Speaking of Totalitarianism...

Vlad Putin will consolidate his power in this Sunday's elections; he plans to use fraud and intimidation to ensure an overwhelming victory. The UK's Guardian reports:

"Local administration officials have called in thousands of staff on their day off in an attempt to engineer a massive and inflated victory for President Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party. Voters are being pressured to vote for United Russia or risk losing their jobs, their accommodation or bonuses, the Guardian has been told in numerous interviews with byudzhetniki (public sector workers), students and ordinary citizens."

By the way, has anybody heard from Chechnya lately?