I was reading Bruce’s funny but sad commentary on the TSA decision to confiscate a geologist’s pet rock. That reminded me of the old days when Russian youth idolized American freedom and Rock and Roll (I know, loose connection). But a few minutes later I found out from NBC News that a famous American business-man and musician is in the midst of a fight in Russia over vacuum tube manufacturing:

Sensing business opportunity and a way to save classic rock and roll sounds from extinction, he bought ExpoPUL in 1999.

“All the companies that made vacuum tubes in the West had closed,� Matthews said. “It’s an archaic business. It’s a niche business.�

In seven years, Matthews quadrupled production and more than doubled the workforce at ExpoPUL. Today the factory supplies more than two-thirds of the world’s tubes used for music, sold to music giants like Fender, Peavey and Korg.

But it gets even stranger as ExpoPUL is now suffering from hostile takeover and business disruption attempts by local developers:

“They’ve used jackhammers to stir up dust in the facility,� Matthews said. “They shut down the elevator where we remove toxic waste. And they illegally turned off the electricity.�

[…]

ExpoPUL’s director, Vladimir Chinchikov, says the tactics are typical of some Russian businesses, which pay off government officials and judges to help them “steal� companies by employing heavy-handed methods.

“It’s corruption, plain and simple,� Chinchikov said. “They want us to vacate the building. We hear they want to build some kind of entertainment complex. They are not interested in the production line.�

[…]

Matthews is preparing for battle. He has ordered a $100,000 transformer and an independent natural gas supply to prevent further interference from Russian raiders. And he has rallied his music industry friends and clients to turn up the volume of protests. Fender, Peavey and Korg have written to the Russian government while U.S. Ambassador to Russia William Burns and Saratov’s governor have pledged their help.

I would expect a few rock stars to join the fight, and perhaps even hold a concert fundraiser. Yet I’m surprised to hear the US Ambassador is getting involved. Add that to your list of things to consider in global business continuity needs…

It is notable that a former auditor is running for office, particularly at yet another period of questionable ethics in US government. A brief review of Claire McCaskill’s background brings up some impressive accomplishments:

In March 2000, State Auditor McCaskill conducted an audit of the Division of Aging which found more than a thousand employees caring for Missouri nursing home residents who were forbidden to work with children and the mentally handicapped. State lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting the dangerous double standard, and McCaskill was called to testify on her audit’s findings before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging.

In addition, McCaskill authorized audits of domestic violence shelters and the state’s child abuse hotline. The domestic violence report cited more than 5,000 victims turned away from shelters throughout Missouri even though more than a million dollars was available to help. Conversely, the child abuse audit found it sometimes difficult for the state to remove children from dangerous settings and financial support lacking.

McCaskill was the first Auditor to aggressively enforce provisions of the Hancock Amendment that afford protection to Missourians from being overcharged on their property taxes. After taking office she came down hard on local governments that set tax rates above legal limits, a practice many had engaged in for more than a decade. Her efforts helped convince lawmakers to allow the state to take legal action on behalf of taxpayers.

And that’s just within a few years. Apparently she also established a special Domestic Violence Unit to combat domestic violence and child abuse, and the violent crime rate in the city dropped 45% under her watch. This is the kind of candidate that a security professional can endorse! She clearly has a very strong and honorable record of doing good policy work. Any skeletons in the closet? We may never know, but for now she seem like just the right kind of candidate to bring fresh change away from the Rove and Abramoff gang currently in office.