This column was written in early March 2021. When it hit the stands in late May, Alexei Navalny was imprisoned and recovering from a daring hunger strike undergone in an effort to receive necessary medical care. The provocative SA Mars=MC, exact in August, has “coincided” with news that ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections, Russia is hitting Navalny with another charge that could add to his current prison term. Over the past few months, Russia has continued to put pressure on Navalny’s supporters, labeling them as “extremists,”  banning them from running for office, and in some cases, holding them under house arrest.

Britney Spears is faring better against her adversaries. After a court appearance in which she gave an impassioned account of the harsh controls she suffers under the terms of her conservatorship (including being denied her wish to have another child), she gained enormous public support and now has a new legal representative. Her father just announced he is willing to step down as her conservator (though has not said when).

Meanwhile, the vote to form a union at Amazon did not pass; however, a second vote may happen now that the company was found to have violated Alabama labor laws. As for Jeff Bezos, he made it to the edge of space days in a big, giant cowboy hat day after Richard Branson.  After Bezos thanked Amazon workers and customers for paying for the thrill, customers made headlines by canceling their Prime memberships.  These stories broke minutes before transiting Saturn’s second of three squares to Amazon’s Sun.

Charts in the News: June/July 2021