a Third World War. I remind there is a meeting of allies in Israel because they were attacked recently by missiles. The USA, NATO and The West needs to end that ideology of aggression and return the world to a dialogue of peace and denuclearization of war. Now is the time to end this ideology and return to prosperity as the dialogue that dominates all issues of potential war. When there is military escalation, even during peacetime, there is potential danger to annilation of civlization.

Strength in the belief in democracy and freedom will end hatred.

 

Russian propaganda is doing it's level best to delegitimize the Ukraine opposition. The Republicans and Russia are on the same page.

Duly elected and lawfully elected President of this country?

I believe the January 6th Committee is doing valuable work. I also believe the Republicans are willing to compromise our constitution in order to win an election. The reason I covered the topic of the legitimacy of Ukraine's democracy and it's decades struggle to rid itself of Russian style and Russian corruption is because of a Republican strategy to win elections by delegitimizing the Ukraine war with Russia.

As is the style of the Republicans, they take an issue and turn it on it's head in order to gain the "talking points" they believe will win votes. The problem with that in this case is that they are willing to destroy the USA democracy in the process of politics. The war Russia began with Ukraine is a war of politics spawned by Putin's ambitions. It is now a war that I believe Ukraine can win. If the Republicans successfully delegitimize the roll the USA is more than willing to play with Ukraine and NATO the country will be at risk of leaning too far to the right and return the autocracy movement begun by the disgraced Former President Trump and his assault on democracy on January 6th.

In this questioning by US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of the Alabama Attoney General Steve Marshall, it is obvious Marshall won't breach his politics in recoginzing President Biden as the duly elected and lawfully serving President of the United States of America. I think it is disgraceful to say the least that such a high ranking state official is so afraid to be honest that he is willing to be deceptive in his answers to Senator Whitehouse.

These are the politics of the Republicans, they are dangerous and quite frankly dishonest and undermining of democracy. I think the American people need to be careful who they elect in 2022. The Republcians are coveting power to use against Americans in a way they have never imagined. I also believe the Republcans play into Putin's hands and he likes it and feels emboldented by it.

Americans need to be afraid, very afraid. War will be prevented not by passivist dialogue, but, through strength of our democracy. The politics the Republicans are engaging weakens our democracy. There needs to be a very strong turning point and now. 

 

Will Smith obviously loves his wife.

It takes great courage and heartache when an autoimmune problem erodes happiness.

I think part of the problem with the so called joke by Chris Rock was that it wasn't pre-vetted according to many trade papers and tabloids (click here). 

It appears there is something personal going on with Chris Rock that was never known by the organizers at rehearsals. I don't like the public display of violence between very powerful celebrities on a stage where "the best" are supposed to be awarded for their excellence. But, the so called joke was done in bad taste. 

It is unfortunate that Chris Rock and Will Smith had to make history for the Oscars last night in such a tasteless display of emotion.

"Good Night, Moon"

The Waning Crescent

25.2 day old moon

19.4 percent lit

March 24, 2022

By Sam Thompson

The meteor (click here)  that lit up the sky Wednesday night in the Interlake wasn’t the only one Manitobans saw this week.


Astronomer Scott Young from the Manitoba Planetarium told 680 CJOB the province — as well as nearby areas — had the extremely rare treat of seeing back-to-back meteors Tuesday and Wednesday.

“It was all across southern Manitoba — in fact, all the way down into North Dakota and off into Saskatchewan … just like the one that happened the night before,” Young said.

“The timing of these two things — the odds against it are astronomical.

“Usually we might see one or two across that month period, rather than having them back-to-back in the same area. Literally, if you were in the right spot, you could’ve seen this once-in-a-lifetime thing on Tuesday and then seen another once-in-a-lifetime thing the following night.”...

I am sure statistically this is an event. But, in reality, I think it needs to be decided if they are the same rock that may have collided with another rock and split. To me, that is the only logical answer for two rocks following the same trajectory within 24 hours of each other. I think once the two rock reminants are found, if they are found, will have the same chemical composition. Either they were the same rock at one time or they both were spewed into space from the same explosion somewhere out there.

The American people are wrongly focused on the causes of inflation before them.

It is greed, plain and simple. And the fact the USA is still in the stone age with energy production doesn't help at a time when any petroleum product is more expensive than the food bill.

I also need to say, President Biden is not going to war with Russia. If Russia is foolish enough to escalate this war into NATO states there is no alternative and we will stand with them and fight for their sovereignty. For now, that seems unrealistic.

But, as to the inflation, it is not caused by increases in labor costs. One might take a look at the forms of energy being used and understand that energy touches every aspect of our economy. I never thought there would be a $5.00 per gal price for gasoline.

We need to switch our energy to renewables as much as is possible as soon as it possible. We cannot continue to pump oil out of the ground and suck methane from chemical cracks in rock and expect the USA economy to survive.

The so called inflation is at a 7 percent rate. Yep. Labor increases are at a 2 percent increase. I hardly call 2 percent inflationary if that is all that was increasing. There is absolutely no reason to bring down income of Americans that work the hardest to make this economy run. Americans deserve their salary increases.

And, I won't be going to Applebees anytime soon. It is a shame really, my sister loved Sunday brunch there. Like I said, it is greed. CEOs don't care about the people, they care about keeping their jobs and returning dividends to stockholders. Never will it occur to any CEO that their profit margin is actually hurting the American economy by reducing disposable income, but, also hurting their employees as well.

CUT PROFITS! That means there will be a stable wage for all Americans that assist in creating an enormous Middle Class which fuels the USA economy. 

CUT PROFITS NOT WAGES!

USE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND NOT PETROLEUM!

Wall Street can end this inflation if it wanted to.

March 25, 2022
By Aimee Picchi

To Applebee's franchise executive Wayne Pankratz, (click here) surging gas prices are an opportunity for his business, rather than a downside. That's because, as he told managers in an emailed memo, the pool of people who work at Applebee's live "paycheck to paycheck" and will be forced "back into the work force" to earn more.

Pankratz also saw another silver lining: High gas prices will increase costs for competitors, who won't be able to increase wages to the extent they had been. "We all competed to hire out of the limited applicant pool and there was a wage war," he wrote in the March 9 memo. "They will no longer be able to afford to do this."

The result, Pankratz predicted, is "hiring employees in at a lower wage to decrease our labor [costs]."

Wayne Pankratz of @Applebees says that higher gas prices are great for business because most employees live check to check and hopefully they can start lowering wages. pic.twitter.com/BiRfeSmsYX

— Rob Gill 🇨🇦❤️🇺🇦 (@vote4robgill) March 23, 2022

The memo, which was shared on social media, is sparking a backlash against Applebee's, with some consumers vowing never again to dine at the chain. And at one Applebee's location in Lawrence, Kansas, three of its six managers reportedly quit over the memo, according to the Lawrence World-Journal....